~Rubel~
"Mr. Delucia, please wait!"
He didn't listen.
I am dead, dead. Pressing the elevator button impatiently, finally, I took the stairs to stop him.
I could see him reaching the exit. With heels, I ran making, a clunking sound after him.
"Please, stop!"
"What?" he almost shouted, turning back to me.
"I am sorry," I said.
Well, I am not.”
"I am sorry for yesterday, and..." I panted, trying to catch my breath.
I am not sorry. I should've thrown you in that pond. Wait, I did.
"Ms. Rubel, I am not interested."
"Please, Mr. Delucia. Don't leave this project because you don't like me. If you join this, it will save my job, too."
What all the men wanted was one thing in their life to feel important.
He crossed his hand over his chest, looking away towards the busy street. He needs more importance. hungry pervert.
"I will pay for your camera. I will make it up to you."
He looked towards me and I took good care of my emotions. I practiced several times looking in the mirror. Puppy eyes would work here. Yes, continue with that, Rubel.
Yeah, yeah, he is coming for you, yeah. Keep it up.
"Okay."
Gottcha.
I blinked, keeping that innocent face. "Thank you."
"But I have some conditions."
Well, how could I expect good from him? He was just like me.
Before he could spill a word, Mr. Smith joined us. "Miss Rubel."
"Hello, sir. Please meet Mr. Delucia. He is our–"
"The upcoming photographer. I love your work, and I am happy you want to join us."
Appreciative words, coming from Mr. Smith's mouth. Is it even possible?
"Thank you, sir," the buttery reply came from his lips.
"Why are you here? Let's go inside and talk."
We came to the board room, where I saw Max was giving me a strange look wondering how in the world I fixed everything. I pulled my collar and rolled my eyes. Well, I did it.
"Mr. Delucia, Miss Rubel will start. I will join you in some time."
Mr. Smith left, leaving the two enemies in the room alone. I tried not to look at him.
"Well."
"Yes, Mr. Delucia. How can I help you?"
Did I eat honey for breakfast? No. I am naturally sweet when it comes to acting.
"Don't pretend to act. I know you don't like me."
And he ate the bitter gourd.
"No, I am genuinely sorry. What were you saying?"
No, I am not. I want to kick you in the stinky drainage.
"You told me you would help me fix my camera."
I nodded. Yes, I had to pay for that stupid thing as I needed to fix my income.
"But, I have a few more conditions."
"And that would be?" I gritted my teeth.
"You will assist me in this project as my personal assistant."
Fuck no. "What?"
"Listen to me, Mr. Delucia. I am the HR head of this company, not your maid." I pointed my finger as he arched his brow.
"Seriously?"
Oh, God. Please forgive me for a murder today.
"So, did you like the presentation?" Mr. Smith entered, interrupting the conversation.
"Yeah, I love it. It's just I need Miss Ruble to assist me in this project, and I promise you I will deliver my best." Delucia gave me a smug smile with his big words.
I rolled my eyes. There was no way Mr. Smith would allow me to work as an assistant. Who will take care of my work?
"Why not? I hope doing work with you will enhance her professional skills. I want her to give a hundred percent. But for the last few months, she is..."
I zone out not listening to Mr. Smith. I’m too concerned with him agreeing to this. Great, now Delucia’s my boss too.
Well, what would you do when the universe wants to fuck your ass? I was crying inside. I don’t know how much more bad news I can take.
"...Great, right, Miss Rubel?" my boss said, pulling me from my thoughts.
Delucia smiled at me, and I had to stretch my pale lips from east to west.
Mr. Smith left, and there came another member.
"Hey."
"Hello, Max."
"I hope everything is settled between you two?"
No, it's a war, and I am fighting without weapons.
"Yes," Delucia said with a cunning smile.
"So, we will start work tomorrow."
I really needed a break.
"Miss Rubel, I want you to explain to me all the client's requirements and their previous projects."
What? No.
"And what is this advertisement for?"
"It's a Women's attire and lingerie advertisement," Max smiled.
"Well, who is the model? I am sure you are not the one," Delucia added, making me cringe.
Max chuckled as they looked at me and I gave them a disgusted smile.
"No, I am not. I am not as beautiful as Miss Aurora."
I extended her photo from the file and Delucia's eyes widened.
"Wow, she is a beauty."
Max agreed.
Yeah, she is a beautiful girl, and I am not that was the whole conversation about,
But who cares? I didn't want a compliment from these two.
Max left and I plumped myself on the chair, working as he told me.
"Can you bring coffee for me?"
I furrowed my brows. Did he ask me?
"No, I will not."
He smiled and jerked back, clearing testing me. "Are you sure?"
Shit, he doesn't need to remind me of all the conditions which I agreed to.
"Fine."
I got up and brought two cups of coffee with a fake plastered smile, but the devilish mind inside me wants him to teach a lesson.
I made the worst coffee for him, and the best for me.
"Here,” I said, slamming it in front of him, almost making it spill over.
"Thank you," he looked at me with a sly grin adding, “But I need that one."
That was the second time I desired to kill someone so desperately, yet I extended my cup.
"Wow," I said in annoyance since I was a tad on the grumpy side. "Can I go? I am hungry."
He didn't answer.
I pushed back my hair and pulled it back into a messy bun, trying to stay calm.
"Take off your glasses," he demanded.
No.
"Why?"
"Because I told you to."
"No." I shifted them on my nose.
Look at him, thinking he can tell me what to do.
Suddenly, Max came with a slice of pizza and the smell made my stomach growl.
"Mr. Smith gave a pizza party, and here is one for you."
I thought he would extend the slice towards me, but the traitor gave it to Delucia. The smell made my mouth water as my new boss took a bite while grinning at me. I was fucking hungry, and nobody bothered to think if I wanted any.
I went to the restroom and washed my face, hoping to get some distance before I killed this guy, cursing my life again. In this entire world, no one is here who would care for me.
“No one,” I say to myself in anger.
Isn't it always like this? When we are hungry, our emotions heighten and for me, my emotions are directly connected with my stomach.
I frowned as tears welled up and I went to the cafeteria to grab a bite to eat. I slapped down some cash on the desk saying, “Two burgers with fries. Send it to the board room when it’s ready.”
The cashier took the money quickly and went to put my order as I went back to work.
What the heck? Was I wrong in thinking Max cared for me and was my friend? He didn’t even bring me a slice. Why do I care? Then Delucia. He didn't bother to ask if I wanted any while eating that slice.
Once I got my food from the delivery guy, I moaned as the first bite melted in my mouth.
"So, you do like unhealthy food," Max noted.
I opened my eyes but didn't answer him.
No, never. I would not allow him to spoil my happy eating moment.
I finished my burger with big bites.
"Burger and fries," I said to Max. “I had to eat something.”
"What burger?"
"The one that I just ate."
"That was not yours. It was Darius Delucia delivery. I told the guy to bring it in here."
I slapped my head in frustration. Like seriously? One more time, once again.
Lucky for me, I ordered the same thing and waited for it to arrive. The delivery guy came and gave me the parcel and I let out a relieved breath.
When Delucia came inside, I rested the brown bag in front of him.
"I ate your food. I didn't know."
He looked at me with a blank face.
"Here is yours."
I didn't wait for his answer and took my papers and settled at the other side of the table.
"We will start our shoot tomorrow."
"Fine," I replied.
"You will assist Miss Aurora, too."
What no, no, no! Not that snotty bitch.
It's been two days. My life seemed to turn upside down since the day Delucia entered my life. No wonder I had food dreams that night because for the entire day, I was working like a dog. I didn't get time to sleep, neither did I eat. Now I understand, I’m really a victim of somebody's curse."I am telling you, somebody cursed me."Entering the office while talking to Anna on the cellphone, she dismisses me with a giggle. "Shut up, Rubel. It's just you are working too much. Or should I say he is making you work, which you never wanted?""He never misses a chance to insult me."Well, there was no point crying over the same thing again and again but for the last two days, I’ve been cursing my life. Is it a crime to expect a normal loving life? A loving husband and a big family? Did I ask more from this life? Or It's not in my destiny to be happy?"Babe, are you there?" Anna dragged me out of my thoughts."Yeah, I am here.""Rubel, cheer up. This is just a bad stroke of luck. It will pass
"What if she doesn't agree?" I asked, then stopped to look at him."Yeah, yeah. I will tell her what she wants to hear."I understood that part. I could hear his suppressed giggles. He must have thought how stupid I was to justify my point without any base.A few minutes later Aurora was ready as the makeup artist caked her face with makeup and shiny solution to enhance her bikini line.Great, I accepted that she has a beautiful body, but this? Walking in front of the screen, I could see the drooling mouth of Delucia.He walked over and fixed Aurora's hair."Perfect," pecked a kiss on her cheek, which she gladly accepted.The shoot started and Max and I stood like two monkeys, observing their flirting."You need a man like him.""No, Max. He is not the man I would prefer. I need an honest man, not a man whore." With fingers inverted commas, I highlighted my reason."At least use him for some time to enhance your underdeveloped beauty," Max chuckled."Miss Rubel, please hold the fan ne
~Rubel~It's a funny Friday. My favorite day of the week. Not to mention after my strange encounter with Delucia, this week was a pathetic run of events for me. Marcus plus Delucia is the worst combination.It's midday, and I am sitting in the salon with Anna as we are enjoying the Thai massage we needed to relax."Ohhh, I needed this," I moaned."So what's the plan after this? Going home and crying for your one true love?" Anna teased."Shut up. My crying time is over. Why would I cry? I am going to spend my time with Liam and Max.”She chuckled, suggesting, "Seriously? I would be happy if you want to join me.""Nah, you go on your date. It's been a long time you didn't have sex because of me. Go enjoy this one. Tell him to work out your juices properly," I replied without thinking about the lady who was massaging my back. I looked back with a shameless face."I think you need it more than me," Anna replied."Oh! I want to, but at present, I don't have many options." I rolled my eyes
I gave a final look in the mirror and threw a final kiss to my reflection."Not today, babe. Let him rest today, for tomorrow, he will become your servant."A while later I reached Max’s place where Liam opened the door and hugged me."Hey, beautiful.""I missed you.""I missed you too.""Max told me about that idiot."Liam knew about Marcus? Not again, I came here to forget about him."I don't know what’s wrong with me. Maybe this universe doesn't want me." The pain came out before I realized what I had said."Come on, it's not like that. We want you. That idiot doesn't know he missed out on a beautiful girl."Aww, look at him. He tried to make me happy. I smiled as we entered the pool area. Startled, it was not what I expected. There were more people than I anticipated."I thought it's just a few friends.""I thought of inviting my friends, plus yours too.""Mine? I have only Max," I grumbled, rolling my eyes.He took me to a group where he introduced me to his colleagues."This is
~Rubel~The weekend flew by in a blink of an eye. I just don't understand why the weekends never felt lengthy.Well, I did some cleaning, laundry, shopping, and lots of gossip with my friend Anna. We talked about the juicy parts of her night, and so on.I opened my email before setting the alarm and Delucia called everyone at seven."Is he mad or what?" I rolled my eyes.Well, I would take my proper nap as neither his emails, nor his rules, matter to me. With a devilish smirk, I hopped into my cozy bed. It's a wonderful feeling, a cold night, and a warm blanket.***BEEP BEEP BEEP"Not again."My face stuffed inside my pillow while my hand tried to find my lost phone."Hello.""Ru, where are you? Didn't you get the email? Darius is waiting. We have to take some shots at sunrise."I wiped my drooling mouth with another hand with heavy eyes. I looked at the digits displayed on my watch. 7:10 AM."Ru...""Ummm... Max...""Rubel, wake up. Do you want to lose your job? What if he tells Mr.
He offered me a deal. Is this some kind of trap?"What?""I know how desperate you are to get married and fall in love… blah… blah… shit. I can help you with that. In return, I want you to keep your mouth shut."Wait, wait.I repeated the same words in slow motion. My mind stopped working when something happened in my favor."What?""Yes, I am a man. And I know how desperate you want true love in your life. I can teach you how to handle a man and how to act."He furrowed his brows waiting for a reply while I was still processing."And why should I listen to you?"He gently held my hand and made me sit on the chair. "I want to help you, and you can help me keep this project successful."Since when was this project so important to him? What game he is trying to play with me?"Why is this project important to you?""I have my own issues. All you need to know, if I lose this project, I may not be able to prove my worth."My worth… That made me emotional for a second."How can I trust you?
It was indeed the worst deal I made in my life; I cursed myself for creating and accepting the biggest stupid decision."Come on, four more minutes,""What?""Yes, four more minutes,"I never thought my body would feel so heavy in a plank position.ThudThat was the third time I fell on my mouth.(Any last wish, Rubel,Yes, I want to have intense sex before I die in this gym, today)"Rubel, get up." I wanted to burn his soul in hell.Not to mention, after leaving the office, yesterday he forced me to come to the gym,"Be ready; we will go to the gym in the morning as six," Darius said."I have never been to the gym, that place scares me. And I am not a fat person,"I twirled my body to prove my point. "It's not about losing weight; it's about building strength,"Max hummed in agreement with Darius,"Ok,"I knew I had to agree, but who cares, he didn't know my house, and no one in this world could wake me up early this morning.With a broad smile and an obedient student agreement, I co
Friday came, and it's been a torturous week; early rise and early sleep became my habit, not to mention I used to sleep like a log.And more than that, Darius gave me a strict diet to follow, no unhealthy food."We will go at five," Darius, with his killer smile, tilted his face over me."I am not going, Max and you... you guys don't treat me like a human," I replied."Hey, stop being the drama queen. We are going together, and there was one more reason for us to go together, you may find someone there. The place would be full of hot guys,"The lusty butterflies fluttered inside my belly. "Ok, I will think,"I knew he knew I would die to meet a handsome man. We reached the store, as usual, I walked towards the long T-shirt section, loose clothes."Not here," Darius snaked his hand on my waist and dragged me to the dress section. He gave me several options,"Wear this,""It's backless, this one is short, and it has..."He stuffed me with dresses in the changing room."Rubel, do it." I