Skylar walked into the Thompson's Art centre the next morning feeling disoriented and so out of place. She couldn't believe that the last time she was here was the night of the party where Leon had threatened her.
Skylar shudders from the thoughts, as she forces herself to open the door. She walked in and stopped short, in front of the door was a big card with "Welcome back to the office, Miss Evans" written on it.
Skylar gasped as she walked into the reception a bit embarrassed by the idea while also wondering whose idea that was! She knew it wasn't Vino as he wouldn't do something so childish for her.
"Look who's finally here after disappearing?" Cynthia greeted Skylar as she stepped out from behind the counter where she was looking for some documents for Mr. Falcone.
"Welcome back to the office, Skylar," Cynthia continued winking at Skylar. Skylar couldn't help frowning at the hidden meaning behind Cynthia's greeting. What was she trying to tell her? Skylar wondered in her mind.
"Thank you, Cyn. How are you? It's been a while" Skylar replied as she turned to take in Cyn's look. Just like every other day, Cynthia was dressed in a tight-fitting pink jumpsuit which hugged and enhanced her curves. The neckline wasn't enough to cover her enormous boobs which were falling out of place. Skylar averted her gaze as she remembered when she had been jealous of her thinking that Vino was attracted to her.
As Skylar turned to walk back to the elevator, Cynthia bent to whisper in her ear "I heard some employee is sleeping with the boss. Do you think it's true?"
Skylar's eyes nearly fell out of their socket as soon as she heard that she wiped the shocked expression from her face and turned to smile at Cynthia feigning ignorance of her question "Really? How true is that, I thought the boss doesn't do employees"
"That's what we all thought too until _____" Cynthia turned to look around to see if anyone was listening in on their conversation. Satisfied that everyone was busy with their duties, she turned to stare at Skylar.
"Recent news shows that Mr. Thompson had broken up with Camille because of that employee. I heard they fought in her office some time ago" Cynthia continued slowly, eager to share her opinion with someone.
Skylar smiled nervously; she was getting uncomfortable with Cynthia's gossip. She couldn't help wondering how she came to know about all of that but that was another story for another day.
Something dinged in Skylar's mind. She turned swiftly to smile at Cynthia, she just saw her ticket to Vino's secret "Wow!! I'm so excited. You seem to know a lot about Mr. Thompson" Skylar told Cynthia complimenting her as Cynthia bend to hide her excited smile.
"Actually, there was a time I had a crush on him" Skylar's eyes widened as soon as she heard that. She frowns as she looks at Cynthia like she was seeing a potential rival.
"So, I stalked him and learned a lot about him" Cynthia replied excitedly oblivion to the turmoil going on in Skylar's mind.
Skylar forced herself away from the thought of hating Cynthia. She was her only hope to uncover Vino's secret
"That's nice. Actually, there's something I'm curious about." Skylar paused as she took everyone in the hallway, turning to look at them" Do you mind going out with me this evening?" Skylar asked her, hoping that she would say yes.
"Sure" Cynthia replied excitedly oblivion to Skylar's ulterior motives.
"Good, see you around" Skylar waved to Cynthia as she walked into the elevator. She rested her back against the wall as she replayed her conversation with Cynthia in her mind.
The elevator dinged signifying Skylar's arrival at her floor. Skylar stepped out her mind still preoccupied with how Cynthia came to know all about Vino and her relationship. Are they dating secretly behind her back? Skylar stopped, as she considered that possibility.
No, Vino can't do that to me. Skylar mumbled to herself as she resumed walking. Being preoccupied with her thought she couldn't see Madison and Vino coming toward her. She bumped into Madison causing the files in her hands to fall to the floor.
"Oh my God! I'm so sorry, Madison" Skylar exclaimed in shock as she squatted down to help Madison pick up the scattered documents.
"Miss Evans, I see you are less busy that you spent the rest of the morning gossiping at the reception" Vino commented as he stood with hands folded across his chest glaring down at Skylar.
He would give anything to know what she was discussing with Cynthia? He had arrived earlier because he wanted to see her instead, she was here gossiping with Cynthia.
"So, we are back to the surname basis," Skylar wondered in her mind before turning to glare at Vino. If only he was discreet about their dating, she wouldn't have to put up with Cynthia's gossip. She couldn't help wondering what everyone would think when they found out that she was the employee in question? Will they think she slept with the boss to get this job?
"If you are through lazing around. I would like you to put Miss. Falcone through her job. She just started her internship today" Vino answered and brushed past her seeing that Madison was through picking up the documents from the floor.
Skylar gasped at Vino's retreating back. She couldn't help wondering what was wrong with him that morning? Did he wake up on the wrong side of the bed?
"I'm sorry about that" Skylar came out of her thoughts to see Madison whispering to her.
"He has been that way since morning. It seems he had an awful weekend," Madison continued gently, completely forgetting about her job with Vino.
Skylar was about to respond when a deep voice called out to them from the elevator cutting them off.
"Miss. Brooke, Need I remind you that I didn't pay you to gossip with Miss. Evans" Madison gasped as she turned to smile sadly at Skylar
"I'm sorry," she said to her before turning to run to the elevator where Vino was holding the door open with his foot.
Skylar sighed heavily as she turned to walk down the hallway to her office contemplating Vino's mood from earlier.
Skylar was surprised to see Miss. Falcone smiled up at her as soon as she opened the door to her office, she had completely forgotten about Vino's earlier conversation about her.
"We meet again, Miss. Evans" Layla smiled up at Skylar who nodded at her and walked around to sit on her desk.
Skylar glanced through Layla's CV in front of her, she was impressed with her education. Her father had really spent a lot to see that she was educated.
Skylar put the document down and turned to look at the young girl who was seated in front of her with her hands folded on her lap "I'm impressed with your CV, Miss. Falcone. From the look of it, it seems you went to one of the best schools in the country. I'm confused about my duty in this?" Skylar asked her, pointing to her CV in front of her. Though Vino has said something about the internship, Skylar doesn't think she was qualified enough to train an Oxford graduate.
"I need you to tutor me. I'm still not good with my paintings and my dad speaks so highly of you, please?" Layla replied pouting up at Skylar with her hands joined together pleading with Skylar.
Skylar couldn't help accepting seeing that she was close to Vino and her father wants Skylar to tutor his daughter.
"Okay. You can go back to your office" Skylar nodded, waving her off to the adjoining office.
Skylar took out her phone to text Vino, she paused as she stared at the message application on her phone before putting it back into her bag.
There was no need to text that ice prince, Skylar, glared in her mind. Since he wanted to be cold today, she could also do that to him.
Skylar forced herself from the thoughts of Vino as she buried herself into work. There were still the designs of the newly admitted artists that she needed to sort out for sale to their important clients.
In between helping from Layla, Skylar was able to finish up the work in an hour.
She was glad to see that Layla wasn't a spoiled princess like many would have thought, instead she was hard working and very efficient.
"Thank you, Layla. You may go back to your office" Skylar smiled at Layla who nodded and walked into her office trying to stretch her tired hands and legs.
Skylar turned to take in the wall clock across from her, she was surprised to see that it was past closing time. She sent Layla off and started arranging files on her table preparing to go home when the door suddenly opened.
Skylar turned to take in the beautiful blonde girl who was glaring at her from the doorway. Skylar was surprised to see the lady annoyed with her as she doesn't remember ever meeting her.
"So, you are the one" The woman called from the doorway venturing into the room with the air of a woman who knows what she wants and wouldn't stop until she gets it.
Skylar was about to ask the woman who she was until she saw Camille coming over with a sly smile on her face.
It finally dawned on her that she was being set up but why? And who was the woman in front of her? She had never met her before?
"I would like to warn you, stay away from Vino else you might not like the outcome" Skylar stood looking from the woman to Camille with a confused expression on her face. Is this another Vino woman? But how did she know Camille? And why isn't Camille saying anything? Skylar couldn't help wondering in her mind.
"I'm sorry but you can't come into my office and threaten me. I don't even know who you are?" Skylar asked the lady who was pacing around the room in shock.
Skylar turned to stare at Camille as soon as she heard her scoffing "She still has the guts to ask questions?" Skylar couldn't help glaring at Camille as soon as she heard her say that.
And where the fuck was Vino, shouldn't he be here to settle his problems with his woman? Skylar wondered in her mind, ignoring Camille's hateful comment about her.
The woman came to stand in front of her, staring at Skylar with contempt "I'm Elise Fabio. The only woman Vino would ever love" Elise replied, checking Skylar out. When she was told that Vino was seeing an employee, she was expecting a more worthy rival, not a woman who wasn't even up to her standards.
Elise, Elise, Skylar repeated the name repeatedly in her mind trying to remember where she had heard that name as it was familiar to her. Her eyes widened in recognition. This was the employee who framed Vino. She couldn't help being angry as she immediately stepped up to defend him.
"Oh! I see. The lying bitch who stoops so low as to film a drunk man having sex with her" Skylar answered with an angry expression on her face. She watched as Elise's face contorted in embarrassment before she masked it with hatred in her eyes.
"How____"
"Mind your business, Miss. Evans. I didn't pay you to gossip around the office" Skylar turned to take in Vino's who strolled into the office, his lip curbed up in anger.
Skylar couldn't believe that he attacked her instead of ushering the intruders out.
She turned to take in the excitement on Elise's face as Skylar was put in her place. Skylar turned to pick up her bag to angrily leave the office but Vino pulled her back "Where to, Miss. Evans?"
"Trying to give you privacy to discuss with your lost lover" Skylar hissed at him. She removed her hand from his hand and walked to the parking lot where her car was. She got into it and drove home.