"Rove! Rove wait!" Dmitri called out, as he walked to meet her by the hallway.

"It's Miss Goucher, Dmitri. What is it?"

"So you're allowed to call me by my first name, but I'm not allowed to call you by yours?" he asked teasingly

"No, but I didn't think you'd prefer being called Mr. Machiavelli. Or would you? I mean I could call you that if you prefer"

"No. No. I'm fine with Dmitri. Listen, Rove..."

"It's Miss. Goucher"

"Ro.." he smiled

"Miss Goucher"

"So that's the way it's gonna be?"

"Yes Dmitri. That's the way it's gonna be" she said smiling now

"Okay Miss. Goucher. I want to see you" he said, staring right into her eyes. Still smiling.

she was a bit taken aback

"You're...you're seeing me now"

"I mean outside here. In a more social setting"

She laughed now. "Dmitri Machiavelli, are you asking me out on a date? I mean you do know I'm your teacher right? A lot of females, I dare say celebrities and billionaire's daughters, are waiting for you to ask them that same question. Are you sure you want to waste it on your teacher?" she teased

"Yes. I'm sure" he nodded, a soft smile playing on his lips.

"Um...why? Give me a reason why I should say yes"

"Well, you rightly said it. You're my teacher. so you're honour bound to help me as a student right? Well I kinda need help with the assignment you gave us in class today"

"What, so you're saying you can't paint?" she asked, folding her arms

"No. I'm saying I'm desperately looking for a reason, anyone at all, to make you go out with me"

"In that case, you've got yourself a deal Mr Dmitri. I teach you to paint, you treat me to a good meal" she said, walking away.

"Yes ma'am". He said smiling now, playing with his hands in his pocket, rocking on his feet. For the first time since asking any woman out, he was nervous. He wanted to make it worth her while. He, Dimitri Machiavelli, nervous about a female? The world was definitely changing, he thought mildly

---|~♦||•♦•||♦~|---

BACK AT VIVMAN AGENCY...

"Good morning ma'am!"

"Can I help you with your bag ma'am?"

"Good morning Vivienne"

She walked into Vivman, wearing a printed white shirt tucked into blue bell trousers, with her shades on and her hair loose. In other words, she was in a crazy good mood.

A whole one week had passed now, since she'd been in the Machiavelli mansion. Today was Friday and she could not wait to go home. Her actual condo

"Oh hi Bullock. How's your wife?" she asked one of the many employees who'd greeted her.

And yes, she did know their names, well, at least some of them.

"She's fine, thank you ma'am"

"Josh, please help me take my bag and jacket upstairs, thank you. And all of you, boardroom in an hour. Bring all your files on the Italian. He's next."

"Yes ma'am" they chorused, as she walked past them, moving over to where the elevator was, to go to the fifth and last floor.

"Someone's in a good mood" Aaron announced, as she walked past his office door. He'd left it wide open

"I am, aren't I? your job is to make sure I stay that way Aaron, because you alone self handedly have the power to kill my vibes". She warned teasingly

"That's not what you pay me to do ma'am" he inclined, playing along

"And pray tell, what do I pay you to do Aaron?". She asked, leaning against his door

"You pay me to make you look good" he said matter-of-factly, standing up and walking towards her.

"I believe we've got a meeting now Miss Fitzman. About the Italian?" Aaron asked, quirking an eyebrow

"Yeah, about the Italian. Let's go. The others would be waiting by now"

"Yeah, they're all there in the boardroom already"

"So why aren't you there with them?" she intoned, folding her arms

"What? I was waiting for you" he raised his hands up in mock surrender

"Yeah, we both know that's a lie Aaron"

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ • • • • • ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ • • • • •

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