1| The tree of Paris.

FELIX

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“Alex no.”

“Feel, please.”

“I’ll get her a job but not as my assistant.”

“But I don’t trust people, you’ve seen Paris, she’s a total man attracter, 3 of her bosses have tried to get sexual with her and 7 of them have molested her. Please Felix, Paris can’t live without a job and she can’t even work for perverts. I don’t trust other people around her. You’ve hated her all your life and you don’t mix personal and professional life. Please hire her.” My best and only friend kneeled in front of me with tears in his eyes as he recalled the sexual assaults on his sister by the men and women who were her bosses. Paris Martin, God save me. Paris was the clumsiest silliest and weirdest lady to exist. She lived as if there was no tomorrow but studied as if there was no today.

Paris was like an ocean, beautiful, carefree, deep, she gave life to those around her, she was scary yet the kindest person alive. She was naïve yet somehow always had a sarcastic comment to make. She was only 25 and already had her PhD in business and literature. She was over accomplished for her age. She could be an amazing teacher but Alex won’t let her teach kids because apparently ‘teenage boys are very horny.’ And also, most schools don’t hear teachers with PhD, at least the ones that aren’t ivy league. She applied for a literature teacher’s position in Harvard and Yale but hasn’t received an answer yet.

As Alex stayed on his eyes, crying and begging me to hire his sister as my assistant, I only stood there in frustration of being stuck. On one side there was my best friend, who was also my only friend, begging me to hire his unemployed sister and on the other side there was my burning desire towards his sister. All my life, I’ve pretended to hate his sister and her cheery clumsy nature because Paris is out of limits. I can never approach her, at least until I value Alex. I’d rather kill my desire than lose my best friend. But this mother------ doesn’t help my situation at all.

“Fine. I’ll hire her, but just remember, I am a monster in the business world, if other bosses of hers were demons, then I am the devil. I won’t treat her kindly because she is your sister.”

“Until you’re not taking advantage of her.” He smiled at me and quickly called his sister. This is going to be hell.

Alex had been my best friend since childhood. His parents had sued mine for drug abuse and then adopted me. He was like my brother to me. But his sister was anything but my family. If I had to think of Paris as something to me, she would be my wife, nothing else. I would never say I love her; I crave her. I desire to have her under me as I treat her like the goddess she is. I want her, I don’t need her.

As children, me and Alex were always together and Paris was always alone. She was a year younger to him and two years younger to me. Alex was 20 percent owner of the company, he still worked as a lawyer for the company. Although he has a girlfriend for 3 years, he won’t leave me alone and move in with her. Something about bros sticking together. At this point, he’ll either lose his girlfriend or I will have to kick him out. Either way, I can’t get way from this havoc named Paris Martin.

PARIS

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*3 days later. *

I entered his cabin and found the whole office looking like a mess, it looked like someone had stolen something but that is how Felix’s office always looked. He always worked so much, he never realised what a mess he always made. As children he would do this before exam. Not only ours but he would also study from other school’s textbooks as he paced around his room. Felix could never sit still.

I plugged my earphones in and placed my phone in my pocket as the music’s sound reached my ears. Music was my only best friend. I never had a friend. No one liked me because The Lord Felix hated me. Felix was well-known across school and college. Alex me and Felix attended the same schools all over our lives. Now we work in the same company. I have the best life.

Mom and Dad passed away on the day I turned 18. They died because of me.

I snapped out of my thoughts when a file fell from my hand. Almost the whole office room was clean. The desk was perfectly ready for work, all the files were in the place but I couldn’t put a finger on what was wrong. . .... OH SHIT! HIS COFFEE!

I checked the time and I had enough time to get his coffee from the café that he likes. I rushed towards the entrance of the company and ran out towards my car. his companies were more like a maze, never ending, especially when you’re lazy. I tried to start my car but the stupid shit wouldn’t start. Without thinking twice, I got out and ran towards the café, hoping it was empty. Of course! It wasn’t.

:::

“Good morning, F- Mr. Hernandez.”

“Ah miss. Martin, first day at work and you’re already late I see.”

“No, sir actual-

“Save it! I’m busy and you can go home. I don’t need any sort of recklessness today. Mr. Gray will be assisting me and you will be assisting him from now and on.” He let out a sigh of annoyance as I stood there still, in my place. Almost about to cry. Felix hated me; I knew that. I also know that he hired me out of pity but did he really have to be this rude to me here too? He was a bully enough when we were kids, why did he have to hurt me now too? Why me? I might be clumsy and maybe annoying sometimes but what I am not, is reckless. I did everything I could to be on his good side for once and this mother------ won’t even let me explain.

I took a deep breath in and walked out after mumbling a ‘My apologies sir.’ And placed the coffee beside Mr. Gray’s table. “This one is yours; this is his, please give it to him. I’ll be on my way.” I walked out of the office with my head hung low and my eyes welled with tears, I’d rather deal with the perverts than a fucking monster.

I don’t know for how long but I just sat inside my car, crying and cursing at Felix. He was one of the main reasons I had severe depression and anxiety. All the bullying, hatred, blaming and death threats since I was only 7 had me scared to death. There were so many times I had asked my mom to send me to nana’s but she just wouldn’t. If ever other kids bullied me, Felix would join them. My tears never pained him. They were his purpose of living.

After I pulled myself together, I made my way to my comfort place. The place that was me. The tree of Paris is the most beautiful thing I have seen. It was a tree that almost looked like Eiffel Tower. When it was first discovered I was only 10 years old. My parents had only taken me to see it because they wanted to spend a whole day with me and me only. I was the happiest that day.

I sat under the tree that was now almost abandoned. Only around 4-5 people came here that too because of the library next to it. Mr. Simon’s small wooden cabin was the cutest library but Mr. Simon wasn’t the cutest librarian, rather he was the scariest one. Children and adults above 30 avoided his library, I have only ever seen teenagers and young adults here. Most people say he looks like a scrooge but I actually think he looks like Popeye the sailor man.

Mr. Simon had known me since I was 11. The first time I went there was when the library opened. I was their first customer. I laughed when Mr. Simon scolded me. He just looked so funny when he scolded children. He always thought teenagers were demons in human body. He never dealt with them. He had Ms. Maddie to deal with teenagers. She had 3 teenagers but she paid more attention to those that came to the library.

The music in my ears pulled me out of my trace and the book in my hands got pulled from my hands throwing me towards the tree trunk.

“Ouch.” The whimper slipped out of my mouth when my heard collided with the tree. A few leaves fell on my lap.

“All the bright places? Again?” His voice echoed through my ears, anxiety rushed in my veins, keeping me from looking at his face.

“W-w-what are y-you doing here?”

“Felix sent me. He said you were late today. I have to teach you how to be on time.” He laughed at me. The person I fear the most stood in front of me and I was working for his boss.

“GET UP BITCH”

“P-please leave me alone.”

“Sorry babe. It’s Felix’s orders. I can’t let him down.”

“Last time I saw, Rafael, I fired you.” Someone screamed from the East. His long strides echoed through my ears and my eyes stayed fixated on the ground.

Two people I consider worse than my nightmares stood in front of me and I was stiller than a statue. Tears rolled out of my eyes but didn’t make me move. I wasn’t even breathing. Every moment I was traumatized by these two rushed inside my mind. Every moment of pain, every nightmare, every tear that ruined my sanity jumbled and rushed through my mind, making me laugh. As my laughter reached their ears they stopped talking and looked at me. I continued laughing as I stood up and then I just stopped, I gave them a glance with a still face and a faint smile. My body trembling and my heels in my hand with my phone and books on the other one I walked away from both of them and just walked. Away from them, away from my car, away from everyone.

I walked away. Hoping that I don't have to return.