Chapter 7: Devil Delucia

It's been two days. My life seemed to turn upside down since the day Delucia entered my life. No wonder I had food dreams that night because for the entire day, I was working like a dog. I didn't get time to sleep, neither did I eat. Now I understand, I’m really a victim of somebody's curse.

"I am telling you, somebody cursed me."

Entering the office while talking to Anna on the cellphone, she dismisses me with a giggle. "Shut up, Rubel. It's just you are working too much. Or should I say he is making you work, which you never wanted?"

"He never misses a chance to insult me."

Well, there was no point crying over the same thing again and again but for the last two days, I’ve been cursing my life. Is it a crime to expect a normal loving life? A loving husband and a big family? Did I ask more from this life? Or It's not in my destiny to be happy?

"Babe, are you there?" Anna dragged me out of my thoughts.

"Yeah, I am here."

"Rubel, cheer up. This is just a bad stroke of luck. It will pass."

Sure, but it seems like this bad stretch will stay for at least a few months.

"Sure, babe. I will see you soon."

"Hey, listen. Marcus called. He wanted to come to drop off his marriage invitation. He came to my house yesterday. Maybe he will come for you."

How did I forget the love of my life was getting married?

"I gotta go," quickly hung up the phone. sighed as I came out of the elevator.

Once again, Max and my eyes met. How long am I going to be angry at him? After all, he was trying to help me,

I smiled, and he replied with a wink, and came towards me.

"I am sorry for snapping at you that day."

He squeezed me in a tight hug. "I am sorry, but I was trying to help you."

We walked towards the coffee station. Keeping my bag on the counter, I rested on the barstool, Max making coffee for us.

"How's life?"

"Don't ask. It's like hell with that Delucia," I answered.

"Why? Is he that bad? I thought he was all right."

I glared at him, and he stopped his gibbering Delucia anthem song.

"You know what? Once this project finishes, I want to kick him in the water in that lake. No, I have a better idea. I want to roast him like a marshmallow in the fire."

I was making my imaginary dishes keeping Delucia as my recipe's main ingredient.

"Ru.. psstt."

“What? I was enjoying the thought of boiling him in the hot oil.”

"Ru. shut up."

I furrowed my brows studying his activity. Max’s eyes shot at me and then at the back over my shoulder.

Me.

Back.

Me.

Back.

Fuck…

"He is standing right behind me, isn't he?" I whispered, making a crumbled-ashamed face.

Max's brow arched as he pressed his lips with a nod.

Great, I slammed my head in my hand.

Delucia came to my side and I could smell his cologne. Gosh, he looked so handsome, but he was the most annoying man. Tattooed hand, blue denim jacket with T-shirt, beaded bracelet, and thumb ring.

I looked at him and definitely puppy eyes won't work this time. I blinked my eyes behind my glasses as he looked over to Max, asking for a cup of coffee.

"I want you to meet me at the board room in ten minutes."

He left with a blank face, giving me a slight side-eye.

"I think I should go," I sighed.

"Where? He said, ``After ten minutes."

"Not to him. I should write my resignation letter. I am sure he will complain about me. I’m sure I’m fired."

I jumped from the barstool, with a hanging face, and walked towards my cubicle. Not going very far, I bumped again to Aurora again. She yelled and walked towards the dressing room.

With the same annoyed, exhausted expression, I entered the board room to ask his forgiveness.

"Mr. Delucia."

"Get Miss Aurora ready. We will start the shoot in a few minutes," he instructed as he looked over some design composites.

"Umm... I told her, but she is not ready to wear the winter collection we selected."

Suddenly the door busted open and snooty Aurora entered again. In these last two days, I have seen them flirting with each other and I could see the look in her eyes when she stepped to him.

"Darius, I can't wear this. I mean, look at the material."

She threw that winter coat on my face.

Bitch.

Delucia stood and smiled at her. "Then don't wear it. Who is forcing my beautiful model?"

"She is." The bitch pointed at me.

Delucia held her hand and made her sit in the chair near him. "You know what, you look so beautiful when you are angry."

Uck. Here he goes.

Aurora blushed, making those funny faces she does when she thinks she looks cute.

"Seriously."

"But, you know what? We should reveal your beauty like this."

"Like what?"

"Like you wear lingerie, and this collection is a waste."

What did he say? He underestimated the power of the client.

She slapped his shoulder playfully with a giggle.

"But the point is, a man loves hide and seek games. And you know how to play with them."

He took the coat from my hand and extended it towards her.

She blushed. "You want me to wear this and play, hide and seek?"

He winked. "Smart girl."

"This is what every man wants. A beautiful girl wrapping in a fluffy coat hiding her beauty underneath. Let us imagine what's underneath those coats," he licked his lips and whispered in her ear.

Sucker. I thought Aurora would be my weapon to torture him. But here I could see, she’s such a dumb ass.

I shook my head in disgust. This man is the biggest flirt I have ever seen, but Aurora came like a storm and left the room as a calm breeze.

I was standing like an idiot, biting my lips, trying to understand his psychology.

He came to me, seeming as if he had won that battle.

"How did you do that?" I raised a brow.

"It's simple. Just give her what she wants."

Hmmm.

"It's applicable to every girl."

I crossed my hands over my chest. "Not on me."

"Take off your glasses."

I squeezed my eyes behind the glasses frames. “Never."

He smiled. "You’re different, Miss Rubel."

That hurts, like in a negative sense. I know I didn't have a model face or sexy figure.

"What do you mean by that?"

He rolled his eyes and started to fix his camera.

That hurts, like how it feels when a stranger insults you. .

"I know I am not beautiful like her. Neither, I have a sexy figure, but my friends like me."

Why am I justifying myself to him? Doesn't he remind me of the rejection of Marcus?

He looked towards me as my eyes turned glossy. Luckily my glasses always save me to hide my hurt.

"Did I say you are not beautiful? I said you’re different."

"Yeah, sure." I rolled my eyes.

Within those few seconds, all those old painful memories flooded back to me. I crumbled inside. I am different, the reason no boy loves me.

"I am going to check on your beautiful model," I taunted as I took a step away.

"Hey."

"What?"

I turned towards him. We looked at each other for a few seconds.

"Nothing..." a long pause. "Tell her we will start with Blue drape."

"Sure."

Nobody cares about what I feel. All they care about is that fucking blue drape.

"What if she doesn't agree?" I asked, then stopped to look at him.

"Yeah, yeah. I will tell her what she wants to hear."

Seriously?