by Hawke, Jessa
Sat at her desk, feeling sorry for herself, another message arrived, this one demanding that she go to Fortune’s office, now, for a briefing. The young man who handed her the message looked on in pity. Probably everyone in the entire building pitied her.
With a brave face she picked up pen and pad and set off to the end of floor, where Fortune’s office overlooked all. When she arrived, she could hear her boss laughing with her cell phone glued to her ear, obviously talking to a male, by the sounds of her purring. Annabella tapped lightly on the door and Fortune waved her in, like she was a Queen residing in her throne room.
“Yes, Iliaro,” Fortune’s voice has taken on an excited tone, “I have my secretary coming with, see you both this evening, chow, darling,” she put the phone down, looking mighty pleased with herself. “Aah, enter dear Annabella, I have some splendid news to share with you,” she summoned.
Annabella stepped cautiously into the lion’s den.
“You’ve been chosen to come along and assist me in very important business meeting,” she announced, as if she was doing her a big favor. “Do you have something nicer than those clothes to wear, I need you looking at your very best?”
“If you let me know when it is, Fortune, I’ll try to make sure I look the part, but you really can’t get more of a respectable office look, than the style I have on today,” Annabella knew she was being a little too forward, and secretly hoped that Fortune would ask for someone else.
“It’s this evening dear, do keep up, and its at Per Se. You know, it takes months to get a table booked at that restaurant, so I want you to look a million dollars. Is that possible with your wardrobe?” Fortune pointed a long a painted finger nail at Annabella’s clothing.
“Why would I take business Minutes in a restaurant?” Annabella asked, confused.
“Well, you wouldn’t would you, silly girl. Now, scoot, go home and get yourself smartened up a little, something suitable for a high class restaurant and first class company.”
Fortune’s long nails pointed the way to the door as she dismissed Annabella without further ado.
Annabella really did not want to attend this meeting, and why should she work at those sort of hours without being asked first? In reality she knew better than to argue, but inside she was seething. Resigned to the fact that there was no one to go to complain about it, at such short notice, she approached her desk readying to pack her bags and go home to change. Not that she had any clothing that Fortune would approve of, but she’d better make the effort. No wonder her PA was off sick today.
Chapter 3 Joyful and Happy
A cab arrived to pick Annabella up from her apartment, and she’d better be ready in time, so Fortune had instructed on her answer phone.
This was unfair, forcing her to work on an evening, even if the meeting was at one of the finest restaurants in town. The fact that is was Friday night meant that no one was in the office tomorrow, so her complaint would have to wait, while she fumed over the weekend.
Arriving at the reception of the fancy restaurant, she could understand why her boss had insisted on her wearing her best clothes, of which luckily she had. Though, she had tried to keep the office look with a black mini dress, with a double row of brass buttons all the way up the front and on the ends of the long sleeves. However, it did have a rather plunging neckline so she would never wear it to the office. To add to the more casual look, she wore her long hair lose, so it could fall over her cleavage and hide away some of the bare flesh that would be on display. This was not something she would do at the office, because her hair was too long, reaching down to the nape in her back, so she always tied it up, but this called for an evening look. Her hair was one of her attractive features, long, blonde and naturally curly. She got it from her mother’s side. Occasionally she had an urge to cut it all off, but her mother would never forgive her, so she had learned to live with it.
A dandy looking waiter led her to the table, and as she approached, she could hear Fortune’s deep voice, always loud, it was unmistakable. Though it wasn’t how glamorous Fortune looked that shocked Annabella when she arrived at the table, it was who was sat at the table with her. She had forgotten all about her run in with the two handsome guys in the elevator, on her first day at work. Yet, here they were, being entertained by her boss.
“Aahh, here you are, my darling,” Fortune’s voice rang out in a false welcoming tone. “Now then, my darlings, I want you to meet one of my new recruits,” the long, painted finger nails were directed at Annabella. “This is Annabella Harriot. Her father’s English so that may be why she speaks odd. Come on dear, do sit down.”
Annabella was lost for words. Did she speak odd, she never thought she did. Maybe she was just too refined for Fortune.
The quiet one turned and smiled at her and her heart simply melted, she had forgotten just how good looking he was.
“We have met with Annabella, briefly,” he stood and offered Annabella his hand, the perfect gentleman.
“Ahh, yes, Miss Indecisive,” the other guy said. She blushed at his name calling. “I hope you weren't in too much trouble for being late on your first day?”
Annabella quickly glanced at Fortune, who stared at her malevolently. She had lectured her over being late and it was tempting to embarrass her by indulging this information, but decided to say nothing.
She sat down and one of handsome hunks poured her a glass of wine.
“My name is Iliaro, which means joyful and happy, and that’s exactly what I am,” the she sat next to informed her. “You will never experience a dull moment in my company, Annabella. My amico here is Giovanno, and he is far too serious, you do not want to be interested in him.”
Annabella smiled at Iliaro’s forwardness, she liked him, he truly was joyful and she relaxed instantly, almost forgetting that Fortune was at the table. Iliaro was attentive to her all evening. He poured her wine and he helped her to choose her dishes.
The evening was wonderful, the food perfect and the company charming. She was unsure of the reason behind the meeting, but asked no questions. Happy now, to have been invited, she simply sat back and allowed Iliaro to entertain her. She enjoyed his attention but couldn't help glancing over at Giovanno, occasionally. Although it seemed that every time she looked over at him, he was looking at her. Was he watching her, she wondered? Surely not. He was way above her league, his suit alone must be worth a few months of her salary, and it was a different suit to the expensive one he had on in the elevator. Fortune seemed to be fawning over him all night, laughing too loud at his jokes, it was quite embarrassing and she felt sorry for Giovanno. As Annabella watched them she saw him seemingly concentrating on whatever discussion he was having with fortune but still, his eyes kept wandering towards her, and she quivered at the very thought of a man like him being interested in a girl like her.
Chapter 4 A Second Invitation, Not to be Refused
As the evening came to a close, both she and Fortune were escorted to different chauffeur driven cars. It had been an amazing evening, food at a top restaurant and now a ride home in a Bentley. Annabella had been dreading this evening with her boss, but it turned out they hardly spoke a word to each other. It had been fun and interesting. Iliaro told her many tales of his Italian family connections. She hoped she might bump into him again, back at the office.
Annabella closed her eyes and relaxed on the plush leather seat, trying to capture the memories of the evening, she did not want them to escape her. If working overtime meant being in the company of Giovanno and Iliaro, then she wanted more overtime, hell, she’d do it without pay. She wondered at what the business side of the meeting had been about. Giovanno and Fortune had chatted all night, well, Fortune had done most of the talking and it seemed that Giovanno was a good listener. Actually, Fortune had openly flirted with him. Not knowing exactly who they were, she couldn’t know what the meeting was about, but whoever they were, Fortune was doing her best to impress them. Her role must have been to balance th
e party out, but whatever the reasons for the whole thing, she wished it could have gone on all night.
Coming out of her reverie, Annabella noticed through the window that the car was going in the wrong direction. She was just about to speak to the driver, when he pulled up. Unsure what was happening, and a little concerned of as to where she was, the door opened and there stood Iliaro.
“It seems, my beautiful Annabella, that you have impressed my boss, and he would like to continue the evening on a social setting, rather than a business one. Would you care to join us, or are we intruding on your privacy?”
Annabella was a little taken aback.
“Oh, Iliaro, you can intrude on my privacy all you want, I’d love to spend the evening chatting away with you,” Annabella replied, pleased at this outcome.
“Ah well, you will have two handsome men entertaining you now,” Iliaro reminded her. “Come, the car is waiting.”
She got out of the car and Iliaro instructed the driver, then he led her by the arm to a another car, another Bentley, whoever these guys were they were not short of Bentleys, money. The windows were tinted, making it impossible to see inside. Brief thoughts of a sexual assignation in a car like this, out in public, but completely private, flitted through her mind and she felt the blood rise in her face.
“You okay, Annabella?” Iliaro asked, “you look a little flushed.”
Annabella just smiled guiltily, and Iliaro opened the rear door of the car. She was greeted by the wonderful sight of Giovanno, looking elegant and gorgeous. Remembering that Iliaro referred to him as his boss, she guessed he must be at some managerial or executive level. Whatever, he was a walking hunk of handsomeness with a body to match. Just looking at him stirred something deep inside of her, and created a little warmth in her panties..
“I’m glad you decided to join us, Annabella,” he greeted her, and she detected a hint of an accent to his voice. “I needed to complete my meeting with Fortune, before I could ask to you to spend the rest of the evening with me.”
“Oh, so Fortune has gone?” she asked. For some reason she had assumed Fortune was a fixture of the party.
“The rest of the evening is for pleasure, the meal was for business,” he explained to her.
“As we have already wined and dined, and I do not care for clubs, could I request that we return to my apartment, where I can entertain you for a joyous evening,” Giovanno asked.
“Not joyous, Gio,” Iliaro scolded him as he closed the car door. “I think Giovanno means a pleasant evening. Forgive him, he doesn’t socialize very much and his English is a little rough,” Iliaro laughed.
“I would love a pleasant evening in your company,” Annabella laughed back. This was going to be wonderful, just her and the two handsome hunks. She would never have dreamed that her day would end like this.
Chapter 5 The Best Invitation of All
The apartment was stunning, and it was the penthouse suite. She wasn’t too knowledgeable on these things, but it was a classy apartment and reeked of wealth. Though it was also refined and not over fussy, definitely minimalist and definitely a male home.
Iliaro led her to a large balcony that overlooked the city. The balcony had a canopy, so it was warm and airy, and the view was incredible.
“My boss, he goes to shower and change, he does not like to entertain in his business clothes. Me, I pour you a cocktail, yes?”
“That’s a wonderful idea, Iliaro, thank you,” is all Annabella could think to say.
At the moment she was still getting over the shock that she had been invited to be entertained, and not Fortune.
The cocktails were amazing and the company even better, and they laughed and chatted like they were old friends. She talked about her visits to England and how she hated the cold winds and rain, and they talked about Italy and the wonderful historical places that Giovanno loved to visit, when he went home.
Finally, Annabella plucked up the courage to ask about the meeting and wondered if all the managers met at expensive restaurants.
“I like to meet with all the managers individually, and out of the work setting,” Giovanno explained.
“You are expected to take every manager to that expensive restaurant? I hope the company help you with the expenses,” she didn’t mean to say that but it seemed a little over the top for a manager’s assessment.
“Annabella,” Iliaro whispered her name, “Giovanno is the company.”
“Oh, I see, they are your managers, in the sense of yours and not in the sense of...” she swallowed her words, realizing this was the owner of the large company, and she felt a sudden embarrassment at not knowing this already.
“But, I’m not a manager, why was I invited?” she asked, puzzled.
“Ahh, now you were a special case, Annabella,” she heard Giovanno’s voice as he entered the party. “Iliaro took a fancy to you in the elevator, and insisted I invite you too.” Iliaro was beaming with a big smile across his face. “Besides,” Giovanno continued, “neither of us looked forward to an evening alone with Ms. O’Conner, your presence made the evening bearable.”
Annabella blushed at the compliment, “if I realized you were my boss, I might not have shown myself up in the elevator,” she admitted.
“That is what I like about you Annabella,” Giovanno said, “you are not trying to impress me because you want to climb a ladder.”
“Not climb a ladder? Gio, another silly choice of words,” Iliaro scolded.
Annabella laughed, these two were obviously good friends, If Giovanno owned the company she wondered at what Iliaro’s role was.
“Ah, the English of these Italians,” Iliaro expressed. “I teach him everything he knows and still he does it wrong.”
They both broke into Italian, with some little tiff, and Annabella continued to laugh at them, such a pair, they were clearly not just business acquaintances.
“Pah!” Giovanno stood up and flicked the back of his hand in exasperation at his friend, then came to sit beside Annabella. “Insubordinate, that is what he is,” he said, smiling at her.
As he sat down, she felt his knee touch with hers. She did not move her leg as she liked the closeness. They continued their little bickering, but now in English, Annabella found it amusing listening to them.
“I do understand what Giovanno means though, Iliaro,” she interrupted, not really wanting to take sides. “There is an expression of ‘climbing a ladder’, other than the actually physically climbing a ladder.”
“If you two are going to gang up on me, I shall leave and pour some more drinks,” Iliaro said, a faux hurt look on his face.
“Go, cameriere!” Giovanno waved his arm at him, dismissively, but smiling at the same time, although the argument sounded serious, it was clear it was all in fun.
As his arm came down, he draped it gently over Annabella’s shoulder.
“You must forgive my friend, he takes liberties and embarrasses me in front of pretty young women,” he smiled.
His lips were close to her ear and she felt his warm breath. Tipping her head back, she laughed wholeheartedly, so happy to be in the company of these two, only to be met by a soft pair of warm lips, pressing upon hers. In the back of her mind she thought she should refuse the uninvited kiss, but in reality she welcomed it. The touch of his skin was intoxicating and she never wanted the lingering kiss to end.
Just as Giovanno pulled away, Iliaro sat himself at her other side, on the large sofa. It felt good to be between these two men. She was fast beginning to like them both and could not make out who she liked the most. Iliaro was funny and witty and handsome, and Giovanno was quiet and mysterious and handsome. All good qualities in a man.
“You must forgive my friend,” Iliaro said as he put the drink in her hand. “He has no manners. When I tell his mamma of his behaviour, she will be shocked.”
They continued bickering in Italian, now communicating over Annabella, in the middle.
“Pah!” Giovanno expressed once
again.
They both looked at her with their own sexy smiles, her heart melted and her tummy fluttered.
“Annabella,” Giovanno looked into her eyes. “I would like to ask if we can bed you this evening?”
“You cannot do that,” Iliaro shot back at him, both of them leaning over Annabella. “You cannot just ask like that, it is ill mannered.”
“Do you mean both of you?” Annabella couldn’t believe she had plucked up the courage to ask, but that was how she understood it.
“My friend,” Giovanno spoke, “he makes me share everything with him, my fortune, my women and any love, if I am lucky enough to find it. He takes it all.”
“You two are the strangest pair I have ever had the fortune to meet,” Annabella was full of conflicting emotions, she’d never slept with a man on the first date. Yet here she was, being propositioned by two. Though these guys did make her feel like someone very specially.