EMBERShe had made people look back at her, she was turning heads too. They walked inside the hall, through the crowd and into the event. Ember could feel her anxiety creep up but it didn't feel that hard to suppress. She looked around herself, beautiful women with gleaming dresses and painted smiles. She had never seen an atmosphere like that up close.The hall was huge and the chandelier reflected a bright pattern on the floor below that was also the dance floor for couples. The decore was golden and glass, it looked like anything but a business event. But she wasn't complaining. The only thing she couldn't wrap her head around was the man who stood beside her, talking to every other people and building bonds. She had almost heard him talk in at least 5 languages and won over whoever he talked to. He was so bold and confident, every demeanour left her staring. And not just her, every other girl in the room. They would kill to be in Ember's shoes at that moment, she could tell just
EMBER"Zaire Langston Hughes, the CEO of Sarte group, confirms dating rumours with the supermodel Selene Hudson."It felt like a joke. Like her eyes were tricking her into seeing things, that's how shocking it was for her. And it threw her down the spiral of denial immediately. "Hey.. you okay?" Ruby placed a hand on her shoulder, concerned. But Ember did not stop skimming through the internet for more and more news to show up. None of them defied what she had read in the title. The internet had blown up with the news, people acting like wishes had finally been heard.Ember placed the phone away, disappearing to her room. She stared into the mirror and focused on herself. It was still unsettling to think she was led on like that, for no reason, only to bring her to stand there contemplating everything. Zaire Langston Hughes was always someone with hidden behind his words and she always found it strange. But why her? Why would he pretend to be interested into a commoner like her only
EMBERShe completely froze. He had lifted her easily and was holding her up to his eye level, waiting for her to do her thing but her eyes never moved away from his face. She felt like holding his gaze would somehow undo everything that was the reality."Are you gonna do it?" He said with a low voice and she immediately snapped out of it. Her hands rose to his hair and her fingers entangled in them, slowly combing it back. She slicked his hair back to perfection and looked back into his eyes who was already staring at her. Then only did he put her down.Ember backed off to look at him and it was perfect. He looked like the Zaire Langston Hughes the world knew, polished and gleaming."Mr. Langston? We are waiting for you," she receptionist chimed in through the door with a smile. Zaire nodded and glanced at Ember one more time."You can still go home," he proposed but Ember rolled her eyes at his uncountable attempt to drive her away. She hadn't lost the determination.. yet."No way, I'
EMBER"We.. who told you you can get a servant to do things for you?" He said, making his words come crashing down on her."But sir, I was just-", Will attempted to somehow calm him down but they all knew it was of no use. Zaire just shot him an amused look with a smile of disbelief."And who told you to help her disobey my orders? It seems like you don't really like this job of yours, don't you, Mr. Thompson?" He continued, making her repeatedly provoked to feel worse and worse about it. Ember knew that him helping her would lead him directly into trouble."I had no such intentions to-""It's alright! He'll leave," Ember said, stern, walking up to Zaire and lowering her voice so that only he gets to hear what she has to say. "He doesn't deserve this treatment. He doesn't have to be a part of whatever game you're playing with me.""Why? Has he already become so important to you that you're ready to take his blame?" His eyebrows shot up in a mocking way. Ember found it obnoxious, the wa
EMBER"I am Mr Langston's assistant...", Ember said, already expecting the worst. A small tricky smile appeared on his lips."If you're my assistant it should be clear where you are getting the orders from, isn't it?" He said, making it a point that everyone knows where exactly she was. Everyone looked over to find out where she stood. "You're not taking part, you're my assistant.""But I.. I want to participate. I'm an employee too, I should get this opportunity, don't you think?" She said, loud and clear. She knew it would just attract more attention than she needed but it was already done. And then she noticed his eyebrow shot up, it was just how he reacts when he was challenged."The whole auditorium heard the last word about this topic, how could you not? You won't be a part, is that clear?" He said, completely shutting her down. "Yes sir," she said because she knew it would be nothing but a waste of time and self humiliation if she spoke further. Her head was down, the disappoin
EMBERShe watched them kiss and when they parted, they looked at each other. She was saying something and he was saying something, his mood did not look like it was bad at all. He looked like a completely different person.Ember felt the pangs in her chest at how easily his mood can lift just by her sight. And it felt guilty to be jealous because she had no rights to do that. Neither was he obligated to keep her in mind. She looked down at her feet.She had to wrap her head around the fact that he was actually dating someone and that was the truth. After this, no matter how much he confused her, it shouldn't affect her even the least because she would take it.To save herself from the spiral he was pushing her further into, she needed to stop letting it get to her. It was the best for her. She needed to go back to focusing on what she actually wanted.That's when she watched Selene get back into the car and Zaire followed. Ember walked towards the car before it could drive off to know
ZAIRE"Sir, just one question sir! Please, sir!""What's the actual reason you are agreesing to collab with the Iris group? Even after that huge public scandal?" "Mr Langston, is it because of Ms Selene Hudson? Was that the reason?""Is there still any bad blood between you and Mr Prescott?"The questions were bold and the answers to them will be even bolder. But some things should be better left unsaid. They did not need to know that even before the dispute, the bad blood or the scandal, there was a friendship. A friendship that was lost just like that, in an instance.Just because Travis Prescott never trusted Zaire Langston Hughes the way he thought.Zaire stepped into his house at last. It had been a long day and the press only drained the life out of him. The things they said were intrusive, they got to him sometimes. And today was one of those days when those words made him walk down the memory lane.He sighed as he placed himself on the armchair, squeezing his temples and clos
ZAIREThe room was empty, Ember was nowhere. He took a good look around the room and even the washroom but she wasn't there. He ran a hand through his hair and strode out of the room.He looked around a little, not calling out her name yet. He listened carefully to hear some cluttering noises from the kitchen. He made his way towards the kitchen with soft steps, and he peeked inside to see Ember nibbling around the corner of the kitchen."You should go to sleep. Don't make this harder for me, Ember," he said, making his way towards her as she turned to him. Her eyes were welled with tears and she was sobbing. He felt taken aback but also like he can't do anything about it. Just looking at her made it impossible for him to make decisions or be the judge of his character."You are still tormenting me! I'm being a burden to you, right? GOOD. Because that was the intention," her pleading voice turned into rage, her voice rising as she paced up towards him and glared at him with teary eyes.
EMBER"But I never talked to you because I knew I didn't deserve you yet. You were all I could imagine wanting and it only grew after that night when I tried to make you stay but you left the next morning. I knew I'd see you again and I was determined to have you the next chance I got with you," Zaire said with a grin because she knew he meant that the next chance meant them right at that moment."I.. had no idea.. but.. why me?" She asked, not being able to understand."You're seriously asking me that question? Have you ever known yourself enough? What exactly do you think you don't have? You're perfect, you're absolutely perfect. And you're the only one I need. I'm sorry for all the times I've hurt you, it was all because of shortcomings. But none of that would happen again. I promise to keep you happy with all I have," he said and it sounded so genuine, it wrenched Ember's guts. She was too high up on the clouds."I think I'm falling for you," Ember let the words slip out."Glad. I'
EMBER"We totally understand and apologize for this regrettable situation and we are deeply sorry-"."For nothing," a voice came from the opposite side of them that dragged all the attention. Someone had walked in with a bold voice and a knowing smile on their face. Ember's eyes widened and so did others. That's when Ruby Ramirez walked into the scene, bringing a wave of shock and confusion. "They have to apologize for absolutely nothing.""What do you mean.. and who are you?" Mrs. Davis asked but not with conviction but curiosity. Her eyes widened as she recognized her from the news all over, Travis Prescott's alleged girlfriend."I am Ruby, a former employee of Sarte and currently an employee in Iris. And I can assure you that you'll believe me when I saw Sarte has done nothing unprofessional," Ruby said, confidently."Hey! What are you talking about?" Melvin Harvey chimed in, trying to control the situation."That's right, I should just show you what I'm talking about," Ruby said wi
EMBER"We'll see," she muttered. His hold only got tighter on her, making her lips part a little."I'll show you. You're trapped, I'll show you how long you can be trapped here, hmm?" He said, and Ember's blush turned into something just a little more sinister. The game wasn't over yet. She looked to her side to see someone passing by, towards their direction. Zaire saw Ember look at people passing by who can easily spot him holding her, which would be quite scandalous. But her eyes were set, and afraid he would read into it wrong, he started moving his hand away to not be noticeable. That's when Ember's eyes snapped up towards him."Keep holding me, that's the next challenge," she said, knowing for sure that this would push him way out of accepting. Her job was only to make the challenges hard enough for him to back down. And he definitely wouldn't want a scandal so he would surely accept defeat. He surely wouldn't..."Perfect," he said immediately and that's when his hand wrapped ar
EMBEREverything looked exceptional. So magestic and gorgeous that there was no way anyone could even think of a better way than this. Every inch of it looked straight out of a mythical movie.Ember sure had to know they were all professional and talented enough to modify the theme "heaven" given to them to something like this. Sarte has added lots and lots of detailings that embraces the dark elements. Like black vines and rust like textures on the while that looks like the darkness or hell is infiltrating the heaven's gate.It was grand and if Ember could recall it properly, she knew the kind of costumes Iris had prepared, it would look so good together. If only the whole idea passes and no one steps in to say a word against it. Technically, Sarte was breaking the rules by not following the theme entirely but incorporating heaven theme into hell because they were misled by Sarte.The only saviour would be if the fashion show preparations overall look so good that it impresses Mr and
RUBYIt went on and on, the only entertainment being Melvin Harvey's scowling face at her. She tried not to laugh at his face every time, it was weirdly entertaining."So, because Sarte asked for some more time, we are going to have to display the fashion show we prepared once again so we need to get everything ready by the end of the day," Max said and everyone noted something down but Ruby didn't bother."And what about the models? What timing were they given to report here so that we can do the rehearsals beforehand?" Travis asked and suddenly it got a little silent as they all looked at each other. "What's going on?""W-we didn't know we had to give them the time right away before the meeting so we didn't give them the time yet," Cara explained and that made Travis visibly annoyed."What does that mean? Shouldn't you have completed that before coming here? I didn't expect this from you," Travis said but Ruby noticed something very strange. It was unusual but not surprising but prob
RUBY"W-what did you just say? What does that-""You know exactly what that means. I am demeaning you for the way you run your team by gaslighting hate into them. You're misusing your authority, bet half of them don't even know why they actually hate Sarte," she shrugged like she had said enough."You think you can badmouth our company and I'll just stand here and hear you out?" He was visibly running out of words to say because of being caught off guard. He was threatening to report her to someone but that was just funny at that point."You can say whatever you want. You can even bring the board of directors, the managers, even your Chairman out here and I'll still repeat the exact same words. Don't take me for a fool like you do with everyone around you, you are a coward anyways," Ruby could feel the satisfaction coursing through her veins as she told him off, watching the colours fade from his face too fast. "It doesn't matter who I am dating, I'm not afraid to speak up so don't ev
RUBY"Fine then, you really think you're that slick when you are anything but that. If that's what you're deciding to do then I'll do something too. And something that you won't be able to hold against me because in your style, technically, I am not going against the deal as well. That's okay, I'm guessing?" She said, with a menacing look on her face that emitted what she actually felt and it certainly cannot be faked."You can't do that, it will be a clear breach of the contract and it certainly would not be as well explained as mine because there's no such detail written in the papers as well," he said, a little defensive in her opinion but something that can be very well recognised through his body language. She knew she didn't have to work that hard to unleash the goal.Ruby offered him a bitter smile before turning around and pulling out a piece of paper. It was the copy of the contract they signed and Travis watched her carefully as she opened the paper and started running her ey
RUBYRuby didn't know on a scale of one to ten, how angry she was and how larger it can grow. Maybe her anger might just break and split open the scale because she was furious.She had no idea how this happened or how it was even possible because when she agreed to the deal with the unscrupulous man he clearly said he wouldn't come in the way of Sarte or disrupt the project at all. But they did it, they completely sabotaged Sarte by giving them information about a fake theme. They had been planning on doing Hell as the theme the whole time but Sarte was told the theme was Heaven.This was clearly breaking the deal and the rules, it was totally unacceptable.Ruby could feel her mind going blank with anger as she rushed through the gate of Florence building and up to the floor given to Sarte and Iris. This was her first day of work as a member of Iris and it was bound to be strange. But when she got the news from the Iris group chat, how they fooled Sarte into believing a completely diff
EMBER"What are you thinking?" He asked, finally breaking the silence."So, anything, right? Anything I ask you, without questions," she made sure, as a trick to test him."I already said it, anything you want," he answered right then, with no hesitation at all. Ember thought, if he wasn't hesitant, what was her excuse? The drive was still going on and the wild idea took over her. "Okay so..", she started, not giving him time to comprehend he was going to be given a task right at that moment. "Stop this car in the middle of the road and kiss me."His head snapped to her at that rash and unusual task but Ember knew she was doing it to see to what extremes he would go. That seemed fit enough for the first task. He scanned her face and realised she was serious. A quick look behind him and he immediately brought the car to a stop at that exact moment, 0 questions or hesitations.Hurrying, he leaned in and snapped off her seatbelt and in one moment, he had swept her off her seat and placed