A knock on the car window broke the silence, snapping Layla back to reality. She had been crying for over 30 minutes, lost in her thoughts. She lifted her head to see her best friend, Thea, standing outside the car with a concerned expression.
After her emotional breakdown, Layla had driven away, but eventually, her shaking body and numb mind forced her to pull over. She called Thea, who arrived quickly, and Layla could sense the pity in her eyes. Thea's gaze seemed to say, "I knew this would happen, and I told you so." But instead of lecturing her, Thea simply got into the driver's seat and drove Layla to her apartment in silence, allowing her friend the space she needed to process her emotions.
As soon as they entered the apartment, Layla burst into uncontrollable sobs. She had held it in for too long and couldn't bear it anymore. She rushed to the bed and cried her heart out. Thea handed her a napkin to wipe away her tears, saying, "For Christ's sake, this will be the last time you cry for that son of a bitch!"
Layla's crying grew louder, unsure if it was the napkin or Thea's words that triggered it. "Were you expecting this all along?" she asked in a tearful voice.
Thea stood up and headed to the door, asking, "What do you want to eat, or should I get a bottle of wine?" Layla sniffled, and her crying intensified. "Noodles with lots of vegetables and a wine will do," she managed to say through her nose, continuing to cry uncontrollably.
"How will you go to work looking so pale?" Thea asked, reminding Layla of her recent promotion, which felt more like a hollow achievement than a true success. "We could have had a little party, you know," Thea said, her eyes filled with concern.
Layla heard Thea's laughter, but it sounded forced, like she was laughing through her teeth. Layla thought it was funny, but she was going through hell. She worked as a receptionist at one of the main companies of Ford's Group, a behemoth of a corporation that seemed to have its fingers in every pie. From agriculture to the smallest trinket, Ford's Group was the leading company on the continent. Everyone was dying to get a spot at the company, even if it meant being a cleaner, just to catch a glimpse of the elusive boss, Logan Ford.
She had been working at the company for two years, but had never laid eyes on Logan Ford in person, only seeing him in pictures. His magazine cover photos hinted at his charm, and she could only imagine how captivating he must be in reality. This was why every single lady in the company was desperate to catch a glimpse of him.
However, his reputation for being extremely strict and demanding made his assistants turn over rapidly, some were fired on the spot, others within a week or a month. When Layla was told she would be his new assistant, she was shocked and begged her manager to reconsider. Since they were close, he guaranteed that if she got fired, he would secure her former position back for her. After all, finding a job as good as this one was incredibly difficult to come by.
She stood up from the bed and headed to the mirror, gazing at her reflection. The mirror showed a face that wasn't looking its best - a swollen face, a red nose, and puffy eyes. She looked at Thea, hoping for a solution. "A makeover can't cover all this up," she thought to herself. Then, she had an idea. She put on a pair of sunglasses and turned to Thea. "Definitely can't show up to work looking like this on your first day as Logan Ford's assistant. He'll drive you out for sure!"
What Thea said was true, and Layla dropped the sunglasses back on the bed, feeling defeated. "What should I do then?" she asked, hating that crying seemed to have become one of her hobbies. No matter how hard she tried to hold back her tears, they kept flowing. "Apply more foundation, but the red, puffy eyes will still show anyway,". Thea said giving her an idea she thought to herself. Today had been an extremely stressful day.
As they both lay on the bed, Thea soon fell asleep, leaving Layla to her thoughts. The night seemed to drag on forever, and every time Layla tried to close her eyes, the memories of what happened came rushing back. The only sound that kept her company was the ticking of the clock, a constant reminder of the passing time.
The bathroom door opened, and Thea walked in with sleepy eyes, toothbrush in mouth, and muttered a morning greeting. Layla responded with a muffled "morning" as Thea picked up her hairbrush. As their eyes met in the mirror, Thea let out a loud scream, "Ahhhhhh!" She looked like she had seen a ghost, her hands flying to Layla's face to check both sides. "Did you get any sleep last night?" she asked, and Layla shook her head negatively.
Thea pointed to the mirror, and Layla turned to face it, knowing exactly what she was talking about, the dark bags under her eyes. Layla traced them with her fingers, acknowledging the evidence of her sleepless night.
"Layla, I'm not really good at comforting, but you seriously need to let go," Thea said, acknowledging her own limitations. Her unorthodox approach to comforting was to add a dash of humor, even if it meant adding a bit more pain. "Add a lot of makeup, or you'll get fired on your first day!" They both laughed, knowing Logan Ford's reputation for being strict.
After what felt like an eternity, they finally finished getting ready. Thea drove Layla to her apartment so she could change into a more suitable outfit for her new role as an assistant. Thea knew that improper dressing had been the downfall of many employees, and she didn't want Layla to suffer the same fate.
As they parted ways, Thea asked, "Are you sure you don't want me to drive you to work?" Layla reassured her with a confident look, "I'm okay, and I don't want to make you late." Thea didn't let her finish, saying, "And I'm not complaining!" She gave Layla a gentle push out the door, adding a peck on the cheek. "I'll call you, okay?" And with that, she shut the door.
Layla watched on the CCTV monitor as Thea disappeared from view, feeling a mix of gratitude and nervousness as she prepared to face her first day as Logan Ford's assistant.
She quickly changed into her work attire, aware that she was already running late. This was not a good start to the day. Just as she was about to head out, the sound of her door opening made her realize that someone had walked in. She thought to herself, "Can't Thea just give me some peace of mind?" "Did you forget, something? ", she asked. But as she walked out of her bedroom, she was met with a shocking sight, the face of the person causing her so much pain, Luca, standing in her living room.
Layla," he said my name with a gentle tone, giving her a glimmer of hope. Maybe he had a valid reason for what happened last night. Perhaps it was a mistake, and she found myself longing to embrace him, to pour out her tears and hear his apology. She yearned to hear him say how sorry he was, how he realized his mistake, and how he promised to make it right. A part of her was eager to forgive, to hear his words of love and affection, to know that she meant the world to him. But another part of her was still grieving, still hurt by the pain he had caused. Maybe, just maybe, he had a good explanation, and she was willing to listen........