Chapter Two

It was a good thing my apartment wasn't too far from the company.  I could easily walk home but sometimes, it can be tiring as hell.

I lifted my feet up when I came across a puddle so I don't splash into it. My mind was focused somewhere else. Maybe it's about going to Florida but maybe it's not. My life hasn't always been stable. It was always a two way branched road. Maybe it's because I never had a normal childhood.

I had an alcoholic mother who did nothing but seat around all day sending me to get her drinks when I was seventeen. My dad himself was not a saint. He was a drug dealer until he passed away when I was sixteen.

I was lonely and stray with no way to restart my life in a peaceful way and that was when I met Blake. I was Twenty one and we dated for three years before he too had to go ahead and betray me. He cheated on me with a college friend and when I called it over, he started drinking and following me around. I guess my life was just meant to be a living hell.

And since all of those things that happened, I was forced to live under a cover. I wear stupid and silly wigs to conceal my true self. I hide under shadows of my past. Then, when my dad would get angry or pissed that I'd thrown his drugs away, he would pull me by my hair so I started wearing wigs so it didn't hurt so much.

When my mom didn't have any drink to hang on to, she would slap me and hit me around calling me ugly, saying hurtful and mean things to me. One time she'd dressed me up in tight skinny clothes and told me to get out there and make her some money. So now I hide behind baggy suits and flay pants.

Blake never made me feel pretty either.  After all, he cheated on my with one of the hottest chicks in college then. So I was forced to wear rimmed glasses and rid myself of makeups.

All my life. All my fucking life!

And now I'm going to Florida.  A place where I might see my mother. Or not. I heard last from one of my mom's friend that she stays at Palm Beach. Says she's a rich woman now who's done nothing but sleep her way to the top.  She even own a resort. But nothing would ever make me go back to her.

Bang!....my head came in contact with a pole just right outside my apartment.  Joe, the man who stays behind the cubicle grinned at me.

"Thinking again Selene? You better get your shit together!" He chuckled and I flipped him off before taking the stairs to my door.

"Hey wait up!" Joe called. I stood at my door waiting for him to reach up the stairs. "Someone came looking for you" He pants.  The stairs wasn't even that high. Anyway, that isn't the problem here.

"Who?"

"A man"

The hairs on the back of my neck rose with fear. "What man, come on Joe tell me something"

"He looked awful anyway. His hair is a rich blonde but had stains on it. He said he wanted to talk to you"

I froze. Blake! Why won't he just stop following me about?!

"Everything alright?"

I turned to Joe "yeah. Everything is fine" I gulped before turning the lock in and entering into my house, shutting Joe away. That's what I'm good at  shutting people away. It makes my life easier that way. No one wants to know how fucked up my life is or they'll probably never want to stay.

...

"Joe said your Ex boyfriend showed up here" Kay said. She turned a good amount of vegetable oil into the pan. She insisted on making Moroccon quail with rose petal sauce and cucumber. She says I hardly ever eat all I do is order takeout but that's the best I can do. I'm not world's miss fanciest cook.

"How does Joe know he's my Ex" I relaxed against the counter while still keeping an eye on Junior. He was seating next to my TV watching a cartoon channel. The last thing I want is a hole in my movie box.

"We might've talked about it one time" Kay pinched her fingers together while I eyed her.

"You know how I feel about discussing my private life to anyone, Kay. But you spoke to the receptionist about Blake" I eyed her cruelly.

"I know and I'm sorry. It's just, you never open up and you bottle up so much inside. It's not good girl"

Maybe Kay has a point but I'm never willing to accept that. My life is better of without so many distractions and people knowing me so well. They'll only explore my weakness and flaws.

"That doesn't count. It must not happen again" I said rigidly and Jay stared at me, wide eyed.

"Maybe you should learn to talk your problems out, Selene. Even the slightest window you give me, I'll appreciate it" Kay pleaded. She has always been like a big sister to me and the closet to me as a family. But still, she knows so little about me.

"You wanna know something? "I flung my hands in the air and watched as she nodded with a smile. "Well, I'm going to Florida tomorrow" I said and her face suddenly fell.

"What? And when were you going to tell me?" She looked furious.

I shrugged and then looked at her. "I just did"

Kay narrowed her eyes at me. "Don't you dare do that shit. And what are you going for? To see your mom?" At least concern was laced in her voice.

I shook my head. "Corby has me on an assignment"

"Wow. That's good. Any promise?"

"I guess I get a raise in my job. " I dumped the onions I've been slicing inside the pan and took a stool by the counter.

"So no more boiler room for you if you succeed." She smiled in awe. "Girl I'm so happy for you.  Maybe you'll get to own your own office"

"Yeah. I hope so"

There was a noise in the parlour so I hurried to check. My vase was tumbled over and Junior was looking at me with wide eyes. I looked to my TV and it was still ok. I let out a sigh of relief as Kay rushed in.

"Junior I told you stay away from breakables!" She scolded her son.

"No its ok. I've been willing to get rid of that vase. thanks junior" I mumbled and walked away back to the kitchen. I'm just grateful my television is alright. That helps me to remain sane.

...

"Did you say Fabrico Zunino?!!" Kay literally jumped up and down on my bed. I swear sometimes she acts like she's five, but I like her that way.

"Exactly what I said" I was stuffing some clothes I need into my little box for the trip to Florida.

"No way you're taking those awful suits and pants" Kay wrinkled her nose as she saw me fold one of my best purple blazer and placed it in the box. I rolled my eyes at her incompetence.

"It's my favourite and besides, these are the clothes I have"

"Then you need a change of wardrobe"

"My flight is by eight. I don't have time for shopping" I grimaced. I stuffed the last of my suit into the box and shut it before heading to the bathroom for my toiletries.

"I don't see bikini in your bag, Selene!" Kay called out from the room. Gosh! Did she open the box again? It took me me a while to close it.

"I'm not going for pleasure, Kay. I'm on an assignment..." I entered the room again. "...To prove my worth"

Kay shook her head. "You don't need to prove your worth girl. So what if you had alcoholic parents and an ex who failed to see the beauty and potential in you. I completely adore you and you're the best friend anyone could ever ask for" Kay  said and by the end of her heart touching speech I was smiling.

"Thanks Kay, but I'm not taking no bikini" I shut my box close again and then went round to seat on the bed. Kay was by my laptop typing into it with a sly smile on her face.

"What are you doing?"

"Checking Fabrico out" She replied.

"He's probably some old sleazebag who can't get enough of money so he's doing everything he can to acquire more" I picked at my nails. Kay squealed when she came across something before turning the computer to me. Holy shit!

The guy in the picture was a fine Italian man with sharp jaw, a defined face that speaks a lot about how bold I'm sure he is. His eyes were sharp golden brown and his hair long to his shoulder. He had a little stubble on his chin too and let's not forget to mention how hot he looks in a charcoal blazer.

"Does that look like a sleazebag to you?" Kay mocked and I rolled my eyes at her. So what? I was wrong. I don't want to dwell on that.

"I'm going for an assignment, Kay. He'll probably not even notice me" I shrugged.

"He would if you change your wardrobe" She grinned at me and I narrowed my eyes at her.

"One more word about my wardrobe and you'll be sorry".