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font-size: 13px;">How does a CEO <i>and </i>mafia boss divide their time wisely? Hugo Lombardi was yet to find an answer to such a burning question, yet desperately required an answer. Despite it being rather early in the morning, he pulled his iPhone from the deep pocket of his suit pants and unlocked it with a glance down at the screen. 32 new emails, 8 missed calls, and 12 new text messages. Most of which were of importance, though he wished the majority were spam emails and could be dismissed with the swipe of a finger. By 5pm yesterday, he'd managed to sift through the mound of emails and missed calls, leaving them relatively resolved with a blank slate for the burst of additional emails he was bound to receive the following day.<br/>
<br/>
Strolling into the grandiose building of Lombardi Automotive Group, crystal clear glass doors rolled open with a greeting as the man entered the foyer of the building. He was dressed to the nines -- he always was. Crisp, black Armani suit with a cashmere blend white shirt beneath, and polished black leather Louboutin shoes, showcasing their worth as each step revealed the immaculate red bottoms. He wasn't wearing a tie today, opting for a more casual look with a button popped at the top of his shirt; if casual was even a descriptor considering the diamond-studded Rolex strapped to his wrist and the Tom Ford belt snug around his waist.<br/>
<br/>
"Good morning, le signores," the rich vibrato of his Italian-coated accent sounded through the room in the direction of the women who were seated at the reception desk of the foyer. The two women glanced upwards, flashing him a series of brilliant smiles as he entered the room. As much as Lombardi Automotive has been designed as a cover-up for the <i>real </i>business that was tucked beyond, it had become successful in its own right, designing and building luxury cars for those who had excess dollars to spend. Within the city of Moonee, the elite and riches drove them through the city, the gentle purr of the engines a trademark sound in the early hours of the morning and throughout the darkness of the evenings. Hugo had to admit -- he wasn't expecting it to take off as well as it did, the business now exporting cars outside of the US to a variety of countries around the world. It had certainly assisted in adding a few extra 0's to his bank account, creating an absurd wealth that he often didn't have a need for.<br/>
<br/>
The CEO made his way with confidence towards the gold, polished elevator doors as they popped open with a soft 'ding'. Fingers searched for floor 15 -- the top floor, housing the immaculate space he referred to as, his office. In unison with touching the elevator button, a green tick highlighted across the pad beside him, simultaneously having read his fingerprint and approved his ascend to the top floor. It was a short ride before he stepped out onto the uppermost floor, waltzing towards his office space. Floor-to-ceiling windows wrapped around the room, bathing it in natural light as the city skyline was revealed to curious eyes.<br/>
<br/>
Entering the room that read '<i>Lombardi' </i>across the door, the man was greeted by a dark, marble interior, patterned with flecks of gold. Hugo settled himself into the leather chair tucked behind his office desk, emptying his keys and phone onto the table. Before he had time to switch on his computer, an elegantly dressed woman sauntered into his office.<br/>
<br/>
"Lombardi," she announced, the sway of her hips deliberate as she approached his desk, the clicking of her heels echoing against the marble floors, "Your new PA starts today."  Hugo hoped she would be the answer to his question.<br/>
<br/>
Dark eyes diverted from the screen, settling across her hips as she sauntered closer. <a class="link link--external" data-proxy-href="/proxy.php?link=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com.au%2Fpin%2F2603712278008436%2F&amp;hash=4f6a2b7b4b831b7df769ff0cb3827694" href="https://www.pinterest.com.au/pin/2603712278008436/" rel="nofollow ugc noopener" target="_blank">Claudia</a>. The tight ringlets around her face bounced with each step as she halted at the edge of his desk, dropping a manilla folder before him. She was COO. Chief Operating Officer, appointed directly under him and played a vital role in their <i>other </i>business. He'd kept her in a high rank due to her immaculate organisation and negotiation skills, as well as her impressive presence that had most men groveling at her feet.<br/>
<br/>
"Oh?" he quirked a brow, leaning back against his chair. He hadn't been involved in the hiring process, trusting Claudia to select a candidate she thought worthy.<br/>
<br/>
"Remember the girl I'd mentioned was a reporter but had applied for the job?" Claudia settled into the chair opposite his, folding one knee over the other.<br/>
<br/>
"How could I forget," Hugo grinned smugly, retrieving the folder and flipping it open. There were several photos of the woman inside. Some appeared to be formal -- direct copies of her passport and driver's license. Others were taken from her social media accounts, including a breakdown of interactions on each post. There were a handful of other pictures that appeared to be paparazzi style, seemingly while she remained unaware as his workers snapped photos of her while she completed mindless tasks; grocery shopping, posting mail, and pumping gas into her car. Several other slips of paper were nestled into the folder including recent health records, her graduation certificates, and various other identifying information that may prove to be relevant in the future.<br/>
<br/>
"Well, turns out she interviewed well," Claudia tilted her chin, "She'll be here in an hour."<br/>
<br/>
Despite having interviewed well, Hugo had told Claudia he wanted her the moment he'd found out she was attempting to go undercover. As they always said, keep your friends close, but keep your enemies closer. Even a man of his wealth couldn't buy such entertainment. He planned to have his fun with her. A young woman, full of enthusiasm and optimism, believing she could potentially outsmart one of the richest and most resourceful men in the city.  <i>Oh, this would be good.</i><br/>
<br/>
"Well, I look forward to meeting her," Hugo announced, slipping the folder into one of the drawers of his desk. He didn't need any form of preparation. He was born prepared.<br/>
<br/>
The hour breezed on by. Thankfully, it gave him enough time to respond to a couple of emails and returned the missed calls from international clientele. The sound of the heavy door prying open forced his gaze to lift from the computer screen, flickering towards the sound of interest. Curious eyes settled on the woman as she entered the room.<br/>
<br/>
<i>Persephone Thorne. </i>No, <i>Persephone Maria Thorne,</i> her driver's license had stated. There was a natural beauty about her, a radiance that couldn't be bought, or trained. Immediately, Hugo lifted himself to his feet in a swift movement as he rounded the desk to greet her. He couldn't help but notice how petite her figure was in comparison to his as he moved forward with an air of confidence. The outfit she'd chosen was sophisticated, yet the gentle sweeping of each dark curl that was pulled from her face told a different story. Intrigue pooled through his core as he studied the woman for what seemed a moment too long.<br/>
<br/>
"Miss Thorne," Hugo hummed, leaning in to plant a delicate kiss on her cheek. Traditional Italian mannerisms seemed lost and intrusive within American culture. Yet, he was a man; proud of who he was and where he had come from, refusing to let such simple traditions slip for the sake of fitting in, "A pleasure. Please, take a seat."<br/>
<br/>
The CEO stepped aside from the woman, indulging in inhaling the sweet, feminine scent of her perfume as he sidestepped toward the quaint collection of chairs across from his desk. He pulled one out from under the desk, allowing her to seat herself comfortably before tucking her in. In a relaxed manner, Hugo circled his desk and seated himself across from her, his dark stare holding hers, curious.<br/>
<br/>
"Welcome to Lombardi Automotive," the smile that curved across his lips was measured, deliberate, "I hope your first day is as insightful as it is, enjoyable." Hugo leaned forward, perching his forearms onto the table. He couldn't tell if she was nervous; if she was, she did a <i>fantastic </i>job of hiding it.<br/>
<br/>
"Please, tell me a little about yourself. Enlighten me as to why this role appealed to you," he pitched, wondering if she had a backstory prepared, what lies she planned on feeding him. The thought of playing a game of cat and mouse with her, well and truly had him on the edge of his seat; metaphorically speaking, "Then, I will give you the grand tour."<br/>
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