The feeling of waking up on Monday mornings can be very traumatizing.
Riele thought as she got up from bed.
Life has decided to cheat on her over everything.
Her mom is being hospitalized after the incident that happened a few years ago.
All she has now is her younger brother- Harry. A ten-year-old vibrant boy with glowing bronze eyes and shiny black hair that was believed he got from his dad.
Riele never really knew who her father was or what he looked like.
Her mom-Esmeralda had been the one taking care of them.
Anytime Riele brings up the topic of her dad, her mom always dodges the topic and she didn't understand why.
But she didn't mind because Esmeralda made sure her children weren't lacking anything at all.
Riele checked her time, it was just 7:45am which meant she had fifteen minutes to prepare herself for work, or the company bus would leave without her.
She entered the bathroom, did all she needed to, and in the next ten minutes, she was out.
She opened her wardrobe and scanned through all the clothes she had.
"I do need to go shopping," she said as she took out a blue crop top with black-tummy trousers. "When you work in a modeling industry, you've got to show it."
She quickly put her clothes on, brushed her wavy dark brown hair which she packed up in a ponytail, and wore her favorite moon-star-shaped necklace.
Glancing one more time at the mirror, she looked good to go. She brought out her blue canvas and wore it.
She was admiring herself when the company horn beeped.
Picking up her bag and trying to remember if she wasn't forgetting anything, she went out of the house, locked the door, and entered the bus.
"Good morning, Mr. Anderson," she greeted the bus driver who returned her greeting with a smile.
Since she was the first on the bus, she took her seat on the second seat by the right close to the window.
Riele is someone who loves watching the movement of things when the car is moving.
"How is Esmeralda?" Mr. Anderson asked as he started the engine and drove to the next house.
"Same old story," Riele answered trying not to feel the effect on her mother.
"And Harry?"
"He's having a sleepover at his friend's place. He should be back by this time next week," she answered.
The bus stopped at different stations as more company workers entered the bus.
Riele was the kind of person who kept to herself so she didn't talk to most of them, but she has a female bestie who means the world to her.
Checking her phone for any updates, a text came in from Charlotte. Riele opened the message.
Charlotte
Where the heaven are you? Don't tell me you overslept and forgot what day it is."Calm your bowels down! I'll be there before you even say the word Abracadabra." Riele pressed the sent icon as she kept her phone aside to enjoy the rest of the ride.
Thirty minutes ride and Riele was almost dozing off even though she slept early yesterday.
"Didn't have much sleep last night?" Allen asked as he tapped her shoulder.
"She was probably having a nightmare of being chased by crocodiles," Madison joked as she waited for Riele to get off the bus.
"Ah ah! Very funny!" Riele said as she got off the bus and waved to the two people she just had a conversation with.
Walking to the company, Riele's countenance fell, but she didn't understand why she was sad all of a sudden.
Entering the elevator which she was thankful was empty, she pressed the number 3 button on the elevator keypad since her office was on the third floor.
Waiting patiently for the elevator to make that clicking sound, the elevator door opened and she came out only for her to find her bestie in the whole world right in front of her with her arms folded across her chest.
"Took you long enough," Charlotte teased.
Riele smiled and hugged her. "Did you miss me that much?"
"Of course, I did. I was almost dying of boredom," Charlotte exagerrated. Riele shook her head as she listened to her friend. "Guess what,"
"You know I suck at that." Riele rolled her eyes at Charlotte. "Did something interesting happen?"
Charlotte dragged her chair closer to Riele who was setting her table.
"Yes."
"Really?"
Charlotte nodded. "Guess who is retiring?" she asked.
Riele stopped what she was doing as she glanced at her friend who seemed happy about the whole thing.
"Blow me away," Riele said, not interested in the story.
"Mr. Owen."
"What?!"
Mr. Owen is the CEO of the company, but he is a transferee. Talk about a man in his latest fifties who can dress a monkey to look beautiful. This man was gifted.
"Why is he retiring?" Riele asked.
"He is old?" Charlotte said, but it sounded like she was asking a question while stating the obvious. She pushed her chair back to her desk.
Riele didn't know whether to be sad or happy, but if the man is happy about leaving, then, she should be happy about it too.
"Riele Grants!" A voice called.
"Talk about the devil!" Charlotte whispered loud enough for Riele to hear.
"Miss Grants!" He called again.
"Yes, I'm here," she raised her hand for identification.
"Good thing you are here," Mr. Owen said. Riele looked at Charlotte who was also looking at her. "I need you in my office immediately." As if sensing he Riele wasn't following him, he yelled, "Now!"
That was enough to get Riele moving.
Riele was confused, but she followed Mr. Owen to his office.
"Please, take your seat," the man gestured as he pointed to a seat in front of him. He sat facing her. "I know you might be wondering why I called you," he started. "I am retiring. I've been having some health issues that I need to take care of and because of that, I need someone who is vibrant to take over the position."
"But, what does that have to do with me?" Riele asked.
She didn't understand how his retirement and the new CEO were her business.
Mr. Owen moved closer to her, his hands on his chin as he said, "that's where you come in as the personal assistant of the new CEO." He smiled before resting his back on his chair while expecting Riele's happy remark, but Riele's expression shocked him.
"What?! I don't understand. No one discussed this with me. No vote was carried out. How then did I end up as the personal assistant?"
"We have checked and cross-checked and it's proven that you're the lady for the job. You will be a Personal Assistant to the world's best model. I also heard that he is a member of a boyband in New York City.What's there not to like?" The man asked, crossing his arms across his chest as he stared at the shocked Riele.
"Don't I at least have a say on this?" Mr. Owen shook his head. "Do I have the right to refuse?"
"No. It's been settled"
"This is so not fair. What if I don't like him? Or what if I don't like the idea of working with him?" She bombarded him with questions. "What if my presence irritates him or what if he ends up giving me a sack letter on my first day as his personal assistant?!"
Riele has never felt as anxious as she was today.
"Your pay will increase, don't you want that?" Mr. Owen asked before passing her a file. Riele became silent. "That's his file. Read through it thoroughly." Riele collected it as she flipped the pages over.
Mr. Owen stood up and was about to leave when he remembered something. "And one more thing..." Rifle looked up at him before he continue. "...you will be picking him up at the airport. Make sure nothing happens to him."
Before Riele could raise a complaint, the man had already left the office.
Riele sunk to her seat as she went through the file given to her. She will be picking up the new CEO tomorrow around two in the afternoon. "Kim Huxley,"S she says his name before she closed the file.
Was this the reason she was feeling sad?
What kind of person is CEO Kim Huxley? She wondered.
Charlotte could tell something was wrong when Riele came out of her office. "Don't tell me you're retiring too," she asked as Riele gave her a confused look. Riele didn't reply as she slammed the file she received from Mr. Owen on her desk scaring the shit out of Charlotte. "Are you going to talk or should I go and report Mr. Owen for sexual harassment?" Riele burst into laughter. "You are out of your mind, Charlotte." Riele sighed before she passed the file to her friend. Charlotte took the file from her and flipped through the pages. "I don't understand. All can see is this handsome guy who looks hot and sexy. Is Mr. Owen trying to set you up on a date with his son?" "What son?" Riele asked. "Mr. Owen doesn't have any son." "Who knows, he might have a secret son." Riele quickly collected the file from her friend before she starts to make weird assumptions. "He is the new CEO. The one that will replace Mr. Owen," Riele explained Charlotte's eyes widened in shock and exciteme
After a strenuous day at work, Riele got home feeling so tired. It was surprising she didn't receive any calls from the hospital yet. It's been five years since her mom was hospitalized. She had refused to response to external stimuli. I doubt she's ever going to wake up. Riele thought as went to her room. Riele's mother had a car accident five years ago that led to a brain tumor. She went out to buy things for her children. Unknown to her that a moving vehicle was coming and before she could try to escape, the car hit one side of her body pushing her straight to the pavement where she hit her head. Good thing she was rushed to the hospital. Riele was just sixteen and her brother was five. It was a sad news. She was having her school party when she got a call from the hospital. It was the worst day of her life. Riele lay on her bed trying to get some sleep when her phone rang. She knew there was only one person who dared to call her. She picked up the call without looking at th
Kim Huxley arrived at John F Kennedy International airport where he awaits his PA to come to pick him up. He wore a white shirt that was nicely tucked inside his black trouser. He wore shiny black shoes and he had his suitcase with him. Everyone that saw him knew him, especially his fans that had been waiting for him since yesterday. "Kim! I love you," some girls screamed. "I love you!" Kim waved at them with a cute smile on his face. He was glad there were officers there to keep them in place. He checked his time it was 8 am and whoever was going to pick him wasn't there yet. He dialed Mr. Owen's number, but unfortunately, it was switched off. He was already losing his patient. If he had known such would happen, he would have come with some of his brothers. **++** Riele woke up late only for her to check her phone and see twenty missed calls. She quickly showered, brushed her teeth, and put on her jumpsuit and canvas. She packed her curly hair in a Ponytail. She took a white
Charlotte and Riele were discussing when Riele heard her name. "Riele Grants!" Mr. Owen called. Charlotte looked at her. "What did you do this time?" She asked, but Riele shrugged. "Don't look at me like that, I did absolutely nothing." "Did you pick him up at the supposed time?" Charlotte folded her arms while waiting for Riele to lie. "Um, I woke up late," Riele answered softly. "I just hope you are not in big trouble." "I guess we are about to find out," Riele said as she walked to the office. Riele exhaled and inhaled for thirty seconds. Affter she had gotten her boldness, she knocked. "Come in," she heard Mr. Owen say as she unlocked the door and entered inside. The first eyes that met hers were those of Kim. She tried to keep her beating heart in check. "Um...you called me?" She asked Mr. Owen. "Yes. Please have a seat," he gestured for her to sit next to Kim. Riele couldn't count how many times she almost tripped. This is what you get when you have a stunning and hand
Riele tried her best to convince Kim Huxley that Kim Utter was a bad figure for the company, but he didn't pay attention to her. "Do as you are told, young lady!" He glanced through the files in his hand. Riele had been battling with Mr. Handsome, trying to get him to change his mind, but every word she said went into one ear and came out of the other. "There are other models out there, why not choose among them? why does it have to be Utter?" "The same reason why it has to be you." Kim walked up to her. Riele stared into his eyes. There was no way she was going to back down so easily. "Was he voted in or is this just an irrational decision made by you?" "Do you think I make decisions without thinking it through?" "Obviously," Riele muttered. Kim sighed as he went back to his desk. "Get me the model I want Riele and we are not debating on this issue." "But..." He lifted his hand to shun her. "Also, I need a beautiful female model. You should find the right one," he told her wi
The phone ringing loudly woke Riele. She checked the caller and it was Charlotte. She glance at the clock, it was 9 am. She didn't need to be told what to do. She took her bath and came out in less than ten minutes. She searched for a gown to wear and she picked a flowery sleeveless gown. She wore her heels to go with it. She had to board a taxi to get to work because she knew the bus had left and she had to find her way to work. "I guess I was exhausted after last night," she told herself when Charlotte called again. She picked up the call and the voice that welcomed her was Charlotte screaming her name and asking her where she is. "I will be right there, it will just take a second," Riele explained. "A second uh? Well, just for your information, Mr. Handsome is angry. So I will advise you to start preparing the speech you are going to give to him," Charlotte warned. "Thanks, girlfriend." She hung up as she thought of the speech to give Kim. ****++**** "So you are saying it's
Jay entered the office with Charlotte in front of her. "Jay!" Kim greeted him with a hug. "Bro!" Jay hugged him back. "Madison, you can leave with Charlotte." Kim ordered as the girls left the office. "I'm so glad you're here," he said. Jay sat on the seat in front of him while Kim stood beside him. "Did anything happen?" Jay asked. "Nothing really. I just need you to do something for me." Jay knew him too well to know he was about to ask him to do something crazy. "Which is?" "I need you to be my male model." He looked at Kim before bursting into laughter. Jay was twenty-three years old. He was born and brought up in Texas and before he came to New York to join the boyband, he was a model and that was why Kim chose him. "Are you crazy?" Jay asked. "Please, Jay." Kim pleaded, but Jay didn't listen to him. "Please?" He pouted. "I don't want to." Jay folded his arms and glared at Kim. "Really?" He asked staring at Jay in disbelief. "Yes," Jay answered bluntly. "I promise
Riele and Charlotte had finished what they needed to do and were heading to Kim's office when Jay approached Riele. He grabbed her hand and Riele had to stop. She turned to look at who dared to touch her without her permission and to her greatest surprise, she saw it was Jay.Charlotte was shocked. "Um... I'll be in the office while you join me later". Riele nodded. Charlotte went to the office leaving Riele with Jay. Immediately after she left, Jay left Riele's hand."Isn't there anything I can help you with?". Riele asked politely.Jay stared at her for a while before replying. "Yes... actually, I need your help".Riele didn't want to seem rude because he was cute and he's the model her boss volunteered. She folded her arms staring at him to state what he needs her to do for him."I am new to this whole modeling thing so I was wondering if you could tutor me". He lied.Riele couldn't believe her eyes neither could she believe her ears. She knows she is in charge of the models but tu