Your Company

3

I enter the office slowly. Each step I took was in fear. Not because of him. But those feelings, every time I saw him.

Hatred. Rage. Disgusted.

If an outsider were to take in Terrence Artemis's looks; he would probably be one of those handsome models on the runway. He's in excellent shape, with shiny skin, 'hunter' eyes, big hands, and possesses a deep voice.
His personality? Being cocky. A daredevil. Bold. Strong. Smart. Rough. A bastard. Asshole. Jackass. Dickhead. All of those traits? He displays it very professionally. It ruins everything about him on the outside. He's currently wearing a tailored suit and a jet-black tie with a gold Rolex watch wrapped around his wrist. The scent around him reminds me of bourbon, my favorite drink when I'm either stressed or crying.

 Terrence looked at me with a smug look on his face and started teasing me. Great.
"Miss Beauty and Brains. My favorite person to be against." he laughs. "Working for me. I didn't think you'd be this... desperate."
"Let's get this over with," I growl.
"You better control your fiery temper, Ivory. You're in an interview with me. You were late which isn't a good impression." 
"..."

I inhale and exhale my breath. I look at him and plaster a fake smile on my face. I didn't realize he'd be AN Artemis. Apart from the Artemis family who is known for causing a revolution in fashion. Masters of art, architecture, and design. Calm and poised. Terrence does NOT fit into that picture at all. 
Terrence gets up and takes out a bottle of red wine from a shelf on the left, and snatches two glasses. He opens the bottle and slowly pours the alcohol, making sure none of the liquid spills. Once done, he pushes the cup towards me. "Drink. Then I'll ask you the questions." he says.

I pick up the glass and take a swig out of it. The burn running down my throat felt oddly satisfying. I put down the cup, and sigh. "Thanks," I mutter. He nods and looks down at a paper, laid down on his desk.

He asks me the interview questions with a boring face on and a boring annotation.
"Do you have any modeling experience? If so, list your recent modeling gigs," he asks.
"Yes, I have modeling experience. Recent gigs I took up for modeling are Marionette, H&M, AGRESTE, and Guess. I'm a regular model for GARAGE, too."
"Do you have a cardio and diet that you stick to regularly?"
"Yes. For my cardio, I do Pilates. I don't have a specific diet I stick to, but I avoid sweets and eat a good amount of greens and protein."

After about 12 questions and answers, it was the end of the interview. 

Or at least the job interview. Terrence has his interview.

"How come you didn't graduate?" he asked.

...What the fuck? Why the hell would he even ask me that? Does this mean that there's a time and place for those questions? I'm going to fucking tell him that.
"There's a time and place for those questions, Terrence. And this isn't the time. You know damn well this isn't a part of the interview. And even if you were asking someone else this; you'd be considered an asshole. And you still live up to that." I say coldly.

"You had perfect grades, you were fucking President and you were voted Prom Queen. You dropped out before the last day of school. So, how come you dropped out?" he asks, ignoring my question.

My father. I didn't have a choice. He took me out of school because I embarrassed him before his 17th (failed) date. 

"No comment. I'm pretty sure this interview is done." I said, trying to keep my urge of grabbing the chair I was sitting on and throwing it in his face, then stuffing it up in this asshole's asshole. 
He says nothing but looks at me up and down again. Once he was done, he gestured to the door behind me.

"You're free to go," he says. "Watch yourself, Ivory. You're in my domain, now."

I leave the room, trying to keep that calm look on my face. I restrained myself from screaming at his face and trying hard not to stomp out of anger. The audacity of this bastard! Asking me that question!

I press the elevator, leave the building, hail a cab, and arrive at my new and improved 'home.' When I entered my home; I felt relieved. Relaxed. Something I've never felt back in Toronto, every time I entered that stinking bungalow with trash bags in the driveway, dead plants in the front yard and backyard, leaking pipes, and light bulbs that didn't even work.
I dive onto the couch, sighing and closing my eyes.

This was definitely how my 'a fresh start' plan that I made up in my mind. I thought I would leave the past behind, and the past would leave me. 

That isn't true, regarding what happened this evening.

I look at my phone in my hand- it's 7:46. My stomach rumbles, and I decide I'll cook dinner.

Back in Toronto, I was never allowed to get groceries. Technically, I did, but every time I got groceries, it'd be all gone because of my father. I had to sneak out at 6 and buy my food at a fast-food place or a shabby cafe around the corner called 'Patricia'.

I get all my ingredients for the dish I'll be cooking up. Spaghetti. It's simple and sweet. But I feel too lazy to make the tomato sauce fresh, so I get a canned tomato puree, pour it into a bowl, and mix a pinch of salt and pepper. 
I got a large pot from all of the kitchen supplies and furniture from Fox Home and put water into it. I set the pot on the stove, turning it on high. Once it was boiled, I put my spaghetti stuff in there. I made the meatballs, scrunching up the meat and turning it in the palms of my hand until it formed into a sphere. Once everything was cooked, my spaghetti was finally ready for me to eat. Not bad for a recipe I searched up from my phone.

After praying and finishing my spaghetti, I gazed into the window beside me. New York City was full of lights. I stared at the people below who were either walking and talking, filming videos or carrying loads of bags. Or food.

They look so happy and carefree. Like nothing's troubling at all. Full of joy. Taking the freedom they had for granted. 

I promised myself that I'd never let anything ruin the life I had planned out. But that feeling of doom, giving up, and despair is coming back.

I'm not saying I'm not grateful for what I have now. I know I have a better life. But Terrence? Coming into my life? He makes my heart race. He drives me crazy. 

God, I don't want to lose again because of him. He won't ruin me again.

Not this time.