EMBERThe sun was strikingly bright that day, enough to be distractive enough to drag someone out of their dreams. Similarly, the target was Ember. The bright sunlight hit her eyes and cracked them open, someone had left the curtains open and she knew she had to blame Ruby for that. Slowly, Ember turned to the other side from her position and felt comfortable enough to go through another round of sleep.She was just about to doze off when she realised that she felt her skin against each other too clearly and closely. It felt as if she was naked underneath a blanket. Her eyes snapped open upon the grave realisation but Ember was indeed in her own room. Then why did she feel that way? What had happened that-She looked down exactly at that moment and her eyes widened like she had seen a ghost. She was still in her bathrobe, naked underneath as if she had freshly got out of the shower, the towel on her head had slipped off. The big realisation dawned upon her when it came to her that she
EMBER"SPEAK UP!" Zaire's voice thundered across the room, startling everyone and making the people almost gasp as they witnessed him lash out at Ember. Her stomach settled in deep, her mind going everywhere."Yes sir," she let out, making people's gazes travel back and forth. "Then why was Samantha the one handling something that was supposed to be your responsibility? Why was it that you had left something so crucial and important for everyone standing here and just went away? How did you think it was even okay to be that responsible?" He lashed out, taking a step forward as he was actually fuming, she could see it in his face with absolute horror, she was scared."I am sorry sir, I understand but I didn't think it would be a problem because I left it in safe hands when Mrs Samantha had offered to help. Please just trust me, I'll fix this. I will draft another progress report for Candice by myself," she said, almost fighting for everyone to be easy on her because those eyes were giv
EMBEREnd it.He wanted to end it and she didn't know what triggered him to finally do it.She always knew that it wasn't all that important to him, she also knew that at the end of the day it was her who would get hurt because he was the one who wanted no strings to bind him back. Even though same went for Ember, she was already bound to him with a million strings, she was already attached she just pretended she wasn't.But there he was, calling her a burden on her face, wanting her to leave probably. She just stared at him with a mix of emotions at how she didn't even have the right to be sad or angry because they had nothing between them, what was she even supposed to react with?"We won't speak about this ever again, neither will we even look at each other like we had something. If it's ending, it's ending completely," he said, she didn't know why he was trying to drag the conversation, maybe because he wanted to pull out any kind of a reaction from her. Maybe he wanted her to figh
RUBYShe hated how everything had suddenly turned into a hot mess. Nothing was going right at all, not even close, and she doubted there was a valid cure to that. She just wanted that her time with Sarte and this whole project goes smoothly and nothing else.Ruby wasn't even a permanent member, she wasn't even officially hired. She was just there as a substitute, as a helper. Her performance in this project would tell if she was actually eligible for the company. But in reality, Ruby did not know what exactly she wanted for herself, if she even wanted that job.It was no debate that Sarte was a hundred times better than the firm she was working at and she would quit from there in a heartbeat to work with Sarte as an employee, but the expectations and the deadlines were very tight. Maybe it would get easier later when this project would end but she wasn't too sure altogether. She needed her creative freedom intact, that she used to get in her firm because they didn't really care.Ruby c
EMBERWhen she woke up and realised her pillow was still soaked with tears, she realised she had cried throughout the night. But as she woke up feeling empty like never before, she was also relieved. Worrying every time she woke up that this would be the day Zaire would leave her were over. They had already ended it and she had the clarity that she was the only one who was attached, willing to work on it.But she developed feelings, she got attached. And he pushed her away. He wouldn't take responsibility of that then why did she have to worry about what he really thought anymore. She sat up straight and arched her back, certain of what she wanted to do. And for the first time, she had no thoughts or plans beforehand of how she would act around Zaire, she was determined to just be herself and professional on top of it. A lot of work was left and she was already being targetted by many, she had to refrain from making any mistakes.And, she also had to secretly look into what Candice wa
EMBERShe had said yes but at what cost. What would she even talk to Will about? Not like she could straight up say she heard everything he said about her in that call. And she also was confused how she wasn't as devastated as she imagined herself if such a situation comes.She was upset and it hurt whenever she thought about Will or saw him. But she felt more betrayed and stupid than upset that this was what his original intentions were. This was what he really thought of her and not what he always showed. She felt stupid because she couldn't read it, she couldn't realise what he actually tried to do.But she believed.. the reason she never noticed what was really going on in Will's mind was because she never looked that close. She never dwelved that deep into him. She was just with him because of her emotional attachment and what she felt for him since forever. That trauma, that hurt, that urge to finally get the guy she never had, is what made her want him and stay with him till it
RUBYIt felt like Ruby had skipped several episodes all of a sudden. She was sitting tightly near the window of the huge luxurious car that was spacious like a room, nothing like she had ever seen before, and she was being taken to a place she never in her 26 year old life imagined. A place so profound in the worst possible ways, it felt almost unreal.She was being inevitably, rather forcibly, taken to Travis Prescott's house.. as his girlfriend. Yes, she was his girlfriend.The most common question here, after people get a chance to recover from this shock, would be, "How the hell did we even get here? What sort of unnatural event could happen in the span of 10 minutes that could spawn out such a result? Something this impossible?"It was a funny story of Ruby being present at the worst possible moments that ruined every normal thing in existence for her. It was just that amazing and creatively crafted turn of events she could've never anticipated. Oh, how she regretted everything sh
EMBERShe didn't know what she had expected trying to talk to Will Thompson when she was still not over the fact that he said all those things about her on the call. And even when she told him she knew what he did, it didn't even feel satisfying. There was absolutely no thrill that's usually incorporated in a confrontation. Because Will just sat in front of her, thawed. Like someone had knuckled his jaw and left him unable to speak.He looked thunderstruck and she knew she didn't want to be there to witness all of that. She had her own stance as well, it wasn't just about him all the time. "You even lied about not recognizing me at all. I had all the reasons to try and hide who I was because I was ashamed of what happened in the past, but you? You still looked down on me, trying to take advantage of whatever naiveness I showed to you," she let out a deep breath, making Will's guilty eyes finally meet her. "I am so sorry-""That.. it's.. unnecessary. You've disappointed me more than
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