Roxana

Late-night calls usually make a shiver go down my spine. The last time I got one, my grandma had died. Given my current circumstances, there is no way in hell it can be good news.

The phone continues to ring and I stare frozen at the screen. Christian. Christian never calls me this late. Something must have happened.

"Uuh. It's sexy boss. I didn't see that one coming," says Kary, smiling cheekily.

I still don't manage to answer, just stare at the screen thunderstruck.

"Are you not going to answer? I mean yeah, it's only fair to keep the sucker waiting but I am also curious what he wants."

"Psst. Shut up," I answer, elbowing her and finally pressing the green button. "Good evening, Christian," I say as seriously as possible, but an involuntary smile blooms on my lips.

"Hi, Rox. I need an urgent favor," he bursts out without further ado.

"Sure, tell me. How can I help? Did something bad happen?"

"Not really bad, but I need your help urgently. The client I told you about today just called me, saying he is in town and wants to meet. I am now waiting for him at the restaurant; he should arrive any minute, but I left my presentation papers in the office. I need you to get them for me as quickly as possible."

"Sure. I am on it. Where did you put them?"

"They are on my desk. Hurry, and try to get there in twenty minutes, because I think he will want to get to talk business right away. See you," he says and hangs up right after.

I hear Kary scoff.

"The audacity of this dude!"

"What?" I ask, ignoring her partially, storming to the door to put on my jacket and boots.

"You must be kidding me. Do you actually want to go? This guy calls you at nine-thirty in the evening after more than twelve worked hours to assist him with some crap that is not your responsibility at all because he was spacey. What an utter jerk. And yes, I heard what he said. I was curious and have good hearing," she says, smiling but keeping the frown.

"He needs my help. If we get this project I might get a raise. And it's Christian..."

"Yeah, it's Christian, the only argument that actually counts. Why didn't he call his secretary or that obnoxious bitch that he always hangs out with? How was her name? Layla?"

"Lisa. Well, Lisa probably didn't pick up, but that doesn't matter."

Lucky me she didn't. Lisa is one of the architects in the company. She hangs out with Christian a lot. That's understandable because they have to work together closely, but she has always been borderline rude to me and I have a hard time liking her.

My mature self tells me to stop being envious and jealous and to snap out of it though. The only thing I don't like about her is how pretty she is and how much Christian likes her.

These unwilling thoughts disappear in the back of my mind while I jump into a cab. It's the first time ever that I take a cab in Bern. Because, guess what, cabs in Western Europe are incredibly expensive. I cry on the inside for the fifty Swiss Francs this is going to cost me. It means one week of food that is blown away in twenty minutes.

"Können Sie sich bitte etwas beeilen?/ Can you hurry a bit, please?" I anxiously tell the taxi driver. Christian said twenty minutes. That is nearly impossible, even if I don't live so far away from the office.

My phone beeps again. It's Christian sending me the location of the restaurant. Rose Blanche. That is apparently a fancy French restaurant in walking distance from the office.

I sprint the two sets of stairs to the office and run to Christian's desk.

Where is the damn folder? There is nothing on his desk. He rejects my call. Jesus, Christian, how am I supposed to find the thing?

Think, Rox, think!

Christian tends to go by people's desks to talk to them and he often leaves stuff behind there. Where have I seen him last? Who was he talking to? Lisa, of course.

Ding, ding, ding, jackpot! My eyes almost become teary when I finally grab that damn folder and once again sprint down the stairs. Seven minutes.

That restaurant is ten minutes away according to Google. If I run, I can maybe make it.

It's January and bitter cold. The air is burning in my lungs. Ironically, it also started snowing some minutes ago. It looks like the universe is not supporting me.

Ha! There it is. Fancy place, or at least it looks very fancy from the outside. It's an old building with modern glass insertions. The snow is lingering slightly on the limestone walls and the moonlight makes it look quite charming, but I don't have much time to observe.

"Où allez-vous, mademoiselle ? Cet endroit exige un certain code vestimentaire./ Where are you heading to, miss? This place requires a dress code."

My French is meager, to say the least, but I can crystalize the words 'code vestimentair' from the mildly condescending speech of the middle-aged man that is eyeing me annoyed.

My native language helps enough for me to understand that he does not like how I am dressed. Well fuck.

He does have a slight point; I wear an old jacket, not even remotely elegant, and my shoes and jeans are splattered with mud from work and from running through the dirty snow puddles this evening.

I call Christian again but the call is directed to mailbox.

"Please, sir, it is important. I only have to deliver this file to my boss who is in there and leave."

"Ce n'est pas possible, mademoiselle. We cater to very exclusive clients here and keeping our standards is crucial. Plus, tonight it's a closed gathering."

I look at my wristwatch. I am already four minutes late. I call again. Nothing.

"Yes, my boss is at that damn gathering and needs my help. For God's sake, can you at least give him this? He has light brown hair, green eyes, dimples, and is called Christian."

"Mademoiselle, I cannot leave the door; now please leave."

Nothing is going smoothly today. Think, Roxi, think.

I slowly turn away and try to make the guy believe I am leaving. Yes! He swallows it and backs away from the door. This is my chance!

So I storm forth and go past him running as fast as I can inside the unknown building.

And surprise, surprise, I have no idea what I am doing. The place is completely foreign to me, so I just run along the elegant hallway to not get caught and hope to find Christian by chance.

Luckily the hallway leads to a rather big room, probably the restaurant's main area. It appears to have been cleared of tables, only a solitary one remaining in the middle.

It is hard to miss and so are the people sitting at, and standing around it.

No less than ten bodyguards dressed in black suits are scattered all over the room.

Christian is sitting at the table together with... Lisa, the first surprise of the evening, and another man. That must be the client. He has broad shoulders and sparkling brown eyes, and his dark brown hair is brushed back and caught together in a man bun to probably not obturate his obviously handsome features. The crisp white shirt he is wearing is contrasting pleasantly with his olive skin.
Another man is nearby, not sitting but standing by the table behind the first. He is dressed in black like the rest. Probably a bodyguard. I can't observe him properly because I am hit by surprise two and three for the evening.

The whole myriad of bodyguards grab their weapons when I enter the room like the tornado that I am. I am in utter shock when my eyes get stuck on another peculiar but equally surprising detail. Lisa's hand is on the foreign man's thigh, wandering dangerously close to his crotch.

I blush instantly and manage to stumble over the edge of the carpet I disregarded completely, falling spectacularly and slapping my hands, together with Christian's folder, on the table in one loud thud, that among other things, hurts like hell.

When I lift my gaze, the only thing I can see is Christian's expression, one that I have not seen before on his face. I cannot decide what to call it, something between embarrassment and anger. Yes, definitely anger. His green eyes throw flames at me and I desire deeply for the ground to swallow me right then and there.

"Roxane, geh jetzt/ Roxane, go now," he says slowly and firmly.

"Echt jetzt?/ Really now?" I also hear Lisa talk somewhere in the background.

The whole scene is interrupted by the voice of the unknown man who manages to attract all attention back where it belongs, namely with him.

"Chi è lei?/ Who is she?"

I am too disturbed to be able to concentrate on what he is saying to maybe guess the meaning. His voice is deep and his tone ambiguous.

"Stefano, mi dispiace. Lei sta lavorando per me. Di certo non e la migliore impiegata .../Stefano, I am sorry. She is working for me. Certainly not the best employee..."

"È carina, ruvida ma carina/ She is pretty, unpolished but pretty..." he says, placing his hand under my chin to lift my face, forcing me to look him in the eyes.

My cheeks are burning up and are most certainly glowing red. Once again I just want to disappear into thin air.

"Lei sta partendo ora/ She is leaving now," says Christian.

"Ma perché? Penso di volere che rimanga. / But why? I think I want her to stay."

I just manage to hear sounds not grasp any words while I forcefully stare into his eyes. They are beautiful, sift brown, the color of coffee with a hint of mahogany.

"Steh auf und verschwinde bevor du es schaffst mir dieses Geschäft zu versauen so wie du diesen Teppich mit deinem dreckigen Schuen verunstaltet hast. /Stand up and leave right now, before you manage to damaged this business deal like you destroyed the carpet with your muddy boots."

I used to have quite thick skin but this very strange situation is getting to me. I feel hurt. How can he say that to me after all the crap I went through to get that damn folder to him?

Tears gather in my eyes while this guy's hand is still holding my face in place.

Do not fucking cry now, Roxana! You are embarrassing yourself even more.

It is futile because my imagination goes wild. I already hear the gossip in the office tomorrow, Lisa's condescending comments, the laughter behind my back, and worst of all Christian's disdain.

"Stefano... Continuiamo con la discussione d'affari/ Stefano... Let's go on with the business discussion," I hear from behind another muffled voice, without understanding shit.

But soon after, the guy lets go of my chin, smiles, and wipes the small tear that gathered at the corner of my eye away.

"Ma, non piangere, tesoro. / But don't cry, sweetheart," he says.

I thank heaven and whoever talked sense into him, wrap my arms around my shaking body, and carry my sorry self out the door while I feel several pairs of eyes burning holes into my back.

An hour later, I finally arrive home again.

Kary is not sleeping. I knew she would want to know what happened.

I tell her everything while I eat the warmed-up chili.

"This sounds terribly funny to watch," she says finally.

"Yeah, unless you are in the middle of it," I answer bitter.

"Sorry, honey. Okay? But I think it wasn't so bad. The dude got his folder and the rich guy didn't seem angry."

"Yeah, but if Christian does not get contracted, he will think it's my fault."

"You do know he would be wrong, right?"

"I do. But deep inside I just don't want him to stop liking me," I say sighing.

"Oh sweetheart, you are so in love. I didn't think it was that bad."

"Ah shut up," I say and force a smile to end the discussion.

I go to sleep more tired than usual. It's no wonder after what happened.

When I wake up the next morning the first thing my eyes see is a text. A text that came in before five-thirty in the morning.

"It never ends does it?" I sigh and press open.

------------------------------------------

What do you like, what don't you like? What do you think about the characters? What would you like to happen?

Cheers :)

Aaand Artwork. Enjoy!

Some close ups because it was work. 😂.

Roxi:

Stefano:

Christian:

Lisa: