The next morning met us on the way to a far, far away land Paula called Washington.
Paula’s seat on the plane was a few rows from me, she was actively taking pictures of the skies, clearly enjoying the takeoff.
My eyes fell on an older couple beside me, giggling and chattering with each other and my heart ached uncontrollably.
“Home-wrecker…” I cursed under my breathe, and a few tears dropped from my eyes.“I will never love again!” I muttered to myself. I was too numb to think, too heartbroken. My pains, now very accustomed to me patted my back gently, and I drifted off to sleep.Seven hours later, I was startled awake by the screeching sound of the plane landing.
I scanned the aircraft for Paula and our eyes met,"Welcome to Washington!” She mouthed, beaming excitedly as we deplaned.We stepped down to the Terminal and we immediately spotted a lady with a “welcome back cousin!” placard, waving happily at us.
“Lydiaaaa!” Paula squealed excitedly, running towards the girl. She looked a lot like her, only, Lydia looked older.
I could see Paula talking to her and gesturing at me, so I knew she was telling her about the evil that had befallen me.
Of course, it was a good story to use as rent for a few weeks.Lydia smiled, offering that sorry smile of pity at me and I shrunk immediately, darting my eyes away from her, hiding my shame and embarrassment.
Sheepishly scanning across the hall, looking at no particular thing, my eyes fell on the most handsome man I have ever seen in my life emerging from the baggage claim.
“Woah!” I gasped, the sight of him melted all my worries and sorrows at once and I was flustered by his presence even though he was tens of feet away from me.
Unexpectedly, he turned towards my direction as if he could hear me gasping for air and our eyes met briefly.My heart sank and I instinctively dashed my gaze to the floor, blinking hard to be sure I wasn’t hallucinating, but when I opened my eyes, he was still there, still staring in my direction.
I felt my face fluster and flushed pink at the handsome face that was staring in my direction.
He stuck out in the crowd of hundreds of people, glowing handsomely as he emerged from the bag unit.His hair was neatly styled to befit the outfit he wore.
If I hadn’t learnt anything working with my former Boss, I had at least, learnt the kind of Suits only the top one percent of the world had access to.He wasn’t wearing Italian, nor Lorenzo. This man was braced in a custom made Stuart Hughes diamond Suit that cost around two million dollars for one. He carried the newest model of a travel Luis Vuitton bag that showed he was just returning from a business trip.“Oh!” I drooled, unconsciously charmed by his effortlessly graceful strides. He wasn’t close enough for me to see his eyes, but they were glowing even from a distant.
“Rosé!!” Lydia and Paula exclaimed, calling me back to reality.
I instantly tore my gaze from my eye-candy and went over to them.“Our cab is waiting!” Paula announced.I nodded apologetically and hurried behind them as we walked out of the terminal.
Unexpectedly, I caught a glimpse of that man, stepping into a tinted car protected by other cars. If I wasn’t mistaken, I would call it a convoy.In Ontario, convoys were reserved for only the Mayor. Was he the Mayor? The Mayor in Ontario wouldn’t be on a commercial Airplane… except that was a chartered first class airline.“Wow!” I exclaimed, “Gorgeous and wealthy” I gasped in awe, watching the entourage drive past the mini camping van, that Paula and Lydia called a cab.The day ended but I was stuck with the gorgeous image of him in my mind, his graceful gestures gave me a strange soothing feeling of consolation, massaging my core with the soft graces of his features, slowly relaxing my fatigued mind and body until I drifted to sleep.
-------
The atmosphere in Washington felt different, I wasn’t woken up by the whooshing of the morning breeze, neither did I stay in bed enjoying the silence and serenity of the morning like I did in Ontario.
I was well-awoken by the honks and loud shouts of cab drivers as they began their day’s hustle and bustle. It felt like a minute of sleep, but when I scanned my surroundings, Paula and Lydia were already dressed, looking over at me on the bed.“Won’t you wake up?” Lydia said with a grimacing grin.
“You have a job interview!” Paula added,
“It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity, don’t miss it. Be ready in fifteen minutes!” She exclaimed, swaying her hips out the room.
“Fifteen minutes?” I repeated, still trying to make sense of everything.
Suddenly, my reality hit me. “A job!”I needed a job, no matter how I feel.“I’ll feel worse without a job…”
With that thought, I jolted from my bed and scurried in to the bathroom. In no time, I was out and, horrendously rummaging my luggages for something to wear.
“Yellow gown…No!”
“Blue Jumpsuit…No!”“No!”“I think you’ll scream “No” until tomorrow and still not find what to wear…” Paula whispered, startling me unbelievably.
“Paula, thank goodness you’re here. What job interview is this? I need to know so that I can prepare..” I panted.
“Lydia had to pull all her strings for this job. It’s not a high paying position but you need something to get your mind off… you know who.”
I nodded agreeably.
Paula put her hands on my shoulder and steadied my nervous body.
“You’ll be alright if you allow me dress you up, because…”“Yes, this will do…” she said, tossing a dark red body con dress at me.
“I don’t think I can wear this… it’s an interview, Paula” I protested, looking at my reflection on the dressing mirror.
The gown glued to my body like a second skin, highlighting all my curves and legs. I felt uncomfortable in it and if anything made me uncomfortable, it meant I looked sexy, rather than beautiful.“This is too short” I cried, feeling inappropriately dressed in the skimpy dress.
“No, this is Washington, Rosé. You have to look hotter at an interview than you look in a club, trust me.”
Paula’s conviction had settled the case and off I went.I composed myself as I walked over to the receptionist, repeating the name on the card Lydia had handed me.“Jason Mannor…” I spluttered as I approached the receptionist.
The receptionist corked her eyebrow and stared at me in confusion.
“I am here for an interview with Jason Mannor…” I corrected myself.
She smiled in fakery, handing out a tag as she said,
“Eleventh floor, Hall six.”“Thank you… thank you ma’am.” I smiled awkwardly, walking off.
The elevator dinged open and my eyes fell on the tag on the door.
“Conference Hall Six…” “This must be it” I said to myself, almost leaping over to the door.I scanned the hall and there was no sign of an interview.
Instead a classy looking lady emerged from the room, speaking fluent French on the phone.I quickly went closer to her and said“Bonjour ma’am, je suis ici pour une interview”(I’m here for an interview, can you help?)She turned and looked down at me, then said reluctantly.
“l’entretien est termine” (The interview is over)… and walked past. I ran after the lady, trying to understand what was going on. It was barely 8: 30am.“How could the interview be over?!” I exclaimed in English. My French was as rusty as my Spanish. I was born in France but I only lived there until I was seven.The French speaking lady turned to me and her nostrils flared in irritation.
“You are in no position to question me!” She seethed. I was taken aback by her rage-filled responses. We had only just met. She sized me up and down and went, “This is no place for filth like you!” She seethed, her voice was as high pitched as the elevator that dinged open.Inexplicably, the atmosphere in the hallway changed, it was suddenly diffused with a manly scent of wood and citrus.
A scent so strong, all my nervousness and frustration dissipated into thin air, leaving a stir of curiosity in my head.We both looked up, in search of who was unleashing such oxytocin on us. Looking from my left side, my eyes met with the charming gaze of a man, so graceful, so beautiful.It was that man!
…The eye candy man!
Mr EyeCandy stepped into the hallway, and his footstep resounded in the air. Our eyes met and my heart sank.“Hazel!” I muttered silently, that was the color of his eyes.I timidly darted my eyes to the ground as he closed the distance between us.A pair of the most expensive Daniel Martins boots stopped before me.“Woah!” I gasped, intoxicated by his manly scent that wafted my senses.“CEO!” The French speaking lady exclaimed, groveling over to his side. My gaze remained on the ground, as I failed to steady trembling heart.“Nicole Guy must have definitely seen this guy before writing about the character, Anderson!” I thought to myself. “Who’s this?” I heard him say. His voice clearly befitted his persona. Firm, confident, dominant, oozing with authority.“I already interviewed her, you don’t have to bother.” She replied.Her lie caught me off guard and I didn’t even know when I blurted out,“No, you didn’t!”I instantly regretted it when my eyes met with hers, because she gave th
Navy’s POVI walked into the reception of my multimillion dollar company and my employees went numb. That’s how much influence I have on my workers and I like it that way. I like to see the women drool when I walk by, and the men tremble nervously at my presence. But I love the effect I have on women more, making them wish their lives on me and never having it, no matter what. Yes, no matter what, no matter who.I have only tried to love one woman all my life, Clarissa McDamon- my ex. I am yet to recover from the suffering agony and trauma she put me through. To me, women are all the same, despite how innocent they look, or how pure their eyes seem. They are vile creatures, despite what they wear, and their fake smiles creep me out. Like the smile on my receptionist’s face right now, fake, unreal, pretentious.“Welcome, Mr Leonardo” she beamed. I nodded indifferently, scanning the expanse hall.“Are you looking for anyone, sir?” She asked, sensing my curiosity.“The Blogger…” I
My relationship with Clarissa ended on my stepbrother’s wedding day. It was a shock to me when the bride was revealed and Clarissa was unveiled. We had been dating for two years, and we were still in a relationship when she appeared as my brother’s bride.Lumbar Leonardo, my older brother- jealous, greedy, self-centered, always wanted everything I had. Maybe it was because I was born from an affair my father had with my mother that he constantly hated me.Everyone, including my father and stepmother knew about this marriage, except me. My father came up to me and said, “You’ll always find love, don’t create a scene. The whole Italia is watching.”There at the aisle, I cut ties with my family and relocated from Italy to Washington and rebuilt my life away from those toxic people I called family, avoiding women like a plague.Five years later and a message from my father chimed through the phone;Not that this was the first, but this time, it was dire.“If you don’t come home for th
Navy stormed away without a second glance at me. The bouquet of white roses looked beautiful and lovely but it was quite confusing from whence it came. I had no boyfriend and I hadn’t yet made any friends.Slowly, I advanced to the bouquet and picked up the card next to it.“Congratulations on your first day at work- Paul” “Who on earth is Paul?” I wondered aloud. If the card was not addressed to my name, I would have left it alone, just thinking about the size of it was discouraging.I shuffled into the elevator, wrestling with the oversized bouquet of roses covering my face and making it hard to see what was in front of me.The elevator dinged open and I stepped out, sauntering towards the exit by mere instincts.I had almost made it to the exiting door when I suddenly bumped into something- or someone. His phone fell, clashing brutally against the glass door before dropping to the ground. With a sigh, I slowly lowered my bouquet, wearing a regretful expression for the unintended
What was I thinking?!” I scolded myself, increasingly irritated and disappointed that it was thirty minutes past 7 and Navy was no where at the airport.“One more minute and that’s it.” I declared.Just as I decided not to wait any longer, my phone blared into life and I automatically dreaded having to lie to Paula again.“She’ll definitely catch me this time” I murmured.I reluctantly pulled out my phone and glanced at the caller ID. It was a strange number. Relieved that it wasn't Paula, I touched the answer button and placed the phone to my ear.“Where are you?” The caller asked, his voice deep and commanding.I immediately recognized it as Navy’s voice, no one else could be so brooding and cold, even on the phone.“I’m at the terminal, Sir” “Look up” he replied.I glanced across the hall and my eyes fell on a tall figure, waving stoically. My heart fluttered as I made my way to him.It was amazing how he managed to be so beautiful even with the frown he had on his face. He look
Rosé's eyes widened in surprise as we locked gazes and an awkward silence hung in the air. My heart raced uncontrollably as I searched in vain for the right words to break the ice that was fast forming between us."Should I apologize?" I wondered."Why should I when she's to blame for leaving the door unlocked?! I mean she was the naked one." "I...I'm s..." she paused, her trembling voice cutting through the silence."I'm sorry sir, I didnt know you'd return so soon" she finally said, her cheeks burning with apparent embarrassment.I swallowed hard and pretended I was unmoved by her curvy body, nor moved by her shocked demeanor when in fact, I was suppressing the urge to scoop her in my arms and kiss her. My body responded to her body in a way that I never imagined possible and I knew the right thing to do was to vanish before I did something stupid."I'll just..um, wait by the parking lot" I muttered, averting my gaze from her."Okay sir" she replied, her voice just above a whisper.
Rosé's POV"Why?!""What is he doing with you?"Put him on the phone, or I'm coming to get you right this minute." Paula ranted, evidently frustrated by the knowledge that I wasn't coming home on my first day at Varde's."Paula, just hear me out. It's not what you think," I pleaded, trying to calm her down."It's just for work and I’m not complaining." I shifted away from Navy’s earshot and positioned myself at a corner in the Terminal while he went through Security Check."Well, I'm complaining for you, get the phone to him!" Paula replied."Paula, I can't just take the phone to him, you know I won't" I replied, whispering in a way."Why not?" "Is staying out part of blogging?""You have to follow him to Italy? For a job? Why is he making you do that? And within really short notice." She ranted."I agree that staying out isn't a part of blogging. I'm not just going to Italy for a job, its more complicated than that."I could sense her frustration and concern growing with every word,
Navy’s POVI got carried away watching her sleep peacefully, I couldn’t bring myself to wake her up even though we had arrived in Italy five minutes ago.Maybe it was a bad idea to make her change into the crimson dress, she looked uncomfortable in it and the sight of her discomfort made my heart ache.My eyes roamed the curvatures of her body and her naked body suddenly popped into my head.“Jesus, Navy!” I exclaimed, quickly averting my thoughts from that direction.Still, I couldn’t completely shake off her half-open lips, desperately calling out to me.I found myself trying so hard to keep away from brushing the strands of hair that were on her face. “Am I falling for Rosé?” I asked myself for the umpteenth time since we shook hands as friends. Or was it her dysfunctional family background that endeared me to her?“That was it and nothing else.” I told myself.Unexpectedly, she turned and swiveled in the chair, stirring up from sleep.She looked around and the surprise on her fac