❁ Why does she have trust issues? " She gave them the world and let her walls down. She trusted them and in return they made her question who she was. ❁

" Now I'm leaving this job to you, I reckon I won't be disappointed. " I hang up the call after having a long conversation with Andrew about a project.

It's five minutes to six in the morning. I'm on my bed in my Jimjams, sipping my tea, with my eyes fixated on the laptop screen right next to me. Our company's last month sales growth rate hasn't shown a great positive deviation, we need to bring some fresh ideas.

And I just got an idea!

Not about sales but Noriana. Handling a company and making Noriana's life miserable simultaneously is way too hectic. However, I'm undoubtedly nailing both. Without wasting a moment I dial her number.

" Have you seen the time! " she grunts sounding like my call disturbed her beauty sleep. " Morning to you too, now listen, you don't need to come office..."

" Oh heavens, you finally fired me, thank you, now I can sleep 2 hours extra. " she exclaims in utter joy not before cutting me off.

Silly Nerd.

"...today. You don't need to come today. " I state, to which she doesn't reply with any swear word, but I can imagine her rolling her eyes.

" Because I want you to go on a coffee date with Santino Russo. " I tell sipping my tea.

" And I want you to go to hell. " she cliches and a scoff escapes my mouth.

" Been there, the devil didn't like me and spat me back just to make your life hell. " I say sarcastically.

" Are you serious? You're still upto that stupid mission of setting me up with Seth. " she belts, making me wonder who's Seth.

" So you already gave him a nickname, that's very adorable, isn't it? " I sneer and she hangs up the call, disappointing me by not giving any furious reaction.

I love Noriana 2.0's reactions.

I check my mails for the next 15 minutes and now I suppose I should have a shower.

As I come out of shower I see a text from Noriana which reads, " You need to drop me to the cafe because it's quite a long way from my apartment and I'm broke. "

Marvelous!

Headlines of the day, Noriana Williamson is skint!

***

I could've sent a driver but why would I miss any chance to annoy her especially when she's already frustrated about Santino, or should I say Seth.

In America, I try to avoid driving as much as I can because I'm not used to driving on the right side of the road, unlike in England where we drive on the left side but on the contrary I'm driving to her place all by myself.

Reason is that, it will be quite easy to disguise the murder as an accident if she tries to do something to make me lose control on my anger.

And I'm also a little curious about what she's going to wear, in order to seduce Seth, she must wear something very sexy, and that's the thing, she doesn't know how to look sexy.

I'm pretty sure she must be wearing something boring like the ladies in 90's movies, but you never know, Noriana 2.0 is full of surprises.

I halt my black Mercedes as I reach in front of her apartment's building where my eyes fall upon my enemy who's already waiting for me and it would be an understatement if I say I can't take my eyes off her.

She's looking lush!

Honestly, this is one of those very rare things I fancied in old Noriana, which surely hasn't changed, the way she dresses up and carries herself. She doesn't know how to look sexy but she definitely knows how to kill someone with her effortless cuteness and simplicity.

Hans what the hell are you even thinking!

If he's not gonna give up on his stupid mission, then nor will I. Mission H&T can actually help me to get rid of him. I know him very well he's doing it just to torture me.

I have asked Hans to drive me to the cafe, not because I'm running out of money. Actually yeah, that is also a reason. But the main reason is I need to spend some time with him to observe his feelings toward Tatiana.

I slide into the back seat as Hans pulls over his car right in front of me." Dear Boss, where would you like to be dropped? " he asks in sarcasm.

" You need to work on your memory, I already told you. " I taunt while keeping an innocent expression on my face. " I'm not your bloody hell driver, sit on the front seat! " he thunders making me flinch and grin at the same time.

I've always loved teasing him.

" Fine. " I step out from the back and settle myself on the front seat and buckle up the seat belt. He starts the car, while I sit silently.

" Excited? " He says which sounds more like a question, with his eyes focused on the road and hands firmly holding the steering as though he's driving for the first time.

" Very much, I can't wait to meet my Seth Darling. " I smirk sarcastically to which he replies with an annoyed scoff.

***

He pulls over the car which makes me look around. " Cafe is still a few blocks away. " I tell more like questioning why did he stop here.

" My car is tired, she needs some rest. " he states making me wince at him in confusion " Can't you understand what Santino slash Seth Darling would think if he sees me, apparently your boss dropping you in his expensive Mercedes. " he explains.

Valid point!

" Oh okay fine. " I say in understanding while the door of the car automatically opens leaving no other option for me but to get out of it.

Wait.

" Don't wait for me here, I can be a little late. ", I tell him, while placing my arms on the window frame, not looking in his eyes, in pretense to blush, then finally walk away.

If I ask him to stay, he won't stay. But if I ask him not to stay, no power on earth can stop him from staying.

His ego is bigger than his... Let's just say his Mercedes.

I can't help but grin at this thought.

And my grin is gone!

" Morning Mr. Russo. "

" Seth it is, and you look remarkable, Signora. " he compliments and takes my hand to kiss my knuckles, to which I politely reply, " Thank you. "

Tell me something I don't know!

I walk inside the cafe while he follows me honouring the quote ' Ladies first'. He pulls out a chair for me and then settle himself in his seat.

Honestly speaking, Seth has a very classy and gentle behavior, which is usually a good way to impress me, but something about his creepy eyes and weird smile makes me uncomfortable.

" Just a plain coffee for me. " he tells to the waiter who is waiting for our orders. " Same for me. " I say with a small smile.

Confession No. 27 - I'm starving.

But it wouldn't be a good impression if he sees me biting an extra large cheese sandwich while sipping his plain coffee.

" So you're off today? " He simply asks breaking the ice as I check the menu.

Not really, my boss gave me an extra leave to go on a date with you.

" Yes actually I'm knackered.” I stop as he weirdly starts gazing me from head to toe. Wait, did he hear naked instead of knackered, which means tired in my home country, Britain.

“ I mean I'm tired of my job. ” I clear and he chuckles in awkwardness. “ Or if I say frankly I'm tired of my boss, so I took an off today. " I tell making up the circumstances.

Confession No. 28 - Not my first time when people misunderstood this word, and look at me with judgemental eyes.

" Really why? " he questions in a concerned tone.

" Well he asks me for anything, like complete my fortnight work in a single day, and get him the moon and stars and blah blah, and if I don't do as he says, he would fire me. " I explain with an honest annoyance on my face.

" That's very rude of him. " he comments while the waiter places the coffees on the table. I pour off a few drops of sanitizer on my hands and then rub them against one another.

" I'm sorry that I started my boring sad tales. " I say as my hand approaches for the coffee when he suddenly places his hand over mine," Oh it's perfectly fine, you can tell me anything, you can blindly trust me. "

You're telling me to trust you blindly! I don't even trust myself sometimes.

" Oh yeah I can see the loyalty in your eyes. " I scoff in sarcasm which he obviously takes as a compliment " Tell me something about yourself. " I try my best to hold a genuinely curious expressions.

" What should I say about myself, Signora. I'm happy with my job. Mrs. Tatiana is a very responsible CEO and a very kind person. But deep down there's an emptiness and loneliness that creeps inside of me. " he frowns while slightly rubbing his thumb over my hand to attain some sympathy.

Men will be men!

" Mrs.? She's married? " I ask remarkably ignoring his last sentence and taking my hand back. " She's a widow, her husband died in an accident after a few months of their marriage. " he explains.

" Oh heavens, I'm so sorry. "

" It's been while. After his death she took over the charge of his business in her own hands, and made Roman's one of the top 5 brands in Italy. " He elaborates while sipping his coffee.

Oh heavens, that lady has been through a lot. Am I even doing the right thing to set her up with that devil?

We talk for a few more minutes, and by talk, I mean he tells me some of his stupid life experiences, which I'm obviously not interested in but I still nod my head with a fake smile.

I'm dying of hunger!

The waiter reaches our table with the bill and I put my right hand inside my bag while looking for my purse. " Don't bother Signora, I will pay. " he takes out his card.

" No no please I can pay for myself. " I unwillingly retort.

I can pay for myself but I'd highly appreciate if you force me not to pay. I still have a week to survive without salary.

" Listen, you take this. " he passes his card to the waiter.

" Seth no! "

I'll say yes this time, just don't let me pay!

" Fine, if you insist. " He takes his card back and pays in cash for his share.

Ahhh that is not fair.

As we both make our way out of the cafe, he advances towards me," It was very nice meeting you, Signora. We should meet often. "

I would rather die.

Why is he getting closer?

Is he?

Shit!

He's trying to kiss me.

Should I slap him or just let him kiss me? I can't slap him, that will screw the whole plan and I definitely can't let him kiss me.

He's getting more closer!

What should I do? Why the hell am I closing my eyes! His lips are one centimeter away from mine, I can feel his breath.

Isn't it illegal to kiss without a mint or mouth freshner?

No! I won't let him kiss me, I take a step backwards when suddenly my cell starts to ring attracting both of our attentions.

" What? I'm coming. " I exclaim over the call. Without having a glance over Seth I leave from his vicinity.

❤❤❤

Oh Good Gracious!

❁ I know I know, it was hell of a long chapter, hope you read the full chapter and didn't take millions of naps meanwhile, or even if you did, I understand🥺👉🏻👈🏻

❁ I swear the upcoming chapters won't be this long, actually I needed to finish Seth and Nora's so called coffee date in this chapter only.

❁ Do you Hans will stay?

May you be as crazily devoted towards your goal as crazily handsome Liam Hemsworth is. (❁'◡'❁)