Smile

Chapter 1: From The Start

Just looking at him makes me want to gag. He's literally a fucking walking sunshine. Walking around with that ear to ear smile. Showing off his teeth. And leaving his house dancing around like he's on Broadway. He thinks this is his story. He's wrong. It's mine.

"Hello, Phoenix. What's the matter? Woke up on the wrong side of the bed?

"Like she does every morning."

Phoenix's co-workers began to laugh. Phoenix Forte. 22 years old, and never smiled once living on this earth for 22 years.

Being an emotionless person does nothing, because you don't feel any emotions. Being smileless definitely makes you a target of bullying. My co-workers always try to get me to smile or show any sign of emotion, but fail miserably. But deep down, somewhere in my feeling-less soul, I'm laughing at their failed attempts. It makes them happy to see me do nothing, and it makes me somewhat feel happy seeing them fail every time.

"Phoenix, I need to see you in my office."

Phoenix walked into Mr. Holster's office. She sat down nervously. She became aware of this man's true intentions of hiring her from the second she started working there. But she needed a job, and this one paid well. So she sucks it up and works hard just like any other dedicated woman.

"I have a meeting in 30 minutes, and I'd like it if you joined me."

"Join you in the meeting with a room of investors?"

"That's right."

"Um...with all due respect, I don't think I'm the right person for this meeting."

Mr. Holster got up from his chair and closed the door. Phoenix heard the door lock and she felt goosebumps.

"Phoenix, I could tell from the moment you started working here that you were a dedicated woman. You were only 19 when you started working here. And I could see it in your eyes, you needed a well paying job. And I was there for you. I was there to give you your hour of need. So all I'm asking from you is to join me for this meeting."

Mr. Holster began to rub Phoenix's shoulder while he whispered in her ear. She felt his breath on the back of her neck. She felt the hairs on her arms begin to rise. She had to hold the urge to vomit. She turned to him and looked at him dead in the eyes.

"Are you sure you want me in a room full of tough red-neck investors? Given my...condition..."

"The fact that you can't smile?"

"It's not that I can't smile, I just...it's complicated. But the point is, wouldn't you want someone in the meeting who can smile?"

"I don't need a woman who can smile, I want a woman who can look the part."

Phoenix stood up firm. She wanted to show her boss that she's not a woman you want to mess with. Phoenix has been in situations where you need to be the alpha in the room. Be strong. Do what you need to do to survive.

"I'm sorry, but you need to find someone else to join the meeting. I'm not qualified to even set foot into the meeting."

"Which is why you are perfect for the job."

"Find someone else."

Phoenix said in a stern voice. She walked out of the room and sat down at her desk.

"Aw. Didn't enjoy being the teacher's pet?"

"She's just a smile less freak."

Phoenix just rolled her eyes and went back to work. 3 hours later, it was lunch time. Phoenix usually skips lunch because she's always working hard. And eating wasn't really her strong suit growing up.

"My, my, my. Who is that handsome devil?"

Phoenix heard one of her co-workers talking. She looked up and saw the ladies eye googling someone. She turned her attention to the victim.

I won't lie, he is handsome. He was tall like a tree. 6 foot 2 at most. He had ginger hair styled into a way that looked like half of it was melting on one side of his face. Think of it like Nick Nelson from Heartstopper. What? It's a good show. Moving on. His eyes were very green. My favorite color. Everything about him screamed...perfect. It was just his smile that I didn't like. His smile was from ear to ear. He smiled like he wakes up feeling happy everyday. And I find it extremely impossible for him to have a crystal white smile.

"Ah, everyone, this is John Vera. He will be your new floor supervisor. John will be working in the marketing area. Sit anywhere you like."

John nodded and smiled. All the ladies swooned over John. Phoenix rolled her eyes. She had better things to do than watch a bunch of horney girls swoon over some new kid. As everyone got to know John, he couldn't help but put his focus on Phoenix. He believed that she was different. John went over to Phoenix's desk and Phoenix looked up at John.

"Hello." John said.

"Hello."

Phoenix felt something in her stomach. She felt...giddy inside. Like a school girl talking to her crush.

"What's your name?"

"Phoenix. Phoenix Forte"

"Phoenix. Meaning & History. From the name of a beautiful immortal bird which appears in Egyptian and Greek mythology. After living for several centuries in the Arabian Desert, it would be consumed by fire and rise from its own ashes, with this cycle repeating every 500 years."

"Oh my God."

"What's wrong?"

"Nothing. I just didn't expect anyone to actually care enough to explain the meaning behind my name."

"Well, I believe your name is cool. And very pretty."

Phoenix felt her cheeks blushing. She quickly looked away, hoping John didn't see her blushing. John smirked a bit and placed his bag next to Phoenix's desk.

"What are you doing?" Phoenix asked.

"Mr. Holster said for me to sit anywhere. You have an empty desk next to you. So, I guess I'm sitting here. If you like to work in a quiet space, I won't bother you unless it's work-related."

"No. Um...you can sit here. And...please don't hesitate to ask me for anything."

"I'll remember that."

Phoenix looked up and saw her female co-workers giving her the eye. She wasn't an idiot. She knew this screamed trouble. Before she went back to work, she took one last look at John.

Poor guy. He didn't know what he was up against.