My Curvy Girlfriend

Episode 1 - The Present day

I sat in silence as Bruno's words ran through my head "I've been having an affair, we haven't been enjoying our time together for a while now, it's nearly Christmas, I want to start fresh at new year with Celia she's beautiful, petite, stylish and fashionable and you have to admit you've let yourself go since we got together, I need to be with someone who knows how to present herself, how to be there for her man at business dinners I can't show up with you ... your a joke" Bruno said 

"get out" I mumbled nothing more than a whisper,

"what?!" bruno asked with everything I had left inside of me I shouted

"GET OUT LEAVE AND DON'T COME BACK" I sat silent and stunned on my bed staring into the distance, while Bruno busied himself around the bedroom gathering as much as he could to take with him, I watched as the sun set, out the huge windows that ran along the full wall of my flat, as the darkness took over sleep took over me, I laid down on my bed and fell asleep. The next morning I woke up to the sound of my 6 AM alarm, I sat up on my bed for a moment to think about the last 24 hours and what had happened, what felt strange was I didn't feel anything, I stood up walked to the bathroom, switched the shower on, stripped off and got in the shower, I stood naked and let the warm water fall over me, relaxing my aching muscles, I washed and rinsed both my body and hair got out dried myself and dried my hair with the diffuser, I had long curly hair which usually if I washed it and used the diffuser, with some hair gel it would stay curly and amazing all day, if I couldn't feel amazing I could at least look amazing, I put my ACDC t-shirt and my motorbike suit on, with my boots, placed spare clothes in my bag with shoes, my lunch, my drinks bottle, my purse, phone and my folder with all my designs in, I grabbed my helmet on the way out, locked my door, ran down the stairs trying to avoid the creepy owner Mr Cravits who lives in apartment 1 on the ground floor, I ran to my garage grabbed my bike, I put my helmet on and was on my way to work in no time, taking the 5 mile journey across town to the Northern Fashion Magazine head quarters, if you had asked me how I had gotten to work that morning I couldn't tell you, it was like I was in a trance, I parked up round the back, in the alley that, the deliveries, kitchen staff, cleaners and maintenance staff always used, I walked to the locker room, placed my helmet on top of the lockers, took my boots off and put them in the bottom of my locker I unzipped the top half of my suit pulled it off my arms, pulled my ACDC t-shirt off and put my Black t-shirt over my head as I pulled my I pushed my suit down, over my ankles and kept my ankle socks on, I put my ankle length jeans on and my high top converse on and tied them up, once I was ready, I hung my suit up on the coat hanger in my locker grabbed my bag with everything I needed and headed to my office, it was on the 4th floor of the 6th floor building, the 5th floor had all the supervisors of the different departments on it, and the 6th floor was the editor and chief, well supposed to be Mr Jaxon Parker but for now it was acting, editor and chief Wilma Woods, the floor I was on was the studio for the photo shoots, my best freind Lee Jarvis shared the studio with me, he is the photographer, I've been here 4 years now, I was originally on the 1st floor as a receptionist, I started as an apprentice, I learned everything from scratch, after a year, I applied for a job that was going on the 3rd floor, for assistant to one of the writers at the magazine I got the job, then after a year a opening came up for Lee's assistant/fashion and beauty assistant and art assistant all rolled into one, my true passion is to become a photographer, its always been a passion of mine ever since I was little, my dad taught me, he was a photographer, he ran his own business that was until my mother became a selfish, cheating hussy with nothing better to do than to, ruin my dad's reputation, drive his business into the ground and take all of his money, my dad adored my mother, he hung himself when I was 12 years old, I found him hanging from the stairs when I came in from school, I was deverstated, it took me 3 years to speak to anyone after that, I did my work and at 16 I passed my GCSE's I did it for my dad, my mum didn't care, on the night of my prom, I came home to find my mother had abandoned me, she had ran off with her then current boyfriend, Darren a drug dealer and full time thug, with no where to live, no family to speak of and no money, I decided I needed to move anywhere so I decided that Carlisle was best for a fresh start, I packed what possessions I had in a suitcase, I had been saving some money from doing odds jobs, it wasn't much but it was enough to find me somewhere safe to stay temporarily until I found somewhere permanent, I boarded the train at Workington Town train station, and took the 55 minute train journey to Carlisle and the first person I met when I walked out of Carlisle train station was,

Lee, he had just broken up with his girlfriend and needed someone to talk to, it turned out I was that person, he is tall, dark and handsome, straight, brown eyes and had muscles all over his body, he looked after himself, he let me stay with him, we both got on really well from the minute we met and he got me a job where he worked, Northern Fashion Magazine, we've been inseparable ever since, he's been like my big brother and I'm so grateful to him for everything he's done for me, 4 years on I own my own flat, I have a motorbike and in 4 weeks I will be 21 on the 9th May. I needed to see this as just another day, I was sat at my desk Lee tried to scare me but it didn't work "BOO" he shouted from behind me, I never reacted "hey Nova ... sweetie HEY!!" he shouted while nudging me,

"woah what's up" I asked

"sweetie what's the matter I've been calling you what's gotten to you this morning?" Lee asked me

"Bruno dumped me" I said

"nooooo" he said

"yeah" I replied

"why didn't you phone me? what happened?" he asked

"he came round last night, his exact words were 'I've been having an affair, we haven't been enjoying our time together for a while now, it's nearly Christmas, i want to start fresh at new year with Celia she's beautiful, petite, stylish and fashionable and you have to admit you've let yourself go since we got together, I need to be with someone who knows how to present herself, how to be there for her man at business dinners I can't show up with you ... your a joke' I told him to get out, he took his things and left and I fell asleep" I said

"I'm so sorry" he said as he gave me a hug "he didn't deserve you, you are beautiful, your not a joke if I ever see that weasel faced little prick I'm gonna show him who the joke actually is" he said

"you know the sad part is I don't feel sad about him leaving, I just feel sad about the things he said about me" I said

"well you don't let him get to you, you'll find someone who loves you for you and they will feed your confidence not rip it apart like he did" he said

he check his watch, "oh come on if we don't head off now we will be late for our emergency meeting" Lee said pulling me with him, I grabbed a pencil and my file, took hold of Lee's huge hand and followed him running down the hallway to the lift to go to the conference room for our emergency meeting, we entered and already half full lift and squeezed in, "so what's the meeting for?" I asked Lee

"apparently the boss man has come in no one knows what for? but rumour has it that the wicked witch will be on her best behaviour she likes boss man and has been trying to tap that for quite some time" he replied and he nudged me, the gestured with his head towards the others in the lift with us all making faces and taking in what Lee had said for gossip later, they all knew Lee was best freinds with Jaxon Parker but he still liked to play them at their own game, I laughed,

"I'm sorry I asked I always get far too much info from you" I said as I giggled,

"oi"

"You know I'm right" I said

he shrugged his shoulders, PING! the lift bell went as it reached the 6th floor, Lee grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me with him out of the lift as he did I bumped in to what felt like a wall, I dropped my file and my pencil, Lee let go of my hand he hadn't even noticed and kept walking, I got to my knees to pick up my file and the papers that had fell out of it, "I'm so sorry please forgive me, my friend was pulling me too fast and I didn't see you standing there," then I looked up to see a very tall and very beautiful god like man looking back at me, while being surrounded by many other women who worked in the building, he had golden brown skin, long brown curly hair that was tied in a man bun, full beard ruggedly handsome, beautiful brown eyes with flecks of gold in them, he was wearing a white shirt with, denim jeans black shoes and a black blazer, his frame was muscular but not too much he was slightly taller than Lee he was smiling at me with my pencil in his hand "thats OK no harm done" he said smirking at me, I slowly got up from the floor not leaving eye contact for a moment,

"Nova come on we are going to be late oh hi Jaxon we can't stay got a meeting don't want to be late come and see me" Lee said coming back for me when I realised what he said I was completely shocked but didn't have time to say anything Lee was already dragging me away from the gorgeous stranger, he was watching me as I looked back at him, I knew his name and had an idea who he was but my god I prayed I would see him again, Lee and I arrived at the meeting room and stood at the back of the room, as we always did Lee always like that spot so he always made sure we got there before everyone else did it was in the perfect position so that if you needed to escape you could, you could here everyone from where ever they were in the room and it was somewhere that you could guarantee if you were stood there you never really got picked first for ideas, once everyone was in the wicked witch Mrs Wilma Woods entered she doesn't own the magazine but she sure likes to pretend like she does, she works for Jaxon Parker, I had never seen this man well until I nearlly knocked him over thanks to Lee, Lee and he were best freinds to but in that whole time we had never met, Jaxon's father built the magazine from scratch in 1966, when his father retired 3 years ago he passed it on to him, if I am being honest though this is the first time I've known him to be here since he took over and it begs the question why? Mr Parker Senior came in to work everyday and worked alongside all of his employees, he was well loved, even the wicked witch had a heart, I guess we would find out soon enough, I was stood between Lee and the door, our freinds Susan and Terry from printing came and stood with us, we were having a catch up when, the wicked witch walked in, followed by her assistant, Paula and an older gentleman I'd never seen before,

"good morning everyone, we have organised this emergency meeting as there will be changes made to the way the magazine is being run here to explain is the owner of the magazine Mr Jaxon Parker Wilma said introducing Jaxon into the meeting room, a round of applause I heard in the room, "good morning everyone, as you've just heard my name is Jaxon Parker, from now on I will be here to work alongside each and everyone of you, you all will be my teachers, I want to learn how my magazine works these last few years, I have been completing other projects I had started before my father retired and now they are out of the way my time is now free to concentrate on learning and making this magazine the best it's ever been" cheers and clapping is heard around the room, "so please go back to your floors, I will be visiting each of the floors in turn, spending a week with each one if by the end of the week I feel I need to spend more time there I will if I don't I will move on thank you for taking the time out of your busy work days to see me and I will speak to you all very soon" Jaxon said, most of the models and younger receptionists wanted to know more straight away so they all gathered around him, like lions fighting over a piece of meat, Lee and I snuck out of the doors at the back of the room and as we passed the room, Jaxon spotted me I looked at him then quickly looked away, what would someone like him want with someone like me, oh come on Nova don't think like that you don't do the self pity, your confident and strong and you don't let men make you feel like this, I shook my head took a deep breath and carried on, Lee and I got off on our floor, the 4th floor, I got on with designing the summer layouts, Wilma wanted them to be what she called perfection and what I called superficial, she wanted a layout, well shall we say for the higher class of readers rather than than the people who the magazine it was originally made for, Northern Fashion Magazine was priced at £1.50 when Mr Parker Senior was in charge but since Jaxon hadn't been about and Wilma was in charge she increased the price to £4.50 with not much extra to show for it, people still bought it but over the last few years, it's popularity has decreased, both Lee and me have been to see Wilma and talk to her but she won't listen its her way or the high way or she laughs at us which only makes it more infuriating. once back at my desk I slipped my headphones on as I usually did and zoned out, I took out the drawings I had already begun at home from my file and placed them in front of me, of course all my designs incorporated family ideals and what summer was all about, I began copying my back grounds on to separate paper, and began to add sketches of models wearing only designers, I finished all the designs Wilma wanted me to finish I placed them in to a large brown envelope and wrote "summer sketches" on the front, I began looking at my own designs when Lee came over, placed his arm around my shoulder, I pulled my head phone out of my ear for a moment "hey sweetie it's lunchtime I'm going to the baguette bar is there anything you'd like?" he said

"no thanks I'm ok" I said

"ok cool I'll see you soon ok" he said

"ok babe see you soon" I said and he left

I put my head phone back in, Lee left I carried on looking at my designs, then I thought of another design for summer, it was an evening on the beach sat round a camp fire, stars in the sky, a huge moon, and a group of friends sat around a camp fire enjoying each others company,

suddenly a tap on the shoulder "ARRRGGHHH" I shout jumping from my chair, I take my head phones out of my ears and put my hand on my chest, "oh my god you scared me" I said to

the one person I wasn't expecting to see Jaxon Parker

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to frighten you, I tried saying hello but obviously you didn't here me" he said pointing to his ear,

"sorry I work better when I drown outside noise out" I said

"it's ok we all have different styles of working" he said as he flashed his sexy smile at me, I swear if he had touched me I would have c*m on the spot, he was absolutely delicious, I smiled back I had no idea what he was thinking but I knew it wasn't on par with me, so I cleared my throat "so what can I help you with sir?" I asked

"oh please don't call me sir call me Jaxon and I decided to start with your department first, Lee is an old friend of mine and I'd figure I could catch up while I learn about his department and staff" he said

"oh well he's just nipped to the baguette bar, I am sure he won't be too long your more than welcome to wait, can I get you anything, cup of coffee or tea?" I asked

"thank you that's very kind of you ..."

"oh Nova... my name is Nova" I said

"a beautiful name for a very beautiful lady" he said as he looked at me, oh my god I'm blushing like mad, I could faint in his arms right now and not even care who walked in and seen us,

Nova snap out of it, I shook myself out of the trance I was in "so was that a tea or a coffee?" I said trying to completely change the subject, I walked towards the kitchen station we had in the corner, filled the kettle with water, put it back on its stand and switched it on, I was a complete mess, why I'm never like this I hate Bruno for making me this way, actually no I hate myself for letting him do it to me, "I'll have tea please" he said in his husky voice, oh god his voice is so sexy, Nova enough

"how do you take it?" I asked

"milk and two sugars please" he answered,

"these are really good, why haven't I seen these before?" he asked

I walked over to him and handed him his cup of tea,

"these are my personal designs, the ones Wilma asks me to do are in this envelope to go up, she approves them, then I get to work with Lee making the back drops scenes and props, Lee sorts all the models and Maggie the seamstress and designer gathers all the clothes that's in fashion and brings them up here for the models to change into" I explained

"so why don't you send any of your designs up along with the one's Wilma asks you to do?" he asked me,

I stayed silent and stared at him for a moment, "HEY JAX HOW ARE YOU DOING MATE?" Lee shouted from the lift, thank god he walked in at that moment, Jaxon's whole attention was bow focused on Lee, I turned and walked back to my desk picked up the envelope leaving my designs where they were and headed upstairs to give Wilma the finished designs, I knocked on the door, "COME IN" she shouted, I opened the door and walked in, "oh Nicola it's you, do you have my designs" she said sharply to stop me from correcting her, I handed her the envelope, she took them out looked and looked at them, "yes, yes, yes they'll do go get on with it" she said and shoo'd me out of her office, I walked out shutting the door behind me, god I hated that woman, I thought as I was heading back towards the lift, normally I would speak back but after Bruno and his great compliments, I was in no mood for anything, I was hardly comprehensive when I spoke to Jake earlier on,.... ah no Mr Parker Nova not Jaxon, if I start using his first name it makes it all too personal, the worst part is I have to spend two weeks with him, well Lee does I'm the lucky one making up the back drops and props, I had no idea how I'd gotten there I was in the lift watching the door open for the 4th floor, Lee and Jaxon were already engrossed taking photos of our gorgeous models, I didn't look once I put my head phones back in put my work away in my file and began writing a list of everything I needed to put the scenes together, I quickly wrote my list, I stood up took my head phones out and laid them on my desk, with my phone I began to walk to the lift again note pad in hand, I stepped into the lift, I looked up to see Jaxon entering the lift to "need some help?" he asked

"I'm ok if you wanted to stay with Lee Mr Parker" I said

"Lee has everything under control, I'll be the brawn to your brain and its Jaxon not Mr Parker" he said

I giggled and he smiled back at me,

"well thank you for the offer I'd love some help" I said the lift doors closed and we decended down to the the basement where my favourite handy man was always there to help, the lift doors opened "ladies first" Jake said

"why thank you good sir" I replied as I stepped out

"BILLY, YOU HERE?" I shouted

"hey there's my favourite girl" Billy said as he walked out of the cleaning cupboard,

I walked up to him gave him a cuddle, he gave me one back,

"what can I do for you today?" he asked

"well you can join me for dinner tomorrow night as always and will you help me build a couple of things for the summer shoot" I asked

"yeah to both" he said

"perfect" I said

Billy noticed Jaxon, "oh forgive me BIlly this is Mr Jaxon Parker, he's come to spend sometime learning how the magazine works so he can take over and run the magazine for his father" I said

the shook hands,

"well welcome Master Jaxon" Billy said

"thank you Billy and nice to meet you" he said

"nova here is learning me the ropes on what she does to get the photos hoots ready for the monthly issues" he said

"oh well your in good hands, this girl here knows exactly what's she's doing and she's always willing to help unlike that witch Wilma..."

"uh oh well Billy I will come back down and see you later to go over everything is that ok?" I said trying to drown out Billy so he didn't say anything else about Wilma, it wasn't that I was protecting her but one thing I wasn't was a back stabber, nor did I b***h if I don't say things I wouldn't say to their face, today was just not that day, we walked back to the like, "see you later Billy" I said

"see you later Nova" Billy said with a huge smile on his face,

Once we were in the lift, Jaxon pressed the stop button, "What are you doing?" I asked "why are you avoiding telling me how you really feel about Wilma?" he asked

I stated silent for a moment "because I'm not going to stand here and talk about what a bad decision your father made by leaving her in charge," I said

"oh really and why do you think he made the wrong choice?" he said

"Wilma is a selfish, spiteful, vindictive, she is nothing but a b***h, she has forgotten why this magazine was made in the first place, all she ever concentrates on is attracting a rich audience instead of a real one, she has upped the price of the magazine and because of that alone, we've lost our regular readers, all she ever puts on the covers is unrealistic ideas of how men and women should look and no matter who is it, she knocks anyone back who has a better idea than her because she didn't think of it and I don't just mean for myself I mean for everyone here at Northern Fashion Magazine, I'm normally the one who challenges Wilma but today I really cannot be bothered she ain't worth my time or effort because she never listens anyway there you are Mr Parker" I said "you have my opinion"

I said, I couldn't help it but it was who I was I was never one to sugar coat anything in my life, regardless of the consequences, we stared at each other for what felt like forever,

"very well your opinion is well noted" he said

I looked at him completely confused, he just smirked at me then he pressed the stop button to make the lift move again, next stop was the resources room, we got off the lift on the 3rd floor, there was a store cupboard at the end of the corridor that held boxes and boxes of materials, paints, props and various light and effect machines, women who worked on the 3rd floor were intrigued to see me walking down the corridor with none other than the boss man, I ignored the stares and whispers, opened the door to the storage cupboard and walked in, the space between the shelving units was cramped, there was three racks floor to ceiling full of boxes, a small set of ladders stood against one of the shelfs, "this is where I get most of my materials from sometimes if you look hard enough, you can get inspiration to add to the shoots your doing" I said

"you mean like this" he said as he pulled a hat on to his head,

I giggled "yeah just like that, it suits you, you know" I said giggling more, he took the hat off and threw it at me, I caught it and threw it back, I walked towards the ladder set it up, walked up to the top of it and pulled a box from the shelf, "here I can take that for you" he said

"oh thank you" I said handing him the box, he placed the box down and I got one more box, I passed it down to Jaxon he took it, as I turned to get down I lost my footing and fell off the ladder, luckily Jaxon caught me bridal style in his arms, my arms out waiting for the floor that never came, my eyes were tightly shut, "your ok Nova I've got you" he said softly, my god my body wanted him,

I slowly opened my eyes to find him looking at me "oh my god I'm so sorry I didn't mean to...." I said

"hey no its OK it's fine your not heavy or anything, I'm mean...not that ...I'm....saying that um your....um big or anything thing, ...I mean um ...um ...im sorry please forgive my big mouth" he said

"it's ok honestly I appreciate what you did but it's fine I know I'm fat... look I better go I got work to do, better not let the boss catch me skiving" he put me down, a sad expression on his face, I grabbed a box and walked away, with him following behind me,

"Nova I didn't mean it like that please forgive me" he said I turned around and we stopped in our tracks,

"it's ok honest Jaxon, please let me know if there is anything else you need" and with that I walked off, all I kept thinking was, I can't wait for this day to be over, what a day its been,....