Massimo 🔝

"Not feeling accepted can be a symptom of not accepting yourself. Don't seek the attention of others. Find your own approval. "
-Unknown.

"end of flashback"

Lorenzo POV.

It didn't take long before I made up my mind. But little did I know that this was one of the most timing consuming decisions I have ever made.

"John?!"  I said in the intercom.

"Yes, sir?"

"Please inform Miss Primrose to make her way to my office," I said.

"Sir, she has already left," he replied.

"I don't care! Find a way to get her back into my office!" I said.

"Sir I could give you her number. It will come in handy for next time." he offered.

"Very good. Bring it up to me." I said before switching off the intercom.
A few minutes later John appeared at my door.

"Here you go, sir." He said stretching his hand out with the paper in it.

"John, have you ever heard of the word knocking?" I asked kneading my forehead. 

"Yes sir," he said.

"And what exactly does it mean?" I asked.

"Um, strike the door, a sign of asking for permission to enter," he said.

"Oh, so you know, and how would you explain what you just did?" I asked trying to keep it as cool as possible.

"Um.." he started mumbling.

"Get out! You are on suspension for three days and during that time I need you to go and retrieve your manners wherever you may have forgotten them." I said taking the paper from his hand and dialing it on the phone.

"Hello Natasha speaking how may I help you?" her voice swam into the phone.

"Miss Primrose it's Lorenzo Corporation and specifically Mr. Rinaldi," I said.

"Sir do you need anything?" she asked.

"We have a flight tomorrow morning and you have to book it. So listen carefully: you have to book the flight meaning making sure one of my private jets is ready we are flying first class specifically. Then in the next 30 min, I need you to meet me here at my office and I'll explain the details further on. Do I make myself clear?" I asked

"Yes, sir?" she says.

"You shouldn't be a minute early or a minute late or say goodbye to that contract," I said before hanging up the phone.

Gathering my things I head to the backroom and changed into more casual clothing.

Lorenzo's casual attire 🔝

I know I didn't give her much time but I never have enough time, so whatever you do must be according to each second that passes by.

After packing up and closing my office I head downstairs.

"Dave is the car ready?" I asked my driver.

"Yes sir right this way," he said.

I look at my watch. She has exactly 20 seconds.

19, 18,.... 5, 4, 3,
Finally, I see her come around the corner and my eyes nearly pop out of my head.

She's wearing shorts showing off her beautiful lean legs. I promise you she's teasing me. I clear my throat when she comes closer.

Natasha's outfit.  🔝

"I'm here, right on time," she says. She doesn't even sound likes she has been running.

"Do you live close by?" I questioned.

"Nope took the tube here," she replied nonchalantly.

Wow. For the time I gave her, she's very fast especially being a woman.

"Shall we proceed?" I asked.

"Yep!" she says popping the "p" and then wrapping her plump lips around the straw. "Where to?"

Soon the car came and I signal her to get in.

"If we are going to some kind of meeting then you should have told me so I could have dressed for the occasion," she said.

"Honey you always have to be professional around me," I said teasing her.

"Then I'm not going. I'm pretty sure I'm only going to be needed to take notes or get coffee, things you can do on your own," she said.

"Do you want to lose your job?" I asked.

"No.." she said lowering her head.

"Then get into the car," I said stone-faced. I didn't want to ruin this moment. For the first time, she did as she was told without arguing with me.

She silently climbed in and turned to look out the window.

"We are going dress shopping, " I said. "My dear mother organized a masquerade ball, being old fashion as she is, and invited me, but I have no partner so that where you fit," I said.

There was silent, and her sweet, innocent face suddenly twisted in rage. 

"So you lied to me, threaten that I would lose my job, just so that I can come with you to see your mother?" she scram purely in rage. 

I was as if the world stopped spinning. 

"You even made me book flights in less than 15 min, hop on the tube for 10 minutes and hail a cab to your office, jumping off just around the corner because it broke down, all because your family couldn't plan this earlier and you think because you are rich you will just lead me by the collar?!!" She said all this in one breath. Sighing she looked at me seriously, anger filled her eyes. " Listen, Mr. Rinaldi when I signed the contract there was no description of my attending to your personal life and family issues. You are such a wimp, narcissistic selfish man. Thinking that the world revolves around you and everyone is at your disposal! I am sorry but I won't let you make me into one of your minions who obeys according to every snap of your fingers."

The world was quiet, and her words hit me like a truck. 

"Get out," I ordered. I will not let anyone not even this woman speaking truth tell me this. I mean who does she think she is. 

The car came to a halt, us receiving a few hawnk and I couldn't care less. 

"About time." she says opening her door before slamming it, hard.

-An hour later-

I still couldn't get my head wrapped around what she said and why she was being dramatic.

So I dialed the only person who understood women.

"Hey man, long time! Why the sudden call?" Massimo asked.

Massimo is my flesh and blood brother. The only who I allowed myseld to hear the truth about me. 

"I have a problem." I began and told him every detail. You may think I'm a girl but men do ask for advice.

"You idiot!" Massimo said when I was done.

"Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better," I said combing my hair with my fingers.

"And you told her to get out and didn't even run after her?" he continued. "I don't even know how we are related"

"This isn't a movie!" I said.

"Maybe you should watch more movies! That's no way to treat a woman!" He pointed out. 

 "I came here for advice not to be reminded of the fool I am."

"Ok buy the dress, mask and your suit and pack them in your suitcase. God forbid she will agree to this. But then go to her house and sincerely apologize. That means to kill that ego." He mentions then he puased. " And looking at the time have exactly one hour to do all of this. Call me when you are done."he said then hung up the phone.

I did exactly what he told me. I got the dress, mask and my suit all matching and got her address from staff files on my phone. (Good that I had asked her to digitize them.)

"Dave I need you to take me to 103 Northridge Avenue," I said praying they would be no traffic.

"Yes sir," he said and hit the road

Thinking of it taking this black car was great cause there were sirens in it so I used that to zoom my way through the street knowing that I would probably get into trouble with authorities due to using it in a false emergency situation.

10 min later we were there and I had exactly 15 min to convince her to come with me.

Knock! Knock! Knock!

"Coming," she said from the inside. "Hi, how may I...?"

"Listen Nat.."

And there goes the door in my face.

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