Chapter 1: Chapter 1

Ellie Miller

The phone rings.

“ Hello, good morning! “ I speak as soon as I answer the phone “ How can I help you?”

“ Ellie, it's me Edgar," my boss's calm voice echoed on the other end, "just a reminder about the opening tonight, I know you're a bit forgetful”

Oh, shit! The damn inauguration was tonight, and yes, I had forgotten.

“ Oh, of course not! I'll be ready on time, Mr. Edgar.”

Lying son of a bitch.

If he was looking at me, he would surely know that I was lying, I'm a terrible liar.

“Agreed my daughter, see you later”

And hang up.

I only had Mr. Méier to thank, Edgar is the owner of one of the most respected advertising and marketing companies, as well as one of the most referenced magazines in New York. I started working here two years ago, one month after I arrived in the city, I started as his secretary, and gradually gained his trust, and when he found out that I had a degree in Journalism and a specialization in Advertising he gave me another position, so I became the editor”in”chief of his magazine, as well as his right”hand man in the company, a position that I do with all my love and dedication.

I know it may seem fast to move up in position and that to some eyes, especially the company's staff, I was giving something back. But no, my relationship with Mr. Edgar “ he refuses to be called Mr. Méier “ is one of total respect and affection. He is 60 years old and has been married for 42 years to the same person, even his wife loves me, and she finds his comments very funny.

After talking about other people's lives, let's get back to what matters: the inauguration! The company has signed a contract with a famous automobile company. They are going to hold an inauguration, and they are counting on the presence of their new partner, although she is only responsible for the company's magazine, she is part of the publicity work, so Mr. Edgar makes sure that I will be there, he is betting everything on the publicity.

I don't know the CEO of the partner company, but I know that he comes from a renowned family, and that half of NY, if not all of it, sighs for this family. I think I saw the picture of the younger brother, and yes, he was a piece of mischief.

As soon as I get off work, I go straight to my apartment. It has a medium size, it is enough for me, besides a good location, it was well divided, with the living room, which is the biggest part, and the kitchen are divided by a counter, a bedroom and a bathroom, besides a small balcony, the walls are in a bright light shade of blue, and I have the necessary furniture, which for me was perfect.

The first days were quite difficult, I came here with one hand in front and the other behind, I stayed in a somewhat precarious boarding house, but it was what I could afford with the little money I had, until I got a job and got a better place, but I didn't mind either, I've been through worse.

And I put worse in that!

I was resistant.

The first thing I do when I get home is to look for something decent, as I forgot about the inauguration I didn't buy any clothes, after looking a lot, I found a dress that I had never worn, it was clear with a very delicate floral print, it was long, with thin straps and went below the knees.

After I took a long shower, I put on the dress, I applied a little something on my face just to take the look off my face, and went to see what I could do with my hair, which was not much, finally I decided to let it loose.

I stared at myself in the mirror for a few minutes. There was a time when I hated looking at myself in the mirror, there was a time when I couldn't even stand myself.

I chased these thoughts away with my hand.

I wasn't ugly, I had shoulder length blond hair, my eyes were a very light shade of blue, I was 1.70 tall, and that was it, there are times in your life when you just don't like to look at yourself.

I take a small heel, and look at myself in the mirror, I had liked the result, for a last minute thing.

My cell phone vibrates on the bed and I pick it up to see the message, which was from Mr. Edgar saying that he was already waiting for me downstairs. I grabbed a black bag, put everything I needed and went downstairs.

As expected, he and Miss Lucy were in the car waiting for me, I got in the backseat and took both of them.

“ Ellie darling, it's been a long time! “ says Lucy excitedly “ I could slap you a few times for not calling me back! Is it Edgar giving you more trouble than necessary? Or is it some boyfriend? Who made you forget your old lady?”

It was my turn to laugh.

Old lady?

I wish I had her elegance and beauty at that age.

“ Well, let the girl breathe, my dear," Mr. Edgar said while driving, he didn't need drivers, he always liked to drive himself.

“ And you know I love my job, and no, it's not a boyfriend, besides that no one takes your place. By the way, you look beautiful today”

“No more than you, my daughter”

I wish my mother was like that.

We chatted on the way, and when we arrived the entrance was full of journalists and photographers, as soon as we got out of the car Mr. Edgar gave the key to the valet and we passed through the crowd of people at the door. There were teams of journalists inside too, the ones from Méier were some of them, covering everything, for the magazine and for advertising.

The hall was huge and the decoration was beautiful, right at the entrance there was the prominent model of the company, then the area reserved for tables, which gave a view to the stage set up in front where the CEO would make a speech, a little later large tables with the buffet where the guests could serve themselves, and people handing out drinks.

Some ambient music was also playing.

I separate myself from Mrs. Lucy and Mr. Edgar and go after something to eat and My God, there is only good stuff.

I put a piece of candy in my mouth, and as soon as I swallowed I felt something strange all over my body, a chill, which had nothing to do with the candy.

I shook this feeling off and went to look for a bathroom.

Do you know that feeling that something important was going to happen? That's what I was feeling, besides the shiver, a slight tingling in my spine, an anxiety...

I entered a small corridor, went straight ahead, but there was no door or anything that could be identified as a bathroom, the doors that they had towards the end were empty rooms.

I follow more and I reach other two corridors, I turned right, but I think I ended up confused, and when I turn to return to where I was, I end up bumping into someone who was turning the corridor, and unlike any book I read, the young man did not hold me, and with the force of the impact I went on my ass on the floor. He is going to be purple for sure.

And speaking of the good guy, I think we need to change the adjective, to big fucking man, because fuck!

And I wasn't even a person who swears or thinks these things, I was quite withdrawn actually.

What was that being? For God's sake!

Tall, strong, dark blond hair, greenish blue eyes, unshaven, just perfection, and still dressed in a nice black suit that only made him even hotter.

God has his favorites.

But the second I found the most beautiful man on earth, his angry face told me that he was thinking something else. Damn, I can prepare myself to be cursed by every name in existence.

He had the phone to his ear and hung up without saying anything, he focused his eyes on me for a few seconds, and I think I lost myself in his gaze, but the next moment he spoke:

“ I'm sorry, I didn't see someone coming “ and what the fuck was that gruff voice?

“ It's okay, I didn't look either “ I don't even know how I could say anything.

I thought he was going to reach out to help me, but nothing, so I stood up quickly, wiping one hand on the other.

“ I'm really sorry, you look lost, do you need help? “ he was speaking kindly, his eyes like an eagle swooping over my body, but the angry look was still on his face.

And everywhere he went, he got goose bumps.

Should I emphasize how beautiful his mouth is when he moves?

“ Actually, yes, I'm looking for the bathroom, and I got lost, I was going back to the party, but, well ......”

“ There is a bathroom near the exit of the hall," he says, now with a more relaxed face, "but if you go left, there is a single door at the very end that leads to the other bathroom”

“ Thank you very much! “ He smiles.

Another shiver.

I can only be cold and not feeling it, does that make sense?

I turn around and start walking.

“ What's your name? “ I turn when I hear his voice “ What is your name?”

My cheeks start to heat up at that single word!

“ My name is Ellie," I bite my lip absently and walk slowly backwards.

He stared at me again, you know that look that seems to undress you with just that look? It was that kind of look, so he gave me a sideways smile, turned around and headed in the direction I was coming from.

I decided to go back to the salon, and use the nearest bathroom so I wouldn't run the risk of getting lost.

After using the bathroom, I go to find Lucy and Mr. Edgar, finding them sitting at a table, and join them.

“ Where were you dear? We were looking for you," Lucy looks at me worried.

“ Sorry, Lucy, I was looking for the bathroom and took a long time to find it”

“ Stop this mania of apologizing for everything, my daughter, everything is fine!”

I used to have this stupid habit sometimes.

“ I'm sorry “ I laugh.

She smiled and before she could say anything, a voice echoed through the hall saying good night.

And it was him.

And if he wasn't perfection, he could only be doom.

Or both.

And for the first time in a long time, I wanted to lose myself.

Because from what I felt, it was doom in a beautiful perfect paradise.

My perfect paradise.