The Playboy's Crush By Deborah A. Olaleye

FOUR

Lara checked herself in the mirror for the umpteenth time. She wanted to make a good first impression.

Getting employed by a top, renowned company wasn't something she had dreamed of ever having, so she felt extremely nervous at her meeting with Shane.

Besides, she was anxious over the fact that all the terms of his deal might not be appealing to her, and that would spell consequent trouble for her if it should occur.

She couldn't help but silently render earnest prayers to the heavens for freedom from the mess she was in, with the hope that all her prayers had been answered and were about to take effect.

She had no strength to harden her resolve and endure this grueling harshness her life was plagued with anymore.

She needed a break.

She craved a change. And she desperately hoped that the time for that change had come.

Taking a final look at her appearance in the mirror, she checked her watch, noted she still had a few minutes before she ran late, grabbed her bag, and walked out of her apartment.

"Wish me luck, Mom," she said to her mom's picture hung on a corner of the dressing mirror as she headed for the door and locked it.

She got into a taxi and was at the company's in twenty minutes. She got out of the car and allowed herself a minute to appreciate the grandness that stretched out massively and immaculately before her.

Her chest swelled with pride and euphoria at the prospect of working for a company as great as Shane's.

The building was magnificent. It was unlike anything she had ever seen. The environment reeked of affluence and class that were far superior to her base standard.

She suddenly felt self-conscious and nervous. A chill snaked down her spine, and a nervous sweat trickled down her temple in response to the anxiety that lanced through her body.

It was a towering edifice, framed entirely by bluish glass walls that captured the sky and were layered upon each other to stretch out into a slick skyscraper with an intricate architectural design.

Frameless sliding glass doors paved the way from the exterior to the interior of the building, and as she walked in, she felt as if she had transcended into another realm.

An upscale realm, way out of her league.

She was transfixed by the sublime beauty of her surroundings. Everything about it, from its decor to its ambiance, reeked of opulence and brilliance.

Goosebumps trailed along the frame of her skin as she walked toward the receptionist. She felt out of place as she moved with different, elegantly dressed people across the lobby.

She licked her lower lip nervously with the tip of her tongue and bit down on her lip ring, mentally cooing to herself to be calm.

It's just a building—a background different from the one she was used to. Everyone around her were people like she was, although they were high-class.

The floors were polished and shone from the reflection from the walls of sky-blue glass encompassing the building.

The lobby was bathed in lights, adding an enrapturing glow to its atmosphere and outlook.

Lara balled her hands into tight fists as she walked to restrain herself from gawking at the surreality of the environment she was in, as she would have loved to.

The receptionist was a beautiful blonde-haired lady with mesmerizing green eyes and a smile that was as bright as her looks.

"Morning," Lara greeted the lady, subtly furrowing her brows to hide the fact that she felt awkward in the state-of-the-art and picturesque environment.