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
RUBY"Wow, you are evil. And you expect me to help you," Ruby crossed her arms against her chest."Just.. okay fine, please. I can't let this lie be found out, she'd never talk to me again. I can't explain much but I just need you to understand how important this is. Okay? Just help me here and I will help you out. You don't know how big of a risk I'm taking introducing YOU as my girlfriend-""What is that supposed to mean?" Ruby squinted her eyes and tilted her head to the side at his tone and he immediately shook his head. "Every word you say is bringing me too close to saying no to your face and walking out."That's when Travis panicked, and for real because Grandma was finally catching up with the fact that something fishy was going on as she carefully scanned both of them. They needed to act fast. He came close to her immediately and grabbed both of her hands."Listen to me, I need you. Just for one day. Help me out just this day and I'll steer your company clear of any hurdles I'
EMBER"Okay, you won't help me. I don't know why Mr Langston would think you can really help me when you hate me this much. Since he said you are his favourite employee and asked me to come ask for your help, I came, trampling on my own ego. Guess I have to go back to him and tell him you don't want to-""Stop! He.. he said that?" She asked. Technically, he didn't. But he thought very highly of her so that was good enough. "You're not lying, right?""No, I'm not. Okay, I'll leave," Ember said, pretending that she was about to leave immediately, and she knew she would be stopped. That's exactly what happened."It's basically like being his right hand. You run around with him in every meeting, take down a gazillion notes, bring him coffee, bring him food, deliver messages, recite his schedule every few minutes, get his car ready just by reading his mind before he asks for it. It also means.. making his breakfast on most days, clean up for him if you're asked, and even dry clean his cloth
RUBYWhat angered her more was how Travis left her all alone in a single car and joined his grandmother, probably to bitch some more about Ruby. She rolled her eyes, she had no idea what she would answer if she was asked questions. She had no idea what to say, Ruby was scared she would blow it all off.She pulled out her phone and started typing a text that was supposed to be rude."What the hell? You left me alone and you're taking me to some unknown ass place AND you expect me to keep your secret safeguarded? What am I, some kind of fool? And you expect me to just know the stupid questions that are gonna be thrown at me, do you think I'm a psychic that I'll just know? You better give me an explanation right now or I'm jumping out of the car. I don't care," she typed out and sent, angrily. She was almost fuming. The reply came back after 5 whole minutes and that reply made her anger shoot up, her blood boiling at dangerous temperatures. She groaned, almost thinking of doing something
RUBYHe certainly didn't look like the long term selfless love kind, and if it was someone related to him through the media, Ruby would've known already. She knows a lot about him even though now after knowing his personality, she wished she didn't. "Oh, it's great meeting you too, he talks about you a lot as well," Ruby said as a formality, trying to give the illusion that they had a nice relationship. She tried to check if Travis was impressed by that move but he just sat there analysing the situation with no reaction on his face."I kept on telling him throughout all these years to tell me about her features or show me a picture of her but he never did, even after so much. You know I'm getting older, I was so worried about passing away without seeing my grandson's bride that I just couldn't hold myself back. So.. I just went to see for myself, I hope I didn't catch you off guard," Grandma said, earning an angry look from Travis when she talked about passing away.She seemed like su
RUBY"What does that mean? What are you even trying to say when I am sitting here, leaving all my work behind trying to help you? Is this the time to accuse me of trying to actually impress your grandmother? And what if I do make a good first impression, what will that even do? I really don't get it," Ruby argues back, clearly confused of what he really wanted."I don't want her to see you in a good light because then she would never stop talking about you. You aren't the girl I described to her, I don't want you to live up to her expectations," he explained and Ruby quietened down as he started getting to the point and it started somewhat making sense. "I don't want her to like you because me and you, we'd never happen. At first, you were doing a good job by doing nothing and repelling her, but now, it's like you're actually trying to make her approve you.""I.. that wasn't my intention. I didn't want her to hate me which might be a problem later on for me. Why would I ever want to cr
RUBY"Relax, I remember. I remember, okay?" He said, pressing at the temples of his head while chuckling. Ruby cooled down a little and so did the atmosphere. He stared at her, taking some time to process the next words he was about to tell her. "You.. sing.. really well. I was shocked. I mean, I hadn't expected.. that.""Yeah, you can't do compliments so just forget it. Not like you appreciated that as a good mood yet I had to hear your shit because I tried something on my own," she rolled her eyes and started rambling to get past the fact that he had actually complimented her. She only sat there, waiting for her to get to the point, he looked just as out of place."No.. you did a good job. I thought you'd mess up but we actually pulled it off," he said, nodding his head with a proud look on his face like he was absolutely convinced he had a part to play in this whole place. Ruby immediately fixed him with a glare and he held up his hands in his defence. "Okay okay, you pulled it off.
EMBERShe hated being riled up, both mentally and physically, especially by someone who knew what effect that has on her and then again, it's all intentional. She hated feeling weak or domesticated by someone who knew how to control her and it just worked right into their favour, whether she wanted it or not.Ember immediately left that room and was determined to wait outside. It was an invasion of privacy and even if he wanted to include company laws, there's a basic sense of morals that Ember was following. She didn't need an intrusion or didn't need to become the intruder. So, she stood outside.In a couple of minutes, he walked out of the door of the waiting room, completely changed into his casuals. A white trouser and the blue striped shirt with the top button loosened. She found her breath hitching for a moment because of how he looked even better than what she had envisioned. He looked incredibly hot with his slightly rolled up sleeves and casually tucked in shirt. He just look
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