Monica's POV
The afternoon dragged on after Mr. Lorenzo finished sharing his travel details. Paula and I returned to our workstations, diving back into spreadsheets and emails. Just as we were packing up to leave, Darren materialized at my office door at the exact moment Mr. Lorenzo emerged from his.
"Ladies, your day of freedom has arrived!" Darren announced, flashing that megawatt smile. "Morris and I are heading to Giorgio's for dinner, and we absolutely insist that the two most stunning women in this building join us."
Giorgio's wasn't just any restaurant – it was the crown jewel of Italian dining in the city, with prices that made credit cards tremble. Natalie had actually convinced me we should try it this weekend, arguing that their handcrafted gnocchi and house wines were legendary. She'd been on a mission to acclimate me to upscale establishments, insisting I'd need the practice for future business engagements.
