CHAPTER 1

Riella's POV

I was nervous.

I could feel the sweat pouring out from my open pores and sticking to the clothes I had on. It was starting to get very itchy and comfortable and I was desperately trying not to tug at the sleeves of my dress. The fringe of my raven dark hair wouldn't stop sticking to my forehead due to the sweat.

I was a mess.

Letting out a dissatisfied groan at the turn of events, I pushed myself off my well-made bed and walked toward my full-length mirror which occupied the downright corner of my room. 

I was clad in a black long-sleeved dress that stopped a few inches before my knee. The dress hugged and accentuated my sides and curve in such a way that made me look…sultry. The sleeves of the dress poured down around my wrist in an onion bulb style.

My makeup was already smeared due to the sweat and the way my nerves and spines were shooting up now and then was already starting to irritate the hell out of me.

Cocking my full hips to the side, I took my time to look through every detail of my dress, noticing for the first time how pushed up my boobs were in the sweetheart neckline. The dress made me look like a hook-up girl and not a working-class lady who was going to a job interview.

My friend and housemate, Carolyn, had picked the dress for me. It was one of the gifts she had gotten me while she was away on one of her numerous trips with foreign men earlier this season. She had chosen the dress for me to wear to the first interview I would be attending in years.

As if on cue with my thoughts, the door to my room pushed open without warning and the hot blonde-haired lady sauntered in clad in fire red mid-thigh dress which she had paired with black pantyhose and ankle-length leather boots.

She was on a mission to seduce her boss.

Carolyn had the fantasy of going out with every man that hit her qualification of hotness. She never went for something serious. Just a short-term relationship never based on love but sex filled. She was that hungry.

“Still not ready?” She queried as she stood by the door, almond green eyes peering at me from beneath those fashion lenses she had on which sort of gave her the nerdy-whore type of look.

“I would have if this dress was not making me uncomfortable at the moment. Jeez, Lyn. I'm going for an interview and not a dinner date!” I threw my hands out, exasperated.

“Hmm.” Her eyes flickered over me. “I wouldn't suggest this for a dinner date anyway.” She muttered before biting into the toast she came in with.

Then, she started to sashay toward my bed not taking her eyes off me. “I think it's okay.” She drew as she slumped down on my bed, messing my sheets.

Fighting the urge to scream profanities at her, I turned away from her and back toward the mirror to take in my look. With one gentle look at the mirror, at my reflection which didn't scream at me, I started to take off every piece of clothing I had on. Including the six-inch heel Lyn had convinced me to wear.

“Great, we are back to square one!” She groaned, sarcasm dripping off her voice. Ignoring her, I made for my closet and threw it open. My eyes did a quick scan over the particular place where I always kept my official clothes.

Next, I allowed my hands to pick my clothes for me as I always do. I never should have allowed Lyn to select wear for me in the first place. Since this was the first interview I was going to in years, I needed to look as comfortable as possible so I could look my best.

I took a step back to look through the clothing I had selected. Black pencil jeans which I knew still fitted me well, black and purple floral blouse which had a three-layer flare to its hem. 

It was just perfect.

I didn't waste any more time before I started to put them on. As soon as I was done, I moved toward my shoe rack and selected black prime wedge shoes to match. Quickly, I slipped them on before settling on my dress up at the table to attend to my face.

I gathered lots of wipes to wipe off my makeup-stained face. It took a lot of effort but when I was done, I settled for my red matte lipstick which I had always used, my mascara and eyeliner, and just powder.

That was all it took for me to look perfect.

Grabbing my bag, I spurned on my heels toward my best friend who had gone quiet on my bed, watching me. I cocked my hips to the side, my hand on the waist and the other hand laying limply by my side before throwing her one of my confident looks.

“How do I look?” I raised a brow.

With a smile gracing her face, she tugged her lips upward in that familiar encouraging smirk I had come to know her by. Then, she nodded in approval.

“See, ” I grinned. “I could never deliver in those clothes,” I told her. She shrugged and got up from my bed.

“Come on, let me make you a cup of coffee.” She offered, sashaying out of my room. Heaving a deep sigh, I trailed behind her.

“You know that I don't eat breakfast early,” I whined, reminding her.

“Yes, I know you only take brunch, Ella. You don't have to remind me. But you see, this morning, there would be a little change. You are going to SMARTSPACE, you need one of my lucky coffees in your life this morning.” She deadpanned.

As much as it was unbelievable to the ears, Carolyn Hammond was the kind of lady who believed in charms and luck. She was all about and into the laws of seduction. She had mastered the art so well that she had become the art itself.

“You know I can get the job with or without your good luck coffee.” We were in the kitchen now and she was handling the coffee machine.

“Of course.” She stopped and smiled. “You are after all Riella Monroe, the managing director of Salmon arts gallery before it closed down.” She acknowledged making me laugh.

“But you still need my good luck charm. For better effects.” By this time, she was already making the coffee so I knew nothing I would say again could change her mind. 

When she placed the mug of steaming hot espresso before me, I went ahead to take a quick look at the wristwatch that was strapped to my tiny wrist. I still had about an hour and a half to spare before my appointed time for the interview.

“Alright.” With that, I took the mug of coffee and took a sip, while muttering a word of prayer that it wouldn't work against me. As soon as I was done, to my delight of Carolyn, I walked over to the sink and washed the mug.

“Good. I'd just get my bag and coat so we can leave. You can get into the car and wait for me.” She told me before throwing me the keys to her SUV. 

I took it from her and turned around to walk out of the room. I drove a Tesla myself but unfortunately, I got into a little bump with it and now it was at the mechanic. I made a mental note to call the office when I got back today.

As I settled down into the comfortable seats of Lyn's car, I fumbled with the playlist while impatiently waiting for her. I soon got my hands on one of my favorite songs cause Wild by John Legend was soon blasting through the stereo and consuming the honk.

Another five minutes later, Carolyn wasn't still out. Tired, I pressed the honk to get her out of the house just in time for her to hurry out with her bag and coat in one hand.

“Okay, Senorita. Let's go get that job!” She screamed as she got into the car beside me. It wasn't until she started the ignition that I discovered what had kept her holed up in the house for more than five minutes.

Her lips that shone with neatly applied burgundy wine lipstick made me realize that she had gone ahead to apply freshly new makeup to her face while she was inside.

Oh, Carolyn.

What would I do with you?

I couldn't help thinking.