The President's Humble Substitute Secretary

Chapter 2: Desperation

"You need to understand that I really need this job please. You have to do something I beg you"

Florence Rossi's voice trembled even though she tried so hard to keep her voice steady. Her fingers toyed with the loose fringes at the edge of her shirt as she leaned slightly forward across the polished glass desk.

The woman on the other side of the table glanced at her for a brief moment before turning her attention back to the monitor in front of her. Looking at the dark circles under her eyes, you could tell that she was very tired. She looked like she was in her late thirties, hair neatly pulled up into a tight bun.

"You're only embarrassing yourself young lady" the woman said gently. " You have to leave as I have other candidates to attend to. You do not meet the necessary requirements for this position."

The words hit harder this time because she could tell that she was very serious.

"I'm a very fast learner," Florence insisted immediately. "If you just give me the chance I'll learn, I promise. I don't even mind staying late. And I'll never complain. It's right there in my resumé that I used to be a secretary so that should mean something"

The woman's expression shifted into something firmer.

"I've heard enough of this Miss Rossi. Fanucci Holdings is not a place to train inexperienced people like you. We need people with experience and you simply don't have it."

Around them, other applicants pretended not to notice the commotion happening at the desk even though Florence could feel their eyes burning holes into her back.

Her cheeks heated up in embarrassment. One thing she hated was causing a scene and being the center of attention but desperate times call for desperate measures.

"Please," she whispered. "I promise that if you give me this chance you won't regret it"

The interviewer sighed and closed the folder containing Florence's resume.

"I wish you the best of luck."

That was it.

Her hopes crashed to the ground.

Turning around with her shoulders slumped she felt embarrassment crawl up her spine. She had really thought she was going to get the job. Her rent was way past due and she didn't know how much patience her landlord could have. And worse...

He was watching her.

He was waiting for her to be at her lowest.

Her stomach dipped at the thought of going back to where she once was two years ago.

The glass doors of the executive corridor suddenly slid open.

Silence washed over the floor as if a ghost had just walked in.

Everyone straightened.

A tall man walked in. He was dressed in a dark blue suit that looked like it was tailored just for him. His jet black hair was combed back neatly. His expression was very cold and he looked so perfect as if he'd been cut from stone.

But what caught her attention was his eyes.

It looked so cold. There was no single sign of warmth in them.

One look at him and you could easily tell he was in charge.

"Good afternoon, Mr. Fanucci."

"Sir."

"Mr. Fanucci."

Florence's pulse began to race.

Fanucci.

As in Arturo Fanucci.

The owner of the company she was begging for a job.

The man whose name towered over the city skyline in silver letters.

So the rumors were true.

He was even more scary in person.

He didn't spare anyone a glance. Not even a nod.

Florence swallowed.

If she was going to get this job then he was the only one that could help her.

This was her chance.

All she needed was five minutes to talk to him. Just five minutes.

Maybe she'd be able to talk to him.

She was going to give up now.

She took a step forward.

"Mr. Fanucci..."

Before she knew it,a hand clamped around her arm stopping her.

"Miss Rossi," the interviewer hissed under her breath. "That is enough."

Florence tried to twist free. "Let go of me. You're hurting me. I just need to..."

But security had already moved in.

"Ma'am, you need to leave."

"Wait! All I need is fi...no, one minute!" She cried,eyes fixed on the broad back disappearing into the elevator.

The doors closed before he could notice the scene unfolding.

And she was escorted out.

-

The glass building loomed behind her like a ghost.

Florence stood on the sidewalk for a long moment, trying to fight back the tears that threatened to spill.

She wasn't going to cry. Crying only meant that she had accepted her fate.

Pulling out her phone from her bag,she called the only person she knew that would always have her back.

"Sup" her best friend Lucia answered on the third ring. "How did it go?"

Florence let out a shaky breath. "I actually thought I was going to get this job. I really need this job"

A pause.

"Oh no."

"Apparently I didn't meet the qualifications. What special qualification is required to be a secretary for goodness sake? It's basically a servant with experience." Her voice cracked despite her efforts to steady it. "You should have seen me, Lu. I begged like my life depended on it."

Lucia sighed softly. "Technically,your life depends on it. Flo..."

"I actually saw Mr. Fanucci." Florence continued. "But before I had the chance to talk to me the security dragged me out."

"Dragged you out? That's assault."

"They weren't rough or anything" she muttered. "They just held my arm firmly."

Lucia was quiet for a second before speaking carefully. "I know you're not religious or anything but this is a sign. A sign that there's something better waiting for you out there"

"I don't think I can get anything better than this," Florence whispered. "He came looking for me last week. He's back again. I'm very scared, Lu. I do not want to go back to him. I need money so that I can at least pay him off to leave me alone."

The silence on the other end thickened.

"I told you to come stay with me but you're very stubborn. You know what? I need you to go home" Lucia said finally. "You need to rest. You've had a very stressful week. We'll figure something out. You always do. That's what I admire about you. You're resilient."

Florence closed her eyes.

"Yeah," she murmured.

After the call ended, she didn't move.

Rest?

There was no way she was going to rest, not when the clock was ticking.

Her gaze drifted back up the towering building of Fanucci Holdings.

Slowly, something shifted inside her.

No.

She wasn't going to give up.

This job was her only hope.

---

It was nearly an hour later when Florence made her way back after having breakfast at a cafe nearby.

The main entrance was quieter now as every employee had made their way to their floor.

She kept her head down and walked toward the side of the building, where she'd noticed a separate gated entrance marked PRIVATE.

Her heart thrummed violently in her chest.

She knew how stupid this was.

Completely stupid.

But desperation had already stripped every sense of reasoning she had.

She sat patiently near the side corridor until a middle aged janitor pushed the private gate open with a mop and bucket in hand. The older man didn't glance her way as he shuffled out.

That was her chance.

Florence managed to slip through the gates before it closed.

Her pulse roared in her ears.

The underground parking garage smelled faintly of gasoline and polished concrete. It was dimly lit by the flickering lights wired to the ceiling. The private section was cordoned off with sleek black barriers. Everything about it screamed wealth.

She hid behind one of the pillars.

She was going to wait for Arturo Fanucci here.

If she could just speak to him alone...

Minutes passed.

Then more minutes.

The adrenaline slowly faded, replaced by exhaustion.

She couldn't remember the last time she had a proper night's rest.

She sank down beside the pillar, hugging her knees to her chest.

She only wanted to rest her eyes for a few seconds.

---

She didn't know how long she slept.

But the next time she opened her eyes,she was met with two dark angry eyes staring down at her.

Florence's breath hitched.

Arturo Fanucci stood before her, towering over her small form with a cold expression on his face.

She forgot how to breathe under the intensity of his gaze.

And in that moment, she realized just how scary he was.

He looked annoyed.

And very, very angry.