Just Breathe Mi Amore

Ch. 7

     After I left Dante's building, I found a store that had business casual clothing. I was able to buy two outfits and a pair of flats that go with both. One outfit is a white long sleeve turtle neck that would be tucked into black and white plaid dress pants. Then there's a black belt to go with it. The second outfit is just a dress. It goes down to just below my knees and one side is black the other is white. It is a v neck and has three buttons going down the middle at the start of neckline.
     It's really cool to own this kind of clothing. My Father never let wear anything that wasn't leggings, sweats, or a t-shirt. It makes me feel all grown up. I think my mother would be proud to see me in those clothes.
     I have clothes, but no where to go or put all of this stuff. I guess I will just go back to Dante's office. If anything, I can just start working tonight.
     Ten minutes later, I reach the building. I went inside and scanned the room for a bathroom. There's one next to the elevators, so I head over and change into my new outfit. I change into the one with the turtle neck. I walk up to the mirror and admire myself. I haven't felt pretty in a long time. I put some water on my hands and run them through my hair to make my hair more presentable. The water doesn't do the trick, so I grab the ponytail off my wrist and throw my hair up in a low bun. I take a few strands of hair out to frame my face. My blonde hair is so dull. Maybe once I get paid I can go get my hair done.
     I pick up my bags and exit the bathroom. I go to the elevator and press the button. A woman with long brown hair in soft curls stands next to me. I give her a shy smile and she smiles back at me. A second later she shoves her hand in front of me.
     "Lia," is all she says. I grab her hand and shake it.
     "Paisley," I tell her my name. She gives me another stunning smile and let's go of my hand. We both step into the elevator when it dings.
    "What floor?" Lia asks me. The more she talks the more I distinguish an accent.
    "60, thank you," I respond to her. Gosh I'm jealous. She's so beautiful. She's tall with olive skin and looks strong.
     "You must be the CEOs new secretary. I sympathize for you," Lia let's out a chuckle.
      "Why do you say that?" I ask with a confused look. She just shakes her head and laughs. Eventually she reaches her floor and just walks off. The people in this city are weird or maybe I'm the weird one.
      A few seconds later, I reach my floor. Making sure I have everything, I step off and walk towards Dante's office. When I reach his door, I knock. I don't get a response, so I just let myself in. I'm not sure if I have my own office here.
     When I enter the room, I see that Dante isn't in here. I set my bags down on the chair by the door and shut it. I walk further into the room and do a little snooping. He has no picture frames in his office. I guess I wouldn't have any in mine if I had an office. He has no decor just two bookshelves. One with books and one with binders.
     I hear voices approaching the room. I quickly move over to the desk and sit in the chair I sat in a few hours ago. The door opens and Dante and another man walk in. Dante doesn't even hide it, his eyes wonder up and down my body. I feel heat spread to my cheeks. Gosh I turn so red so easily.
     "Ms. Brooks, what are you doing here?" Dante's voice holds so much authority. Enough to intimidate me. I look down and fumble with my fingers.
     "I just thought," I sigh maybe I shouldn't have come back, "I don't know, I just thought maybe I could start now." Dante whispers something to the man and the man leaves. Dante walks up to me, leaving only a few inches of space between us.
     "You mean you had no where else to go," Dante bluntly stated. Ouch. He's right, but I wish he didn't just throw it out there. I think he saw the quick expression that I made because his gaze softens slightly.
    "Yeah, I have no where else to go. Thanks for the reminder," I snap. I immediately regret it. I take a few steps back and cower. My Father would've beaten me for talking to him or anyone like that. Dante closes the space between us again. His hand comes up and tilts my chin up to look at him. My eyes search his, I wonder if he can hear how hard my heart is beating.
     "I will figure you out who hurt you. Whether I have to do my own research or you tell me. I will know your story, Paisley," Dante confidently states. Dante's presence, while intimidating, I feel drawn to him. Every inch of me is screaming to trust him, but I just can't. I hardly know him. For all I know, the side I'm seeing of him is an act.
     "I'm not worth knowing, Mr. Salvatore," I whisper and avert my gaze from him. I feel his grip on my chin tighten. He lets out a sigh and steps back from me. He glances at me before walking behind his desk and taking a seat.
     "Let's get started on your training," Dante commands. I sit in the chair in front of him. Dante pulls out a binder and the cover says Secretary. He opens in and begins explaining and showing the roles of my job. Most of it is boring. Just a lot of paper work. When Dante starts going on about how he wants things to be filed away, I zone out. Dante's hand slamming down on the desk snaps me out of daze.
"Paisley," Dante hisses. I flinch.
"I'm sorry," I mutter out.
"This work is very important to me," Dante says in a low tone. As if he was trying to contain his anger. Dante seems to be a very controlling person who throws a tantrum when things don't go his way.
"I'm sorry," I repeat. The room starts to feel very hot. My breathing begins to quicken. My hands start fidgeting and my eyes dart around the room. Memories of my Father file into my head.
The first time he hit me. He came home upset and said I looked like her and slapped me. I cried for hours. My heart was already breaking at the loss of my mother, but my Father shattered my heart.
The first time he cut me. I was making his dinner and I had made a mess around me. I was gonna clean it when I was done, but Father found that unacceptable, so he grabbed a steak knife and swiped it against my face. He was really drunk that night.
The first time I was forced. His friends were over for bingo and I was gonna go out with Alexis. I came downstairs and my Father saw I was wearing a crop top. He came up to me and told me I am not allowed to where those. I asked why because it was hardly revealing. My Father grabbed my arm so tight and leaned down to my ear to tell me that he'd show me why. He called over his friend Marco and Marco took me upstairs.
The first time I was beaten unconscious. I snapped at him. I was crying, begging at his feet to be like how he was when my mother was still around. My Father got so angry. So very angry. It was repeated kicks and punches, until he picked me up and threw me across the living room. My head banged against the edge of the coffee table in our living room.
"Paisley?" Dante says slowly, breaking my trance. My cheeks feel wet. I bring my hand up to my face and wipe under my eyes.
"Excuse me," I say quietly and stand up. I start making my way towards the door and Dante doesn't try to stop me. I leave his office and find a bathroom on this floor.
I find a bathroom and go inside and stand in front of a mirror. I see how red my face got and the tears shining in my eyes. I try to hold the tears in, but my lips start to quiver. My gaze goes from the mirror to the sink. I take a deep breath in and out and look back up at myself.
"You're strong Paisley," I try to encourage myself, "You're okay. You're healing. Not every man is out to hurt you. You're safe here." I take another deep breath in. I hear a throat clear and a bathroom stall unlock. I look back down at my feet, hoping the person in here won't see my red tear-stained face.
"Paisley?" a girl voice calls out to me. I turn around and see Lia. I give her a weak smile. Internally begging that she didn't hear me talking to myself.
"What's wrong?" Lia asks coming up to me and pulling me into a hug. I freeze for a second and then hug her back. I haven't been hugged since my mothers funeral. It feels so nice to hug someone again.
"Mr. Salvatore just had an outburst and it startled me is all," I explain vaguely. I avoided saying how it gave me a panic attack and reminded me of my Father. Lia pulls away from me and wipes my tears away.
"Well we can't have that can we?" Lia says with a comforting smile. Confused at what she means, I go to ask her, but she's already pulling me out of the bathroom by my wrist. She's not gonna try to stand up to her boss is she? She could be fired. I don't want her getting fired because of me.
"Lia, wait," I try to reasons with her, but she shushes me. She marches to Dante's office still dragging me behind her. She doesn't even knock and barges into his room. Dante looks up from his computer and glares at Lia.
"Lia, what are you doing?" Dante's voice dripping with annoyance. Lia finally releases her strong grip from my wrist. I bring my wrist up to my chest and massage it with my other hand. I look down at my feet embarrassed from what Lia is gonna try to do.
"Fratello, I like this one. She's kind and not conceited. So stop scaring the poor thing and treat her right. I don't want this one fired. I see me and her becoming friends and I don't have friends here," Lia spits her words out in frustration. Isn't Fratello Italian for brother? I look back and forth between the two of them. I guess I can see the resemblance. That explains her small accent. It's not as thick as Dante's is though.
"I wasn't trying to scare her, Lia. I'm not firing this one either. Ho licenziato l'ultima solo per farla lavorare per me," Dante switches from English to Italian. Good lord. I've never heard him actually speak in the language. It was super attractive. I wish he would do that more.
(^^I fired the last one just so I could have her work for me. *sorry if any of the Italian is wrong)
Lia turns her head to look at me. She gives me a smirk. Why is she looking at me like that? What did Dante say? She chuckles slightly.
"Ahhh," Lia hums out, "I see. Well, I'll just go ahead and leave then. Let me know if you ever need anything, Paisey," I give Lia a smile before she walks out. I like the nickname she gave me.
Once she leaves, I feel awkward standing in front of Dante. I don't know what he is thinking about me right now. I hope he doesn't think I tattled on him to his sister.
"I see you've met my sister," Dante breaks the silence. I just nod. Well, that confirms that she is his sister.
"What exactly did you say to her," Dante asks me giving me a quizzical look. I just shrug my shoulders and look anywhere in the room but Dante. I hear Dante stand up from his desk. In a blink of an eye, he is right in front of me. I bite my lip, but instantly remember Dante's words, so I stop doing it.
"Well," Dante starts but pauses to lean down to my ear, "I guess I'll just have to get it out of you." This makes my eyes snap up towards his. What does that mean?