Tangled and Twisted ✓

Chapter 2

[Bella Hennings]

"Bella, I need you to come here for a second. Now." Kara's tone is that of someone who won't take any discussion. I just bolt to her desk, a huge file in my hands. Her glare can pierce eyes and break bones for how powerful it is.

I look into her eyes, expecting her to fire me. After all, this is what she's wanted to do since day one. She can't stand me and doesn't even hide it. She often assigns the most humiliating tasks to belittle me, or the most difficult projects so that she'll be sure I'm a failure to her.

"I'm sure you know why you're here, don't you?" she asks in a mellifluous tone that doesn't make me cave. If anything, it pisses me off. She has daggers ready, so why can't she hit me directly instead of playing games? She just needs to pronounce those two words, and then off I go, away from that her and that limey asshole.

Neither she nor Mr. Hames know that the agency's downfall is on them because of their arrogance and limited vision. Their word is gospel. Any different opinion is blasphemy to them. If they don't want to make a step back to the right direction, it's their loss.

"I know why you called me, Mrs. Hollister. I guess I just need a confirmation, to make sure it isn't a... mistake. I mean, this is how I would put it. Your approach, on the other hand, is different." My statement confuses her for a while, but then her face turns beet red. I think I've just uncovered her plan, but she doesn't want to admit a possible defeat.

She raises a hand. "Different approach, huh? What do you mean, Bella? Is a way to try to rat me out?" I shake my head, but this doesn't prevent her from giving me a stern warning. "You can't play games with me. I know what you do on the job, your character, your attitude. Don't you dare think I'm a fool, okay?"

I hiss. "I don't think you're a fool." Can't she just kick me out before I start saying and doing things I will regret? Does she enjoy my pain? If so, I won't let her have that satisfaction. She doesn't deserve it.

"Well, if you put it that way, it's your problem, not mine." She stares at her perfectly manicured nails, then throws a disgusted glare at me. Today, I'm not living up to my name. My hair is a tangled mess, and my nails look like they've been bitten by a dozen of mice.

Kara stifles an annoyed yawn and continues. "Anyway, let's get to the point. I've always found your performances subpar, not to your colleagues' level. I told you to step up multiple times, but you never showed signs of improvement." I've made mistakes over the years, but if she thinks I'm so bad at my job, why didn't she fire me earlier?

"I'm serious, Bella, I'm done babysitting you. You aren't even close to our standards for the most basic things, let even the most important tasks." She does everything in her power to make it more painful, instead of being direct as usual.

So, I take the rains and blurt those words out. "So, I'm fired, right? I'll go and pack my stuff immediately if this is what you want." I have a hard time retaining my frown. I don't want to repress my feelings towards her anymore. I don't want to walk on egg shells all the time just because she gets pissed off easily. I want to be able to tell her openly I hate her.

She recoils and pulls her chair back, her eyes on me. "Oh my God, finally you realized that! I've always known you're dumb, but not to this extent." She hits me with her blazing hot daggers. The more she talks, the more I want to plant my stilettos in those fucking eyes of hers. But I just cry. This is how she wants to see me as: a good for nothing weakling.

"You have thirty minutes to collect your shit and leave, okay? I don't want to see you anymore. You literally gave me a headache for six years!" She yells, after which I clench my teeth and my fists at the same time. Isn't sacking me out enough? Does she want to humiliate me, too?

Fine. She wants war. Then, she'll have it.

***

I finish picking what's left of my stuff and head towards the door when Jenny stops me. "I'm sorry for... what Mrs. Hollister told you. She was in her mood swing as usual." I don't understand how she can bear with that viper. She doesn't know what being belittled and bullied on the job all the time means.

Kara and I have always been on each other's throat, and this was all because of a feud we had back in high school. She was a straight A student, had a lot of connections and was well loved. I, on the other hand, had my reasons for being noticed, but in the wrong way. My grades were anything but exciting and I was only valued for my looks.

I was so used to being degraded and labelled as a ditzy chick that I decided to turn it into my distinctive trait. If I couldn't have good grades and popularity, then I had to have boys. At first, capturing their hearts wasn't easy. But, then, I realized I could score a lot more dates than Kara could even dream of.

Time has since passed, and I've made quite a name for myself at Hames Hollister Corp, but for being the maneater. Honestly, I don't even think it's that bad anymore. It means that I do have someone who appreciates me outside of my professional sphere. For example, Dale Leathers is a huge admirer of mine.

Jenny says he's bad news and I should stay away from him because he's likely to be 'buddy buddy' with Kara. I don't believe that bullshit, but at the same time I don't want to make Jenny look like she gives me bad advice.

Anyway, he's history now, like the rest of those fuckers at this stupid agency. I can only count on Jenny from now on, and on Beth too, even though she tends not to take a clear stance when it comes to my now ex bosses' toxic behavior.

When I'm back home, I'll start planning a huge party to celebrate my freedom. After coming up with a way to get back at Kara for bullying me out, of course.

***

I sit at the vanity in my room and start combing my hair. When I'm nervous or angry, it's a way for me to detangle stress—as well as my hair. Wow, I should've applied the conditioner after the shampoo. No wonder Kara stared at me in disgust.

Enough thinking about that viper, unless it's for taking her out. I scroll through my contacts, find Dale Leathers' number and shoot him a text message. 'Meet me at my place for dinner. Now that we're no longer colleagues, you have no excuses. Kisses.'

Simple and direct. He will accept because he knows he can't resist me. I've seen him around Kara a lot lately, but this doesn't mean he's into her. I'm confident I'll score a date and make him fall for me again.

'Hope you're in perfect shape. See you at 9. Bye.' I clutch my phone on my chest after I read his reply. From now on, he's not my smoking hot ex manager, but a lot more...