"Ava! "
My heart beat speed up. I would have suggested that Patricia put out a trigger warning for me before calling out my names each time. At least my heart would be ready to receive the fight-or-flight like voice of hers, but that would only earn me a neat brown envelope with my sack letter neatly arranged inside.
"Ye_s," I stammered. I wasn't so good with words. I stammer most times, especially if my heart is racing or I am annoyed or scared.
She took her coat from the rack, tossed her handbags on her shoulders, and adjusted her makeup before looking back at me. "I believe it won't be so difficult to carry this to the manager. I am off to an evening appointment I can't afford to miss. Oh shit. I am late already ".
"Which of the..."
She shoved a large, heavy file into my hand, which I brought forward. I saw the files coming. Then she disappeared out the door, slamming it in a manner that almost dropped my heart to my stomach.
"The managers," I finished with a dropping jaw.
My shoulder dropped as the weight of the files was dragging me down to the earth, but I still have to get to the third floor, and if it weren't for the fashion manager, I would have to get to the fifth floor to meet the sales manager.
ChickVougue Designs had two managers whom even Patricia does not show so much respect to. I once heard that her relative is the CEO.
Thanks to the elevators...
which weren't working.
",Shit! Now I will have to take the stares. I mean the stair case.
Everyone I met shot me a sympathetic look, which I answered with a tiring shrug.
It was once my dream to work at the biggest fashion company, and here I am suffering under an annoying boss. I wouldn't be the first, though, and not the last either.
At first, it wasn't bad, as I got the job immediately after I finished school, and you can guess how excited the twenty-year-old graduate was. I was feeling so happy knowing that my dreams are becoming real, although I knew that my father pulled some strings for me before the interview.
This is me barely two years later, wishing that I had taken over my father's company; maybe it wouldn't have gone bankrupt in the hands of my stepmother and sister.
I knocked at the third door. In the hallway of the third floor
"Who's there?"
"It's Ava Williams. Miss Patricia sent me."
I didn't hear any response. I had to decide whether I had to open the door myself or wait for his instructions.
I'd rather wait.
When none was coming, I knocked again "Can I come in, sir".
"If you are tired of standing out there, then you can".
I sighed silently at his response. Maybe rudeness was among the criteria to be employed in ChickVougue.
I pushed the door open and dropped the file on the floor without taking a second glance at the chubby man whose face was focused on his laptop.
By the time I was done walking down the stairs, my forehead was slick with sweat and my leg had become wobbly.
The sun went down about two hours ago. Now I will have to walk all the way home through that lonely lane. I took my handbag and rushed out of the company building.
And then I rushed back in.
It was so cold outside that my blood was almost blocked. I forgot that the humidifier was turned on at the office, and it was snowing outside.
I wore my thick sweater, my thick stockings, which I didn't care if looked bad with my heels, and then my hand warmer before dashing out again. This time, it was better.
It felt like I was the only one who came to work that day. No one was on the road. I wanted to take the bus, but after standing at the bus stop for a few minutes, I gave up and decided to trek back home. My house wasn't so far from work. I moved out of my father's mansion to stay there when I got this job.
I shouldn't be looking at my phone while walking, especially considering the weather and lonely environment, but I couldn't help it. It has become a habit that I formed in university. I wanted to avoid anyone talking to me or me talking to anyone. Back then, I was such a nerdy and shy girl. I guess I am still the same except for the fact that my glasses and I are avoiding each other.
I opened the email I got earlier during work and read through the lines. My face squeezed, and my brows drew closer to each other as I read the last sentence. "If it's inconvenient for you, You can check other houses in Italy.
If I knew my rent was going to be increased through an email, I would have ignored my phone and ignored the increments as well. How am I going to shoulder the expenses? It would even be more expensive to pack out. I don't think I will ever find a vacant room near ChickVougue.
I breathed heavily, letting the cool air wash away my anxiety.One, two, three...
"miss Williams"
A deep voice brushed over my skin, and I almost choked in shock.
Even though I was coughing slightly and trying to get my breathing back to normal, I still increased my pace to avoid being caught on the lonely road. The sound of an engine was evidence that someone was really behind me. Someone has a car, and it won't be so difficult to shove me inside.
My hands started to shake as I bit my cheeks from the inside, yet my leg couldn't stop moving. For the first time, I regret not taking the online self-defense class Stella forced me to watch on YouTube seriously.
The Genesis G80 drove to my track, forcing me to stop suddenly. Dark hair. Whiskey eyes. A face so exquisitely chiseled
I inhaled a small breath, released it, and smiled.
"Hello," I said with a shaky mouth. Maybe he was one of my father's acquaintances, since he called me by my last name.
My reply was met with a cold gaze. His expression was like someone who wanted to ask for directions. My heart slowed for a bit as he fixed his eyes on mine. Tiny sparks of electricity hummed beneath his gaze.
"Worst weather to get a drink." He looked around, especially at the snowflakes that were on my shoulders, and then watched them slip down.
"I'm not going for a drink. Just heading home after a terrible day and getting a terribly written letter from my arrogant landlord".
He smirked a little and scoffed. I wonder why a dangerous smirk looked so cute to me. What right does it have to?
I bit my lips from the inside; maybe I have said too much already. Nothing could have stopped me from just saying "yes or no ". but I just gave a short rundown of my day to a strange, beautiful man.
"The ice patches are all over the side work," he said, staring down at my knee. I shifted them aggressively, knowing how unfashionable that looked. He rested his foramen on the wheel. "I will give you a ride".
I wanted to just decline, but my head shook in the opposite direction. The thought of sitting with him in a closed space even for a minute filled me with goosebumps.
"I'm okay. Just a few meters to my house." I looked up in the direction I was pointing, which his gaze followed too. That was when I discovered that I had made a right turn instead of a left, and the bar was the only building on sight from there."I'm really okay. I am sure you have better things to do than chauffeur me around." This came out in a rush. I normally don't ramble, but this... I don't know what's going on.
Before I opened my eyes after my explanation, which I finished on a note of breathlessness, the door was already open and he was gone. I looked to my right to see him coming closer.
I quickly retraced my steps as I moved backwards with each of his approaching footsteps. I don't think I have seen someone with as great fashion sense as the man right in front of me.
He opened the car door and stared into my soul.
"Get in the car, Ava Williams."
I got in the car.
I told myself it was because I had no snow boots on and he was insisting, and besides, it was so cold outside.
Before I could breathe out for the fifth time, he was already dead. He turned on his humidifier, and a second later, heat blasted from the vent and warned my frigid skin.
His car smells rich, and I don't know if it's his cologne or the smell of the car, but it was so good. And totally neat. No empty coffee cups; no suit on the passenger seat. I picked up my jacket, which I just threw there, and hung it on my lap.
My gaze went to the man beside me. He was totally focused on the road. His side view was very perfect, and he kept biting his cheekbone like he was angry at something.
He kept acting quite like I actually begged him for a ride. I had to start a conversation, but what on earth am I going to say? To a stranger?
I searched my bag, bought out my business card, and handed it over to him. "How did you know my name?"
He tossed my card into that small box like stuff in a car without even at least finding out the color and design" and brought his own out of the same place. I am bound to know."
I snatched the card from him, getting annoyed by his cold response. But once my eyes caught the chick voice that was written on the card, I looked suspiciously at him. "You work at ChickVougue?".
"I own it," he said, looking at me for the first time, and my anger went away.
I stared back at the card, and a loud scream escaped my wide, open mouth. My eyes were also wide; they might fall from their socket at this rate.
I almost let out another scream but placed my hands over my mouth.
Gabriel Fernandez?
CEO of ChickVougue, not just that. He owns the house I live in, and... is he not just the most beautiful man I'd ever set my eyes on?
"What were you saying about your house owner? He's arrogant, and..." Gabriel asked his tone not differentiating if he was joking or not. If yes then he's very terrible at making jokes.
I was a bit scared . I bit my lips and avoided his dark gaze.