𝟷𝟻. "... 𝚈𝚘𝚞 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗'𝚝 𝚑𝚊𝚟𝚎 𝚊 𝚌𝚑𝚘𝚒𝚌𝚎 𝚊𝚗𝚢𝚠𝚊𝚢𝚜"

PEARL'S P.O.V

I glanced at the clock, the light ticking sound echoing through the place, my gaze settled back on Mr Miller who was still going through the documents I brought here 10 minutes ago.

Was he punishing me for bringing the feedback a day late?

He placed the next file down, and I let out out another breath, my heels clinking on the floor. "Are you heading somewhere again, Miss Vega?" He asked, his eyes still on the papers.

"Yes"

His eyes made way to mine, he was taken aback by my honest response. He placed it down and looked up at me, "the reports are fine but I expected them a day earlier"

"I gave you a reason"

"You said you weren't ready. I guess, I have to remind you, Miss Vega, this is a working environment and we have deadlines and working time and I expect you to get used to this and prove to me why you were the best in Italy"

I held on a look with him, a small smile making way to my lips. "So, you don't believe I'm the best?"

"You haven't proved to me yet" he replied in the same tone. I see, a challenge. This guy was colouring me every shade of intrigue.

I leaned back on my seat. "I guess, we are done here" I said and he nodded. "Have a good day" with that I got up and headed out.

I didn't want to do too much or prove anything in the few months I intend to work here but since he was gonna be a problem and actually be my boss, I guess I had to prove something now.

It was so much easier with Caius.

➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣

I applied the nude gloss on my lips and looked back at the mirror, pulling my hair up, I put it into a messy bun before taking in my dress once again. I was ready to go.

I grabbed my bag and headed out. Things has began walking faster than I anticipated, just as expected, Cassian reached out to me and was asking for dinner.

I knew it wouldn't be too difficult to get him and I wondered what he wanted to talk about, this was like date number two for him but to me it was just another way to get what I wanted.

I didn't want to be the one asking for him to take me to the Apex event, I would come off as a bit sketchy, for now I will just be dumb.

And how I love using that to my advantage.

I got down the stairs, my eyes making way to Kendra, who had made herself feel at home in my house and had documents and files scattered on the table.

Her head shot back to me and she got up. "I have all the files all here, we can begin with the-"

"I'm heading out" I cut her off as I head for the door, her mouth dropped open and she hurried to me. "...but...but you scheduled this today. You intended I go through the rundown with you, I show you all the designs that will be exhibited for the fashion show next week-"

"Not now" I answered, stepping out to the cold air outside but she still followed. "But there's just a small window of time left before the-"

I swiftly turned back to her and she backed up, "I believed I've made myself clear. Everything has been trusted into your hands and you can't fail. The show should go perfect...and I'll be there"

She slowly gulped down, the nervousness evident in her features. "And clear my schedule for next week, I'll be flying to Italy" I informed and her jaw dropped open again but this to me she didn't argue.

"I'll be back Friday, just something quick I have to handle" I answered her unspoken questions. "What about work?"

A small smile made way to my lips and I looked away, "leave that to me"

She understood as a small smile enveloped her lips, "be out of my house before I get back" I made it clear before heading out. "Okay boss!" She answered.

Tobi leaned away from the car as I approached, "Where are we headed tonight, boss?"

"You mean, where am I headed. Keys" I demanded and he didn't argue like my petty assistant did and just dropped it in my palms and In minutes I was on the road.

Something about driving through this streets of LA made me forget about the chaos all around me. I've loved driving for the longest time but I never quite do it often.

I arrived my destination and stepped out of the car, adjusting the white dress I wore, the cold air scheming through my bare back and shoulders.

I stepped into the building, the warm atmosphere calming me, exchanged few words with the waitress and she led me to my table at once.

The ambiance of the place was intimate and the lighting dim, just the perfect setting. As we approached the table, my eyes settled on Cassius who was already here, cigar between his fingers, the smoke from his lips curling up into the air.

His eyes found me and he didn't look away till I got to the table, "I'll be with you shortly" the waitress said and I nodded, my attention not even on her but on the man sited across me.

"Miss Vega, you're late" he said and I smiled before taking my seat opposite him. "It wasn't intended"

He held on that look with me before ashing the cigar, "Ты сексуальна в этом платье" he said in a gruff voice and I chuckled, "you think I'm sexy in this dress?"

"You wore it on purpose" he confirmed and I laughed, throwing my head back. "It was what I had"

He shook his head, a little smile playing on his lips and the waitress came to take our orders. Moment in, I had my eyes on him as I took a light sip from my glass.

Cassian has gotten even more interesting, he was the Don of the Volkov Syndicate, I knew something was sketchy about him but he does a great job not letting it show.

The Volkov broke out of the Bratva— one the crime organization in Russia and I knew he was a name they hate to hear but...what was he doing in LA of all places?

Aside business, what was he here for?

"Pearl... " he called, looking up at me. "Yeah?" I answered, placing down my glass and returning back to my meal.

"Don't answer me 'yeah'. You Americans" he muttered that part and my eyes made way to him, he picked back up his cigar and took another drag.

"We are going to Italy this weekend"

He didn't ask, he just informed. "We?" I still asked, taking another sip from my glass. "Do you have any other plans?"

"I don't know if you've forgotten, Mr Cassian but I work here" I reminded and he bursted out laughing, leaning back on his seat, he ashed the cigar and I shot him an incredulous look.

"What's funny?"

"I don't understand why you work, Pearl. I told you to come with me and I'll give you a better life, Поехали со мной в Россию"

"I should come to Russia with you?" I asked in a tone of disbelief. "Yes!" He answered, not sensing my irritation.

I needed to get myself together, I couldn't show this other side when I'm with him, especially when I haven't gotten what I wanted.

I let out a breath and returned back to the food, "What's in Italy?"

"I'm sure you miss it, why would you want to stay in LA?" He asked, laughing again and my eyes made way to him, my hand tightening on the fork.

Before I could reply, my breath caught in my throat immediately, my eyes shooting to the people who just walked into the section we were, the waitress led the couple to their table.

The man pulled the seat back for the woman and she smiled and sat down and he took the other side. My fork slipped out of my fingers and leaned away from the table.

She flicked her hair over her shoulder, a bright smile on her lips as she reached for the man's hand on the table. Bella.

"... Pearl!" My eyes snapped to the Cassian in front of me, he shot me a narrowed look and I cleared my throat.

"You're right. I do miss Italy, I guess I won't mind" I said and he nodded, returning back to his meal. "You didn't have a choice anyway" he muttered and my eyes shot back to Bella and Derrick who were on the other side.

The waitress came back and they began ordering, I couldn't look away, I couldn't believe this was her. I mean, I've see her in the papers but she was different in person.

Her hair was short now and... I couldn't tell exactly what it was that made her different but she was. Derrick too had added in age, he looked older in the black suit he wore.

It's been years.

I grabbed my glass again and swung back the rest of its content, I thought I could handle this, I thought I could handle seeing them again but I wasn't expecting it to be this soon.

I needed a few weeks head start, I have abstained from familiar places that I was most likely to see them but here we were.

I was in the same room with my sister and it all felt very strange.

"... Cassian" I called and he finally tore his eyes from the cigar between his fingers. "You want more wine?"

"No, I need to... I just remembered I had something to...take care of at—"

"It could wait" he cut me off at once and I paused and shot him a look. "No, it could not and I appreciate tonight. We will leaving on Sunday for the trip, right?" I asked as I picked up my bag.

He was now confused. "Yes but where are you going?"

"I just told you" I answered, looking back at that table, they were now engrossed in a conversation, which gives me enough time to leave this place.

"Let my men drop you off"

"That won't be necessary" I got up and leaned down, forcing a kiss over his lips before leaning away, that would dissipate whatever annoyance he had right now.

Rubbing his lips, I said. "Have a good night" and with that I headed out after throwing one last look at them. I wasn't ready for that yet.