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Received An Invitation

POV: Selina

I trudged up the stairs to my apartment, my mind swirling with conflicting emotions. The encounter with Felix in the restroom replayed in my mind, sending shivers down my spine. How could I have let myself enjoy his touch, even for a fleeting moment?

He is a stranger, an annoying, rude stranger. And yet his touch ignited a spark within me that I couldn't deny. As I entered my dimly lit apartment, I collapsed on my bed, staring blankly at the ceiling. My thoughts were consumed by Felix, his piercing gaze and the way he made me feel alive in that stolen moment. Guilt washed over me as I acknowledged the forbidden thrill I had just experienced. Each time my mind replays that soft kiss on my neck, my body reacts to it again, the same way I reacted when he did it.

“What would I have done if he’d asked for more, what would I have done if he had lifted my skirt and pulled of my panties. Would I have said no, will I have the courage to push him away?

Even if I’d said no, can my body resist his charms?”

These were my emotions as I lay there, lost in my thoughts. My phone buzzed, breaking the silence of the room. I picked it up to see a message from Simon and I clicked it open immediately. My heart sank as I read his words, filled with disappointment and hurt.

“Do you love him?” he asked in his text, sounding awful. He had witnessed a moment that I wished had never happened, and now he is feeling betrayed. I understand how he’s feeling it’s the exact way I’d felt when his fiancee humilated me. Yeah, I know it’s two different scenarios, but we both feel used and that’s why I understand exactly how he’s feeling now.

“Its not what you think, Simon, I’m not in a relationship with that rude man. Felix had simply entered the wrong room, and I slipped and fell when I noticed his presence in the restroom. You walked in on us the moment it happened, that’s why we look that way. I told you I’m not ready for a relationship when I don’t have a job yet. Besides, I wouldn’t get involved with Felix Yeats even if he were the last guy on Earth,” I lied. As I hit send, I knew that my world was about to change.

I had hurt him, betrayed his trust, and now I’m lying my ass off to hide the fact that I’d enjoyed the company and affection of a mean stranger. I know I will have to face the consequences of my actions. I felt a pang of regret each time I think of the pain I had caused to someone who truly cared for me.

I can’t believe that I was fantasizing about him just now, wishing Simon had not walked in and disrupted what was about to happen. This tangled web of emotions and desires had spun out of control, and I was caught in the middle of it all. I closed my eyes tight, praying for a way to make things right, to mend the broken pieces of my heart and salvage what was left of my shattered friendships with Simon.

“You can’t fall for that guy, Lina. He’s a paranoid bastard. He treats his girls like parts and he is overbearing and domineering too. I’ve been around him long enough to know a few things about him that could hurt you if you agree to be with him. He is a control freak, he will not let you out of his sight, he is…”

“Enough, Simon!

I don’t need to know any of these stuff because I have no business with the guy. If that is all, I would love to go to bed now.” I told him sternly. I know he has no idea that his words was putting fear in me, making me panic. He is warning me to stay away from Felix, telling me of Felix’s dangerous nature. But I think he’s getting it all wrong, it’s not about me staying away from him. The question is, will Felix stay away from me too, will he let me go easily?

“I spoke to my mother about you, Selina. She feels sorry about the way Evelyn treated you at the banquet and she wishes to make it up to you. But something came up and the only position that is vacant at FY Glams has suddenly been occupied. Mom tried everything she could to secure that position of assistant manager for you, but the order came from above and the position has been given to someone with a connection to one of the bosses.

Mom had to let go of that position, but she got another offer for you in one of our subsidiaries. We are offering you an internship at this subsidiary. I know it’s not as huge as the job you wanted, but it’s good enough to kick-start your career.” He announced proudly. I know he is doing his best to help me, but I’m not ready to get into another fight with Evelyn. The subsidiary he just mentioned to me belongs to her father.

It’ll be such a shame if I gain a job opportunity through her connections. She will stop at nothing to humiliate me and subject me to several abuses and insults. I’d rather work for Martin Moore than to subject myself to such scandal.

“Thank you for your effort, Simon. But I can’t be an intern in that company. I need a company that can value my designs and give me the opportunity to showcase my work. I guess I’ll take the offer from Martin Moore, you remember Martin, don’t you?” I asked him. But he thing up on my without answering my question and I tried calling him back, but he refused to take my call.

“Maybe Evelyn walked in and forced him to hang up,” I thought in my mind as I shrugged my shoulder and dropped my phone on the bedside table. Martin is a senior in our department, his mom owns a jewelry store that is trying to compete with FY Glams, but they are still far behind on their designs.

“I guess I’ll stick with Martin afterall,” I decided. My mind was made up and I had already had a meeting with Martin to discuss my employment. But, a few days later, I unexpectedly received an interview invitation from FY Glams jewelry design company. The invitation came as a surprise to me because I had never applied there myself. This left me puzzled, but when I told my friend Amara about it, she was very excited about it. She hinted to me that it could be Simon and I felt so excited about it.

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