Mr. Antonio awoke from a sound sleep to find his wife awake and wearing a furious expression as she stared off into space.
"Vivian, what is it? What is upsetting you so much this morning?" He attempted to plant a kiss on her cheek, but she refused.
"It is unbelievable that you slept well and are asking me if there is a problem with me. How could you not feel ashamed of yourself?" Do not tell me you can not recall what happened the previous evening, Ken." Mr. Antonio was taken aback by what she said. His wife was talking about something he had no idea about.
"Ken, stop acting like a fool. You nearly touched your own daughter," she yelled, startling Mr. Antonio, whose first name is Ken. He struggled to remember what had happened the previous evening, and then every memory returned.
"Shit! Look, Vivian, that is not how I meant it at all. It is not what you think. I thought….."
"You still love her, do not you, Ken? You thought she was your ex-wife. You almost slept with your daughter, thinking she was Rosa,"she said and he was shocked. Upon going to the bar for a drink, he did indeed consider Rosa.
His first love, Rosa, made him hate her for what she did, but he can not stop thinking about what he did.
"Vivian, I am so sorry. I apologize for hurting your feelings; that was not my intention." He clasped her hands and apologized gently.
She tried to appear unconcerned as she asked, "I hate to say this, but what about your daughter you tried abusing?"
He spoke softly and held her chin, saying, "I know I wronged her, but she will get over it."
"From now on, I will no longer be thinking about Rosa. Instead of her, I'll think about you every day," he said, making her laugh.
"When will Mr. Aaron arrive, then? To let that brat go? I am over staring at her face." Vivian gave a sneer.
"I have no doubt that he will arrive. In addition, it is obvious he has feelings for Serena," he chuckled.
"I am so glad. That means you need to get rid of her for eighty million dollars. Now, we will have more wealth. And then you'll pay all your debt." After saying so, Vivian gave him a quick peck on the lips.
"I will take you and Kylie on a vacation after that. and buy you whatever you need and want," he said, to which Vivian gave him a proud hug.
"Ken, I love you!"
...…
After her dad almost traumatized her the previous night, Serena would not get out of bed. Her dad almost touching her, she could not believe it. She was taken aback; although she was aware that she resembled her mother, that did not give him permission to touch her.
Her boyfriend was not there when she tried to call. She has not seen her boyfriend in a long time. Her father's refusal to listen to her about her boyfriend, a manager in a fashion company, was one of the reasons she refused to get married.
She thought her boyfriend was avoiding her at times. When she called him, he promised to call her back the day he was able to pick up the phone, but he never did.
She was unaware of what was going on. She attempted to meet him at his workplace or in his apartment, but he insisted she should not try.
She did not break up with him right away, but she started to lose feelings for him as a result. Her goals included finding employment as a fashion designer and escaping to avoid being married to an elderly man.
"Serena!"
Her first reaction upon hearing that voice was to bolt Her father was the one. Her fear of him had grown. Is it those he wants to complete the task he began?
"Yes, dad," she replied before leaving her room. Her father laughed at her when he saw how much she had wept during the night; her eyes puffed.
"Remember that what occurred last night was simply a misunderstanding; try not to let it consume you. Remember, man, today is the day that you will be offering your hands in marriage. I want you to behave well, wipe away your tears, and make sure you look presentable and tidy. Do you get it?"
Clutching her fist in rage, she said, "Yes, father." She watched him walk out of sight before making her way to the kitchen. She decided to prepare some food because she was so hungry.
She was aware that they would not save any food specifically for her. given that she would not leave her room. She prepared bacon and scrambled eggs for breakfast.
With great pleasure, she consumed it and then recalled her plans. She was trying to find work as a designer at the Russell Fashion Empire.
She dashed into her room, grabbed her sketchbook, and when she opened it, she was faced with all of her gorgeous drawings. The first sketch, done when she was in the tenth grade, was really lovely.
She took a shower, put on a crop turtleneck top, and said, "This will convince them." She applied minimal makeup for a natural look and kept her sketchbook inside her bag.
She silently made her way to the door and looked to see if her parents were approaching. They will not let her leave if she doesn't.
Five minutes later, she boarded a bus and traveled to the fashion empire she had her sights set on.
She entered the door after getting off the bus and noticed the secretory. It was penned on her workstation.
Grinning widely, she moved in her direction. It was the most beautiful place she had ever entered. She was drawn to something she saw. "Oh my gosh! Is that it?" she asked, looking in wonder as she made her way over to the mannequins wearing one of the most famous outfits.
"It is really amazing and lovely." She tried to touch it after letting out a gasp.
"Hey, stay off that!" It was the secretary.
When she realized she had to apologize, she saw that some coworkers were making fun of her behind her back.
"Good morning, Miss. Welcome to Russell Fashion Empire. How may I help you?" she said as she walked up to the employee, a broad smile on her face. A displeased-looking secretary said.
Serena said, "I am here to apply for a job."
"Which is?"
"Please consider me for the position of fashion designer." She said in a courteous manner, and the secretary gave her a thorough examination before picking up the phone.
The woman asked, "Your name, please?"
"Serena Antonio," she said, and then she bided her time until the woman on the phone had concluded.
"Go to the elevator and hit the button for the tenth floor. The manager's office is located there. He will take care of you soon." Serena grinned and nearly bent as she spoke.
"Thank you so much." She was too happy to hide. She confidently made her way to the elevator and got in. granting access to the tenth floor.
The manager's office caught her attention and she tensed up. It made her nervous.
She inhaled deeply before attempting to go into the manager's office.
However, before going inside, she gently knocked on the door, and it took some time for it to open. She observed a woman getting dressed outside and fiddling with her skirt in particular.
"What are you doing?" The manager, who disregarded her presence, thought that Serena's reaction was still priceless.
"Baby, you work here? And what are you doing with her?" Serena asked, trying not to speak too loudly. Her boyfriend was caught with another woman here, even though she was unaware that he worked here.
Since it was not the original reason she was there, her boyfriend decided to overlook her minuscule sweat.
Trying not to lose his cool, he said, "Serena, what do you want?" in a cold-hearted way.
"What are you doing with that lady, and why am I here looking for a job as a fashion designer? Is this the reason you answered my texts but did not answer my calls?" she questioned.
She shook her head, signaling that she hadn't. "She is my partner and what you think we are doing is none of your business or do you have a problem with that?" he asked.
"No, I don't. My issue is that you are ignoring me. YoYou did not tell me you were employed here, even though you know that this is my dream job." In response, she said.
"I am a manager, as I mentioned."
"Yeah, but you withheld the fact that you are employed here. And you are sleeping with your coworkers behind my back," she lashes out, biting her lip.
"Why would not I? when you object to my touching you. Serena, let me tell you the truth; you know what? I dated you because I was hoping we could get into a sexual relationship. You stated that you could not do it and that you were a virgin, if that is still the case. For the next two years, I honor your decision. Given that you are unable to provide me with what you desire. We are done, let me say that." He spoke without hesitation, leaving Serena perplexed by his words.
To her, it made no sense at all.
She questioned, "You pretended to love me so that you can hook up?" and he nodded.
"Indeed, in addition to using the drawings and designs you made to aid in my employment,. I only continue to be attracted to you as my girlfriend for that reason. I can no longer do that to myself, though." She shed a few tears as he spoke.
"Why have you been taking my designs all this time? How did you manage that?" she whimpered.
"I understand that you recently ended our relationship and have treated me badly, but please—this job is like my dream; I truly need it. Creating clothing for both men and women—well, mostly women—is an incredible skill of mine. Kindly try me out." She begged as though her life depended on it.
"You are starting to really unnerve me, Serena Though I think your face looks pretty, what are you wearing? I do not know about you, but I think it fits everyone in this place to be called employees of this fashion empire. Look at them all." He spoke in a hurtful manner.
He asked, "Do you really want this job so bad?" "You have one chance to convince me otherwise. option for you to change my mind. Let me ask you; Are you ready to do it?" He questioned, and Serena was perplexed by his response already.
"Explain it to me in a way that I can easily understand,"
"I want to be so intimate with you; If you want me to give you this job, then have sex with me. It isn't difficult." He said, slyly licking his lips.
"Are you serious? Are you crazy? I am not that into you, so even though it hurts a lot that you broke up with me, I do not care. And now you are saying this? Do you currently have alcohol on your hands?" This time, she asked in a furious manner.
"Oh my goodness, quit behaving like a saint. I know you have hurt someone else. It is merely an easy request. In addition, other women who completed this task with me are currently operating flawlessly. So, Serena, are you prepared to take this step or are you prepared to leave and never return?" he asked with a sly smile that made her want to cry in front of him.
"Look, I can still help by continuing to create fresh and original designs, so this is not okay. I can not have sex with you, this job is like a dream," she begged, pulling out her sketchbook.
"Then get out of here. And i don't want to ever see your face here again," he said coldly.
"I am still here because of this fucking job, not because of you. I do not care if you go to hell. That being said, I still plan to visit this place. Fuck you a$$," she yelled.
Serena was depressed because she did not want to give her body to him even though she really wanted this job. In addition to the fact that she has not done it with anyone else, keeping her virginity, she does not want to do anything that might implicate her in the future.
She stood up, made her way carefully to the door, and gave him one last look. He made a gesture for her to leave. She took a deep breath and left the office, wiping her tears.
She walked into the elevator and descended down to the ground floor.
She looked at the place one last time before she left for the taxi she boarded.
Throughout the ride, she let her tears fall. She kept looking at the digital billboards of fashion divas displaying. And then a notification popped up on her phone.
"Don't forget about today's pplan,"she read. It was her dad she cursed underneath her breath and kissed her teeth.
Then she came up with an idea.
"What happens if I purchase a sewing machine and use it on the patterns I made?" She grinned and wiped her face right away. The mood switch was unexpectedly noticed by the driver who was staring at her through the rearview mirror.
He said, "Miss, we are here." She opened the door and hurried inside her home. Later, she ran into her grumpy father while he was watching TV.
"Where have you been?" he asked coldly.
"I….i…took a walk.." she stuttered, trying to hide the fact she was lying.
"The people we were expecting today have cancelled their visit. They are no longer coming today, so its been postponed to another day. But mind you, you'll be getting married soon." he said and she tried so hard to cover her smile.
All she was thinking about was ordering a sewing device and sewing materials.
"All right, dad." she exclaimed, running to her room to look at the picture of Alex Russell hanging on the wall and removing her sketchbook from her bag.
"Just because I did not land my ideal job by accident does not mean I should not give up. I have to show them that this girl is talented if I am not going to be accepted." With confidence, she said, blowing a kiss at the picture.
Serena was skilled at both sewing and designing, in addition to her talent for coming up with original designs. She had learned it in school and also online.