When I went back from TK I made myself a huge mug of strong coffee and started to memorize as many people and their data as possible. Obviously, I knew this wouldn't be ease. I had to come up with a system that would help me remember. After some thinking I figured that I should use one thing that I was certain of, and that was writer's creativity. I decided to stick to associations, so I could match some facts about those people… in the stupider way the better.
“Ginger-hair Elliot Walton, purchasing department… He reminds me of a squirrel gathering nuts… I would call him Mr. Squirrel. Then we have… Harvey Brown, Nolan Fortin's deputy, sniper… He looks unpleasant… sneaky… a sneaky-sniper… I will call him Mr. Sneaky-Lizard!” I used my imagination to the fullest.
Soon I created my very own imaginary zoo… I had pointy, short haired engineer - Ms. Hedgehog, 6.6 feet tall Mr. Giraffe from IT, and a bi
I had never thought that Melisa's lesson would include… shopping. It was tiring, but it was fun. I felt kind of awkward about using the company's money to buy me clothes, but Melisa explained that she would use it as the expenses from her department's budget… whatever it meant. I still felt like I was spending my boyfriend's money, but the anger inside me made state that even if he was against it, he deserved it as a punishment for not letting me know he was leaving!The clothes Melisa chose for me were… surprisingly innocent. They were extremely classy, expensive but innocent. I felt comfortable in that girly style, without deep necklines, nor short miniskirts, yet it didn't exactly matched my idea of a villainess, or was my imagination too shallow?Our next stop turned out to be more exhausting… We went to Melisa's ballet studio, so I could practice my posture and walk. It was dreadful! It was much worse than my first training with Jay! I
The more Melisa taught me the more I felt how pathetic I was before. I realized how many times I was being manipulated by others. They all implanted so many anxieties in me that I was happy with the minimum of interest and comfort they gave me later. Sending mixed signals, the game of push and pull… I knew how that works, because I was a constant victim of those tricks!The things that Hiro did with me were no different… my only hope was that he didn't do all of them on purpose, and that maybe some part of his words weren't fake. Now, I wasn't sure of anything, but it all had one good point – My affection for Hiro was not blind anymore…“Remember, Ana that we all manipulate others… Children use their cry to get a candy. Low level employees praise their bosses to get the higher position. The more you know about the mechanism of manipulation the easier is defend yourself against it,” Melisa declared.She was right&hell
I didn't know how long we kissed, but my coffee was cold when we finished, I decided to make a new one, and another one for Hiro. In the meantime, he sat on the sofa and kept grinning at me, resembling a good and loving boyfriend, like the time when he was gone and left without saying a word had never happened.“I was mad at you… No, I'm still mad at you for your silence… again. I'm mad at you for not telling me what exactly was your plan about…” I summoned up my courage to say at least that.“It was urgent… it really was. Besides, I only told Melisa, and I knew she would tell you right away,” he explained.“Still… a whole week without a word. I know you are busy… but…”“Did you miss me?” he interrupted me, “I missed you like crazy. I wanted to be with you as soon as I could…” he sounded his words in a deep, alluring tone.I gave up o
Marcus suddenly got up and smirked at me in strangely disturbing way. I froze, but quickly noticed that fortunately, he didn't come near me. He decided to come to Hiro instead, and then took him away to talk. As soon as Hiro walked out the room few people came to “welcome me” in TK.“Nice to meet you, Miss Anastasia,” some brown-haired woman pulled out her hand to greet me carrying a disgustingly fake smile.I remembered that her name was Natasha Elber, a level 3 deputy manager from a purchasing department. I also remembered she was coming from a wealthy family. She got the position mainly because her father was one of the early company's investors… that would explain her arrogance.“Nice to meet you, Miss…?” I pretended that I didn't know her name.“Natasha,” she replied, suggesting to call her by name.I guessed that she decided to act “friendly” towards me, but her i
Hiro stared at Marcus. On the surface he seemed to be composed, but I noticed that something in his eyes became darker. He walked to me, and took my hand, the one Marcus grabbed earlier. He held it and examined my wrist, then he looked at Marcus.“If you touch her hand again, I will break your arm,” he stated without changing the composed tone of his voice.Marcus stared back at him curiously and smirked a little hesitantly. It looked like he was quite surprised with Hiro's reaction. Hiro glared at him more intensively.“If you touch any other part of her body, I will break your neck… friend,” he sneered with the most terrifying expression I had seen on his face.Any traces of a smile disappeared from Marcus's face, he sat silently gazing at Hiro in cold disbelieve. Hiro kept his glare at him for couple more seconds, then he gently grabbed my hand pulling me up from my seat.“Let's go,” he commanded, leadi
When I woke up the next day there was still no reply from Hiro. I was a little worried, but decided to believe he was too tired after getting back from the office to even write me a message.I had to get up early to prepare for “work”. I got to admit it I had never thought that there would be any kind of office work that I would enjoy. Yet, I found my new position challenging and exciting. It was almost like I had become a main character from the novel, a strong heroin type… except for that it was my life… and I wasn't a strong type. Nevertheless, I was full of positive energy, I felt confident, and I was ready for my day 2.I walked out my apartment and decided to knock on Hiro's door… No one answered.“Did he leave already… without me?” I thought and felt an already known sting in my heart once again.I came downstairs and there was a driver waiting for me. I guessed that he truly didn't wait for me an
An aggressive looking blond woman barged into my office and sat comfortably on the sofa without waiting for my invitation or greeting me. I clenched my teeth expecting to hear some spiteful remark in 3, 2, 1…“Oh my God! You're not even pretty,” she sneered, “When I heard the news that some wench got an office just because she slept with the CEO, I thought she'll be a drop dead beauty…” she looked me up and down, chuckling.I heard some faint noises coming from outside. I guessed there were already some people peeking and listening through the crack in my office door. Then I gazed at the blond, she was glaring at and smirking while presenting her long, crossed legs and deep neckline… with tiny breasts supported by a push-up bra.“Excuse me, but… who are you to come here?” I asked, composed.“Sonia Dolan, manager Sonia Dolan,” she smirked.I remembered right away. She was le
I went to get some drinks from a vending machine just outside the building. I did mainly to kill some time since I was willing to give them those fifteen minutes Hiro mention. However, it didn't mean that I wasn't worrying like crazy about what was going on inside.“Should I call for an ambulance or something? God only knows, how are those two dealing with their conflicts! They are not going to kill each other, are they?” my thoughts were absolutely restless.I counted the time, after ten minutes I was already on the edge of a heart attack. I was so nervous I couldn't even think straight anymore. If I could just hear what was going on, maybe I wouldn't have been going out of my mind, but obviously, all the doors in here were soundproof.Fifteen minutes past, I stood beside the door and slowly placed my hand on the scanner, then I opened it but only to leave a crack, so I could at least listen what was going on. I truly prayed to hear both of them spe