"Your life is just as miserable as London's weather."
That's something my brother tells me every once in a while as a reminder of my unpredictable, boring, and miserable life.
How is my life miserable if I have a job people will die to have, a body that I starve myself for once a month, and friends who throw their hearts on me?
It's all a mental problem.
At the age of 26, when girls of my age are having kids, husbands, boyfriends, situationships and hookups—
I am doing tango with spreadsheets, numbers, logistics, finance models and the growing influence of AI..
Guess what, my competition isn't some blonde with big boobs and fat ass.... Which is probably plastic- It's fucking AI models which are somehow my best buddies too.
Do I suggest this? Treating chatbots as your boyfriends and lovers just so you don't feel how fucking dry your love life is?
Of Course Not.
But do I do it anyway?
Absolutely!
And now, you aren't me.
Hot, sexy, successful- at least in my eyes.
And funny thing is- Its not that I am not approached.
Oh Goodness, I can enter the room and at least a few guys would be gawking over me.
But whenever I have nasty, unholy thoughts about hookups, words of my moral godmother comes to my mind.
" Nova, don't worry. If God made you, He has made someone for you too."
Says one born single to another born single..... Well, not born single, single by choice.
At least after one major heart break in my case.
Anyway, I fix my red blazer and my belt looking at the huge building complex right in the middle of hundreds of other building which looks like they are touching the sky, boasting the skyscaper of city of London.
People are rushing to their own work places. streets are bit too crowded for 9AM.
But who am I joking to? It's London. 9 am or 9 Pm, its always the same.
Right in the middle of the building complex made out of glass and steel, three different building inter connected, with two on the side 30 stories and the one in the middle is 40 stories.
If I am not wrong, they have spent nearly $600 Million building this place.
I just don't understand these people. $600 Million for three building..... Justifiable.
Not that I am someone to complain when I will be enjoying all the facilities given to me as an Assosiate in Laurent&Cie.
Laurent&Cie, a privately traded company with valuation in billions, founded dated back in 1810 in Gevena.
From oil to whole grain, luxury products to day to day necesities, Laurent&Cie has it's reach to every part of the business world.
And after spending 3 years, working my ass off for 100 hours some week in investment banking, I have no doubt.
Sometimes the most glittering thing hides the ugliest truth.
Not that it's my business. I am here for money.
And yeah, money do buy happiness.
If it doesn't buy for you, I pity you.
My take a quick glance of my outfit and makeup.
Red blazer underneath of which is my white shirt tucked carefully inside my black trousers and a leather belt around my waist, adding extra dimension to my looks.
My lips painted deep red, base of makeup flawless and concealer doing its job hiding the darkcircle under my eyes.
My wavy light brown hair, yeah I colored it, why?
Because I can, thrown into a messy bun with strands of my layers framing my round face.
And nothing feels better than looking good in your own skin.
My skin glowy, my bank account florishing, my body light and my brain sharp... Though I am miserable, I am the most beautiful miserable tale of life.
I turn on my heel and with my chin up, I walk inside the world of Laurent&Cie.
Inside air is crisp, clean and bearing the aroma of roasted coffee beans in the air.
Men and women all too desperate to outshine the other person, smiling on the face but ready to stab in your back the moment you show any sign of weakness.
Receptionist looks at with pure disinterest you give when you are pissed but life tells you to smile or else you will die starving.
" Hi, Good morning," I say with a bright smile which did no good in making receptionist look at me like I am worthy of something.
" How may I help you?" She says while eyeing on my attire and biting her inner cheek, clearly thinking, who the fuck does she think she is?
" Nova Celestia, Associate at M&A. May I know which floor I am supposed to report?" I keep my voice cheerful because hey, I am might be miserable yet there are more miserable people than me who looks at me and shake their head at my overconfidence.
Do I care?
Not Really, not my style.
She looks up from her ipad and with the same disinterest just with a bit added politeness, " You are supposed to report to HR on the 10th floor. They will give you details about your work and under whom you will be placed."
I nod and smile before walking toward to the elevator.
One of the main rules to survive the vipers of corporate- You have to be likeable because you are always replaceable if you are just good at work because anyone else is trainable too.
My heart is beating fast for some weird reason and whatever the reason is...
I am sure, it's not gonna be my liking.
And guess what, I wasn't wrong.
" There are three rules you have to follow if you want to survive in Laurent&Cie, Ms Celestia,
Rule #1: Don't mess with anyone from the Upper Floor.
Rule #2: What happens on the Upper Floor, stays on the Upper Floor.
Rule #3: Never fall for anyone from the Upper Floor— not emotionally, not physically, not in any way."
Manager of HR speaks in her calm yet authorative tone which clearly says, Just follow the rules, Little Girl unless you want to get devored.
Upper Floor, starting from thirty-first floor to fortieth floor of the middle building, where the main decisions and power play happens every day, the kingdom of Laurents who hide behind the closed doors and pull invisible strings.
My stomach do a jump, my 6th sense telling me, Nova, don't look at the star which will burn you to ashes.
Don't show your ambitions, because you know,
These people in Elite society are all twisted and complicated.
" I will keep that in my mind," I say while taking my company provided laptop, phone and other essantials placed neatly in a brown box.
She nods on my way.
Silence inside her cabin made my chest tight so I didn't make any other questions as every other details have been written in the paper inside my box.
Cool air of air conditionar gives me goosebumps. And her warning about rules make me bite my lower lip hard.
Because it's the thing about rules right.
While rules are made to stop people, it ends up making humans curious.
Upper Floor....
I wonder whats so special about it, not like in those glass walls over looking the city, there sits any golden heir whose beauty will make you forget about reality and sacrifice your diginity for just one night of pleasure.
I roll my eyes at the absurdity of the situation.
As I said earlier,
Elite people are crazy and have God complex.
None of my business. I am here for work and money.
Just surviving through another day hoping tomorrow will be better.