we make a good pair

- chapter 1 -

There he was. My enemy. On the television screen, receiving an award, with his big jock-like smile. He beat me to it once again. I know that he was celebrating but I sure wasn’t. I was feeling jealous and angry but I wasn’t about to show it. Even the slightest bit of weakness made him feel great and he didn’t deserve that. I should be the one in his spot. I should be the one being congratulated. I should be the one celebrating. I should be the one with a big jockey smile on. That should’ve been me so I’m going to make it be me. I got right to work, I called my assistant in to find me the best case available. She took awhile which made me impatient so I got up to go find myself a case. 

I went to her office only to find her not there. I called her but no answer. Where had she gone? I didn’t feel happy, especially when I wasn’t being listened to. I was feeling a rage inside of me, not only because of my assistant but because of my rival’s victory as well. If I didn’t get on a case soon, someone else would beat me to it. I walked over to my assistant’s desk and sat down in her chair. I opened her laptop and went to look for cases. I searched and searched until I finally found something. It was on a 30 year old male, named Victor Gale, who’d injured more than 20 people and killed 2. This case had been open for years and yet he still hadn’t been found. This is my chance. I can finally be better than Mr. Perfect. I downloaded the file and printed out the papers. I got them and went back to my office. It was 10:00 pm and it was getting late. I decided it was time for me to go home so I grabbed the files, put them in my purse, and headed out. I also left a note for my assistant asking where she was. If she didn’t get that back to me soon, she’d be fired. 

I unlocked the front door to my apartment and checked the mail just like I do every night. I felt around the mailbox and found a square envelope inside. It was addressed to me. Rose Remington. I got inside, locked the door, and opened the envelope. It was an invitation to a ball in two days! How was I supposed to get a whole outfit and a date ready in two days? I started to read out the whole letter. 

Dear Miss Remington, 

We would like to invite you to the ball on Sunday. This ball was made by Duke Inc. to congratulate the success of Daxton Duxe’s 7th award. We invite you and a plus one to the ball. Here is a message from Mr. Duxe himself. “I am glad that I have an amazing amount of support. I’d appreciate it if everyone who got this letter attended my ball. Please wear your best clothing considering the fact that there will be paparazzi and group pictures. Thank you.”

Duke Inc. 

Wow. Why was I even surprised? I knew that he would do something like this. He had the perfect chance to brag about his awards and knowing him, he’d never pass up the opportunity to make everyone else feel bad. By going, I’d make him feel better. That’s one of the reasons I didn’t want to go but at the same time, I wanted to make everyone there in awe of me. If I went, I’d make everyone’s jaws drop to the floor. That would make Daxton angry because the attention would be on me, not him. This was my time to shine. I took the files from my purse and locked them in my safe. I opened my laptop and went online. I explored all of the websites, dresses, suits, shoes, purses, jewelry, and more. I found 5 dresses that interested me the most and I booked an appointment to try them on tomorrow. When I was finished with everything I needed to do, I got into my pajamas, did some self-care, and went to bed.

The Next Morning

    I got up around 8:00 and picked out my outfit for the day. I picked out a black blazer, white blouse, and black dress pants. I picked out a gold necklace with gold dangling earrings and a couple golden rings. I got black high heels and put my black hair in a high ponytail. I made myself iced coffee and got breakfast to go and I was on my way to the boutique.

    I arrived there at 9:00 and went in. There were so many dresses and clothes that I couldn’t see where the store ended. There were people trying on clothes. Some were smiling, others not so much. I went up to the front desk and gave her my information. She directed me to room 21. I got in the room and there were all of the items I wanted. I tried on the first dress. It was pink and loose. I didn’t like it at all. I tried on the light blue sleeveless dress. I didn’t like this one either. I tried on the yellow ball gown. This one was fine but it just didn’t match my personality. The 4th one was a white simple long dress. I didn’t like the length. Last but not least was the dark red dress. It was backless with spaghetti straps. It was short and it was made of silk. I tried it on and hoped that this was the dress that I left the boutique with. I put it on and looked in the mirror. I was shocked. No dress had ever fit me like this one. It wrapped my body like a glove. I did 360 just to make sure it looked good from the back as well. It looked perfect. I got these diamond stud earrings and put them in. I got a silver necklace and a bag as well. I got sparkly high heels that were tall but short enough to walk in them. I looked amazing. I got everything I wanted to buy and went to checkout. I paid the total and left. 

    It was 9:55 and I was headed to the office. I arrived there and just as I was about to get started, I remembered that the files were at home. I drove back and got the files. When I got back to my office, it looked like a jungle. Someone was snooping around while I was gone. I checked all the places where a person could hide but found no one. I locked the door to my office and checked the cameras. Aha! I found the intruder. It was my assistant. I wondered what she was looking for. I set the files in a hidden area and went to my assistant’s office.

She was sitting down, rearranging her desk when she looked up at me. I had a very visible angry look on my face and she noticed it. 

“Lila, what were you doing in MY office?”

“I don’t know what you're talking about, Miss Remington.” She looked at me very nervously. 

“Of course you do. I saw you sneak in there. Tell me the truth or you’re fired.”

“I can’t tell you.”

I gave her the death stare.

“Miss Remington, please calm down.” She motioned for me to calm down. 

“I’m perfectly calm. You, on the other hand, look nervous.” 

“Ok fine, I’ll tell you! Please don’t fire me.”

“That’s for me to decide. Now tell me everything.”

“I was delivering some papers to the mail on Monday, just like you wanted me to, when Mr. Duke stopped me. He tells me he wants me to be his assistant instead and offers a higher price than what you offer but I am loyal to you, Miss Remington. I promise. I didn’t want to listen to him but I had too. He said I could also be a spy for him and spy on you. I said yes. He wanted me to get the files on a man named Victor Gale?”

“Wow! He knew about that?”

“Yes he did but I swear, I didn’t tell him!”

“You can keep your job, Lila but only on one condition.”

“Yes, anything!” She looked happy that she still had her job. 

“ You are going to spy on Mr. Duke and you will report back to me.”

“Yes, of course!”

“ And you will tell Mr. Duke random made up lies.”

“Yes!”

“Great, now get back to work.”

Lila went back to work and I went home. Tomorrow was going to be a lonnnngggg day, especially because of Daxton but I couldn't help but smile.