Episode 1

It was a Friday afternoon, all the employees of the O'Connor Technology company had left at the usual time, except for one person, Loreta Rosietti who was still in her boss's office taking notes for next week's appointments. She was the private secretary of the company's president, Mr. Lewis O'Connor, a man in his late fifties, robust, grumpy who believed that his secretary's life belonged to him and that he could dispose of her schedules at his whim.

"Loreta please, remember to reschedule the appointment with Mr. Harris, that man is a nuisance but an excellent supplier and has the best chips on the market," he ordered, while reclining in his seat and smoking his cigar.

"Very well, sir, I will call the supplier early Monday," she replied, resisting the urge to vomit, the smoke in the office hardly allowed her to breathe and she was getting dizzy.

"That would be all, I think that's enough for today."

"Okay," she said and closed her agenda.

"You can leave, see you on Monday," he commented, putting out the cigar in the ashtray.

"Thank you."

Loreta was about to stand up to leave the office when the office door burst open and a man who inspired fear entered without warning, without even announcing himself and the CEO's face paled as if he had seen a ghost or worse his worst nightmare. So Loreta went to the door and did her job.

"Sir, you can't just walk in like that! Tell me what you need and I'll schedule an appointment for you for Monday first thing in the morning," she offered, but that man simply ignored her completely, he didn't even bother to look at her.

"Loreta, there's no need, I'll take care of this man right now," he said and simply motioned for the young woman to leave, then he said, "Wait at your desk, I may need your services."

She nodded.

"Call Thomas and George, tell them to come up."

"Very well sir," she replied, watching as that man just crossed his arms without saying a word.

Something was wrong, her boss never called his trusted men to a meeting like that so she ran down the hall and upon reaching her desk immediately dialed George's number.

"Loreta, what's wrong?" George asked immediately.

"Come up!" replied the secretary, unable to control her voice.

Two hours had passed since that interruption and the secretary remained impatient at her desk waiting for Mr. O'Connor to grant her permission to leave the place and get home early; however the minutes passed and she knew that her illusions were unfounded and that surely the meeting would extend until late at night, since it took place unexpectedly and the loud discussions did not subside.

Loreta checked the phone once again, she had several messages from her nanny, where she demanded double pay for the extra hours she was doing to take care of little Lucia, then with regret she replied

"I'm sorry, I'll try to get there as soon as possible, but please don't leave, I need you for just one more hour," she pleaded resignedly watching the screen waiting for a response, until finally the cell phone lit up again and in it appeared only one word that was more than enough to bring her soul back to her body...

"Ok."

"Thank you, I swear I'll make it up to you..." she replied but the screen simply went off without receiving a reply.

Loreta sighed in relief, at least her nanny would not abandon Lucia, however now she had to go home no matter what. Regretfully, almost by inertia, she got up from her chair and went to the door of the boardroom, she was about to interrupt the meeting when her boss's furious scream stopped her.

"No, only in your damn dreams will I hand over my company to that miserable man, and tell him that they will have to pass over my dead body first!"

"That may be easy to solve, so you better sign the documents before it's too late and my boss isn't so generous!" he replied.

"I won't do it, I'll never hand over my empire to that brat!" Lewis shouted firmly.

"Well, you asked for it," replied again that mysterious man who didn't even announce himself when he arrived.

Loreta felt real fear. The raspy and icy voice of that man was so threatening that the young woman instinctively recoiled. It was not the time to interrupt, much less to show her face in that place. Her body shuddered, she had a bad feeling, that was not a normal discussion, they were not arguing about the sale of any technological device and from the direction the meeting was taking she suspected that something serious was going to happen very soon. Thoughtfully she returned to her seat, she couldn't stop trembling, all her alarms were on alert although she had to obey, she no longer wanted to stay in the office.

It was almost midnight, she was exhausted, she was sleepy and she urgently needed to drink something to wake up and stop thinking about that discussion that she overheard without intending to be indiscreet. Sitting at her desk she looked at her cell phone again, only fifteen minutes had passed since her nanny replied to her the last time and she seemed very upset. She needed to go back home as soon as possible, the girl was restless. Slowly she got up and went to the kitchen and upon entering a smile lit up her face as she smelled the delicious aroma of freshly brewed coffee that was steaming in the coffee maker. Following her usual ritual she looked for her personal mug, poured herself some of the drink and carefully placed two small teaspoons of sugar in the mug, then sat on the counter swinging her feet.

She loved the office coffee, as it was a special brand that suppliers from Colombia brought exclusively for her boss, for that reason she did not miss the opportunity to savor that delight and enjoy its aroma, its flavor, its texture, just for drinking that drink it was worth enduring Lewis O'Connor's bad mood and even his flirting from time to time.

She was immersed in her thoughts, oblivious to everything else. That was her special moment in the day, where she could enjoy a good coffee, close her eyes and forget about all her bills, her responsibilities and simply enjoy that little moment with joy.

"Don't you know how much I miss you on weekends?!" she said opening her eyes and staring at the dark liquid that swirled inside the mug in the form of a swirl. "I love you, you are the love of my life!" she commented and without more she began to laugh, although in reality it was the nerves that made her act incoherently and be joking.

Anyone who heard her would believe that she was confessing her love to a man, however, the reality was different. She had lost all hope of falling in love again and lately her coffee was much more important than any male person. In it she took refuge on cold nights, as it was hot enough to ignite her whole body from the inside with just a small sip; it was cozy, much better than the arms of the jerk she had been involved with in the past and above all patient, it was always waiting for her at the end of the day for her lips to delight in its flavor.

She laughed like a fool for being so romantic and witty, until the memories crowded as always in her mind and melancholy embraced her to such an extent that it cut her breath, wreaking havoc on her battered heart. Her eyes crystallized, the coffee had lost its charm and sadness overwhelmed her as every Friday she remembered the last night they were together and looking at nothing she reproached herself once again.

"Enough, you must forget that idiot!" she sighed and took a sip, however now the drink was as bitter, lifeless, and tasteless as she was. "Loreta Rosietti, stop thinking about the past and concentrate on the future," she advised herself as always.

Clinging tightly to the warm vessel she thought, if only her love had been reciprocated, if only he had valued her, if only he had not deceived her saying such beautiful words, unfinished and empty promises of love, today she would have confidence in men, but no, her life or fate put on her way someone cruel and ruthless who only played with her feelings, used her as much as possible and then disappeared from her life completely without giving any sign that she was about to be abandoned a few days before her wedding. Devastated by feeling so miserable she looked at her left hand, where the engagement ring still rested and that over time was the perfect symbol to remember that she would not fall under the charms of any man again and would not give herself in body and soul. She was now more mature, wiser and above all no longer that naive girl who was easily convinced with tender words said in bed by the heat of the moment.

Loreta was playing with the ring, when shouts in the hallway caught her attention, then she left the mug on the counter and went to the door, carefully and quietly she opened it a few centimeters, enough to observe and not be discovered, since spying was frowned upon by her boss, who demanded absolute discretion and always reminded her that nothing she saw inside the presidential floor could leave her mouth or she would fire her immediately.

"What's going on?" she muttered between her teeth as she saw that the shouts rose in tone and her boss insulted as much as possible "Something is not right" she said and tried to get away from the door but curiosity was greater, without imagining that from that moment her life would change forever.

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