MARIBELLA

I was about to get inside my car when I turned around and saw the young De Marco, and I could see how betrayed he was, he is staring at me as if I did something horrible to him.

"What?!" The young De Marco asked with widened eyes in disbelief while looking at me, which made me chuckled because of his facial expressions, it's so dumb and pathetic! "I mean, the project was good," He added unconsciously.

I raised a brow, "Yes, It was a very good project, but your application has been denied." I replied with my famous smile. He looks at his side, thinking that where did he go wrong. I suddenly felt pity, but my pride was hurt, and it was not a pure loss for me if I will not grab this project of theirs, although Chairman Caswell definitely won't be happy to hear this news.

Well, I will just play along.

I went back to my office and saw my secretary on her desk. She quickly stood up with her widely smiling face at me, which made my eyebrows furrowed in confusion until I realized, she was referring to the project that I attended earlier with Mr. De Marco.

"The project was really good, wasn't it Madame?" She asked excitedly. Oh, so she already read it before I did. I guess that's one of the reasons why she assisted it quicker than the others.

I sighed as I nodded at her and gave a small smile. Her facial expressions suddenly changed into a worried and confused face look.

"I did not approve it, Laine. It is too risky for us." I lied. I saw her shoulders fell down from disappointment.

"I understand, Madame," She replied in a low voice as she followed me inside of my office like a kid, well she's young and still a kid. Just a little older at Abriana. Laine was almost my daughter in the office. "How is your lunch with the handsome head of their marketing department?" She asked shyly with a mix of excitement in her voice.

I looked at her in disbelief, "Wait, you knew about it?" I asked as I looked at her with my eagle's eyes. She suddenly looked scared, but I suddenly chuckled, "Well, it was good, and you should have seen his face after I denied their proposal!" I laughingly said as I remember about his facial expressions.

"Aww! That was so mean, Madame!" Laine pouted as she tried to imagine the face of that young De Marco.

Mid-afternoon came, and I would still laugh from time to time and shook my head after because of our dinner earlier, I can't forget about it. It even motivates me more from working. Minutes after, someone was calling from my direct line, I took the phone call, and it was my secretary.

"Madame," She said, "The Chairman of the Well Corporation wants to talk to you," She informed. My lips rose into a smirk as I told her to connect the line to me immediately.

"Chairwoman De Luca," He greeted back formally, "I thought, we've already talked about that project. Why didn't you approved it?" He asked casually, but still being polite. He's been like that as if he's just the same age as me.

I chuckled, "first of all, Aaron, it is Bianchi, I am not a De Luca anymore... well soon." I explained, "And you should ask your friend why I did that, I'm very sure that he knows the answer," I added playfully.

"What the fuck? You are divorcing Antonio?" He asked in disbelief. I suddenly chuckled as I remember what young De Luca has said at my party like months ago.. and I still couldn't stop thinking about it. It's too humiliating for me even though not everyone heard it except for his father and me.

I rolled my eyes in annoyance, "Uh-huh, said the man who divorced the first wife for his true love." I laughed like a devil. I heard his chuckles.

"Hey, it's not that. You're the one, who advised me though," He shot back, laughing. "Anyways, you want me to bring someone to you for that project since you don't want my best friend." He asked, and I could still sense the confusion in his voice.

"No," I grinned, "Let that best friend of yours earned my yes. I did not really like what he did at my party."

"Alright." He sighed, "Let that punk pay for what he did to you," He joked, but then laughed at his silliness.

"Aaron?! Watch your words, Ethel might hear you!" I chuckled when I heard his wife's voice who's scolding him for saying bad words. If my memory still serves me right, I think it is Lorraine. I heard Aaron's playfully laughs and said sorry.

"Oh, your wife! Say hi to her for me." I said, smiling.

"Consider it done," He joked, "I'll go now. Just be attentive to the package that you were about to receive." He playfully said.

"Interesting, I am much looking forward to it," I said after I ended the call.

Before I could even react, my door suddenly opened, which made my eyes widened in shock. I almost fell from my swivel chair! It revealed a young man in his corporate attire. He licked his lower lip as he looked at me with his seductive eyes that I have never encounter with someone before, or was it only me? My secretary was behind him, trying to stop him from causing any trouble in my own office.

"Sir De Marco, I have told you so many times. Madame does not want to speak with you," Laine quickly said in a hurry, and I could sense how nervous she was, but the young De Marco did not even respond, but instead, he continued to stare at me for about minutes as if he was composing about he's gonna say to me.

"What do you want?"