"You're not. I'm early." She replied and he nods in understanding. Cecile shifted her eyes to Kiana.

"You brought your assistant." Cecile stated and Kiana raised her eyes away from the table that she had been staring at for quite a while. This situation made her so uncomfortable.

Enrico stared at Cecile with amusement in his eyes.

"Had I known we could do that; I would've brought mine." Cecile added, still putting on the same smile on her face.

Enrico let out a chuckle and Kiana wondered why this situation wasn't making him uncomfortable in any way.

"Yes. Every day is a new day and with a new day comes changes." He stated, liking every bit of what was happening. Though Cecile kept her smile and wiggled her brows once at his statement, he believed her composure wouldn't last till the very end. Sooner or later, she'll have to flip. Bringing Kiana along was just his first step. Women were naturally jealous freaks.

A waiter walked up to them with a small notepad in his hand, as well as a pen.

"Good afternoon. Would you like to order anything?" He asked in a polite tone and with a warm smile on his face.

Enrico raised a brow at Cecile in a form of questioning and Cecile clearly understood, as she lifted a glass cup halfway filled with water.

"No, I'll have nothing. Thank you." She told the waiter as well as Enrico. The waiter nodded but Enrico just kept a simple smile before shifting his eyes away from her and back to the waiter.

"What about you, sir?" He directed the question to Enrico who, eventually, lightly shook his head at him.

Enrico's eyes shifted to Kiana, who had been sitting quietly all this time.

"What about you, Kiana?" He asked and she raised her eyes to him, a little surprise that he's asking her this very question.

Kiana thought for a second on what her reply should be. Truthfully, she hadn't realised she was hungry till she stepped into this very restaurant and different aromas flew in through her nostril. She hadn't eaten anything last night as well as this morning. Her belly had grumbled at intervals back at the office and did this very minute as she's being posed with this question. For some reason, this was a hard question to give a reply to. If it were a different circumstance, she would gladly jump at the offer but right now, she was in the middle of her boss's date and for her to start chewing and eating as much as she wants when they're both taking nothing, made her feel a little uncomfortable. She gulped down. She would have to hold her hunger till some other time or probably quench it with a bar of chocolate or so.

"No, thank you." She replied and Enrico narrowed his eyes at her. Kiana had come in early for work and she hadn't even had lunch. He strongly believed she was lying. The truth was written all over her face.

"Are you sure?" Enrico asked once more and Cecile shifted her gaze away from Kiana to Enrico. She brought the glass cup of water to her lips, while her eyes remained on him. Kiana shifted her eyes away from Enrico and assured herself that she's doing the right thing.

"Yes." She replied and Enrico slightly furrowed his brows at her. Kiana had chosen to remain adamant about this very topic. He wasn't going to push this further as well. He shifted his eyes away from her and back to the waiter.

"Thank you." Enrico told the waiter, who nodded before leaving.

Afterwards, there was an awkward silence between the three. Kiana looked anywhere but into their eyes. Enrico and Cecile stared elsewhere but the moment their eyes meet; they smiled at each other. Neither of them was ready to start up a conversation. Both sides were reluctant about giving it a try. Suddenly, Cecile took a look at her wristwatch. It was time for her to leave. She began to sort herself then took hold of her mobile phone she had left on the table. Enrico noticed her sudden movement.

"Going somewhere?" he asked and she nodded, before getting up to her feet.

"Yes. I have an appointment to meet up with. This... this was nice, but I don't think we should do this again." Cecile stated right out the truth. Kiana looked up to her. She felt Cecile wasn't to blame. Who would feel okay if their date appeared alongside his assistant?

Enrico put up a simple smile followed by a pretentious sad face.

"As much as I'm not supposed to say this but I have to speak the truth. You're right. We shouldn't do this again." Enrico stated before broadening his smile a bit. Kiana shifted her eyes to him, her brows quite furrowed at how reluctant he could be with all this. Cecile's smile toned down a bit for a second before she broadened it.

"Glad to be on the same page as you. Goodbye, Enrico Vos." She stated with a hand stretched out to him for a handshake. Enrico got up to his feet and accepted her handshake, glad to end this all neat and tidy. Kiana got up as well.

As he watched Cecile turn away to leave, he suddenly recalled something that needed urgent clearing up.

"Cecile." He called and she turned to him.

"Don't you worry, Enrico; your aunt Sophia won't have you to blame." She added with a smile, stating exactly what he needed to hear. He thanked her with a smile, before she was on her way out of the restaurant.

Enrico let out a silent sigh of relief before shifting his eyes to Kiana, who stared at him with furrowed brows. He furrowed his as well.

"What? Do you have something to say to me?" He asked, referring to the uncomfortable look she was giving him at the moment.

Kiana looked away from him.

"No, nothing, sir."

***

"Sofia, you don't understand how Enrico's mind works. He's never going to give in to what we want." The lady who sat with crossed legs on the sofa stated, as she looked away from Sofia who leaned on the desk behind her within her office.

Sofia put up a simple smile.

"Perhaps... he might or might not give in to what we want but Giulia, I believe your son; Enrico is a smart man. He'll make the right choice. He'll do what's best for the family business." Sofia stated with much faith before walking back to her seat behind her desk and having her seat. She relaxed back and stared at Giulia with a warm smile on her face.

Giulia, on the other hand, just sighed as she looked away from Sophia. She wasn't quite convinced by her sister-in-law's speech. Sophia might have sort of raised and groomed him to take over the family business, but the fact still remains that Enrico was her own son and she knew him better than anyone else. She could recall how far she had to go just to make sure Enrico is as successful as he presently is. She didn't regret any of that.

Yes, along the line, she lost touch with her son. He felt better being away from a mother, who's always at his neck to be the best, but each time she reads a paper about how successful he is; she completely forgets any sort of regret. The fact still remains that Enrico has a mind of his own. A mind that makes her wonder at times what is going on in there. He seemed different but does exactly the opposite of your expectation. A lot of things bothered her, but she was a mother; a mother who was ready to sacrifice a lot for her son. Giulia shifted her eyes back to Sophia, who seemed so relaxed about the entire situation.

"I hope so. I truly hope so." Giulia told her and Sophia gave a light nod with a smile on her face.

***

Kiana walked up to her fellow employee. A lady whom she has become quite a little friendly compared to the rest.

"Hi, Macy." Kiana started, as she stood beside the young woman's desk. Macy looked up to her.

"Hello Ana. Can I help you with something?" Macy asked, as she called Kiana by the short form of her name. Kiana slightly looked around her to make sure their privacy was secured, but then she realised this wasn't the best place to talk. She wanted to talk at a minimum tone but at the same time, everyone was a little busy and some were chatting. Someone else's desk was attached to Macy's from the other side. Kiana knew what needed to be done.

"Are you busy?" Kiana asked and watched as Macy took a look at her desk for a second before looking back up to Kiana.

"Nope, not really? Why? Is there a problem?" Macy asked, a little concerned.

"Um, not really. Can we talk somewhere else? A bit private?" Kiana asked and Macy nodded before getting up to her feet. Kiana led the way out of the room and down the hall to a secluded corner.

"What is wrong, Kiana? You're kind of scaring me." Macy asked, now really concerned.

Kiana sighed as she managed to put up a warm smile.

"I'm sorry for sounding a little paranoid. Nothing's wrong. I just... I just have something to ask you." Kiana started and Macy let out a little sigh of relief, before nodding to Kiana to go on.

"I... I have this very close friend that's in search of somewhere to stay. She doesn't want to let anyone know who she is so I kind of can't state her name." Kiana continued and Macy furrowed her brows for second at how odd the last request sounded, but that wasn't enough to make her walk away.

"Okay." Macy stated, as if ushering her to continue. Kiana felt a little relieved that she was interested in what she was trying to say.

"Well, I just needed to ask you if you know of any vacant place for her to stay. Like a really cheap place to stay. She's very good with adjusting. I would offer her my place but... I... I have a roommate so... Do you know any place?" Kiana asked while dreading the fact that she just lied and is referring to herself in as a third person.

She watched as Macy looked away from her and thought for a while. A little hope filled Kiana, as she also prayed for a positive reply. Macy shifted her eyes back to her. The expression on her face was not quite promising. Kiana knew immediately that this plan was a flop as well.

"I'm so sorry, Kiana, but I can't think of anywhere that suits your friend. I would offer her my place but I'm married and I live with my husband so... I'm sorry but if I do find a vacant apartment then I'll make sure to let you know." Macy told her, as she took a hold of her hand and Kiana nodded her head as she managed to smile.

"Yes. I understand. Thank you for listening." Kiana appreciated and Macy nodded before she walked away.

Kiana sighed quite loudly just after Macy left. She rubbed the back of her neck quite tiredly. The day was rounding up and she hasn't found a single place to call home or even spend the night. Normally, she would venture out in search of somewhere but she has been so busy that she found no time to excuse herself from work. She needed to think of something really fast. She can't sleep on the streets. That's equally dangerous in a city as huge as the one she lived in.

***

"Good night, Kiana." The last two employees told her, before leaving that night and Kiana nodded to them.

"Goodnight." She replied as she watched them walk away then into the elevator. She sighed quite loudly, as she took a look around at the now empty room. Just the lamp on her table was on. Kiana had spent the entire day thinking of where to spend the night and then suddenly, she took a look around her and realised she could stay in here and no one would even realise it. Sure, the security guards were around but she'll make sure to be very quiet. She wasn't saying this was going to last forever. The plan was to stay just for that night.

She took a look behind her to Enrico's office.

"Isn't he leaving?" She murmured to herself referring to the fact that Enrico was still in his office. Suddenly, the door to his office opened and Kiana quickly looked away. She pretended to be busy with something.

Enrico walked up to Kiana. He rolled her eyes at the fact that she was pretending not to have noticed him walk out of his office.

"Are you planning on leaving?" He asked her and she looked up to him.

"Um... not yet. I have to finish this before I can leave. You go ahead. I'll round up and, thereafter, leave." She told him, trying her best to sound truthful. He slightly furrowed his brows at her. He could recall when she would oppose working so late at the office in the sense that she had another job to attend to. It made him wonder what changed. Nevertheless, he had promised himself to stop getting too involved with her business. He wasn't going to care even if she spent the entire night there.

"Suit yourself." He told her before walking away towards the elevator and Kiana watched until he was out of sight. She let out a sigh of relief and thought to herself that perhaps, that could work.

***

As Enrico rode home, he suddenly recollected something then he inserted his hand into the pocket of his coat in search of what he seemed to have lost.

"Where did I put my phone?" He asked himself as he searched almost everywhere for it. Suddenly, he recollected the fact that he left it within the top drawer of his desk back at the office.

"Shoot!" He exclaimed, a little vexed with himself and the fact that he had to turn back and get it.

Enrico walked right out of the elevator and down the hallway towards his office. Everywhere was dark and he walked around with the aid of a touch light which he collected from the security guard downstairs. Enrico presumed Kiana must have eventually left. He rushed towards his office, but stopped at the sound of running water coming from the restroom. He slightly turned towards its direction, his brows a little furrowed at what was going on at the moment. The door suddenly opened and he felt his feet froze to the ground unable to move, as curiosity took over him as to who it might be roaming within his building by this time of the night.

Kiana stepped out of the restroom, her head as well as eyes slightly bent staring at the floor, as she tried her best to dry her hair with a towel. Enrico's eyes widened at the unbelievable. She had changed into something much comfortable and different from the office attire he had earlier seen her in. Her shoes were gone from her feet, as she stood barefooted. The only light around her was the one emitting from her phone.

Kiana looked up once and back down. Her eyes slowly widened, as what she just saw dawned on her. She gradually looked back up to meet Enrico staring at her, eyes widened and quite surprised by what he was seeing. Kiana immediately realised that she was in trouble. It was over for her. How was she ever going to explain turning his building into her home? Using the office restroom as her wash place and now attempting to spend the night here. Worse come to worst, he was going to have her arrested. She gulped down.

Suddenly, Enrico let out a light snort, still staring at her.

Afterwards, Kiana stood still, head bowed low like a preschool student, who just got called into the principal's office. She knew she was guilty. She was trespassing. Right then, she was at his mercy. Enrico, on the other hand, leaned on her desk with folded arms, staring at her. Perhaps, if he could stare a little longer then he would eventually understand how her mind was working.

"Can you explain what you're doing here by this time of the night?" Enrico asked and after a while of hesitation, she raised her head but not her eyes to him.

"I'm sorry... I know I shouldn't be here but... I was... I was kicked out of my apartment and now, I have nowhere to go, so out of desperation, I thought I could... spend the night here."

"You thought you could turn my building into a motel?" Enrico asked, still fixing his eyes on her. She finally raised her eyes to him. Suddenly, this plan of hers sounded very foolish to her. She should have remembered who she was dealing with. She should have recollected the fact that he loved seeing her so miserable.

"I'm sorry. I'll leave and I promise it won't happen again." Kiana stated before moving forward past Enrico, who said nothing but just watched her grab her luggage from under her desk. She took out a sweater and immediately put on as well as her shoes. She understood she couldn't spend a minute more there. Not when Enrico kept looking at her the way he was doing.

She swung her handbag over her shoulder, then lifted her luggage with her other hand. She spared him no glance as she walked past him and towards the elevator. Enrico kept his eyes on her all this time, a little amusement written across his face, till she was out of sight.

"All you had to do was beg." He stated, almost in a whisper, quite referring to her stubborn and relentless attitude.