Seraphina pov
The morning was crueler than the night; pale light crept through the blinds, exposing everything the dark had hidden. His arm was heavy across the mattress; his breathing was slow, and he looked peaceful.
I took a moment to admire the Greek god lying next to me. His face is relaxed in a way that feels almost disarming.
Long lashes, softening features that probably look sharper when he's awake. His usually intense brows have loosened, smoothing out the lines of his forehead. His lips are slightly parted, breath slow and even, giving him a calm unguarded look, like the world hasn't asked anything of him yet.
The kind of face that makes you pause, just for a second longer than necessary before looking away.
Lying there, I didn't want to wake him, I didn't want his voice, or questions, or that awkward half-smile people wear when they pretend last night might turn into something else.
So I left.
Outside, the air was cold. The city didn't ask where I'd been or who I'd touched. By the time he woke up, I would already be dissolving back into my life, just another stranger he won't quite remember.
And I liked it that way.
I got into my car and drove home. I packed my car in the garage and headed towards the elevator. On reaching my apartment door, I saw a bunch of roses by my apartment door and a note, I picked it up and smelt it, and it was so good. I checked the note and read it and I felt my anger rising.
" I'm really sorry Phina, I betrayed you and broke our trust. I take full responsibility for my actions, you didn't deserve the pain or disrespect I caused. I truly regret hurting you.
I still love you. " A
I scoffed, a bitter laugh tearing out of me.
I walked towards the bin in the hallway of the apartment complex and threw the flowers into it and walked back into my apartment.
Damn, I'm exhausted and my legs are sore from last night, I couldn't help but think about the stranger at the club, a blush crept up my cheeks, damn he was so good and had the stamina of a horse, tho Adam is good in bed, this stranger is better, I've never felt this way before.
Then my phone buzzed sharply against the table. The sound cut through my thoughts like a knife I sighed as I moved towards the direction of my phone on the table and the screen lit up with an unfamiliar number.
"Hello?" I answered, trying to keep my voice steady.
"Good morning! This is Selene from Russo & Co. Limited. We'd like to invite you for a job interview" the voice said, bright and professional.
My heart skipped a beat, I had applied weeks ago, after telling Klara about my need for a job. She had been my only anchor, my only family, and she encouraged me to apply to Russo & Co. Ltd, saying their pay is good, it felt like hope reaching out.
Hope was a stranger to my past, I had watched my father, drunk and violent, stab my mother right in front of me. I cradled her in my arms, her blood warm and her life slipping away, and I couldn't stop crying. The pain of that moment never left me. Afterward, my father's abuse turned to me, relentless and merciless, until he died from excessive drug use. Alone and orphaned, I learned to survive on my own, each day a battle to keep going. And now, with this call from Russo & Co., it felt like the first real chance to step out of the shadows of my past.
"Uhhmm sure thank you! I'd be glad to attend the interview, could you confirm the date and time?"
"Tomorrow at 9am" Selene said.
"Great, I'll be there. Thank you!" I said confidently
The call ended, but my mind drifted to what I'm going to wear, what to answer, because I don't qualify for a personal assistant, tho I worked many jobs but never a personal assistant. For the first time, I felt a surge of excitement, I was actually being considered.
20 minutes later, I heard the doorbell sound, and standing in front of my door was no other than Klara.
I stood there staring deep into her eyes, I didn't move, didn't have to.
Klara started crying, and I just stood there, her tears started to piss the fuck out of me.
"Why are you crying Klara?" I asked with no emotion written on my face.
"I'm sorry Phina, I, I, I"
"Oh and she speaks" I laughed mockingly
" I'm sorry okay, I didn't mean to have anything with Adam, he was just there and we kinda happened and I'm really hurt I did that to you" Klara said in a whisper.
"You are fucking crying, you fucking bitch, you are the one who's hurt?, You are the most self-centered, idiotic person I've ever fucking met. You fuck my boyfriend and you are fucking crying? Are you fucking kidding me?" I said angrily.
" I would have never done this to you, I would have never done this to you Klara"
And I slammed the door in her face.
"Fucking bitch" I muttered to myself.
I walked to my kitchen and found a bottle of wine, I was so relieved because I really needed a distraction right now.
I settled on my sofa to watch a movie "The Summer I turned pretty", by the time it was 11pm I had gone through a whole bottle of wine, and oh boy was I feeling very tipsy.
"Ouu finally bedtime" I sang to myself.
I walked to the bathroom, did my business, brushed my teeth, and got ready for bed. I walked to the kitchen to get a bottle of water. When I got back into the bedroom, I got into my bed and let the darkness consume me.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I heard the beeping of my annoying alarm, which I set on my phone, this must be a joke, I literally just closed my eyes! Please universe tell me that I'm dreaming, I don't wanna get up now. I squinted my eyes looking at the brightness of my phone trying to see the time, once I had managed to focus my eyes on the bright light in front of me, it said 8am… Oh no I do have to get up now, I have a fucking interview in an hour.
"Shit" I cursed under my breath.
My head was pounding and I could easily go back to sleep but life was calling and I had a job interview to attend today. I shouldn't have drunk so much last night, now I'm gonna have a bad headache and then it hit me just how unprepared I am for my interview.
I know I should have done my research and been prepared for my interview, but when life is just so crazy the little but important things just get ignored.
I dragged myself out of bed to get ready, and I grabbed some coperate outfit that I thought would make me look presentable for an interview and headed into the bathroom.
I got into the shower and let the warm water run down my body, I washed my body with my vanilla body wash, and then washed my hair with my honey and coconut shampoo and conditioner. I got out and dried myself, and I put on a black sleeveless fitted blazer top with a deep V neckline with a high waist, wide leg trouser pants, and my stiletto heels, and I wore some light jewelry. I dried my hair and packed it into a messy bun, I'm not really a fan of makeup so I applied a rosy lip gloss on my lips.
I admired myself one last time in the mirror, and I checked the time on my phone. "Shit."
I left my apartment and got into my car and drove off really fast because I was running late.
10 minutes later I arrived at the Russo & Co. Ltd, I took a deep breath and got out of my car. Yeah I'm looking good and all that but my car doesn't match my aesthetics, I can literally spend my last money on getting nice clothes because trust me I don't want to look like my problems. I tried saving up to get a car from the money I got from my scrappy old jobs but I always end up using the money to get clothes, the story of my life.
Entering the building I was mesmerized by how good the place looked not just on the outside but inside too. The walls were all made of glass, you could see people from outside on the inside but people outside couldn't see inside through the glass.
I approached a well-dressed brunette lady at the front desk. "Hello, I'm Seraphina Montgomery. I'm here for an interview at 9:00" I said to her
She looked up at me with a charming smile, "Oh my God!, You are so beautiful, you applied for a job to be Mr Russo's personal assistant…quick advice don't throw yourself at him because the last PA didn't even last a moment, rumors went around that she tried seducing Mr Russo and he fired her on the spot, but I really do hope you get the job because Mr Russo's secretary has been trying to seduce Mr Russo with the way she dress but Mr Russo can't fire her because she's good at her job and if she sees you oh my oh my she's gonna explode because you are so beautiful babe" she said almost breathless
"I'm Zoey by the way" she said
"It's really nice to meet you, I would love to continue chatting but I'm really late" I said
"Oh right, I'm sorry, your interview is on the 20th floor, the lifts are over there" she pointed to the lift. I nodded "When you get up there Mr Russo's secretary will tell you where to go" Zoey said.
I thanked her and headed towards the direction of the lift, I got in and pressed the button for the 20th floor.
3 mins later the doors opened. I stepped out and walked towards the slutty looking receptionist. I guess that's her.
"Hi, I'm Seraphina Montgomery. I'm here for an interview" I said to the slutty looking receptionist.
She looked at me from head to toe and rolled her eyes, she reluctantly got up and I took in her appearance, she's wearing a short black fitted skirt and a blue check shirt with the top two buttons open, revealing her cleavage with her really high heels. "How does she walk in those" I muttered to myself.
"One moment" she said with a fake smile. And she walked off.
Few minutes later she came back.
"Mr Russo is ready for you, walk down the hall his office is the second door on your right" she fake smiled again. I thanked her and walked to the direction of his office.
I walked to the second door on the right, took a deep breath, and knocked on the door.