CHAPTER Three

Ariana's POV

I opened my eyes to the pounding on my door and heard Samantha's voice from the other side of my door, for a moment, I wondered why she didn't just enter my room as she has always done but then I remembered I had bolted my door when I ran in last night, I quickly stood up and opened the door for her,

"how dare you keep me waiting" she raged as soon as I opened the door, if she wasn't screaming at me, she was raging or cursing at me, all these are something I am used to from her

"I am sorry" I replied her to avoid any argument, she stared at me as if thinking of a new way to torment me.

"What can I help you with?" I asked her feigning indifference that I was far from feeling, my body aches and I was in no mood to fight with her, "arrogant bitch" she snarled and got no reply from me

"Get me my breakfast" she finally instructed and made to leave but paused at the door, her back towards me,

"get ready, you're following me to work today"

Did I hear correctly? "Huh" I managed to stammer out like a zombie.

"Are you deaf? You're following me to work, I thought you said you wanted a job?"

"I'm sorry, yes, yes, I do want a job" I quickly answered before she would change her mind, I can't believe she would actually get me a job, was this real? I suddenly felt very happy, whatever has made Samantha offer me a job, I don't care, I would do my best to please her, I quickly rushed to the kitchen to prepare her breakfast, took a shower, and was dressed before Samantha would be ready. I wore a baggy jeans trousers and a sleeve to cover the scar on my hand, I only wear long sleeves to always cover the red ugly gash on my arm, I stared at my reflection in the mirror as I packed my chestnut hair in a tight fist, I stared at my hazel colored eyes that looked wane and tried to clear the creases on the side of my eyes. Finally, Samantha came out, she wore a red gown and looked so beautiful in it, her eyes raked me in disgust as she snickered, " dressing you up wouldn't do any good anyway, it will be a waste of energy because you're already ugly and nothing can make you beautiful"

I made no comeback at her hurtful remark as I followed her out.

The fashion bureau has a very massive building and I was awestruck by it as we entered into the building, inside was elegant and busy, I walked behind Samantha carrying her bags as she walked elegantly and stylishly, she received greetings from all over, eyes stared at me curiously, some stared at my clothes in disgust.

"Oh Sam, you're here, finally" someone called out to Samantha and came to greet her but paused when she saw me,

"you finally brought a maid with you, how thoughtful" she must have concluded that I was a maid because of how I was dress but I didn't let that bother me, I am here for the job anyway and I would work hard, when I start earning, I can get myself a good and decent clothes.

Samantha chuckled that I was easily mistaken for her maid, "Jeanie, has the boss arrived?" Samantha asked as we entered into what seemed like a dressing room and got a "no" reply from Jeanie.

She quickly sat down and stretched out her feet, "pull off my shoes" she commanded and I quickly crotched to help her remove her shoes, "I'll get this job, save money, find myself a decent house to live" I chanted in my head as I helped her remove her shoes and massage her feet

"The boss is here Sam and is demanding to see the models, both old and new" Jeanie informed Samantha and Samantha stared at me, "help me get dressed"

"Huh" I answered and she gave me a cold look, I wondered what exactly is my job description, am I here to serve her?

I reluctantly helped her get dressed and fixed her make-up before following her out of the dressing room.

I was curious to see the CEO of fashion bureau, he has indeed made a name for himself in the whole of Carolina, this was the biggest company I have ever seen, I followed Sam Into a very large hall, it was filled with a lot of people and I wondered if they were all employees, on the centre of the hall was a large runway, the lights in the hall were dim, shining blue and red, for a moment, I pictured myself on that runway but of cause, I shouldn't even dream of ever doing something like that, I was no match for all the beautiful, elegant ladies that walked there, I stared at Samantha and for a moment wished I was as privileged as her, she was beautiful, classic and elegant and I was nothing compared to her "I need a cup of coffee" Samantha shouted at me amidst the night music, I was already enthralled in the view before me and was hoping to get a glimpse of the CEO, I frowned at Sam in dismay and she drew closer to me and said between clench teeth,

"if you really want a job here then you'll do all that I say or you forget about the job"

I swallowed the bitter reply that rose to my throat and walked away to look for a cup of coffee for her.

"Please, where can I get a cup of coffee?" I asked a lady who was hurrying towards the hall, she stared at me as if I had two horns, "I don't think I have seen you before"

"Um...um...I am with Samantha" I said as a reply and without another word, she pointed at a corner for me, "that's the canteen, you can get your coffee there" she said before walking out.

I had to hurry before the start of the event, I quickly got Sam's coffee just as she likes it, it was steaming hot, I was just coming out from the canteen when I saw the elevator doors were just about to close, I rushed and slipped my hand inside just before it will close and opened it, the sole of my shoe choose that moment to come off and I tripped, headfirst into the elevator, my coffee went flying out of my grip.

"Oh, shit" I heard a deep voice grumbled angrily in the elevator and knew the scalding coffee must have hit it's target, I quickly stood up and my eyes met with the most handsome eyes I have ever seen, my breathe whooshed out at his perfect face and for a moment I forgot I was about to apologize for spilling hot coffee on him, his eyes were narrowed on me in two angry slits and I shivered at what I saw in there, "are you blind?" His voice was calm but there was nothing calm about him as he radiated anger, "I...I... I'm....so...sorry" I managed to stammer out trying to clean the coffee stain on his white tux with my hands, he flung my hand away from him, "get the heck out of here" he snarled shoving me out of the elevator,

head hung down, I stepped out, "how could I be this clumsy? Now I have to go back to the canteen and get another coffee" I walked dejectedly back to the canteen.

As soon as I arrived back, Samantha pounced on me, "where the hell have you been?" Before I could reply, she grabbed my elbow and led me into a room, bringing out a bright red gown, "put this on" confused, I stared at her and she clocked her tongue in impatience, "I said put this on, don't you want a job?" Before I could say dick and Harry, she started removing the clothes I was putting on, and put the red gown on me, I felt exposed and uncomfortable in it, the gown revealed the scar on my arm and the length of it barely came past my bum, my breast was just ready to pop out from the dress, she quickly put a bright red lipstick on me and some touch up, if I had my say, I look more like a whore in the dress, "this is the dress the models are supposed to wear for tonight, I have submitted your name as part of the models so you just have to go out there and do your best" the news caught me unaware and I cringed, "I don't want to be a model Sam, you know I'm not fit for it" I tried rebuffing but she paid no heed as she gave me heels with a very tiny point, "I can't walk with heels, I haven't worn one before" I complained and she rolled her eyes, "do not waste my effort, there's nothing there in walking with heels" she said as she tried to grab the necklace from my neck but instinctively I held her hands, I do not know what that necklace stand for but for some reason, I feel taking it off is like taking part of me away, Samantha raised her hands as if in surrender and pushed me towards the door as I was still having doubt, "I can't Sam, this is not the job I'm want" I protested but she only snickered and without warning, pushed me out, there was sudden silence as the blue spotlight shone on me as I found myself standing right in the middle of the runway.

Samantha's POV

I smirked when I pushed her out, she won't get out of this one, I thought gleefully, first of all, the color she was putting on wasn't the color for the models,in fact, it was forbidden to dress that way, how gullible, serves her right, it will be a small compensation to me for all the pains she had put me through, she alone had to feel motherly love why I was stuck with a father who doesn't care whether I'm alive or dead and yet, when I get the chance to finally experience a mother's love, she had to take that chance away from me, how could she be there and watch our mother get killed, I cannot be able to forgive her for that, ever. With how I have dressed her, the boss certainly won't let her off, she might even be imprisoned, serves her right, I smiled as I congratulated myself. I walked into the hall to watch the show unfold.