You don't own me

A woman in her twenties could be seen standing in front of the billing counter, cutting the bills. Her hair were tied into a bun. “Here, sir,” Eliana said, handing the bill to a Young man who thanked her and walked out of the café.

Eliana looked at her wrist watch and saw her afternoon shift was almost over. She took off the apron and put it aside when Maria came there. “Eliana, you can go. Thank you for doing extra work for me,” Maria said.

“It’s fine,” Eliana stated and went to the dressing room. She took out her haversack, put it on her shoulder and came out. Her boss handed her the salary for five hours of work. Eliana thanked him and left for her second part time job.

Taking the city bus, she arrived at a restaurant where she worked as a waitress. She walked in, greeted the manager there and went to the changing room.

“Eliana, you look tired,” Emily said who came there to change.

“Ahh, there was rush in the bus that’s why,” replied Eliana as she removed her black leather jacket and put it inside the locker. She quickly changed into the waitress dress and walked out from there.

Eliana started taking the orders and then conveyed the orders in the kitchen. “Table 2 meal is ready,” the chef said. Eliana picked the tray and went to the table 2. Serving the food there, she came back and took the other orders.

Eliana Russo wanted to be an athlete but because of a tragedy she could not become one. She was thrown out of the National Sports School in the middle. Unable to graduate, she was forced to work as a part-timer for four different jobs of the day.

When the day started and when it ended, she did not even realize that. But it was the life she had to go on with. She wanted to run away from all those miseries, but she could not. Why? Because she had a family to support. Her father’s business could not go well and he ended up in a debt. The deteriorating health led him to a bed-stricken life. She had a younger brother who was still in college.

Luca was reading out from the tablet while Augustus was calmly listening to him. “Luca, are you telling a story to me?” Augustus asked as he opened his eyes. He laid back on the swivel chair and kept glaring at Luca. 

“Sir, I was not telling a story. It’s the truth. The woman you are talking about has such a miserable life to deal with. Last night she left within ten minutes after dropping you to the motel. So, you do not need to worry because nothing happened between you two,” Luca pronounced, keeping a tiny smile on his lips. 

“She is an interesting woman!” Augustus stated and a sly smile formed on his lips. 

Luca was confused to get such a reaction from his boss. “Sir, may I say something?” Luca asked for the permission. 

“Hmm, speak.” 

“Sir, are you interested in Miss Russo. I am afraid not you should not be because you are already engaged to Miss Gia Toscano,” Luca proclaimed.

How could Augustus forgot about her? Even if he wanted to run away from her, he could not. But after the yesterday’s event, a different kind of spark had ignited inside Augustus. Eliana not only saved him but also had developed something strange inside her heart.

“When is the recruitment for my new assistant?” Augustus queried.

“Sir, it will be tomorrow,” Luca replied.

“Hire this woman and cancel the recruitment,” Augustus ordered.

Luca was astonished to hear about that. “I-I am afraid, sir but I do not think it is a good idea,” Luca opposed the decision of Augustus. “I mean the applicants can get angry when our company is known for its fair opportunities,” he continued.

Augustus did not care about that but then Luca was right too. Luca, on the other hand, was confused seeing his boss behavior. He was going to hire a female assistant for himself. That was weird for Luca. 

It was not like Augustus was discriminating towards female gender when the company has an equal ratio of female employees as males, but it was because of a dark past he had that made him stay away from the women. Moreover, his fiancée was already giving him headache for five years.

“Okay, leave it. You can leave,” Augustus coldly said and straightened his back on the swivel chair. Luca bowed his head and left from there.

Augustus got dissolved in his work that he did not even realize when evening fell. He had skipped his lunch because of the new project on which he was working. Luca came inside the cabinet. 

“Sir, Miss Toscano has called you for 50th time. I am afraid she might…” Luca stopped as the door was opened and Gia walked in. 

“Why were you not answering my calls?” Gia asked in a fit of rage.

“I am busy in work,” Augustus replied plainly. 

“Get out,” Gia told Luca when Augustus told her to learn manners. Luca calmed down Augustus. “I will come later, sir,” Luca said and put the mobile phone of Augustus on the desk before leaving from there. 

“You did the same thing last night. Why are you ignoring my calls?” Gia asked she made herself comfortable on the sofa chair. 

“I told you not to call me unnecessarily,” Augustus pronounced.

“Unnecessarily?!” Gia snorted and glared at Augustus. “I am your fiancée and the way you treat me makes me mad,” Gia muttered under her breath.

“Let’s broke this relationship then. You know I am not interested in you,” Augustus affirmed and got back to his work. 

“Say this thing in front of your father. I would love to see how you are going to tell this to him,” Gia in a threatening tone said. 

Augustus did not respond to him when Gia said, “Let’s go to the club. My friend has organized a birthday party there and he wants me to come with my fiancé.”

“He is not my friend not do I know him. Tell him that your fiancé unlike him is busy in work,” Augustus yanked at Gia which infuriated her.

“Do you know why you are the CEO of this company? Or did you forget? Can’t you see how much I love you?” Gia asked him.

“You love me?” a chuckled escaped the mouth of Augustus. “Don’t disturb me and enjoy the birthday party of your friend,” Augustus pronounced.

Gia lost her patience and dialed the number of Augustus’s father. She willingly put it on the speaker so that Augustus could hear their conversation. “Hello, Gia! How are you? What happened? Why did you call me at this hour?” Frederico asked Gia.

“Uncle, I am good. What about you?” Gia asked back.

“I am also good,” replied Frederico.

“Uncle, I want to marry Augustus as soon as possible. We are dating for four years and now I think” She could not complete her words as Augustus snatched away the phone from her and disconnected it.

“Let’s go,” Augustus said and walked out of the cabinet. Gia smiled and followed him. She held his arm. The two got into the elevator when Augustus pushed her off.

“You know that I do not love you still you are after me!” Augustus snickered.

Gia moved closer to Augustus and placed her hand on his nape. Leaning closer to Augustus’s ear, Gia whispered, “It does not matter to me if you love me or not. The only thing I need is you.” She leaned back and almost kissed him when Augustus pushed her away. “You don’t own me,” Augustus stated, glaring at her.