Tweaking

"Are you okay?", he asked.

Lylah's eyes looked empty; it was like every single blood had been drained from her face. The moisture in her lips was gone and it had been replaced with a rather dry lip.

Her chest felt heavy.

"Why do I let this happen to me over, and over, and over again", she mumbled.

Her eyes landed on the smug looking guy standing right next to her.

Marshmallow friend.

"Why is he still here?", Lylah thought.

She popped a questionable brow his way.

"Randoff at your service ma'am", he replied.

Lylah rolled her eyes, she wasn't even asking for his name. He seemed to be following her around and it was starting to feel awkward.

She didn't want his attention. The irony wasn't lost on her, the one person she wanted was nowhere to be found.

Life had a way of rubbing it in her face, didn't it?

"Hey, you don't look too good, are you even supposed to be here at all", Randoff questioned.

"Stop it", Lylah seethed.

" I don't know you, I don't want your care, why are you even talking to me. Don't talk to me", she snapped.

Randoff surrendered. He couldn't understand why she'd be so bitter about the situation when he was only trying to be a gentleman.

Lylah snatched her name tag then pushed past him. She had more important things to attend to.

The conference.

"This body of art has potential, not just in our print publication department but in our visual media as well. It's not a campus romance, so it sets our market apart", Lylah was met with Raj's voice as she entered the conference room.

She met his gaze for a minute, but like a twig that was snapped, she broke their stare.

"Lylah", a voice whisper-yelled.

She'd recognize those nappy curls anywhere.

"Aria", she mouthed.

The taller woman waved her hands, ushering Lylah to come over.

"I saved you my darling a seat", Aria's lips spread wide, revealing her chocolate gums and her pearly white teeth.

Lylah sat down, blocking Raj from her vision and blocking his voice as well.

The public needs something new, something fresh, production companies need this, it is a hit novel by our very own editor, Lylah Jeurgens, Ladies and Gentlemen, I present, Hurt In A Year", Raj clapped.

The auditorium erupted with series of clapping. Lylah abruptly stood to her feet, looking around frantically.

What in the world was going on?, This wasn't the book she agreed to pitch. Was Raj trying to set her up?, How did he even know about Hurt In A Year?

These were the type of questions swirling in her head.

She had no one but herself to blame. She was supposed to pitch the book in the first place, but she just had to be late. Not only has she been tardy at the workplace, she couldn't control her emotions at all, she was a mess.

All because of one man, a man that never deserved her and it was all her fault. Her fingers run cold as her arms shook. Slowly, but steadily, she stood to her feet and moved toward the podium.

Lylah frantically looked around her, faces of unfamiliar people stared back at her, others just stared at their phones, totally ignoring her.

"We like the kind of concept PROSE AND CO is providing", one of the judges said while writing something down.

"Excuse me judges, but this isn't what PROSE AND CO wants to pitch, sorry for any inconvenience but I'd like to push it back?", Lylah declared.

"What?"

The hall was filled with murmurs, meanwhile, Lylah did anything but meet Raj's gaze. Her blood was boiling. He couldn't infiltrate her life anymore. How dare he?

"Miss Jeurgens, what do you think you're doing. We mean business out her", Judge Mason rose up.

His anger scared Lylah, her eyes grew huge and she backed up a bit. But this was her work, she wasn't going to get cheated. She looked at the faces staring back at her. She could read their judgemental glares, but not a single one of them knew how she felt, they could never fill her shoes. They would beg her to take them back instantly.

"Judge Mason I'm sorry if this feels disrespectful but Raj is my assistant and this wasn't what PROSE AND CO agreed on. I'm here now so I'll go ahead and pitch the actual book we agreed on, but just not this one, this one's not for sa-

"Leave the hall", Judge Mason ordered.

Lylah stared back at him stunned.

"I'm giving you until tomorrow to sort out whatever grudge is between yourself and your assistant, but for now leave or I will", he threatened.

Lylah kept staring between the entrance andJudge Mason.

"Let's go Lylah", soft fingers grabbed her arm.

Lylah turned to her right, her watery eyes landed on an auburn haired fair skinned lady.

"Faye",she mouthed.

Lylah allowed Faye to drag her out, then hugged her. Her voice trembled as she shook, her face was the most familiar she recognized. Was she sent for this conference to be embarrased?

As she pulled away from the hug, she saw Raj approaching them?

"How dare you Raj?, how dare you?", Lylah pushed him, throwing soft punches on his chest.

He really did it this time. Work was all she had right now and he wanted to take that joy away too?, what was wrong with him?

"You won yet again, is that what you want?, to win and see me ruined?, I hate you, I hate your guts, and I hate myself even more cause I had faith in you, you!!", She seethed.

"What are you accusing me for, it's not my fault you were late, I only pitched the file I found on your desk. It's not my fault you're so obsessed with me you can't focus", Raj retaliated.

Yes, he was that type of man, at least now. Because as long as Lylah could remember, he'd never argue with a woman. Or was that too an act?

But she wasn't hurt by the banter, his words pierced her soul. He had already said some hurtful stuff but he topped it every time.

Her shoulders dropped in defeat as she turned her back on him.

"How dare you Raj", Faye gave him a death glare.

"You caused this, she has been tweaking out every since you left. She never wanted you, you forced yourself in and now??,If something happens to her, I swear.....

Lylah could still hear them. It was good to witness someone still had her back, but she was done with this. She needed to get away and she would. Maybe denial was a river she'd love to drown in.