More than a month passed after graduation.....
The taxi pulled up in front of Westcrame Accounting's high-rise, its mirrored panels reflecting the late morning sun in sharp, brilliant streaks. The city pulsed with Monday energy, a tide of ambition and noise where fortunes were built or broken.
Michelle stepped out first, heels clicking against the marbled steps with practiced grace. At her side, Mae walked as if the world were a stage, her poise sharpened by countless photo shoots and long nights of study.
They looked striking together, tall, composed, impossibly polished even in the muted tones of office wear. Conversations in the lobby faltered as soon as they entered. Security guards, receptionists, even clients stopped mid-sentence to glance at them.
Mae leaned closer, her voice low. "Feels like a catwalk."
Michelle's lips curved in the faintest smile. "Just keep walking."
At the reception desk, the young man behind the counter fumbled his pen.
"G-good morning! Miss Montenegro? Miss Hermosa?" His voice cracked.
"That's right," Michelle replied smoothly.
"Welcome to Westcrame Accounting." He hurried to hand them their IDs. "You'll need these for the elevators."
They thanked him and moved on. As they walked away, the receptionist exhaled loudly, almost in relief.
Mae's chuckle was soft. "Are we going to cause this every day?"
"Hopefully they get used to it," Michelle murmured.
The elevator doors opened to reveal a floor of glass partitions, polished concrete, and rows of cubicles humming with phone calls and clattering keyboards. Yet the moment Michelle and Mae stepped out, the noise dipped.
"Those are the new hires?" someone whispered.
"They were models, right?"
"They look like movie stars."
Michelle kept her gaze steady, her expression unreadable. Mae offered a small, graceful wave to a group of women watching curiously.
A man in a dark gray suit approached, his movements smooth and rehearsed. "You must be Michelle and Mae. I'm Mr. Javier, the division manager. Let me show you to your desks."
They followed him past the staring colleagues. Javier filled the silence with polite details about schedules and procedures, though his eyes strayed often, lingering longer than necessary.
He stopped near a corner window. "Here you are. Best view on the floor."
Mae smiled politely. "Thank you."
"If you need anything," Javier said with emphasis, "you can always come to me. We're a team here."
Michelle nodded. "We'll remember that."
They settled at their desks. Mae arranged her folders neatly, while Michelle moved slower, distracted by a heaviness she couldn't quite name.
"First day nerves?" Mae asked gently.
Michelle hesitated, then gave a small nod. "I've never worked a normal job. Modeling was... different."
Mae grinned. "We haven't done anything normal in years."
Michelle allowed a faint smile. "True."
By midmorning, their desks had become a magnet. Male employees drifted by with excuses thin as paper.
YOU ARE READING
The Unbroken But Impure
RomantikA story of a young woman who, though still a virgin, already carries experiences with men because of painful events in her life. How long can she protect her honor? Will she still be able to offer what she has been safeguarding to the man she loves...
