𝟾. ".... 𝙰 𝚠𝚘𝚖𝚊𝚗 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎 𝚖𝚎?"

PEARL'S P.O.V

"To Pearl!"

Everyone cheered and clinked their glasses, "So, I guess I have to give my own...speech" Caius said, clearing his throat and the place got quiet again, everyone turning to him.

"When I first met Pearl, she told me I do not deserve to be her superior... " pointed looks were shot my way at his words but I didn't fret, at least he wasn't lying.

"She said, one day she will soar far and high than anyone here..."

Now they were glaring. "And now she is, she'll be heading to the headquarters, she is the only one who got picked out of the list and...honestly I'm still surprised how she's on the list" he muttered that last part.

I grinned, "Anytime now, Caius" I called out to him and he smiled, looking back up at us. "We will be losing one of our best... So, to Pearl, once again!"

The applause that followed this time was lazy with murmurs, how typical. The whole speech giving stage drew out and now it was some kinda...reception.

I couldn't care less about this mini party in the office, I had to be celebrated for my promotion. But I had more pressing issues, apparently I had to be everywhere at once, because if I'm not there...they were bound to fuck it up.

Now tell me how they had the shittiest collection at the fashion show because I wasn't there to supervise. I was about to go off on my assistant, Kendra, when I heard my name from behind.

Turning, it was...you have got to be kidding me, one of the co workers, Blaire. We both were striving to get this promotion, she too came from America, but I didn't know why she wanted this one so bad.

"Congratulations"

"You don't mean that" I cut off the pretence and her smile slowly died down. "You're right, I don't. If anything, you don't deserve it. Let me guess... " she took a step closer, circling me like a vulture.

"...you seduced your way to the top once again. È tutto ciò in cui sei davvero bravo  (𝚒𝚝'𝚜 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐 𝚢𝚘𝚞'𝚛𝚎 𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚢 𝚐𝚘𝚘𝚍 𝚊𝚝)" She whispered that part but it didn't phase me, we've come a long way from trash talking.

"No" I turned to her fully now, that resting smile on my lips. "I'm also good at breaking into places and hacking into computers and oh...manipulating lists to my favour" I answered and her brows knitted in confusion, her jaw slowly dropped open.

"You see, Blair... " I leaned into her, "... Seduction is just one of my many attributes"

"You slut!" She gasped and I chuckled, "Enjoy my party, will you"

➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣➣

I wasn't lying when I said I was good at breaking in, among other things, you'll know the rest of my talents along the way.

The party was over and everyone had gone home, so I was hoping. I was here to return the ledger, I didn't need it anymore now I had a copy and since Caius, hasn't noticed, this will be a good time.

I looked left and right as I was about exiting his office, I shut the door behind me and immediately began heading down the hall. "Do you have a tendency?" Someone said from behind and I froze, halting in my steps.

That familiar voice made a cold chill run down my spine and I turned around to face him. "Do you ever go home?" I snapped, irritated.

"Some of us gotta work to get what we want" he retorted and I huffed. "I don't have time for this" I swiftly turned to walk away but then his next words stopped me.

"Congratulations" he said but I didn't turn around, "I figured I should say it since I couldn't say it at the party and also...because I couldn't say it at all. But..."

I faced him this time, he was now rambling.

He rubbed his neck lightly, not meeting my eyes. "...this might be the last time I'll be seeing you"

"I haven't picked up my things yet" I reminded and he met my eyes this time. He was nervous, Leandro was nervous. For the first time ever, he was nervous. Did I get him this way?

"Let's have a drink" I suggested.

Moments later. I popped the bottle open, filling his glass before pouring into mine. "How do you know Caius has a secret stash?" He asked. "I'm his favourite remember?"

He smirked before taking a sip from the glass, "So, are you ready to...move to Los Angeles?" he asked and I shrugged.

"I grew up there"

"You grew up there!" He shouted, throwing me aback. Getting a hold of himself after a second, he sucked in a breath. "I'm sorry about that" he apologized and I chuckled.

"It's obvious you know nothing about me. Okay... " I leaned on the table, "what are the top 3 things you know about me?"

"What's this? A souvenir?"

"If you're wrong, I will give you the right answer, as you said, this might be the last time we'll be seeing each other" I reminded and he held on a look with me, "you haven't picked up your things yet" get reminded this time.

I smiled and took a swing from the glass. "Alright, my first impression of you was... You must have been a model or something, you're deeply invested in fashion. Tratti questo corridoio come una passerella ogni giorno (𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚝𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚝 𝚝𝚑𝚒𝚜 𝚑𝚊𝚕𝚕𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎  𝚊 𝚛𝚞𝚗𝚠𝚊𝚢 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚍𝚊𝚢)"

I bursted out laughing immediately, "what? I just like to look good" I defended and he shook his head and muttered, "You Americans"

"Oh please! Everyone in Italy is always dressing to impress, have you seen the streets?! You're guilty too!" I accused and he smiled and took another gulp from his glass.

"But you might be right, I'm involved in fashion in some way" I added and he nodded. "You're first day in this office, you knew a lot. And I thought of you as a...competition" he admitted and I hummed.

"I'm sure you're glad I'm leaving"

"Not really. I do like a fair fight" he said, holding on a look with me. "I'll always win" I told him something he knew and his smile widened.

"That's another thing about you, you're too confident" he said and I chuckled, taking a sip from my glass.

"It annoyed you, didn't it?" I asked. "It did" he confessed, nodding and I laughed. "You did hate me that much?"

"I didn't hate you" he answered and I paused. "You sure? Litigavamo quasi tutti i giosur (𝚠𝚎 𝚞𝚜𝚎𝚍 𝚝𝚘 𝚊𝚛𝚐𝚞𝚎 𝚊𝚕𝚖𝚘𝚜𝚝 𝚎𝚟𝚎𝚛𝚢𝚍𝚊𝚢)" I reminded and he shook his head.

"I couldn't hate you. I was just...not used to a woman like you" he said and I let out a low breath. "A woman like me?"

"As unorthodox your methods are, Caius was right. The whole corporation changed ever since you arrived and you're...devoted"

Then, I'm playing my cards right and all this time I thought I was doing something wrong, I always thought he was immune to my tactics, defiant but...he just knew how to hold himself together.

And I knew how to get what I wanted. Placing my glass down, I took a step towards him. "So, what are your...honest thoughts about me?" I asked, stopping in front of him, my hands behind my back.

His eyes locked with mine and he couldn't look away, just where I wanted him to be. I wanted him speechless and he was, I wanted him wrapped around my fingers and that seemed attainable at this point.

"You love talking about yourself, don't you?" He said and my smile widened. He always piques my interest, he's playing hard to get, which makes this all the more exciting.

"... I just want your honest thoughts. Do you really...not find me attractive?" I asked and he smirked, "you know what you look like" was his response.

"But what do you know? What do you think?" I asked, whispering that part, eye contact was the key but he wasn't looking into my eyes. "You're an attractive woman" he said, glancing away as he took another sip from the glass.

"General opinion or yours?"

"I'm not going to fuel your ego," he said flatly, his tone laced with irritation, but the flicker of something deeper in his gaze made me smirk. I reached for his loosened tie, my fingers deftly working to fix it.

His eyes bored into me, their intensity undeniable. I could feel them tracing every movement I made, igniting a tension that crackled in the space between us.

"Why are you doing this?" he asked, his voice quieter now, almost hesitant.

"Doing what?" I met his gaze, deliberately letting my fingers trail down his tie, slow and deliberate.

"You know what you're doing," he said, his voice rougher, more strained.

"I don't know what you're talking about," I said with a casual shrug, feigning innocence, though my smirk gave me away.

He let out a shaky breath, his restraint visibly unraveling as his jaw tightened. His eyes, now dark and burning, searched mine as though seeking an answer I wouldn't give.

"You know exactly what you're doing," he growled, his composure breaking. And then, without warning, he closed the distance between us, his hands gripping my waist as he pulled me flush against him. His lips crashed onto mine with a force that sent my heart racing.

The kiss was rough, desperate, and consuming, his need spilling over in the way his lips moved against mine, claiming me. Heat surged between us, his hands tightening their hold as though afraid I might slip away.

I kissed him back with equal fervor, threading my fingers through his hair as I pressed closer, savoring the way he yielded, the way he melted against me despite his earlier defiance.

I knew what I was doing.

I had known it from the start, and now his kiss, his surrender, was proof that I always got what I wanted. And I always won.