Chapter 146

My new boss. The man I hooked up with last night.

"I have no idea what you're talking about," I mumbled, licking my lips and looking around his expansive office instead of at him. Anywhere except him. A good-sized office; it had a good-sized table.

"You don't, huh?" he pressed. "So you weren't the girl with me last night?"

I shook my head, not very confident in my denial.

"In that intense silver dress, Stella?" He smirked. "Or in that red lingerie? Saying 'take…'"

"Okay, stop. This is…fine, it was me. I didn't know you were my boss, or else it wouldn't have happened." I cleared my throat. "It was a mistake."

"A mistake?" he repeated, rolling up his shirt sleeves to reveal his tattoos.

I looked away.

"Nothing like that will happen again," I assured him.

"Ever again," he echoed.

"Professional behavior only," I said firmly.

"Good," he finally said. "Because I don't make a habit of sleeping with people on my payroll."

I nodded.

"Now, here's what I expect from you as my assistant." He explained my agenda, my work, and his daily expectations before walking me out of his office. "That would be yours," he pointed at the glass doors opposite his office.

"I got an office?" I asked, surprised. "It's my first day here."

"You're Gabriel Whitlock's daughter," Luca explained. "He made it clear he'd have my ass on a platter if I mistreat you."

I sighed. "I came here to be treated indifferently."

Luca raised an eyebrow, amused. I focused on my words to avoid further awkwardness.

"I'd like to be treated like any other assistant."

"Very well," he agreed. "Take the desk outside my office."

I looked around the empty space. We would be the only ones on that floor. I nodded, not questioning the absence of others.

He was about to leave, but I stopped him. "Mr. Romano?"

"Mr. Romano?" He cocked an eyebrow. My cheeks flushed. "You haven't given me any work to start with."

Luca looked like he was about to strike me, but he didn't. "I'll send over your first file to study. Why don't you get settled in first?"

I nodded. Once he left, I took my place at the empty desk outside his office. While other desks were decorated, mine was bare. I fiddled around on the computer, setting up my new ID, when a file landed beside me with a thump, making me flinch.

The man from the next desk looked down at me. "Boss sent this for you," he said, leaning on my desk. "He expects you to be up-to-date with the ongoing negotiations before the meeting."

"The meeting?" I asked.

"Yeah. You and me with him."

I looked at him blankly.

"I'm his assistant, too," the man in the blue shirt said. "You didn't think you were the only one, did you?"

I blinked. "No, of course not," I mumbled, grabbing the file.

"Boss doesn't take chances. You're my backup!"

"Right," I mumbled. "Thanks, Edward, right?"

He nodded. "Surprised you remembered."

"I was nervous earlier," I admitted. "I'm Aurora."

"I know, Gabriel Whitlock's daughter. Everyone knows," he said, and shrugged.

The following section is largely unintelligible and needs significant rewriting to be understandable. Please provide a clearer version of the text. It appears to be a mix of dialogue and internal monologue, but the grammar and spelling are severely hindering comprehension.