"Why is it that I couldn't get through to you all day, yet you can just call me whenever you please?" Phoebe's voice was laced with a sharp, burning anger. She had been trying to reach Raymond since noon, but her calls wouldn't even connect, let alone be answered.
At the other end of the line, Raymond let out a low, soft chuckle. "My line is one-way, Miss Fortunata. I haven't granted two-way access yet—"
"You're being ridiculous! I've been trying to call you for hours!" Phoebe snapped, cutting him off mid-sentence.
Raymond fell silent for a moment, he could feel her blood boiling through the phone, but he sensed something else beneath the surface, a layer of her personality he hadn't fully uncovered yet.
"Are you angry, then?" Raymond asked, his voice dropping to a smooth, dangerous silk. "And why is that? Is it because you're so desperate to see me?"
His question hit home, forcing Phoebe into a sudden, stinging silence. She pulled the phone away for a second, her mind racing. She hadn't realized how worked up she was getting or why she had been so easily irritated by small things lately.
"Don't be absurd," she stated, regaining her iron-clad composure. "I am a busy woman! I called you because I needed to confirm our meeting this afternoon, as you previously suggested. If it wasn't happening, I had other things to attend to. Waiting around for an answer just for a meeting is hardly worth my time."
She spoke with the absolute firmness of a titan who knew her worth, and Raymond recognized this as the true Phoebe, the one who built an empire from the ground up.
"I don't break my word," Raymond replied. "I'll come to the office to pick you up."
"Absolutely not! I don't want anyone seeing me with you."
Raymond let out a slow sigh. This time, he didn't push, he wanted to see how she would navigate this on her own terms. "Fine. I'll leave the decision in your hands."
"Of course you will," she retorted, her voice brimming with the confidence that defined her. "All decisions are in my hands, because I'm the Boss!"
Raymond smiled on the other side of the line. Even without seeing her, he could perfectly picture the defiant, proud expression of Phoebe Fortunata.
Phoebe exhaled sharply, closing her eyes for a brief moment as her fingers tightened their grip around her phone. "I need to make him confess to everything he's done, and exactly what he's after," she muttered to herself, her resolve hardening like steel.
****
"I need you to look into something for me," a voice broke the silence of the room. It was deep, unreadable, and clearly belonged to a man with too much on his mind.
"Of course, Boss. What is it that you wish to know?" Standing ready, Enzo adjusted his posture, his eyes sharp with professional curiosity.
A trivial matter was all it was, at least according to the man behind the desk, but he wanted a summary nonetheless.
"Understood. Just say the word, if it's a lot, I'll take notes so I can provide a full conclusion without missing a single detail."
A shake of the head followed. "No, it's not much and it's not that serious. I just want to know … how much does woman's mood truly matter? And is there a connection between her mood, the timing, and who she happens to be with?"
Without a moment's hesitation, the assistant leaned in. "It matters immensely. A woman's mood is everything, and the person she is with dictates her entire attitude. Sometimes, she'll be incredibly stubborn and refuse to be questioned when she's with someone she considers beneath her, or someone who has offended or hurt her." A knowing glint appeared in his eyes. "But then, a woman can also be more prone to anger or act surprisingly pampered with someone she feels safe enough to show her honest self to."
Raymond's reactions were immediate, a furrowed brow and a sharp, questioning look came from the other side of the room. "Have you looked into this already? Since when did you learn to read my mind?"
Laughter erupted softly, fuelled by a rare moment of genuine confusion from the man who usually knew everything. "I don't have mind-reading abilities. It's just that I've spent plenty of time around women. I know these things better than you, because you've never exactly been close to one."
The words slipped out before they could be retrieved. Silence fell instantly as a razor-sharp glare settled on the speaker, heavy enough to stifle the air.
"Sorry, Boss. My mistake. It just slipped out," the apology came in a hurried stammer. "But really, what's going on? Did something happen with our Miss Australia?"
The nickname had become a comfortable staple in their private conversations. Instead of answering a simple shake of the head was given before the man turned on his heel and walked away without a word.
"It looks like the Boss is falling hard for Miss Australia," came a whisper, a grin finally tugging at a pair of lips. "Well, good for him. It's better than dying a single man." Still laughing softly, Enzo headed back to his own office, leaving the hallway to its usual silence.
****
Late afternoon finally arrived, marking the end of a gruelling workday. All tasks had been cleared, and her belongings were already packed, ready for the sanctuary of home. However, the silent departure was interrupted by the sharp vibration of a phone on the desk. "Luca? Why on earth is he calling me?" The name on the screen sparked a flicker of curiosity, prompting her to swipe and answer.
"Hello, Miss. Are you still at the office? I'm right outside," a smooth voice greeted her.
"You're at my office? For what reason?" Her brow furrowed, her voice shifting into a professional yet guarded tone.
"We can talk about it in person. You're not planning on staying late again, are you?"
"No, I'm finished for the day. Fine, stay where you are. I'll be out shortly."
Leaving the office behind, her heels clicked rhythmically against the floor as she headed toward the reception area. Zara was already there, standing near a man whose presence felt slightly out of place in the corporate quiet of the afternoon.
A casual greeting was exchanged, accompanied by a polite handshake. "I simply wanted to invite you out for a meal, if you aren't too busy."
Silence stretched between them for a moment as she studied the man in front of her. "Just for that?"
"Yeah, do you have some free time?"
"Not this evening, I already have an appointment with someone."
The rejection seemed to catch him off guard. "An appointment? With whom?"
"I don't believe I need to explain my personal schedule to you, Luca."
The sharpness of her reply was a reminder of her position. A look of slight embarrassment crossed his face as he quickly backtracked. "Ah, yeah … my apologies. I got ahead of myself, forgot for a moment that we aren't quite that familiar yet."
A graceful nod was her only response, acknowledging the apology without lingering on it. "I can't make it today. If there is something urgent regarding our professional matters, you can discuss the details with Zara first."
"No, this was strictly a social invitation. Perhaps we can talk business another time."
Accepting the answer with a casual shrug, Phoebe prepared to leave. "Oke, I can't stay much longer, I need to head out."
"Of course. Don't let me keep you."
"Zara, I'm heading off now."
"Certainly, Miss have a safe trip," Zara replied with a supportive smile.
Each step she took across the lobby was a display of effortless grace. From behind, a pair of eyes tracked her every move until she finally vanished from sight. To the man left standing there, it was becoming clear that the warmth she had shown him previously wasn't a personal trait, it was merely the professional mask of a high-tier executive.
A small, inscrutable smile played on his lips as he watched the empty space where she had been. It was the kind of look that, had she seen it, could have left her with more questions than answers.
On the other side of the scene, a slow, dark smirk tugged at Raymond's lips. "She certainly has taste," he murmured to himself, his gaze cold. "Luca, don't be so confident. My girl isn't going to choose you."
"Raymond had been aware of Luca's arrival at the office from the start, he had purposely stayed near the vicinity of Phoebe's building, keeping a watchful eye just in case she got distracted by Luca and forgot their engagement. But his suspicions were proven wrong. As they both headed toward their agreed-upon location, taking separate routes to maintain discretion, Raymond managed to arrive first.
The sharp, rhythmic click of heels echoing through the space caused Raymond to lift his head, he watched her with predatory focus, tracking every graceful stride she took toward the table.
"You finally made it. I was starting to think you wouldn't show!"
"And if a hadn't come, what exactly would you have done?" Raymond stood up, closing the distance between them with a slow, deliberate step.
"I would have closed off every access in my life to you!" Phoebe countered, her voice firm.
Raymond only responded with a slight nod and faint, knowing smile that didn't quite reach his eyes. "Fair enough. In that case, please have a seat, Miss Fortunata." Raymond reached for the chair across from him and pulled it out in a silent invitation. It was a gesture of a gentleman, yet his eyes held a weight that suggested he was the one in control of the space.
Phoebe took her seat without a word of thanks, her movements sharp and focused. She didn't wait for the menu of the waiter to approach. Her gaze locked onto his, cold, and demanding. "I have questions for you," she stated, the words coming out as a command.
A slow, calm smile spread across his face as he met her intensity with a nod. He didn't seem rattled by her bluntness, if anything, he looked quietly amused.
"Ask away," he replied softly, his voice a smooth contrast to her edge. "But perhaps it would be better to order some drinks and food first."