Beautiful Poison

Chapter One

Coffee splattered down my shirt as I struggled to open the glass door to the Fairest office building. People in expensive suits with their lackeys following behind passed me by without so much as a glance. Fuck L.A. Once I got the door open and stepped inside the building, I checked which coffee had spilled. Thank god it was mine. Regina would have chewed me out in front of everyone if I had ruined her coffee. I started my job at Fairest about two years ago. My goal straight out of college was to be a model, and I had gotten a few gigs early on, but definitely not enough to pay the bills. Eventually, the starry-eyed wonder of dreams must fade to let in reality. I needed a consistent job and consistent money. Then a fucking miracle happened. I was hired by the biggest beauty brand in L.A., Fairest. They were cosmetics, skincare, and hair care brand owned by the megacorp Mirror, Mirror. A company owned by Regina Caldwell, the Beauty Queen. She was richer than God and made Aphrodite herself jealous, which luckily hadn't caused any wars as of yet. She was immaculate and also a complete and total bitch. 

She treated everyone like trash, but ever since I was hired I've been a particular target for her wrath. I had no idea why she hated me. I did everything she asked and did it to a fucking T. I tried not to resent her, after all running a company can't be easy, but I knew that one day I would need to stand up to her. If only to not dread going to work every day. Maybe she was one of those types that appreciated backtalk. But frankly, I refuse to risk my job.

Checking the time, I jogged to the elevator, huffing as the doors began closing. I had exactly three minutes to have coffee at Regina's desk at 8:00 am. 

"Wait!" I called out, "Please!"

Panic rose in my throat as the doors nearly closed before a hand reached out and stopped them, making them open again. I didn't even have time to be relieved. I jumped inside and started babbling at the kind person who held the door for me.

"Thank you so so much, oh my god you're an actual life-saver, thank you."

"What floor?" a smooth, deep voice asked.

I looked up as the doors finally closed and left me alone with the Good Samaritan. My mouth hung open, my eyes widening dumbly as I stared at him. He was much taller than me, but that's not hard to do. He was wearing a fitting red t-shirt and jeans. His dark hair hung to the nape of his neck, looking both styled and completely ruffled, but at the same time utterly perfect. His eyes were the color of honey, and his lips curved in a subtle polite smile. 

"Um..." I stuttered, "Uh...Eight."

He glanced at the button and his smile widened slightly, "Me too."

"Convenient," I squeaked, then felt my face go hot from embarrassment. I looked away and bit my lip, trying to calm my breathing. I'd never seen him around the office before. Was he a new hire? Someone's assistant? I bit the inside of my cheek to resist saying something that would make me look like a stalker. But maybe I could at least get his name...