Bab 30: Chapter 30

Her eyes were already wide open even before her alarm went off. In truth, she hardly slept because of a dream that continuously bothered her last night.

In her defense, she was under tremendous pressure, and the tension had her mind on edge. But Luisa could only blame herself for the incident last night. She should stop acting impulsively.

"You should never have listened to Noreen." She mumbled irritatedly, running her hands across her face as if that would erase last night's event.

However, Noreen was not at fault but her. She knew that. It was she who had control of the situation. She held the keys and drove the car beyond its speeding limits. She should be taking all the responsibility.

"Luis, wait up." She suddenly heard her name, startling her from her trance.

She was crossing the lobby floor to the elevator when Vinnie ran up next to her. She immediately stopped to see what he wanted as he rushed up to her side.

"I'm glad I saw you. I was looking for you. I went to your house last night, but you were not yet home, then you were not answering your phone." Vinnie rambled on as if they had all the time in the world for chitchat.

But as she looked at her watch, she knew she would be running late. "Vinnie, I am sorry, but I need to run." She did not want to be rude, but she had no more time.

Quickly, she dashed to the elevator, but she still heard his friend shouting at her. "Oh, yeah! Sorry about that. Anyway, there is a race. If you are interested..." She looked back at her friend and just gave him a thumbs-up as she entered the metallic box.

Of course, she was interested. As long as the schedule had no conflict with her work, she could always squeeze in her first love. She could already feel the excitement in her blood just thinking about it.

Then, her smile immediately disappeared when her eyes landed on the man who stopped the elevator doors from closing. She was not even aware that he was behind her.

But usually, he arrived a few minutes earlier than her, that was why she was always in a hurry. It would seem that he was late too. But he was the boss. However, he was not alone.

"Good morning, Sir." Finally, Luisa found her voice, greeting him and then nodding to the other man. She was suddenly too aware of their presence in the small confinement.

She believed he was the same man from yesterday. The man who accompanied the Count. The same one that bailed her out last night.

Suddenly, she could feel her hands turn cold as her nervousness went through the roof. Her blood must be freezing by now as she felt the stiffness in her joints.

"Please report to my office immediately after placing your things on your desk. I have something to discuss with you." Her boss instructed as he exited the elevator and proceeded to his office without looking back.

On the other hand, the other man only nodded in her direction, following the Prince into the other room. She could only gape at them with fear in her eyes.

Did that man bail her out only to tell on her? Was she about to get fired because of last night's incident? She hoped not because she needed this job.

She quickly moved to her tiny corner at the back, but no one else was around. It was still early. Usually, the other employees came in a little bit later than her.

"Please, please, please." She whispered, hoping she could reason with him as she walked closer to his closed doors. That he would forgive her if his car incurred some form of damage.

His car. Suddenly, she stopped dead in her tracks halfway to opening his door. She had forgotten all about his car. She was so concerned about not getting a permanent criminal record or of him finding out about the incident that she had lost sight of his car.

Where was it? Was it still in the custody of the police?

"Ms. Richmond, what are you standing there? Come inside." Liam beckoned her to enter the room as he stood beside the other man in the room. "Faster. I don't have all day." He said, not mad but with a bit of irritation.

"About your..." She was about to confess, telling him about his car. Then, ask for forgiveness. No, she would beg him not to fire her when he stopped her.

"Whatever you have to say doesn't matter. I have no time for it." Liam quickly shut her up. "I want you to meet Wesley. Orient him with your responsibility because you are trading places while my grandfather is here."

"What? I don't understand." She was indeed confused by the turn of events. Her face turned from her boss to Wesley, who had a friendly smile on his lips.

"My boss, the Count, wishes you to assist him while he stays here and visits your country. He believes you can better show him around the City than I can." Wesley explained to her why they had to switch places.

"Oh!" She finally realized that her fear was unnecessary. Luckily, her boss stopped her from saying more.

She was not getting fired. Suddenly, she could not help the laughter that escaped her lips, but she quickly stopped before she embarrassed herself before them. Her boss looked at her as if she was insane, then ignored her.

Eventually, he returned to his desk, dismissing them from his presence. Luisa showed Wesley to his new temporary desk and guided him to the Prince's schedule and demands.

"Ok. I think I got this. Now, off you go. The Count doesn't like to wait." Wesley also gave her the rough itinerary of her new temporary boss. Then, he also informed her of what the Count would expect from her.

Soon, he sent her out of the building into her awaiting carriage.

As she sat in the backseat of the expensive car, she could not help but wonder what the Count wanted from her.

His assistant seemed more than capable of handling his needs. He had proven that from the Shelter and last night. But she guessed who was she to question what these rich people wanted.

At least she still had a job.

Then, she reviewed his itinerary at the bottom of today's schedule. She saw that he was attending a dinner party tonight. It meant she could go home early.

She doubted that assistants go to such gatherings. Right?