Billie Bossa Nova

6.

The next morning, she rose early. It often didn't take long for her to adjust to waking up in a foreign place. She barely slept home by how often she worked. By the time a maid knocked on her door to clean her room, she'd already done it herself. She went to the kitchen, where she requested her breakfast be made.

"Has Mr. Rivera already woken up?" she asked Juanita as she placed her cup of coffee in front of her. Billie was on the barstool, leaning her elbows on the white granite countertop as she took it and sipped from the coffee.

"Yes, but he usually takes breakfast in his room."

She said nothing more, opening her laptop when Juanita left her alone and started with her work. When she logged into Kai's professional email, many messages popped up on the screen. Taking a breath and a sip from her coffee, she got started. No way was she going to lose to a rich, hot-for-nothing, bratty man child.

With a notebook next to her, she wrote down all the names and times of his meetings throughout the week. Then, she made him a daily schedule. By the time Adan Rivera came downstairs, she had composed a schedule for Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday and was busy with the one of Friday. He paid her no heed and nor did she him. But what was brewing in her head was a way she could grab his attention. Though, there was no need when Rivera stood across from her, his cup of coffee in his hand.

"Already busy, I see," he said.

She nodded. "Your son made it clear that unless my capabilities represent me well, I shouldn't be working for him."

Adan Rivera chuckled. He was far easier to please than his son. She wondered where Kai got his personality from. It wasn't from Adan Rivera. "Yes, he is something. He finds it difficult to recognize a pretty young lady when he sees one. I'm sure his eyes will open soon."

Rather than commenting on her work being recognized, the man had to comment on Kai's opinion of her looks. She saw what Kai was talking about yesterday, but wouldn't admit to herself, let alone Kai, that he was right.

"Hopefully," she simply replied while busying herself with the Friday's schedule.

"I expect that his welcoming event will be planned and hosted by you?"

She tried not to raise her eyebrow, but upturned her head. "Excuse me, sir?"

"Yes, the welcoming event. I remember mine. Truly something to remember. My son should have something equally memorable, but of course, it won't be better than mine. I'll be sure to attend it."

If that was elaborating what the welcome event was, then Billie didn't want to know how he explained more complicated things. Luckily, she had an idea of what Adan was talking about, and felt a kind of dread she never knew settle in the core of her chest.

"Of course, I'll plan it. After all, it is my job, isn't it?"

The question sounded rhetorical, but she genuinely wanted to know if this fit the job description. If not, then she wouldn't care to do it. She didn't come here to impress the boss and get a raise, she was here to be recruited by Adan Rivera, and then arrest him and return to her life. This; working an actual boring job, that wasn't what that life consisted of. It was unfortunate that not all missions were jumping off a ten thousand foot building or fighting on top of a moving train. Some of them were pretending to be a PA in a human trafficker's household. No thrill, not adrenalin rush.

Adan Rivera didn't reply. He seemed to have better things to do, and stood up and left unannounced. She watched him leave, then groaned and put her head on her arms on the counter.

"Not enjoying your first day, señorita?" Juanita asked.

She shook her head. "I just didn't realize it would be this much." This job sounded simple. Answer emails and phone calls. Run a few errands for the boss. Spy on Rivera while you're at it and if you get recruited, that's a double plus. That was how Finneas had described it. Didn't seem much like it now.