I'm Not Yours, Mr Billionaire

*Chapter EIGHTEEN*

ELSA POV

It was already Thursday. I woke up earlier than usual and decided to go to the office to complete my work. After enjoying a lengthy shower. I couldn't help but roll my eyes as I remembered what Louis had said, "The skirt you're wearing is too short. It distracts me." I went through my wardrobe, selected a black blouse, formal slim-fit pants, and high heels, and then headed to the kitchen to have breakfast, only to realize that the fridge was empty.

Took my handbag, locked the door, and hailed a cab to the office. As I was on my way, my phone began to ring. I fished my phone out of my handbag and found it was a call from Dada.

"Dada, how are you? I miss you so much. When are you coming? I feel lonely." Tears started welling up in my eyes. I miss everyone. I had never been alone in my life until I came to London.

"Princess, are you crying? Don't cry, Princess. I'm sorry, I should have been with you, but I have work to do here. I'll be there tomorrow, and you know what we're going to do on Saturday?"

"What are we going to do, Dada?" I asked, wiping away my tears as he said he was coming.

"I'm taking you out. We'll go to the theme park, and we're going to have a blast." I chuckled at his response. Theme parks are my favourite.

"Really, Dada?" I questioned, and I couldn't stop my tears from rolling down my cheeks.

"Yeah, Princess. I'll be arriving around midnight. I have keys, so you don't have to stay up all night. Understood?"

"Okay, Dada." I hung up and couldn't help but feel happy and smiling. I knew Dada would be here, and we would be going out on Saturday. I got out of the car and walked towards the coffee shop, right across from the office building. After talking to Dada, I was on cloud nine. I entered the café and waited in line for my turn.

"You look beautiful when you smile." Here we go again. I knew exactly who it was, Lorenzo.

"What do you want this time?" I asked him without looking at him and continued moving forward as people got their coffee.

"I'd like to know the reason behind your smile and who's responsible for it," he replied. It was my turn to place my order, so I turned to face him and asked, "What do you want?"

"My usual," he replied. I turned to the Batista and placed my order. I paid for the coffee, feeling elated. As we received our coffee, I started walking towards the exit with him by my side. However, he suddenly blocked my way, standing in front of me, causing me to come to a halt.

"You haven't answered my question yet," he said. I simply smiled back without providing an answer. Suddenly, I felt a wave of chilly air, causing a shiver to run down my spine. I rubbed my arm in an attempt to warm myself, but it didn't help. He extended his hand, holding his coffee, and I raised an eyebrow, giving him a questioning look.

"Hold on a moment," I said, taking his coffee from him. My eyes widened in surprise when he took off his coat and draped it over my shoulders. Before I could say anything, he spoke up, "It's cold out, and did you forget to bring your coat?" I wanted to explain that I hadn't had time to buy or pack any warm clothes when I left home.

"My Dada is coming tomorrow, and he promised to take me out. That's why I'm so happy," I explained, returning his smile. He took his coffee back from my hand, and I couldn't help but feel at ease in his presence. However, when it came to Louis, I couldn't feel the same level of comfort. Why was that?

Why am I letting thoughts of him distract me now? I scolded myself internally. Today was going so well, and I didn't want to ruin it by dwelling on him. I made a mental note to buy a coat and to stop thinking about him.

"What about you?" I asked, offering me his coat as if he didn't feel the cold.

"Don't worry about me," I replied, trying to hide my smile. Suddenly, I was shocked to see someone bringing a coat to Lorenzo. How did he manage that? A car pulled up in front of us, and he said goodbye before getting in and driving away. I watched the car move away, wondering where he was going. I had thought he worked around here, but apparently not. Too many questions filled my head, so I decided to ignore them and headed straight to the entrance of my office.

I stepped into the lift, about to press the close door button when I heard someone asking to hold it. It was Louis. He entered the lift and stood next to me, towering over me with his broad build. He had blocked the view of the people behind him, who were now forced to look at his wide shoulders. It was just the two of us, waiting for the lift to reach the sixty-fifth floor. When the doors opened, he stepped out and asked me to follow him to his office. I left my handbag at my desk and followed him inside. He hung up the phone call he was on when he saw me enter.

"I've already asked them to adjust the temperature, so you can take off his coat," he said casually. I hesitated for a moment, struck by the words he used. His coat? I glanced at him, wanting to ask how he knew, but also wanting him to explain. How naive of me. I took off my coat without resistance, not wanting to spoil the good start to the day by getting caught up in a confrontation with him.

"Elsa, can you please schedule a meeting with the architecture, engineering, management, and finance teams? Actually, just ask everyone to gather in the meeting hall on the Sixty-fourth floor." I made my way to my office and notified each department to convene for the meeting. Once everyone had arrived, I informed Louis, who entered the room while buttoning up his coat. Handsome. No, no, I tried to push those thoughts away from my mind. My brain seemed to be malfunctioning. Perhaps I needed a new one.

"Stay by my side until the meeting concludes," he instructed, and I complied, positioning myself next to him.

"Where are my files? The list?" he inquired, and I handed him the requested documents. While he perused the papers, I couldn't help but notice the women around us giving me disapproving glances. My eyes darted around the room, and I caught sight of a familiar face—Andrew. I mouthed a greeting, and he responded with a smile and a wave. Just as I was about to divert my attention back to Louis, he cleared his throat, capturing the attention of everyone in the room, including myself. With all eyes on him, he began his speech.

"Good morning, everyone. I trust you are all aware of the new project we have received. We have learned from our experiences, and it is crucial that we avoid repeating the same mistakes. I expect each one of you to give your utmost effort and fulfil your responsibilities diligently. If anyone is unable to meet the expectations, they are free to resign at any time. However, I must emphasize that any negligence will result in immediate termination. Moving forward, I have decided to implement new working hours. Starting tomorrow, everyone is required to report to work at 6:00 AM and stay until 10:00 PM. I understand this may pose challenges, but rest assured, you will be compensated accordingly." The room erupted in applause and excited discussions ensued. He cleared his throat, signalling for silence.

"The promotion will be based on individual achievements. Each team will be assigned a group, with a designated group leader who will report to the managers. The managers, in turn, will report to Elsa, my new personal assistant. If you have any questions or need clarification, feel free to reach out to her. Thank you."

As he called out the names of the managers, the rest of the team members were dismissed to begin their work. Each individual received a file containing the necessary information, and he provided a thorough explanation of the tasks at hand. Before leaving, he emphasized the consequences of negligence, making it clear that I had the authority to terminate anyone without hesitation. I followed him out of the room, ready to assist him in any way possible.

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