CHAPTER 6

CHLOE DUARTE

"She is full of plastic surgery and Botox just to look pretty in her eyes, you are different, you are natural, you are naturally beautiful and a very good person, she doesn't come close to you.", he smiles putting a hand on my shoulder.

"Thanks for the kind words Matt, but you don't have to exaggerate just to make me feel good.", I say sincerely.

"I am being sincere, looking at and working with you daily makes me want to visit Brazil more and more..."

"Why?", I ask, curious about your quote from my home country.

"Don't you know what they say about Brazilian women? That you are incredibly beautiful and have a phenomenal role, I proved this when I saw you rolling around on the table at Stars when you were drunk last month."

Let's say that I ended up demonstrating how to dance in Brazil, I confess that I ended up exaggerating when I asked the DJ to play a Brazilian Funk, then I got on top of the table and did a show that got us a lot of laughs.

"That was fantastic! The memories are still very vivid in my memory, it will be a hard night to forget..."

"Don't make fun of me! I just did the stupid combination of vodka and nostalgia for a Brazilian party, and the result was what you and Sam saw.", I explain, smiling.

"If that was a "small demonstration" of how you dance at a party there, I have just realized that Brazil has become my favorite country and my next vacation destination."

"You can go! You will be a big success there, Brazilian girls love a cute American Bad Boy like you...", in a debauched gesture on my part, I stretch out my hands and squeeze his cheeks, making him move away quickly.

Besides being handsome and charming, my best friend is also very cute with the people with whom he shares some intimacy, he tries to give off a dangerously sexy guy vibe with his motorcycle and leather clothes, he is very sexy I confess, but he is more than just a pretty face, he is a very good person with an incredible heart.

It may not seem like it sometimes, but I admire him too much, I admire his courage and his way of being, I admire his willpower to endure a horrible childhood with a horrible father, when I met him I knew there was something different about him. And months later he finally told me about his past, Matt had a father who always came home drunk, and when his mother was alive he was constantly forced to witness the physical and psychological abuse that the bastard did to his mother in front of her.

And after his mother died, Matt was the target, and his father's anger and frustration were always taken out on him, he suffered every beating when he was only nine years old, he suffered quietly, but at fourteen he could no longer suffer in silence.

I still remember the shivers and tears that ran down my face as I heard every sentence of his lament, a lament he never told anyone but me, Sam, and his grandmother.

His salvation is the name Matt constantly calls his grandmother, for when he could no longer stand being the target of his father, he ran away and took refuge in the house of his late mother's mother, where he had the rest of his adolescence living in a happy place surrounded by love.

This is why Matt trains Krav Maga, he told me he learned it when he was with his grandmother, he said it was one of the ways to protect other people besides himself.

A boy surrounded by pure violence and discrimination became a sweet man with a huge heart. But I don't think this refers to everyone, Matt became his father's disgust, and he became a good man.

"Okay, let's stop talking and get to work, partner!"

"You're the boss, my Brazilian!", he winks as I roll my eyes.

But my peace doesn't last long as I am soon presented with an e-mail from Adam asking me to come to his office immediately.

The first thing I think is that the cow Camily has invented something about me and that Adam has believed her, in short, I am about to sign my resignation letter.

"Oh, shit!", I shout, attracting Matt's attention and realizing that I am static in my chair, he doesn't joke about the situation this time.

"You're getting pale, are you okay, princess?", he looks at me with wide eyes.

"Adam asked me to report to his office immediately, did Camily say something and am I about to be fired? I don't want to leave, this is my dream!", I say desperately, but soon Matt's arms are around me.

"It shouldn't be like that, you are a good employee, Adam may be a womanizing son of a bitch, but he is very fair and he wouldn't fire you because of some rumors from that wild bitch!", he curses her in Portuguese, earning me a laugh with his heavy accent as I release myself from his embrace.

"Thank you for existing, Matt!"

"You're welcome. But thanks to your friend here, you could give me the contact information of one of your Brazilian friends..."

"Stop being a pervert!"

With wide, trembling steps I cross the corridor, hearing the sound of my heels echoing on the ceramic floor to the closed door of my manager's office, and not wanting to prolong my agony, I knock, and when his voice confirms I enter and close the door behind me.

My eyes automatically widen when I see Mr. Michel sitting on one of the chairs opposite Adam's desk, I take a deep breath and approach cautiously, I foresee the direction this conversation will take since none other than Jack is here to witness everything.

"You wanted to talk to me?", I ask, seeing Adam nod to the other chair available next to Jack.

"Yes, Mr. Michel has come to me for a helpful chat with the young lady.", Adam says and quickly turns around to see Jack's face relaxed.

"Are you going to fire me? I'm sorry and I apologize for anything wrong I did or said, I know I was wrong to insult and speak that way to Mr. Colucci, but I didn't know who he was and..."

"Stay calm Miss Duarte, the purpose of this conversation is about your behavior in Mr. Colucci's presence, but please stay calm.", Jack takes over.

"Yes, you were very imprudent to treat James Colucci that way, in the years that I have worked here, I have never seen or heard an employee have the courage and determination that you had inside that room, it was noticeable the effect that you caused James."

"I didn't call you here to fire you, Miss Duarte...", I arch my eyebrows, doubting Adam.

"Are you sure? I mean ... thank you very much!", I fumble with the words, drawing smiles from the two men in front of me.

"Actually, it was Mr. Colucci himself who asked us to have this little meeting, in short, James wants you to be part of his team."

What's it like?

I blink my eyes several times to see if I heard correctly. His team?

"I don't understand, I'm already on his company's team!"

"Let me clarify, James has asked for you to be transferred to the top floor, to become his assistant"

"Mr. Colucci himself asked for this?", I ask static.

"That's right, this is an incredible opportunity that doesn't come along every day."

"I can't! I don't have the professional experience for a position of this size.", I feel like laughing my head off, but I manage to control myself with some effort.

"When I hired you, I saw on your résumé that you attended and passed a business school with honors, so there's nothing to be afraid of, you are more than prepared!"

Ready to endure the unbearable and arrogant demands of the same guy who was making fun of my nervousness?

Before opening my mouth again, I think about the proposal, if I accept I will work side by side with the boss, of course, it would be a tempting opportunity, it is a chance to rise in position and earn much more, besides the experience that I will gain by watching James Colucci manage a multinational network nearby.

"As for the professional experience, don't worry, I'm sure Mr. Colucci will understand that he will need some time to get used to his new position. Congratulations, Miss Duarte, it's not every day that an employee makes James Colucci so intrigued...", Jack says smiling at me as he adjusts his glasses.

"Intrigued? I thought at the very least he would fire me by the end of the day for my meddling, I apologize again for that day Mr. Michael.", I ask sincerely.

"No need to apologize, you saved me at that disastrous meeting, and by the way, I presented the fully revised menu to Mr. Colucci this morning and he approved and praised your choices of dishes and drinks for the ball. You have won Mr. Colucci's attention, young lady, the best way is to use this to your advantage by accepting his new job offer."

"If I accept to become his assistant, what will change?", I ask, anticipating the answers.

"In addition to moving up the ranks in a renowned company, you will have the honor of working with one of the most influential businessmen in all of America, in addition to the great salary and travel.", Adam answers, twirling his pen in his fingers as he watches me.

"Trips?", I ask.

"Yes, as personal assistant to a man like Mr. Colucci, you will need to accompany him to important meetings and occasions that require your presence, and some even take place in other countries.", Jack says handing a sheet of paper to Adam who reads it silently before speaking up.

"I also saw on your resume that you have a good command of a few languages, so you won't have any problems with that requirement either. But from what I can see you won't have any problems at all."

Looking at the two men patiently waiting for my acceptance I decide to ask a question that has been on my mind since the news of the new position.

Jack mentioned that Mr. Colucci's last personal assistant had left her position and resigned, I have also heard some rumors about the woman's resignation on some floors of the company. And this makes me question the reason for her leaving, did he say something that offended her or could he not stand the arrogant demands of the boss?

"Is he very demanding?", I ask in a low tone hearing a laugh from Adam, but who answers me is Jack, since he is the closest to Colucci.

"You got a taste of his temperament at yesterday's meeting, so let's say yes. James likes to have control of the situation and have everything his way, but he is a good person. But as Adam said, if you do everything accordingly you won't have any problems with him.", He says smiling.

Yes, I have had a small taste of his temperament, but something inside me believes that anyone who works with him needs a lot of self-control not to tell him to fuck off.

"So why did his last personal assistant quit?", I ask, unable to hold my tongue.

"I noticed that you are also very attentive to detail, you are surprising Miss Duarte, and I am beginning to understand the fascination that Mr. Colucci feels for you. Even though I don't need to and can't go into this matter in depth, I can only tell you that it was for personal reasons, her resignation has nothing to do with Mr. Colucci."

Fascination? It is easier to believe that ponies exist than to believe that a man like that is fascinated by me.

"I need to think, I have created bonds and friendships with important people on this floor, and I like my work here. May I think about the proposal?", I ask hesitantly.

I am in complete doubt, it is tempting, but it breaks my heart to think of leaving my job, with my best friend to cheer up my mornings and I don't know if I could adapt to such a high position at this level with so many responsibilities.

"Sure, I understand your side perfectly Chloe, you are an exemplary employee on my floor and under my direction, but we are talking about an opportunity to work with James Colucci himself, this could easily bring you great opportunities, but the decision is totally up to you.", Adam says treating me formally with a genuine smile.

"That's right, you have until the end of the day to conclude Miss Duarte, unfortunately, Mr. Colucci was not born with the gift of patience, but he wants you on his team, I've never seen James insist so much on changing an employee's position in the company, consider yourself lucky...", Jack finishes.

"If you decide to accept the offer of the new position, just come see me at the end of business hours so we can follow up and refer you to Human Resources, and you will soon be up and running in your new position."

"Thank you for everything!", I thank you with a smile before getting up and leaving the room with a huge doubt on my shoulders.

Do I accept or not?