THE BOSS

ng the chance to say sorry. She didn't know what she could not bring down with a smile, what she could not calm by the wink of an eye. She

n experience, no battle to win and thus never a sense of achievement. Every time the soul tried to wake up, it was told it was not the time yet, and to go back to sl

t happened,

She was beautiful, but it wasn't that which he scrutinized; he was assessing if she was telling him the truth or trying to negotiate with it.

She was about to open her mouth as her heart was ready to outpour. She wanted

s, she felt judged. She could not pinpoint how or where in the conversation, but she could sense he p

ment for the three-million-dollar project. "You would trust me with that? I mean, I wasn't involved from the start," she said, just t

them sat in the outside dining area of Le Fonte, a chic coffee shop/restaurant in the building complex where s

ction. She knew she had not done well this time, but she didn't know how she should admit t

?" Her words lingered. He remained silent. He wasn't even looking at her

lluring things to people, her superficial charms became the silliest display to ease him up. She had to toughen up an

elplessness when in danger—all done subconsciously. But consciously she thought she was defenseless against him, and believed there was no point of being defensive i

face her, and said—not

ng with them." He gazed at her, took in her absolute silence—then

iliar with him would think he was cajoling her. To see tears welling up in her big eyes would be baffling. And she knew what it

your tears

andkerchief an

break, I wo

ng at him. Still, his face was void of expression, and his mou

ny, Abalido & Quinaeros Inc. After only a month into the job The Boss spotted and took her as his assistant. Under his wing, she was exposed to people many levels above her experience. Acq

le from different levels and backgrounds. He recognized such inbred competence was invaluable in a company with 180 consulta

en understood what his silence meant. She

he work and the documentation was in order. She asked for him to meet her at Le Fonte in an hour. "J

h the client briefly, convincing him to meet ye

up his phone and started texting. He was satisfied when an

her slight flirtation, the man on the ot

h. His lips formed a small smile. "Very good,"

red the indoor dining area, and walked past several tables to the counter. Dressed in long black pants, a white sleeveless blouse, and a pair of stilettos, she

d. Gina nodded and smiled while she thanked her. She walked back outside. S

dressed well, and was always bathed in cologne. He greeted The Boss with a slight bow and when ackno

e looked directly at her chief and nodded almost imperceptibly. As they rose, she said to Dungi, "I'll be back in a mo

in to report the outc

me through a call," he

other to ask if he wanted to order a drink. Soon the client will be here, she thought, Dungi can wait till then. Sh