Thank you so much for your votes, darling! They make my day kinalhariya!

Realizing a breath, I didn't even know I was holding, I made my way to the office. With a little last pep talk I opened and closed the door.

The whispering stopped and I could feel almost every single pair of eyes staring into my soul. I ignored them and made my way to the elevator.

What caught my notice though was the new person siting on the receptionist's desk and glaring harshly in my direction. And that wasn't all it was the same girl, who was on some other floor when I first came to this building to give my interview.

I stepped inside the elevator when the doors opened. When the door opened, I made my way to Val's room, already tired of just thinking the mess Oli created.

I stopped just before it though as I heard some heated conversation going on inside.

"Val, you can't be serious right now?" I rolled my eyes as I recognized the voice. "Valentino Ivan Morte, you can't-"

"Sarah Aurora Morte, you are wasting my time. And let me tell you a secret I don't like time wasters. You are fired. End of discussion! You can leave."

"Fuck you! That was just a prank."

"Your definition of prank is really sick, you know? Making someone wait for two hours along with a kid is sick."

"That wasn't your kid."

"Wow. And that solves everything."

"So, let me get this straight you fired your favorite cousin because of some adopted child and that girl?"

"Yes and for making my child wait two more hours at home! Now, leave."

I rolled my eyes and opened the door. None of them seemed to have noticed my presence. "Ugh, why are you so blind? That girl is just trouble! If you want your child take it and leav-"

"Sarah, enough! Leave, before I force you out!"

"Why-" She threw her hands up in the air dramatically before turning in the door's direction and spotting me. I crossed my arms over my chest. "You!"

She walked towards me. "You piece o-"

I leaned over to her and whispered in her ear. "I wouldn't complete that sentence if I were you. Just a little complain got you fired. Now, now, we wouldn't wanna find out what would happen if I ask him to do something else, now would we?"

She whispered and glaring increased. "Are you by any means threatening me? I am a Morte, remember that!"

"How fitting! Because I declined becoming 'a Morte', as you put it. So, do tell me, who do you think has more power over here the one who is a Morte or the one who refused to become one? Especially in this very room, with the very guy who wanted to make me a Morte." I smirked backing up and standing straight. "Now, I think you would like to leave. No, Ms Morte?"

The tips of her ears turned red and she glared at me before going over to grab her bag and finally leaving.

"Wow, that was easy." Val muttered.

"You fired them?"

"Indeed, I did!"

"Why? Ugh, that's why everyone was glaring at me. Especially that receptionist."

"Someone was glaring at you?"

"Yea- No! Don't even think about firing them. You see that's, right there, your problem. You take matters into your hands when I can handle them!"

If that was really a problem then why are you inwardly grinning? I inwardly rolled my eyes at my subconscious.

Shut up, that's a problem. You don't know anything!

But-

Ugh, am I seriously having a conversation with myself? I really do need that therapist.

I cleared my throat. "Ahem, where is the mop and other stuff. I will start by cleaning the mess Oli created."

He slightly titled his head to the side, taking a sip of his coffee. Just ignoring his burning gaze and rude attitude I looked to the side finally ready to face the mess I would have to clean but what met my eyes surprised me.

Everything was clean, the sofas were replaced, the cleaned walls, floor and table helped keeping yesterday's torture a secret.

Why am I even surprised? This is Valentino Ivan Morte afterall.

"I got it cleaned!"

He got it cleaned. Wow!

"Okay. I will be working at?" I trailed off.

"Right here."

"Great. Worse than the first time, I see."

"Well, I won't go that far. You have an actual table this time. Look, over there." He smiled pointing towards it and making me roll my eyes.

"Wow, thank you. That makes it all better, Mr Morte." With a sarcastic smile on my face I made my way over to the table and settled down.

***

The first day was pretty restless. Val had so many meetings and I had to accompany him, taking notes, fake smiling and what not. The cringest moment was when I met the people who were here yesterday when I barged in his office.

But Adrian was nice I had fun with him. That guy was anything but boring and he loved gossiping.

I rummaged through the small kitchen, trying to find a cup to pour coffee, for Val, in it. "My life literally revolves around a single girl." I heard a very familiar voice.

But before I could turn around to find the source, a back - a very masculine, muscled back collided with me. "Shit sorry." I quietly rubbed my neck and thanked heavens for my grip on the counter otherwise, knowing my clumsy self, my face would have greeted the kitchen cabinet.

I turned around to look at the person, thinking that we was one of ducks, with an 'i' of course, who have something against me, and the profanities that I wanted to gift him with died in my throat as I saw who he was.

"Mason?"

His eyes widened. He, out of all people, is one of those ducks?

No, that can't be. He didn't see me, he was probably talking to himself and...

Wait, is that a mop?

I slowly raised my eyes and then my eyebrows at him. "What are you doing here?"

"Vivianna?" Why did I have a feeling he was only pretending to be shocked? "Wow, we must be meant to work together." He leaned against the mop.

He must have completely forgotten about the mop. I tried to stop myself from laughing.

"Anyways, I am here because I got really tired of Adam's place. So, I decided to upgrade my job."

"Make sense. From a waiter plus cleaner to a sweeper." He grinned before he registered my words, looked down at the mop and quickly threw it behind him.

"Um, ahem! That- I-" I brust out laughing.

I tried to control it but it just wouldn't stop. I mocked him still trying to control my dying horse sounds. "You should have seen your face. Um! Ahem, then- this- I-" I brust out laughing again at his red face.

"Oh you, shut up!" He lightly slapped my arm but I could see a small smile on his face. "Still better than working for Adam."

"Can't argue with that." I said after I sobered up.

"I like your laugh."

"You like dying horse sounds?"

He just rolled his eyes, mumbling something under his breath but didn't bother replying. "What are you doing here anyways?"

"In this office? Oh, it was actually-"

"No, I know! Someone said that you got a better offer and left the cafe." I didn't remember telling anyone other than Adam at the cafe about me leaving and was planning on telling Mason today. It was probably Adam who told everyone. "I meant here! I am sure even, especially, if your life depended on it you wouldn't come to the kitchen willingly."

It was my turn to roll my eyes. "Blah, blah, blah! I am trying to find the coffee mugs." That reminded me I still need to find them.

"Wait, you made coffee?"

"No!" I leave the difficult tasks for later.

"Tea?"

"No, I-"

"Wait, shut up! Don't tell me hot cho-"

"No, sumbbottom with a 'd'!"

His brows drew together. "Then what?"

"Would you listen to me for a second? I didn't make anything yet, I am still trying to find the cup and then I would make coffee." I rolled my eyes at him again. "Difficult tasks for later."

He looked around the kitchen. "There is a coffee machine. You know it isn't that difficult to make coffee with a coffee machine."

"Whatever."

He chuckled. "I will make it. You can find the coffee cups. How many cups do you need and what type of coffee?"

"I knew there was a reason as to why I tolerated you. And um black coffee for only one person."

"Okay, Madam." He said with a fake British accent and I chuckled at him.

I always felt so carefree while talking to him.

But-

I don't know why but I was always felt like our time was limited, I need to enjoy every single moment with him and that he was hiding something huge from me.

***

I entered Val's office. "Thirty minutes twenty seconds and four milliseconds. Only you can take that much time to make coffee."

I ignored him, grinning and placed the coffee down at his table.

"No snarky reply? Grinning and excited face? Something seems fishy. You didn't add poison, did you?"

This time I rolled my eyes. "Just drink it." He narrowed his eyes but took a couple of sips.

"Impressive! Pretty good, when did you learn this? I know you only make coffee from the coffee machine but still it isn't drinkable this one tho-"

"Shut up! Is it really good?" He nodded. I took the cup from his hands and raised it to my lips. "No, wait don't-"

He was too late as I felt bitterness spreading on my tongue and made a gagging face. He quickly got up, took the cup and placed it down. "-you won't like the taste."

I glared at him feeling bitter. "How do you drink that stuff?"

"Um, it's very simple actually. I just raise it to my lips and-"

"Haha, very funny." I made a face still not able to get rid of the bitter taste.

"Wait, I might have something that would help." He went back around his desk and took out something from one of his desk drawers.

Chocolate!

I frowned, taking it from him at the same time. He was sheepishly rubbing his neck. "Um, I thought you might bring Oli with you. I brought these for the kids."

Unknowingly a small smile came to my face. Idiot, you shouldn't be smiling. "I hope they like these. When I saw Oli at the store I noticed the chocolates that she dropped and from there I got the idea that she might like these."

"Wait, what store?" He frowned but a knowing expression soon replaced it.

"At the mall, I met Aaron in."

I nodded but I knew he was lying Oli didn't go to any, mall, recently.

He was hiding something from me.

But worse Oli was hiding something. The memory of Oli's fearful eyes when Val came to our house made its way home in my mind.