Her Spoilt CEO

Trust...or insecurities

"Here is your order sir. Your sushi sauce just as you requested" Helen handed an order over to a customer, maintaining courtesy. The customer rudely ignored her nice gestures and went ahead to inspect the sushi hoping there wasn't anything wrong with the order. Great! Perhaps he thought she stole a bite off it or something. He was basically the third customer she had received an order from who hadn't smiled at her or given her a tip. Who do they think they were to look down on her like that? After all, she was the investor's daughter. They wouldn't be sitting in that restaurant at that moment if not for her father. The urge to pick up the sushi soup and smear it all over his expensive suit shook her, but she ignored that thought, immediately recalling her mission in the restaurant. It was definitely not the time to show off, was it?

"Enjoy your meal sir. Tell me if you need anything", She informed him before walking away with her tray burying her ego in her pocket.

"Gosh! That proud lady is here again. I can't believe i will have to be the one taking her order", One of the waitresses grumbled as she picked up an empty tray to respond to an order.

"Most of the customers here are proud. They hardly looked at anyone. How do you all endure those grumbles of wealthy people? A smile is more like a taboo to them. You are so lucky to be used to them by now. You have been working here for days."

"Sure i know. I ignore their rude behaviour all the time. This lady in question gets on my nerves. Just because she is Shalom Judas does not mean everyone should bow to her feet now and give her special treatment", The young waiter grumbled. Helen's ears widened in astonishment.

"Wait?! Did you just mention the name of the most influential oil and gas worker's daughter?" She asked in shock.

"Yes. It's her. Everyone knows her. I am not surprised. This makes her really pompous. Every single person gives her unnecessary attention. Anyway, i have to take her order now before she gets me fired". The waitress placed in a metal bowl a champagne wine and some wine glasses before grabbing hold of her notebook.

"Wait!" Helen stopped her as she turned to leave. "Why don't I take her order instead?"

"You're sure? This is your first day. You don't want your mood spoilt or to quit"

"Nah. It's fine. I can handle people like her". Grabbing hold of the note, Helen approached the order table which was supposed to belong to Shalom. Seeing her from a far already spiked jealousy in her. She recognized her straight away. The dimples...lame. Approaching her table, she feigned a smile and took out her pen, ready to take her order.

"Your order?" She asked, staring deep into her eyes.

"My usual. Please don't waste so much time this time around. I hate it when you workers do your own thing and do not follow orders", She answered without bothering to pay heed to her stare.

"I am new here. I don't know your usual", Helen informed her.

"Then ask someone who knows it. I have no time to be lecturing a newbie on what I love and what I don't love. My day in the spa has been stressful enough. I have no time to spare for a commoner like you",Shalom complained with a frown.

"It doesn't take much to explain an order. It will just be a few seconds of speaking. That won't make you add weight, unfortunately", Helen mocked, staring at her skinny figure.

"You have the nerve, don't you?" Shalom gave her a cruel stare. Helen knew it was against the rules to start up a conversation with a customer or insult them, but since she really wished to get information from Shalom regarding the pendant, she stared at the lady's neck and widened her eyes in surprise at seeing the other half of the pendant on her. It had the word TRI engraved on it.

"Beautiful pendant. Your boyfriend must have gotten you that". She decided to mention it.

"It spikes your eyes, right? Because you cannot afford it..." The proud lady told her with a smirk.

"Look lady, I am not here to take your order or have a friendly chat with you. I want to know why you are wearing the other half of the pendant your ex gave you", Helen asked with impatience, getting tired of beating about the bush.

"Who told you he was my ex? We are still together. I don't entertain just any random waitress coming to my table and insulting my relationship like this. You are poking your nose into what doesn't concern you madame."

"Sorry but as far as i can remember, Tristan isn't with you anymore", Helen whispered to her in rage. "Look, Shalom, or whatever you call yourself, you made a mistake letting go of such a great person like Tristan who can do anything in the world for you" Shalom was confused for a while at her strange nosy talks before smirking.

"O! I see what's happening. I did lose him in the past, but I assure you, Helen, just because you have him now doesn't mean he is not cheating on you with me. Haven't you seen him with the other half of the pendant yet? Have you ever wondered why he never lets you stay overnight at his place?" Shalom asked, giving her a crafty stare. Helen got shocked at these questions and felt her heart drop. "Look Helen, the guy is mine and will always be mine. You are just a medium he used to forget me. Stop deceiving yourself. He always talks about you to me anyway. I wonder why he adores you so much. You're just an insecure fool."

Helen felt tears roll down her eyes as she heard all this. Her suspicions were right. Tristan was definitely cheating on her. Shalom picked up her cup of water and drained it right on her with a smirk.

"Oopsie! Sorry Tristan's new girlfriend. I was not paying attention to who was standing before me. Perhaps I thought I saw fire raging through your clothes. Perhaps it's just anger". She lied before walking out on her happily. Helen couldn't concentrate on her work all through that day. As soon as her shift was done, she took a cab and went straight home with a dull look. How could Tristan have done this to her? Her phone buzzed. She checked who could be calling late in the day and groaned, realizing it was Tristan.This didn't make her feel good at all. She hung up the call immediately. He tried calling back but she hesitated to pick him up. After so many attempts, the call stopped coming in. The next call she got was from Emily.

"Hi dear. You're done with work?" Emily asked.

"Emily, he is cheating on me. I confirmed it" Helen sobbed right onto the phone.

"Wait? What? Don't tell me it's because of the pendant again."

"It's not just the pendant. I saw Shalom. She confirmed it all."

"O! Baby. Shalom is scum. She can make things up due to how smart she is. That brat is a liar, okay? Why are you even listening to that witch? You should take whatever word she says as a poisonous venom to ruin your trust in Tristan."

"I don't understand what to do anymore. I have lost my trust in him already. I don't think i will ever view him the same."

"Helen, you are exaggerating. Calm down. You have to confirm with him first. Ask him about the pendant you saw."

"He is going to lie to me, Emily. He will try to cover things up. Why did you think he refused to let me stay at his place overnight three days ago? It must have been to that girl."

"You know what, why don't you catch them yourself? Go over to his place tonight and see if you will find anything. Try to pay him an unexpected visit. I am sure all that will clear your doubts. Remember to apologize to him for being an insecure brat."

"Emily, you don't have to take that too far."

"I assure you that Tristan is a good man. He has nothing to hide from you. I guess it's just you who don't deserve him."

Helen heard the other end beep. Emily had hung up. She hugged her phone against her breast for a while before placing it into her bag, hoping all this was a nightmare that would disappear soon.

"Please prove me wrong, my love."

***

Tristan didn't expect Shalom to be at his doorstep when he walked over to the entrance to respond to the doorbell. It had been 6 years since they had last visited each other. Visiting each other is not a comfortable phenomenon anymore. Now everything seemed awkward. He didn't want her to visit. He never wanted her to come over to his place after everything they had been through in the past.

"Don't look at me like that. I am not a stranger am I?" The girl said, pushing him rudely off the door and forcing her way into his house. "You really have refurnished and evaluated your lifestyle, haven't you?"

"What do you want?" He asked with a stern look.

"I know that look. I definitely know that look on your face. I was not your girlfriend for no reason. You're looking at me like that, because we broke up on a rough note. Look Tristan, I know I did wrong. Whatever that happened between us in the past can end for good. We can try putting all this behind us and starting afresh as new individuals with new personalities."

"I have told you countless times in the past one week that I have no intention of getting back with you. I have a girlfriend. Even if I didn't, you would be the last person in this life I will ever date."

"Am i that mad, Tristan? No! Seriously! Have I been that awful? Can I make it up to you?" She asked, wrapping her hands around his neck. He had roughly pushed her off irked.

"You never stop irritating me. Why did you put the pendant in my pocket the other day? Didn't I return those to you the same day I broke up with you?"

"Look, my love…"

"Don't you dare!" He threatened, fuming. She was taken aback by his reaction.

"Okay, Okay, Fine. I wanted you to remember our moments in the past. I just couldn't forget you"

"Your selfish reasons would have messed up my relationship with Helen. What if she had seen that?"

"So? What if she does? Doesn't she trust you enough to know you can't do anything wrong to her? To be frank, I don't think you deserve her. She is so insecure. Just today, she came over to my reserved area at the restaurant asking me why i was still wearing our pendant. You won't believe she was urging me to take it off."

"She met you today?"

"Helen is not worthy of you. With the way she reacted today, it is so obvious she doesn't trust you at all. Just seeing the way she had melted down, seeing me wearing the pendant. She almost thought we still had a thing for each other" Shalom paused and took a deep breath before taking his arms in hers. "What have we become, Tristan? We have gotten stuck with partners who don't deserve us. I know I cheated on you, but try to understand my view. My dad was sick. I needed that lawyer to take down the corruption case the press had against my father. I had no other choice than to do as he said until all the trashy accusations against my father were taken down. I loved you a lot. I just had to act fast for my father"

"The same shitty story over and over again! Why don't you just admit you were into that lawyer? Your dad wasn't really in a corruption case. Even if he was, he had all the funds to get himself out of it. Why don't you admit you abandoned me then because I had not enough money like you had? You're coming back because I can now afford all I couldn't afford for you then, right??"

Tears began dripping down Shalom's eyes, making him confused.

"Could you please stop that? I hate seeing you cry", He pleaded with irritation.

"I really did love you. You were just so blinded by your hard work that you never realized what was going on in my family. I know my dad has all the money in the world but that didn't stop his rivals from causing so much havoc in his business. They almost sabotaged his job, Tristan. I am the only daughter. You think that would have given me the privilege to do whatever I want? Wrong! My dad prefers the boys to me. He considers my brothers better than me. I work my butt off to ensure everything goes fine at home, but all my brothers do is party and look down on me… Tristan, since you left I have never been myself. Can't you see what I have become since you left me?"

"I left you? Shalom, you were the one who left me for that lawyer. You cheated on me, especially during my most difficult times."

"Tristan, i am sorry. I was just helpless. You never gave me the chance to explain", Shalom apologized in hot sobs. Tristan couldn't bear the sight of tears in her eyes. He was more used to seeing her bright and happy face and wasn't used to her seeing tears.

"Please stop these sobs", he pleaded, clearing the tears rolling down her eyes. She nodded immediately, staring straight into his eyes. They gazed at each other for a moment before Shalom brought her head closer to kiss him, which got him irked immediately. The door swung open and Helen walked in with a shocked look at the intimate state they were in. She chuckled in despair and rushed out immediately trying to stop her tears. Tristan pushed Shalom off rudely and raced after her, not noticing the smirk on Shalom's face.

"Stop please!" He pleaded, pulling her back to him. "It's not what you think. I didn't kiss her. We didn't even kiss."

"You should have just told me you still loved your ex and wanted to get back with her. I would have happily let you go"

"I don't love her. I assure you that i don't."

"With the pendant, the way you looked at her, her tears, it's so obvious you both still share some intimacy. Her tears easily move you because you can't bear seeing her cry"

"I dislike seeing anyone cry. I hate tears. They irritate me."

"Whatever it is, what is done is done. It's over between us. I don't want to ever see you again, Tristan. Good luck with your lover girl and don't you ever call me again", She warned her, before getting into the cab. Tristan couldn't believe what had just happened. He tried calling her but she wouldn't pick him up. He walked back in and saw Shalom picking up her bag to leave.

"I will be leaving now. I didn't hope to see all this. Sorry about that" She feigned sympathy and walked out heading towards her Benz. "I just remembered I have a date tonight. I knew she would come to confront you. That's how much she doubts you. Happy battle fighting for that moron. Call me if you need tips on finding a real woman who won't doubt you and believe every single person who speaks against you. If not, do not call me. Adieus"

***

"They kissed?!" Emily exclaimed in shock after hearing Helen's story on the phone during her break.

"Not really kissed. They almost kissed. You know what, i have had enough of Tristan. He has hurt me so much already."

"I didn't know Tristan would still find that witch attractive. I mean, he has been with you for five years and he has never cheated on you. Why would he cheat on you with her of all people? I know how sensitive that boy can be about his feelings. Are you sure you aren't exaggerating, Helen?"

"No. I am sure i am not. I broke up with him"

"You what?! Come on Helen. I know you are hurt, but isn't it too early to break up with him due to this? Try to hear him out"

"Emily, really? You're the one advising me now. You never heard Raphel out despite all his pleading"

"Don't you dare compare good Tristan with that Raphel. Raphel is a monster. He is a party freak and a play boy. For the first time, I thought i truly loved someone, but no, it was another controlling fool who wished to put a baby in me. I didn't let him do that."

"Emily, after that miscarriage of yours, I had hoped you would stop all these things you do…"

"I will stop. I will, but that will be after i have gotten enough money to fly me and my mum abroad. I am tired of this country."

"I hope you can leave here soon."

***

Getting over Tristan had not been easy for her, but considering herself a strong lady, Helen tried her very best to continue her regular activities without thinking about him. Finally getting her first salary after a month, Helen went ahead to apply for a modelling agency, sending all the documents she required and her picture. She was contacted a few weeks later by the agency praising her body structure and how cool it would be for her to be a full body model for a top magazine company they were in partnership with.

"You have that lovely ebony skin we need. You have flawless long hair and hazel eyes. Who the heck won't want to hire you? Welcome to Jolly modelling institute ma'am" She was welcomed by the manager with a handshake.

Though trying to balance her work in the restaurant and her modelling job wasn't easy for her, she learnt to cope with it. As her job at the modelling agency got more tedious and tacky, she quit her job as a waitress and decided to focus on developing her modelling career instead. Everything seemed to be going well until the day of the big photoshoot for this prestigious magazine company. She had on a fashionable golden strap gown which refused to go down her knee. It strapped her body so much that it showed all her curvy areas, including her bust and her butt. Insecure about this, she wished she could wear a jacket or veil but that wouldn't be possible because she couldn't say anything against it.

"Let's begin", The photographer began. "Strike the sexiest post you can", he ordered. Helen agreed and began going for her free-style poses. She arched her back and pushed her butt backwards and her boobs forward, placing her hand over her head and pulling her hair onto her face. Just then, one of the crew members stopped the shoot and walked toward the photographer whispering something in his ears. The photographer turned his gaze back to her.

"Sorry Helen. The CEO of the magazine company wishes to see you first". He informed her politely. "There is a chance he might not like you. Just be positive about this, okay? Try to go and see him. We will continue once you are back."

Helen got confused by this. The CEO? Why? Who was he? Why had she never bothered to research him? Following the crew member who had stopped the shoot, they arrived at a large guest house located behind the main building. Seated on one of the coaches in the sitting room was the most handsome guy she had ever seen. His olive skin, long hair, blue eyes gave her chills immediately as soon as she had set her eyes on them. She found herself trembling at his sight. They both exchanged gazes for a moment before he waved the crew member out of the door.

"What's your name?" He asked, pointing toward a seat, signalling her to sit.

"Helen" she responded, obeying his command.

"Well, Helen. You are black and we don't need a black model in our magazine", he replied with a nonchalant tone and stare.

"What?! You don't have to be racist"

"I am not a racist madam. I am just following the rules of the photoshoot. This photoshoot ought to signify ladies of Garlan but we feel it will appear more attractive if a white lady appears in it instead."

"Sure! You think i am ugly and will ruin the photoshoot. You are really irritating when it comes to races, aren't you?" She sounded angry. "Why don't you just admit that you are a racist and you don't wish me to be in your photoshoot? White, black, it doesn't matter the skin color, we are all the same. Why do this? If you really want your magazine to be a great hit this month, you could try having this photo shoot done with two different skin colors instead?" She suggested. The young man smiled and clapped briefly, confusing her.

"Smart one woman. I was just joking. I wanted to see your reaction. I can see you're handling this argument maturely. I am really impressed. You haven't rained insults at me yet. Well, I will let you do the photoshoot today because you deserve it. But in order for me to approve those photos, you will have to do one thing for me."

"What?" Helen asked.

"There is an official party happening in Kimbell hotel this weekend. One of the most classy kind. I want you to go on a date with me there", he asked with a smile. Helen was so confused now.

"Date?...Wait, i don't understand"

"Sure you won't. Don't ask too many questions. Your response determines your career. Here is my card. Expect my call this weekend". He offered her his card and made his way toward the door.

"You don't wish to be late for the photoshoot do you?' He asked, opening the door for her to leave. Helen got completely perplexed at this behaviour. What sort of passive aggressive behaviour was that? At one point, he sounded nice and at another he was kicking her out. Why would he invite her to such a classy party in the first place? Though her father was wealthy, he wasn't that wealthy to be invited to a classy party to talk about her who was still starting a career in modelling.

Arriving home, she laid back on her bed thinking of what happened that day. She didn't even know this dude's name. How sure was she that he wasn't setting her up for something terrible? Who was this guy anyway? She checked his business card hoping to see his name but whimpered, realizing it only had the company's name and phone number. There was no name or any information she needed. She took out her phone and proceeded to save his number on her contact list as 'Spoilt CEO'.