Chapter 35: Lucas: Stubborn ass woman
MAN I love the magazine team. Everyone is so in sync, everyone is paying attention, jotting down everything that I’m saying whilst giving
fresh ideas to further broaden our plan.
If this keeps up, we might skip to number one this month. That’ll be one well-deserved leap I’ll enjoy irresponsibly by drinking myself into oblivion, and probably making so bad decisions along the way.
Clearing her throat, the chief fashion editor and designer draws attention to herself. "I suggest we pull this plan next month when we have the ti. We have a week left before the magazine draft piece is handed to the publishing house and I fear the pressure might be too overwhelming for us to make a masterpiece."
Nods synchronize as the other managers agree with her. When I started telling them my idea, I made sure to stress that it had to be done this month because I was pretty sure we could pull it off if we put our all into this. Did I think we’d pull it off perfectly? No. It takes a lot of work for sothing to be perfect.
"Okay, we’ll do it next month, but I’ll need this month’s issue by the weekend so I can make sure all the edits are up to par." Everyone nods again before the Advertising departnt’s team’s manager stands to give us a report on his work this entire month and what we’re to expect be it bad or worse based on his analysis.
I’ve done my analysis behind the scenes so I have a rough picture as to how this month’s issue will go. It might return to its rightful second spot on the chart, but we’re definitely not making it to number one.
For the first ti since making it in the top ten, I’m content with being stuck at number two. I just want to be one step away from reaching gold and when I take that leap of faith next month, it’s going to be so fucking powerful, I’ll land on top and cause an earthquake.
The eting continues for the rest of the day, everyone coming out with their masterpiece ideas and wowing . We draft a master plan, linking most of the aspects to the charity event that’s going to take place next month.
The face for the next issue hasn’t been chosen yet, but they all agreed with
that Bella is the best pick for a collaboration. Her influence alone could do things to our magazine in the entire African region, and that’s our main target audience.
According to Lawrence, the sales and marketing manager, the African continent is the reason why we can’t make it to number one. Our sales are lower here than on other continents and he suspects it’s because we have a low representation of familiar celebrity faces that relate to them.
A feature with Bella will be a good start. I just hope it’s good enough to create a buzz. Next month might be my last in this departnt and I want to leave with no regrets.
If there’s one problem I have with making Bella the star of our cover, it is the relationship between us. You see, whenever we et, it always ends up in a no-strings-attached hookup. She’s beautiful and successful, and wasn’t afraid to approach
and ask for a fuck. In the end, we created this tradition whereby every ti we et at an event, we fuck.
But now it’s different, I don’t think I can disappear with her during the event, because unlike before, I have a woman I like now. She said she wouldn’t hold
back if I fell in love, but I don’t trust her acting skills enough to believe she will be able to keep a straight face when she figures out that I have soone I like now.
Stepping out of the elevator after it dings and opens, I make my way to my departnt. The editorial departnt. A departnt that holds all my mories since I started working here. A departnt that held a special place in my mother’s heart.
I can’t believe I failed to accomplish the one promise I made to her. It’s fucking bitter, and a bit humiliating.
Hah.
Checking the ti on my watch, I’m not surprised to see it’s a few minutes before four. We have an hour left before work is done, an hour before I have to drive Iris to her place so she can take her clothes for tomorrow and co ho with
for the movie.
I wonder what she’s doing now. That’s what I kept thinking about every ti my mind wandered off for a bit during the eting, because crushing on soone is just like that, a fucking cloud to overpower all those fucking daydreams you used to have before they ca into the picture.
The office is abuzz when I step inside, everyone is either busy with their writers, checking with the design teams or the photographers for any possible changes or edits. It’s a week before publication after all. We need everything to be perfect before sending the article to the publisher.
My eyes land on Iris’ desk, but she’s not there. Maybe she visited another departnt? Settling with the thought, I pace between the U-shaped design and one by one they greet , not taking their eyes off work. Even Keith is too busy to smile up at
today.
"Afternoon Sir, Iris asked for a half-day off. There’s sothing that ca up at her house, but she completed her tasks and left the file with
here," Dion rummages through his desk, taking out a black flash drive and passing it to . "Here you go. She said to tell you that you didn’t need to wait for her." He adds the last part with a suggestive smirk.
"Thanks," I accept the flash from him, suddenly losing interest in checking how everyone is doing. "Make sure everyone gives you their drives today and once you’re done take them out for dinner."
"Dinner, wooo!" Blessing clasps her hands together as if praying. "I’m so gonna finish this bitch today."
"Language."
"Sorry."
Turning to my office, I walk in and place my gadgets on the table. What is so important that Iris had to leave so early? I an, her grandparents left last night, so why—unless...
Taking my phone and dialing her number, I put it on loudspeaker. She answers on the first ring, running her mouth off before I even greet her. "I’m sorry I can’t watch the movie with you guys tonight, sothing ca up. I left my work with Dion if that’s what you wanted to ask."
Her voice is gruff. The whooshing and car horn sounds coming from her side tell
she’s in the middle of driving. Rubbing my thumb on my bottom lip and letting out a low sigh, I do my best to sound less worried. "Is everything okay at ho?"
Silence. She doesn’t respond for a while and for a mont there I think she’s cut the call. That’s before her voice cos from the phone, less gruff but a bit flat this ti.
"Jerald was at the company today."
You know that one heartbeat that feels like it hit the mother of all nerves and sent a signal for the whole body to die for a millisecond, rendering you useless with a blurry vision? That’s what happens when I hear Iris’ revelation, and it intensifies when I listen to the rest of it.
"He heard that I have a boyfriend from Kayla and wanted to et him, but then Bertha told him she saw Mary kissing a boy yesterday and the boy appeared during our conversation so she pointed at him and Jerald got mad. Long story short, Mary and Phineas are getting roasted tonight, and he still wants to et my boyfriend." She hurriedly says before letting out one frustrated scream, hitting her car horn and setting it off for a few long minutes.
I tip my head back on my chair, rubbing my forehead so hard, I’m pretty sure it’s red now. "Do you think they’ll be okay?"
"I’m going there to make sure nothing bad happens to Mary and Phineas. Jerald looked like he was ready to murder Phin when he told him to co ho tonight, and I’m sure Mary won’t get the easy end either."
"What about you?" I blurt out before I can stop myself, sitting upright. "Don’t tell
you’re just going to barge in there and tell him to stop!"
"I am," she replies firmly
"Iris, you can’t handle him when he’s angry!"
"Oh, you’ll be surprised."
"Listen to , I used to play rugby with that guy and whenever he got mad, blood was shed and words were exchanged. If you say he looked like he wanted to murder soone, then please stay away from—"
"I am not a child, Lucas. And before you say anything else to make
feel like I am one, let
remind you that I’ve known Jerald longer than you have, so I know how to handle him. I know what I’m doing." Before I can reply, she cuts the call.
Stubborn ass woman.
Grabbing my jacket and packing everything into the bag, I rush out of my office. "I’ll be taking an early off too," I say rushing past the desks.
Everyone gives
suggestive glances, but I couldn’t care less. Right now, the woman I love is making a bad decision, and I don’t know what will happen to her once it’s done. I know Jerald won’t go out of his way to abuse her, but I’ve seen him get angry. I’ve been warned not to touch his sisters enough to know this isn’t going to be a simple chart between bros.
Phineas knows it as much as I do, and maybe that’s why he wants to have this talk—to settle things. At the end of the day though, Jerald’s word will be the final one. No one can handle angry Jerald, not even my stubborn fake girlfriend.
The elevator is being used sowhere up the floors. Getting impatient with the ti, I rush down the stairs, sprinting and dashing past the corners so I don’t bump my hip. I take them two at a ti, and by the ti I reach the reception, I’m feeling fuzzy from the exercise.
It’s empty down here for the first ti in a while. We usually have two or three people waiting for soone or taking pictures. I scan the space till my eyes land on the duo sitting at the reception, smiling at sothing they’re showing each other on the phone.
Taking lengthy strides toward them, I can’t hide the displeasure I have on my face. "Why did you do that?" I ask, voice croaky as I try to swallow the lump in my throat.
Dude, chill.
"Afternoon sir, what exactly do you an?" Bertha raises her brows, standing and leaning in closer to . My eyes turn to Kayla. She avoids eye contact, scratching her hand uncomfortably. But she answers anyway.
"He asked
if his sisters were showing interest in anyone, and I told him Iris already has a boyfriend at the company. I didn’t say who it was, I swear," she adds the last part hurriedly after I open my mouth.
I want to say sothing that’ll leave her grounded on the floor, but really, what is her fault? Talking to her boyfriend about his family and interests? Besides, I have urgent matters to take care of right now.
Either way, I can’t stop myself from being mad at her. Giving them one last fierce glare, I tear my eyes from them, turning to head to the car park.
"If sothing happens to her, just know that your jobs are on the line."
★★★★★
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