New York City gives the start of a romance. Or does it? Selena Duchmond is a single 31-year-old Marketing Manager at a humongous real estate company for the last month. She's a curvy girl, with a professional attitude, and nothing intimidates her, not even the hottest and wealthiest guys out there. Personal problems? Three million dollars in debts for her side family business since the economic crisis, and a shitty health. Are these problems keeping her out of being an Alpha girl in her all? Not at all. Nobody in the office knows about her problems. She's just considered the fatty, arrogant ass. Oh! And the Ice Queen. Ice Queen? She keeps all male population in a friendzone manner or strictly business. Why? She doesn't believe in true love. All attempts on her from guys are considered as fake and unreliable promises. Her only wish is to restore peace and stability in her family. When the hot billionaire is waiting for the Marketing Manager at the meeting who is kind of late, and lays his eyes on her, though she's not his type in general, a strong impression envelopes his being. Seeing she's not having any reaction at the sight of him, his interest spikes so much that the burning fire of having her urges him to accept the challenge of making her his.... What will he do to make her his? Will he take advantage of her financial situation to turn things into his favor? Will he be the fire that will melt the ice that traps her heart? Will she make him a one woman's man? Will she surrender to him? Will their story be a romance of true, pure love? One thing is for sure, she's his Angel and he's her Satan.
Selena's POV:
"Jeez! Would you watch where you walk for a change?!" The hot brown content snakes down my shirt and skirt, drawing out a monster on me. Why am I always met with such accidents?
"Sorry... I didn't mean to... I was on my... Let me help you." A nice lady in her early forties says, flustered on the event she caused, looking for something in her purse to give me.
"I-It's okay... Sorry for yelling... I'm about to have an important meeting and this happens..." I take a napkin from a near empty table and I'm trying to clean myself a bit while the woman gives me one, too. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
"I'm really sorry. It's my fault. I was reading my emails and didn't see you. Here, let me pay for the cleaning." She gets her wallet out, trembling a bit. That's strange. I know I have a killer look when I get mad, but I'm not a pulling-out-hair bitch. She didn't see me? I'm no skinny one. I'm a 16 size for some loose 'fabrics' and 18 for others. Whatever... She looks nice and sorry.
"No, I don't need that. Thank you. Let's forget about it. I'm late for my meeting. Bye-bye." I give her a quick smile and start to the cafƩ's toilet to see the damage in plain sight. The lady's saying something to me in the background, but I don't have time for other apologies and pleads for amends.
I enter the bathroom like a storm, scaring a young lady that is grooming at the mirror. I shoot a smile at her. "Someone spilled coffee on me." I say like she cares about that. She gives me a weird look, packs her things and goes out, leaving me alone. "Jesus Christ! How am I going to clean all this?" My shirt, the front of my suit jacket, and skirt in diagonal are a mess. I've seen it earlier, but to see it in the mirror it's pure horror. My phone is buzzing. "Great! Just great!" I get out my phone from my purse. It is Marta, my secretary. Yeah, I'm a Marketing Manager at a big company, Donahue Estate Development. It's my first month and meeting a big client today. He's such a big of a client that some other four managers from our company are going to attend the meeting. I take the call, fanning under my lips.
"You're running late! The client is here! Jesse's in heats around him! The Big Wolf is asking for you to take the meeting for presentation! Where are you?" The Big Wolf is our 34-year-old playboy CEO. A muscled model with fine Greek God features, wavy black short hair, hazel eyes and exciting every girl that lays eyes on him. He's always in an expensive tailored suit. Not me though. Jesse is the Planning Manager and the one that must have all the hot guys. The client must be hot.
"I'm at the coffee shop across the street. Haven't slept all night, working. And someone spilled her entire coffee all over me. What am I going to do?" I send another look into the mirror, giving me cold shivers down my spine.
"What? Are you kidding? You should be here in five! They're on to the meeting room!" She's freaked out. If I lose my chair, she's out, too. I hired her.
"But he's earlier! It's seven-thirty! The meeting was at eight!" I'm sure it's at eight.
"I sent you a message last night. They changed it at seven-thirty. The guy is apparently besties with the Big Wolf, and they want to go and see a new land for investment together, after the meeting. Oh!" Why am I getting angry at this pause? "I didn't send you the..."
"Marta?!" She always does that! She's young and she's learning. She's 21 and having a new boyfriend. She's aloof, making everything hard for me sometimes. But she's diligent to learn, so I don't want to fire her.
"Sorry! I'll make some excuses and you come as fast as you can!" And she abruptly ends the call. No, she didn't!
My head is spinning, I'm sweating, and I could kill someone for real at this point. I'm still in the 'testing' period on my position. I haven't had problems so far, but this could be one. I take my purse and go out of the bathroom, on through the tables, turning around some heads at my sight for how I look with all the coffee on me, and go out. I really don't feel embarrassment at this point. I see a clothes shop nearby and that's my target.
"Hi!" I approach the lady there who gives me a weird look all over. "Do you have women's suits like this one?" I'm pointing at the one I'm wearing.
"Not one that would be on your size, unfortunately." I hate it when they say that. At least she doesn't flash me the grimace of 'you are fat'. "But we do have some casual clothes that might fit you well." That's a savior right there. "Would you want to try them?"
"Of course! Just give them to me! I'm pretty late for an important office meeting! I really need your help!" I kind of yell a bit because I feel like I'll faint if I'm too late for the meeting. She gives me a warm smile.
"Follow me then." She takes me to the changing room. "Wait here. I'll bring them right away. Any preferred color?"
"Black or dark blue. Thank you so much!" I smile at her with all my face but having a drummed heart.
After a few minutes, she comes back with black leggings in an office style, a black top having a dropped cleavage, office style again, and an over the bottom black jacket with one golden button to close it. Fine material and trendy for businesswomen. I wonder if I'll fit in those and how much are those going to cost. Never mind. I'll try them.
I dress up in a minute, at least that's what I want to think it has been, and look at myself in the mirror.
"Can I see it?" The lady says outside the changing cabin. I open the door for her to give me the look. "Wow! You're so hot in those! You look amazing! Why do you wear that ugly suit?! That's a keeper on you!" She puts her hands over her mouth like she is Cinderella's Godmother and genuinely smiling over my transformation. Yeah, I look pretty hot for my figure. Don't you think I'm the kind that has bulging fat. No. I have a defined S-shape figure (though I'm fat as I'm no Victoria Secret Angel), with a cute butt out, some breasts, not big ones, but they're there, thick thighs and nice legs overall. I'm not a model, I know, but I'm OK. I do have a bit of belly out.
"So, I'm passable?" I really don't want to make a wrong impression in the company, going out there with my fat screaming through my clothes. I do see it's a perfect match on me, but a second, more objective, opinion is always welcomed.
"You're more than passable! You look like on a magazine! But let your hair loose like this and you're a doll!" She takes out my hair band and arranges my hair. "There! Everything's perfect now!"
"Great! I trust and thank you! Let me pay it quickly!" I give her my dirty clothes as she has asked me and go with her at the cashier's desk. She puts my clothes in a shopping bag, takes the tags from the clothes on me, registers and swipes my credit card. Well, office credit card. I'll have the accountant take a hit-and-run over me, but I'll deal with that later.
"Here you go! Wish you good luck on your meeting!" She gives me everything and smiles.
"Thank you! Hope it will go well! You have a coffee from me later! Bye!" I rush out like crazy from the store and send a glance on my phone. 7:55. Shit!
In five minutes, I'm at the elevator to go to my office's floor which is the tenth floor. The receptionist and the security guard say 'hello', but I just wave at them as I'm super late. Finally, I'm at my floor with Marta waiting for me at the elevator with my file and laptop.
"Give me those. Here's everything. The Big Wolf is upset. I'll be there, too. Go!" She gives me a look with a smirk when she realizes what I'm wearing and pushes me to go. "He's not going to be so upset anymore." She grins. He's going to be murderous in stares... I fucking know that... And the yelling will be present... It's how he is... It's my fucking luck for the day seemingly... Yeah...
I go with quick steps to the meeting room, already hearing Jessie's high-pitched voice, sweet-talking what I think is the client. I knock on the door and enter. Everyone stops talking and all eyes are on me. Derek Donahue, our CEO, has the chair with its back at the door.
"It's about damn time you..." And he turns around with the chair to criticize me but stops at the sight of me, scanning me from head to toes. I know... Sorry...
"So sorry. Traffic." I ignore everyone's stare, and he comes back to his senses while I go to my spot.
"Yeah," he says, "this is Eric Rodricks, our client, CEO of Rodricks Real Estate Investments, and this is our Marketing Manager, Selena Dutchmond." The guy is hot, Adonis style, Greek God, towering, with beautiful dark blue eyes, chestnut wavy hair and a billionaire. That suit on him makes women stay at his feet. GQ magazine model. That's why Jessie's high-pitched voice has been on.
"Nice to meet you, sir." I extend my hand. He takes it and stares into my eyes with those ravishing waves he has into them, not letting go. I'm not intimidated. Jessie rolls her eyes and clears her throat while I'm trying to have my hand back. Jessie's sending me spears across the room at this point.
"The pleasure is mine." And I manage to take my hand back. I sit on my chair, open the file, and then the laptop, starting the marketing presentation for him. Marta enters the room and sits on the chair behind me, near the projector, to work on the slide show while I speak.
I deliver all the information and I ask if there are questions or things that need to be changed. Eric is looking at me, laid back on his chair with his hand on his cheek, in a thinking pose. He has a smirk on his face. I guess he's satisfied with the presentation.
"That's interesting." Eric says looking at Derek who's staring at me. He does that often, but now it is longer than usual.
"What? Yeah. She's our best." He snaps out of whatever he has been thinking. "Anything you need a correction or addition on?"
"No. It's fine. But I would want to have a word with you, alone." He stares back at me like I'm under a metal detector. Take your fucking eyes off me, motherfucker... There's nothing here for you... Just saying...
"If there's anything, I'll be in my office." I say with a professional smile, standing up and leaving Marta to pack things up. "It has been a pleasure to work on this project, sir." Not really, but anyways... I extend my hand for the final handshake. He takes it in a strong grip, like trying to get a reaction from me. I'm reactionless as ice. You fucking sucker... I'm not a sucker for hotness or money... I don't give a single fuck on you... Jessie though, she's all there for you...
"You did a great job. Rarely I'm so impressed." He gives a smile, landing his gaze on my lips. You're so asking for it... But I'll behave... Yeah... Let's finish it already...
"Thank you, sir. Have a good day." I try to take my hand back while he's resisting. Don't know for how long I'll behave though... He lets go after a few good seconds to Jesse's despair, who is still in the room with a short tight black dress and a white jacket on her to die for model body. She is a Barbie doll all over. Even I, as a woman, could fall in love with her beauty. In the sense I would want to look like her. I'm not a lesbian, though many think I am. Why? Because I don't have a boyfriend and I always keep it friend zone for males or strictly business. I don't have time or want for a personal life.
I walk away and straight to my office. I need to drink something cold for the heated morning I've had since the coffee shop till present. Finally... I'm so fucking cursed... Good it finished...
My office is one with a view over New York City. I have a leather chair with a wide neat oak desk. There are a few framed posters with motivational quotes on the cream walls and a big library with books on law, management, marketing and economics. I'm 31. I have Law school and Finance-Banking-Accounting bachelor's degrees. I may seem I have it all, but I don't. I'm in huge shit and this job is the one that keeps me out of bankruptcy. Not all out, but it helps my financial situation a bit. But that's a story for another time.
"Hey! You were awesome!" Says Marta, coming in with all the things, placing them on my desk. Yeah... Yay... Not awesome... I so hate everything, but I have no choice... You're cute though... Kids... He, he, he...
"Thanks. I worked my butt off for that presentation. Can you bring me some cold Diet Pepsi, please? I'm so thirsty." My mouth is dried out and I'm feeling hot. I hope my blood sugar levels aren't too high. I'm a diabetic. Insulin dependent. Five shots a day. Stress increases my diabetes' levels.
"Yeah, in a minute. No! You looked so sexy and like a vixen! That Eric guy couldn't take his eyes off you! And Derek, too! Ouch! I see romance!" She's grinning like a high school girl. Oh, Jesus... I know you're a sucker for this kind of things, but it's not MY thing...
"Stop dreaming. It's normal they were staring at me. I was delivering the presentation. Now go and give me that drink. Don't think I've forgiven you for the message." I answer my ringing phone while she's pouting, then puffs at me. Kids. I know, baby... I know... I'm not like you to be thrilled over such occurrences...
"Selena?" That's my mom on the phone. I do hope nothing happened. She's tensed.
"Yeah, mom. Everything okay?" I'm trying to keep my cool, but I can feel something happened. Hit me with it... I can take it...
"Sweetie? We are losing the house..." Shit! She starts crying on silent.
"Mom! Calm down! I'm coming over. Where are you?" I'm keeping an outside cool, yet inside I'm sinking. The shit we're in since the economic crisis, has all my family on the edge. We were rich people, at some level, not millionaires, but we had it going without lack of money. We had and still have construction companies. Small ones, but they were and are a family business. An investment project with bank loans among other such 'sugary', cut our throats financially and we've lost many things. The house is next. I saw it coming... Jesus Christ...
"At home. Your dad went crazy and I don't know where he is. He can't take it anymore! I think he'll do something! Lord! Why is this happening to us?" A tear escapes down my right cheek and my heart is in pieces for both my parents and for our family. Marta comes in with my drink with widened eyes on how I may look at this point.
"Calm down, mom. I love you and everything will be fine. Dad's going to be fine. I'll be there right away. Wait for me, will you?" I'm still trying to keep my cool to make my mom feel she's not alone and that she has a strong daughter to protect them. Now do you understand why I give a shit on men and don't want to get involved with them? Love is never going to help my situation, only complicate it.
"Yeah. Come safe, baby. Love you." She hangs up crying. I'm all teary but not voicing it.
"What's the matter? You look like shit. Here. Have a sip..." She gives me the drink, which I take and have some. I feel like yelling and raging out loud. This shit is never going to end....
"Nothing. Help me clear all the meetings today. I have some family problems which I can't avoid. Send on my email all the work I need to do. Please, don't forget anything, okay?" Nobody in the office knows about my problems. They think I'm healthy, only fat, and living on high horses. That's the image I've created. I stand up in a hurry and take my purse.
"Wait! Derek called. He wants to speak with you. Now." She says, but I'm out through the door, not looking back.
When I reach the elevator, with my gaze down, I bump into someone. "Oh! Sorry!" I look at the person I've bumped into. It's Eric, followed by his men and having Derek beside him. I'm so fucking cursed... Should have realized since the coffee spilled on me moment... It was a bad omen for the fucked-up day... Only oh-so-good-news...
"It's alright. Something happened?" He sends me a worried look seeing my probably red eyes. All the shit happened... And you were the last person on Earth that I wanted to see right now...
"Where are you going? Didn't Marta tell you I'm expecting you in the office?" Derek is both pissed and worried. She did... But you're not important at this point... I give a fuck on everything... My family comes first...
"Nothing happened." I dismiss Eric with a cold voice. "Yes, she told me. I have some unexpected family situation and I have to leave for the day. You can cut my paycheck. I'll still run all the work at home. Marta will send everything on my email. I really have to take a leave, sir. I'm not going to wait for your approval. If you consider you want to fire me over this, you can do it. I'll understand. Have a good day, sir." I don't give a shit at this moment if I lose my job as well. If I'm sinking, let it all sink. Why not? I can take it, right?
The elevator comes at perfect timing and I go in, leaving Derek with a dropped jaw and a what's-going-on expression. Eric? I don't know. I've totally ignored his presence. He's not my boss. I go in and press the lobby button and the elevator closes with only me in it, which is great. The shit of my life is an ongoing story... I'm so perfect...
Chapter 1 Coffee Is A Bitch...
24/10/2021
Chapter 2 An Instant Wish Comes True
24/10/2021
Chapter 3 Family Crisis
24/10/2021
Chapter 4 Who's That Woman
24/10/2021
Chapter 5 Need For Money, A Race
24/10/2021
Chapter 6 You'll Be Punished For That
25/10/2021
Chapter 7 Rivalry
25/10/2021
Chapter 8 She's My Woman
25/10/2021
Chapter 9 Not Even For A Billion Dollars
26/10/2021
Chapter 10 Give Me Self-Control!
27/10/2021
Chapter 11 I Have To Face It
28/10/2021
Chapter 12 Here We Go Again...
30/10/2021
Chapter 13 What Is This Woman Doing To Me
30/10/2021
Chapter 14 This Is Killing Me Right Now
30/10/2021
Chapter 15 Raging
31/10/2021
Chapter 16 Forced And Pained
01/11/2021
Chapter 17 No Race, Race On!
03/11/2021
Chapter 18 Mind Reader
05/11/2021
Chapter 19 Shivers...
07/11/2021
Chapter 20 Satan
07/11/2021
Chapter 21 Virgin Mary And Shock
08/11/2021
Chapter 22 Hulk
11/11/2021
Chapter 23 Animal Instincts Vs. Love
13/11/2021
Chapter 24 Diabetes, My Enemy
14/11/2021
Chapter 25 She's The Boss
18/11/2021
Chapter 26 Boss's Wife
22/11/2021
Chapter 27 Competitions. Day One
26/11/2021
Chapter 28 Hate And Love
29/11/2021
Chapter 29 Premonition. A Bad Omen
05/12/2021
Chapter 30 Life On A Beat...
05/12/2021
Chapter 31 Death Is Weak. Past Is A Bitch
05/12/2021
Chapter 32 She Gangsta
05/12/2021
Chapter 33 Cheating Husband
14/12/2021
Chapter 34 Clash Of The Titans
14/12/2021
Chapter 35 Half Iced, Half Warmed
14/12/2021
Chapter 36 Ultimate Fighter
14/12/2021
Chapter 37 Angel In Death Again...
14/12/2021
Chapter 38 Baby Boss
14/12/2021
Chapter 39 Test. A Chance On
14/12/2021
Chapter 40 Denial Of Love
14/12/2021
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