CALEBS POV.
To be truly honest, it took me a while to decide whether I should show up at the company or not. I am not used to being a model and it certainly wasn't my dream. Not eating properly for the sake of getting a perfect body sounded a little bit creepy to me.
Trying one shot wouldn't hurt though. It's not even a formal fashion show. Just a light training and we are good to go. Besides, the more source of income, the better.
Currently, on my bed, I get up from it and go to the bathroom. It takes like 20 minutes for me to get ready. On days like these, a dark theme is usually in my favour, plus the black leather Italian boots usually go perfect with it. I look at myself in the mirror one last time and off I go to the company. What is it called again? I will know when I see it.
Reaching the company, I look at it for a while. To think it could be one of the tallest buildings in this town is understandable. Most of the exterior is made of glass and it is a hell of a beautiful place. Seeing the building makes me a little more excited and the thought of this being an ordinary fashion show starts vanishing.
I step closer to the entrance door and open it without hesitation. Suddenly the whole office seems way too quiet as if I froze everything and everyone with the sound of the entrance door opening. Looking at everyone, all eyes are on me. Did I do something wrong? I just got here!
I continue to look around. I silently thank God for seeing Ryan who is with the other gentlemen and a beautiful lady. Now that I remember her, I feel even more relieved. 8That makes me a bit glad that there is someone I know at least. Beside him was another guy I didn't know. On his front stood Marcus who was talking to a girl I am familiar with.
Then, only then, my eyes land on a girl, no, a woman my heart has been aching for and suddenly the moment freezes for me too.
She looks as fine as hell and more beautiful than ever. My eyes are not lying, are they? The moment she notices my presence, her eyes widen, her mouth becomes zipped, and her whole body freezes even more. I could feel the heat she is feeling right now with my imagination.
Nobody should literally know what we once had or whatever it is we are supposed to have, I think. So I step closer, trying to be as normal as possible as I reach Emily.
"Hello Emily." I smile a little.
"Oh, If this is your office then I think I should call you Madam or something related to that?"I make it sound more like a question than a suggestion. Emily gives me the "Oh I understand" smirk.
"You are right. This is where I work, so please address me as a madam. She smiles back. She seems way too excited about this. She was trying her best to hide it but if someone who knows her sees her, she will easily be noticed. I close my eyes for a while before I do what I am about to do.
I turn my head to where Rachel is. Trying to act as natural as possible, I step closer to where she is.
"Hello miss. You look as fine as ever. My name is Caleb. Nice to meet you," I give her a hand. She ends up staring at him instead of shaking it.
"Act professional." Emily tries to whisper to her as she fakes a small smile
"Oh, nice meeting you. I am Rachel and please call me by my name." She wildly smiles and I have to smile back. So this is where she works. This is her company. I wonder if others are noticing anything, not in its place.
Third POV
People started looking at each other when they heard her allowing him to call her by her name. Never in a thousand years did anyone dare to call Rachel just Rachel. So yeah everyone was surprised, including Emily. She was happy though, she was one step closer to achieving her little dream.
After the conversation that lasted for some time, Rachel went back to her office, trying to be as normal as possible on her way to the office. The thing is the word normal always freezes the moment she sees him. Her legs were quite shaking and her forehead was covered with light sweat already. Not to mention her heartbeat, there was a moment when she couldn't control her breathing. It would be a wonder if nobody noticed that.
Reaching her office, she gets inside and closes the door as if she doesn't want anyone to notice her closing it. The moment the door behind her closes, she breathes heavier than normal and she finds herself sitting on the floor.
With her hands on her chest, she silently curses the moment she got inside this office. Just above all people, why did it have to be this time that he had to make an appearance? It was as if she was being cursed. To think of how David is going to cause a scene she now gets more stress.
Suddenly the door opens, making Rachel move aside a little in surprise, she thanks God though since it is Emily and not any other employee.
Emily exposes her full self. Seeing how she sat on the floor made her laugh silently, trying her best to make sure Rachel doesn't notice.
"Don't you have works to do?" Emily Asks.
"What are you doing here?" she rolls her eyes.
"I am the one who should ask. Just what are you doing on the floor?"
"It is my office and I can do whatever I want when I am inside."
"As always. This is your comfort zone. she walks towards Rachel's office chair and sits on it."
"Is it a bad thing?"
"I didn't say that. I just guess this is where you are going to hide until the fashion show launching day is over." she smiles.
"Don't you have anything to say to me other than what you're saying right now?"
"Why do you seem pissed off?" Emily laughs.
Rachel tries to say something but she just can't find any word coming out of her mouth.
Emily gets off the chair and steps closer to Rachel. She crouches down and holds her shoulder.
"Now will you admit that you two have feelings towards each other? The more you resist, the stronger it grows. And this time I am not here to make any jokes. I really want this to work out." she shows a concerned look.
Rachel sighs.
"I still wonder why you talk as if you don't know I have a husband."
"Then it is your heart to be ashamed of. I am just stating what I am seeing. Plus that incident marriage of yours, I didn't buy that. The truth is nobody did. Your husband said you two got married in England. A good friend of mine stayed there. She was making stories with the priest whom you claim got you two married, but he said he doesn't even know you."
Rachel looks at anywhere but her.
"I also saw some scars on your lower back."
Rachel suddenly looks at her.
"He used to beat you right?"
She gets up from where she was.
"How did you get to know about the scar? Tell me how did you see it?!" Her hand go numb, her heart pounds, her breathing quickens and swallows. No one has ever seen the scar, not even David himself.
"He beat you right?" she stands up from the chair and lies her hands on the table.
"Rachel, if you think you can solve this problem on your own, trust me you are going to get too hurt along the way and you may never succeed." Please let me help you.
"What are you going to gain from this Emily? You already have a perfect family. Money. A loving husband. I mean everything a woman would want in her life, you have it. So just why do you need to help me?" she didn't even know she was shading tears as she was speaking.
"Because you have no one." she simply says in a very low tone.
"I am a woman. Do you think I can leave happy knowing I had a chance to help someone and I turned a blind eye?"
She turns around the table and steps closer to her.
"I know this is hard and for now, it is hard to trust anyone. But if you open your eyes there are a lot of people who truly care for you and if you really love them too, you have to fight for them. Sometimes you have to save someone for him to save you."
"He has a girlfriend," she whispers.
"I can't ruin what she has with him."
I am quite sure he loves you more than her though. Giving it a try won't hurt that much."
Rachel sobs as she looks down.
"Come here."
Emily gives her a big hug. For the first time in a really long time, she showed her true feeling in front of another woman. She really never had someone interested in her inner life. To think someone is willing to help her makes her feel warmed a little.
Suddenly the door is knocked.
"Who is it?" Rachel asks.
Bridget Madam. I brought the document you asked me for.
Emily goes and opens the door. She takes the document and closes the door behind her.
I guess you need to work. I will leave you for now.
"Okay." she smiles and Emily smiles back.
Not even an hour is passed and suddenly someone opens the door and shuts it causing a loud noise. Two people get inside her office without knocking on the door. Seeing how worked up he is, it seems like he already got the news.
"Seriously? Of all people you decided to make him known to the whole world."
"And what is wrong with that?" she sighs.
"You know I hate him!"
"First of all. He applied it without me knowing it and secondly it is none of my business that he took this job. Emily is the one in charge so go ask her and not me."
He smirks.
"You are enjoying this, aren't you?"
"What if I say I do?"
"It won't last long I promise you."
"Your hobby is always being happy alone."
"If my wife says that about me, then it is true."
"Don't forget David." she stands up and heads to him. She fixes his tie and she leans to his ear.
"We are not the only ones who know I am not your wife."
"Oh, my love! who are they to judge us?"
"And who are you to fake a marriage?" that hits him pretty hard.
"Anyway, some people have proof that you are not my husband. Your lie was too obvious. Now please leave. I need to work."
She goes back to her chair.
"I wonder who gives you the courage these days. Make sure I don't know who it is."
With that, he leaves.
Going to his office, he throws away everything that's on his table. Fear overtakes his head. The biggest challenge Is roaming around his very own company. Even though Caleb is not as rich as he is, his influence is more than enough to change everything.
He takes his phone from his pocket and calls Bridget. After some time she picks it up.
"Hello sir."
I need you to do something for me.
"What is it, sir?"
"Find out what Rachel is doing every minute and make sure you report it to me," He demands.
"Gladly, sir." With that, he hangs up his phone.
"I love how opportunities arise without even calling for them." He smirks.
FLASHBACK
It was raining so hard and it was just one of those days that didn't go well with David's terms. He was so worked up, especially when he thought of Rachel. He was sitting at a bus stop and he let it rain on him. Suddenly, it stopped raining, but only on him.
Looking at who it was, she saw a woman he was familiar with, Bridget. She was holding an umbrella on him so he would no longer get soaked in the devastating rain.
"You will get sick, sir. Why don't we go to a nearby cafe? "
He was too lazy to resist anything. So he agreed. Besides, it was his employee.
"A cup of warm chocolate coffee." The waitress says as she places it on the table for David.
"A cup of tea for the lovely lady." she smiled as she placed it on the table for Bridget.
"You two make a lovely couple."
A single sentence makes David look at the waitress in disgust. With that, she left.
"You seem to love your wife so much." I could see how you look at the waitress.
"There is no point when she doesn't love me back." He takes a cup of coffee and takes a sip from it.
"I don't see any reason why she wouldn't love you. You are such a fine young man."
"That is not how she sees me. And I am quite sure she has cheated on me several times." He lies.
"Oh my god! she covers her mouth with her hands."
"That is so horrible for a married woman!"
"I know." He sighs.
"Is there anything I can do for you? I can even blackmail her for you."
"Maybe someday I will ask you to do that for me. I hope you will help me out." He gives a small smile.
"I will don't worry."
*****************
Now he is using her to get what he wants. Bridget thinks she is doing the right thing to help him. But what if one day she finds out what is really going on? Will she feel guilty or will she become the villain herself?