There is no remedy for love but to love more.

by Thoreau.

Kiana stared at her reflection in the mirror but the harder she stared; the more she couldn't recognise herself. She lightly soothed the eye bags that had suddenly surfaced under her eyes. She sighed quite loudly, filled with exhaustion as her hand dropped to her side. She knew she couldn't waste any more time staring at herself or trying to sort out what was going on with her at the moment, so she moved on to searching her handbag for her one and only lipstick. 

She lightly applied the pink shade of lipstick, then smacked her lips together for even tone. She brushed her hair with her fingers before holding them together with a rubber band, styling it into a bun. She brushed the surface with her hand so as to smoothen it before finally standing still to stare at her reflection. She soothed her skirt as if to get rid of the little wrinkles that appeared on it due to lack of ironing. The door opened and a woman walked in. She spares Kiana one glance, before moving forward to use one of the empty toilets.

Kiana took in a deep breath before swinging her handbag to her shoulder, picked up the one bag she managed to stuff all her clothes into. By morning then, Kiana had realised she couldn't live in front of the door to the apartment she used to own and her landlord was refusing to pay heed to her. She knew she still had work to attend that very day, so she had to gather herself together and do the right thing. She was simply going to endeavour to find somewhere else much cheaper than her former apartment. Really cheaper. Kiana had pleaded that morning to a shop owner just so she could get ready within the restroom and thankfully the nice lady accepted, understanding her plight. She had quickly brushed her teeth, washed her hair, face and hands before changing into something suited for her office work. She thanked the shop owner very much before finally leaving.

Kiana took a deep breath as she stood in front of the EDOARDO VINEYARDS's building. As she approached the main entrance into the building, she bothered a bit about the security guards inquiring about the really noticeable bag in her hand but miraculously, one smiled at her with a nod and Kiana smiled back, before she pushed the door to open and in she walked. She stood for a second to take a look back at them but they weren't staring at her. She let out a huge sigh of relief before walking further towards the elevator.

As soon as Kiana got to the floor she belonged, she glanced around to realise she was really early. She was grateful for that as she didn't have the strength to begin asking strange questions as to why she brought her luggage to work and those that couldn't ask will definitely throw her questionable glare. She quickly got to her seat, pushed her luggage right under her desk to hide it from prying eyes, then she drew her seat closer to the desk as she set her handbag on it. She let out a loud sigh afterwards before burying her face into her palms wondering how things ever got this bad for her.

Enrico's eyes seemed glued to the papers in front of him but that wasn't so. His mind had eventually ventured out of his body, his thoughts not much farther from his present circumstances. He hadn't slept much last night and he couldn't really fathom why. He has got the big penthouse to himself and a soft bed to lay on, but sleep kept eluding him. Perhaps, it was the recollection of all that had happened that very day that disturbed him. His aunt had definitely matched him with a stranger. A woman he hadn't shown interest in. She had done that without letting him know and then she walked away with Kiana leaving him in an uncomfortable state.

Cecile hadn't said a word to him. She just stared and he stared back. She put up a brief smile before walking away. He was glad she did, but at the same time worried she might let his aunt in on the fact that he wasn't giving her entire arrangement a chance, so that on its own was a huge problem. He had got two drinks and went after Cecile. He stretched a glass to her and gratefully, she accepted it.

They said a few things to each other, mainly about work and their family before it became awkward. Enrico knew he was getting bored. He searched with his eyes around for any sign of Kiana, but she was nowhere to be found. His eyes met with his aunt's and she flashed him a warm smile. He replied it with a brief smile of his before looking away from her and back to Cecile, who stared at him quite inquisitively. He recalled her asking him if he was okay and he just said yes before burying a hand into the pocket of his trouser before bringing his glass close to his lips for a sip, a part of him wondering why Kiana left without letting him know.

He raised up his eyes to her away from the papers in his hands that he had seemingly been staring at. He watched, as she stood in front of his desk going through a few papers in her hands, quite engrossed in her work of sorting out the differences in the information within it. He had given her that work and he hadn't let her have a seat, but being the same Kiana she is; she hadn't flinched once on his demand. She just stood there and did her work. Enrico couldn't explain it, but the fact she remained so strong willed and stubborn vexed him to the core. Nothing cut through her thick skin.

She never complained and she really never spoke back. She did her work perfectly tidy and accurately. She was the perfect assistant and it made Enrico wonder if she's ever disturbed by anything. For one to seem so concentrated and fit, it could only mean her life was perfect. No ups and downs. She wasn't even the least bothered about the fact that she was working under the same guy she embarrassed years ago. It made him wonder if she understood the fact that he could literally do anything he wants with her and she wouldn't say a thing, as long as she wants to keep this job. It made him wonder what she was made of. For years, his mind hasn't really been at peace. He couldn't state the exact reason why but these days he was starting to believe she was the cause. It wasn't enough he went through a heartbreak, now she has showed up and there's no shaking her. She hadn't even bothered to say sorry or better yet, explain herself and why she hadn't let him say a thing back then to her. Why had she cut him off so abruptly and embarrassed him in front of the whole school? Call him childish, but this was a question that had lingered within the corners of his mind.

He tilted his head a little to the side as he kept staring at her. His brows furrowed.

"Why did you leave yesterday without letting me know?" He asked and watched, as she eventually raised her eyes to him away from what she had been so engrossed in. He could see she was having a little problem in answering the question, as she slightly looked left and right, probably thinking on what to say before shifting her eyes back to him.

"You were busy. I couldn't interrupt you." She told him the honest truth, as she recalled having felt bored and tired. She had seen almost all the paintings displayed. There was no one to talk to and a few were starting to give her the glares. She felt it was time to head home. She had searched for him, but on seeing him with Cecile, she realised that perhaps, it would be best she leaves on her own and so that was exactly what she did.

Enrico suddenly let out a light chuckle as he looked away for a second, rested his elbows on his desk, brushed an eyebrow with his fingers. He turned back to her. The serious look that had once played on his face, now gone and replaced with the look of amusement and twinkle of mischief in his eyes. A broad smile played on his face.

"Sure...you did exactly what a good assistant would do. You respected your boss." Enrico stated and Kiana's slightly furrowed her brows for a second at his strange behaviour, before shifting her eyes away from him.

His mobile phone suddenly rang and Enrico picked it up from where he left it on his desk. He read the caller ID and the smile that had been on his face slowly disappeared. Nevertheless, he decided to answer the call so he did exactly that. He brought the phone close to his ear.

"Hello." He started, as he looked anywhere but at Kiana, who did exactly the same thing.

"Enrico, I've set up a date for you and Cecile." Sophia started and Enrico's brows furrowed followed by the sudden surge of anger.

"You're to meet her at Denver's restaurant in thirty minutes. I need you to get there first before she does." Sophia ordered, but in a low and softer tone. Enrico shut his eyes for a second, then opened them. He couldn't help taking a glance at Kiana, who wasn't looking at him.

"Aunt. I'm busy... I can't make it." He stated, vexed with the part that she had purposely hadn't said a thing to him till the very dying minute in order for him to have no choice but to do as she says anyway.

"Enrico, Cecile is a very busy woman, but she has made out time and decided to meet you. So, I'm hoping you can really do the same."

"I..."

"A lot is riding on your meeting with her. You need to use those charms of yours and win her heart. Her family has a lot of money that can be useful to our company. Please, do this for me." She narrated, but suddenly pleaded at her last sentence.

Enrico sighed a little silently, but at the same folded his other hand into a fist.

"Okay." He managed to state and he could hear a little chuckle from her side.

"Good. Your mum and I are truly proud of you. Get back to me when the date's over." She requested and Enrico let out another "Okay" before the call disconnected.

He shut his eyes for a second as he took in a deep breath to calm the rage he was starting to feel from this new information. Enrico hated being in this situation. A situation that he had unfortunately become quite accustomed to. He looked up to Kiana, who had eventually continued with her work. He knew he had to go meet Cecile whether he liked it or not. His aunt had used the card of his date and was riding a lot on the success of his company. Enrico put the papers back into the files, then got up to his feet. He wished there was something he could do that would make Cecile reject him instead of him doing that.

Kiana shifted the weight of her body from resting on her feet to her other feet. The surging pain she still felt behind her ankles due to her shoes being a little tight on her didn't help matters either. Each time she got to work, she always took them off and remained barefooted behind her desk but now, Enrico was making her stand here for no reason in particular and the pain was becoming increasingly unbearable. She noticed him get up from his seat after his call, a part of her wondered what was going on with him but she couldn't ask. She sighed him through her peripheral vision, as he walked past her directly heading towards the door.

Enrico took one last look at Kiana before walking past her, but he suddenly stopped on his tracks. His eyes widened a bit as an idea flew into his mind. A sly smile slowly grew at the corner of his lips before he turned back and walked up to Kiana. She raised her eyes to him as soon as he stood beside her. She slightly furrowed her brows for a second at the way he was staring at her.

"You're coming with me." He ordered before walking off, not even sparing her a chance to question him. She sighed before quickly leaving the papers back into the file, then turned and hastened her pace behind him. On her way out, she picked up her handbag from her desk and pushed her luggage further under her desk to ensure the definite no prying on it before rushing after Enrico.

Enrico finally parked in front of Denver's restaurant, then without wasting a second, he got out of his car and walked towards the entrance into the restaurant. Something felt oddly wrong, so he stopped and took a slight turn. Kiana was nowhere to be found behind him, so his eyes shifted back to his car. He took off the sunglasses he had on, as he sighted her seated within his car. A loud sigh left his lips before he walked back to the car. He took hold of the handle and as the door opened, she looked up to him and Enrico could read in her eyes that she felt she did nothing wrong.

"What are you doing?" He asked as he stared at her.

"You had stated that I..."

"Oh, just get out of the car!" Enrico interrupted, before moving away quite knowing where she was heading to with her perfect explanation.

She bit her lip quite frustrated before getting out of the car and slamming the door behind her. Enrico turned to her, eyebrows furrowed with a questionable glare.

"Careful. Do you want to ruin it?" He asked her referring to the manner in which she had slammed the door to his car. She just rolled her eyes to the side and said nothing.

He pressed the remote to shut the car before walking on forward into the restaurant and she followed behind him, a part of her really wondering why she was going in with him.

Enrico stood for a second, as he scanned the classy looking restaurant mainly decorated with red and black. Finally, his eyes fell on Cecile. A sly smile crept back up at the corner of his lips. He had definitely hoped that she would make it here before he did. That would be one strike out for him. Nevertheless, he ventured further and Kiana followed him behind.

Cecile looked up and drew a simple smile at the sight of Enrico, as he took his seat directly in front of her. Her smile only decreased when she set her eyes on Kiana, whose eyes met hers at the same time. Kiana's eyes slightly widened in surprise upon seeing Cecile. For a second, she couldn't understand what was going on; so, piece by piece, she put the puzzle together. Her brows slightly furrowed as she looked anywhere but into Cecile's eyes. She recalled Sophia's desire for Cecile and Enrico getting to know each other more. Giving their present location, it could only mean they were on a date, but she couldn't understand why he brought her along.

Cecile looked away from Kiana and to Enrico. Enrico looked up to Kiana, who was still standing looking quite lost.

"What are you doing?" He asked her and she had to shift her eyes to him.

"Sit." He ordered, referring to the seat beside her. Kiana didn't know what to do. She couldn't leave and at the same time, it felt wrong for her to stay here, but her boss had ordered her so she gently and silently took out a chair then had her seat. She decided to remain still and silent, to make it seem like she wasn't here. She was going to be invisible to all this.

Enrico shifted his eyes away from Kiana to Cecile, who had been staring silently all this while. She put up another brief smile for him and although that wasn't quite what he expected this very minute, he was still ready to play along. He put up an equal smile of his.

"It appears that I'm late." Enrico started, looking quite cool and calm. Kiana kept her eyes anywhere but on the two of them.

Cecile broadened her smile.