Strange Addiction

Chapter 2

I swear my right eye just throbbed in irritation.

“Explain yourself, Quinn Anderson. Or I will f*****g walk out of this expensive ass restaurant you set us up with.” Nile Veselov who was sitting all this time, raised a brow at my outburst. He studies us with ignorance which only proves that he had nothing to do with this.

“Okay, okay. Relax. I knew you would’ve easily found out.” She sighs. “You were not late at all, obviously.” She muttered the last word. “I was just checking up on you if you were gonna come. I mean let’s face it. It’s always either you’re late or you’re a no show.”

“Don’t sway off the topic, girlie. We know you’re the schemer here.”

“Ugh, okay. I just wanted you guys to formally introduce each other and maybe forget about what happened the first time and perhaps… apologize to each other.”

“No.” We both answered simultaneously. Our head turned towards each other in a swift motion, narrowing our eyes with a scowl.

“I’m certainly not gonna apologize to that dick.”

“This woman doesn’t deserve my apology.”

“You’re a bitch.”

“How crude.”

“I can’t believe you know each other.”

“I can’t believe you know each other.”

We both said at the same time, our voices overlapping. When we both turned to Quinn, I was amused at her forced grin, a nerve almost breaking was visible in her head. Serves you right, you schemer.

“Okay.” She inhales a lungful of air and exhales. “You will settle your differences, okay? I’m not saying this as a boss or someone who’s going to be working with you.” She eyes him in warning. “I simply want you guys to be at least at the level where you can stomach your faces… as a friend who has known you since dinosaurs.” She suddenly turns her head sharply towards me. “Got that?”

I eye her in disbelief. “What?” I shrug.

She rolls her eyes. “Just be a good girl, Kur.” She whined.

“I am.” I smirked mischievously. It fell out when I heard a scoff from the moody version of Adonis. I moved towards him with an aim to at least put a shade on his too clean of a face. Fortunately for him, Quinn interrupted, warning me to stand down.

“I think your dog needs a leash.”

I think, everyone, it’s when all hell broke loose.

Chapter 3

After the gruesome lunch we had, Quinn joined me for my usual walk. As you probably figured out now, my means of transportation is my own two feet. I don’t own a car. I sold it a couple of years ago. I find tranquility in trekking.

“You could have held back, Kur. If Nile wasn’t my friend, we would’ve screwed up the deal. This is a multibillion event.”

And that’s obviously the reason why Quinn graced me with her company. To lecture me again.

“You’re exaggerating.” I stated with an eye roll.

“Multimillion. I mean what’s the diff, the family makes billions a year.”

I halt causing her to stop abruptly. I turn to her questioningly. “Did you just follow me so you could lecture me? Cause if you do, I’m going to call a cab so you could go to your fiancé and maybe continue planning your wedding.” She pouts. “Oh, no. don’t give me that face. It was your fault you sent me to that mother fucker.”

“Kur.” She warned.

“Look, I already complied with your request. I apologized, he apologized and we’re good.”

“After you punched his face!” She exclaimed.

“He damn well deserved it.” She sighs. “Go home, Quinn. Your heels won’t survive this walk.” I pointed at her four inched high heels which managed to make her barely reach my height. I was five eight. She was five three and a half.

She exhales heavily. “Fine. Remember, be good to him.”

“Same goes to his mouth.” I retorted.

That made Quinn chuckle, hugging me right after. “Please don’t be late tomorrow.” She said before unwrapping her arms from me. “Don’t provoke him, Kur. He’s worse than dad with his conventional ways.”

I smirk. “We’ll see.”

---

Surprisingly, the first week went by without problems. Nile and I only crossed paths a couple of times. It’s when we have meetings where we plan and finalize the general look, schedules, suppliers and other details both minor and major. This will be an international event, attracting investors and clients globally as one of its purposes. I found out that this is their first time organizing this kind of huge event. It turns out Nile was very invested in this. This was his stepping stone for his vision for the future of Veselov Industries.

I must admit that information made me nervous. Veselov is our biggest client to the present. We have handled a lot of huge clients- from small to famous film production, events, weddings, elite parties, advertising campaigns. I was always hands on on everything. If the CEO and I hadn’t had a beef with each other, I think this project would’ve made me doubt myself and probably for the first time in my job, question my confidence. But our squabble made me want to prove myself to him regardless of how I look or talk.

For a moment, I wondered why he still chose us after my bad impression on him. I doubt that it’s because we’re a reputable company. We made a lot of big and successful projects, yes. But I think this guy is too much of a jerk, too arrogant to still work with someone like me. Either way, who cares? The deal was on and that’s what matters.

He gave us a temporary office for us to work on. In case he needed something, he could easily reach out to us. It was also easier for him to monitor us. He had also chosen a team from one of his employees to work with us which was a plus. Since events usually need a large number of people to work.

I was mostly alone in the office, still contemplating ideas and strategies. My people started going out to canvas for supplies and some other errands I needed them to do. The asshole only gave us only four months. Events like this take a year to plan. He was f*****g crazy. If it weren’t for the fat check he signed for us, I’m hands off of this. Because he irritates me, I plan to return the favor.

Every time I sense that he’s around, I act as if I was unconcerned and had nothing to do. And whenever I saw his ugly scowl, I knew it worked. He noticed my nonchalance.

So here I am having a chat with one of his employees in her cubicle as if we have all the time in the world. Her name was Emma. We were talking about her hobbies, her life, her little sidelines whenever she’s bored. She was talkative and I could see how she enjoyed talking about her life to me.

This was all ruined when a domineering shadow fell upon us. Emma immediately sat upright and continued typing to her computer with a concerned look on her face. Of course, I expected this to happen.

I turned my swiveling chair towards him, raising my head to see his glorious presence. The scowl was no surprise though but it seemed to get darker and darker whenever he saw me. I’m glad that I affect him so much. I’m impressed though, the bruise on his handsome face that I painted days ago was almost nonexistent. Wow. Rich people.

He was glowering with his arms crossed, eyebrows digging together, mouth in a firm line. “Is this what you’re doing with my employees? Wasting time as if you have no deadline.”

My lips lifted upwards in a smirk. He grunted, annoyed at my subtle response. “We need to talk.”

He is such a dominant creature. I thought as I shook my head, a smile emitting from my face.

After saying goodbye and thanking Emma, I followed Nile towards his office and perhaps prepare for an intense argument. As soon as I closed the door, his voice boomed with no hesitation.

“Answer me, Miss Kunoe. Clearly you’re not taking this work seriously.” He leaned against his desk and crossed his arms once again.

He was tall with a body that contains just a right amount of muscles which added to his charm. Despite leaning to his desk, he was still taller than me. I probably reached his chin right now and when he stands in full height, I was about in his shoulders or chest. That’s how huge he was.

I roll my eyes. “Please.”

“Do not provoke me. You are working for me, Miss Kunoe. As much as I despise your presence here, Quinn vouched for you. She said you are the best of the best in your work.”

There’s my answer.

I saunter towards him. When I stood a foot apart from him, I slammed the folder against his chest. His eyebrows raise in surprise.

“That contains the lists of people who to trust in planning & organizing the event. From major to minor staff, their tasks and whatnots- even to at least the catering management. I knew how you trust your employees so much so instead of randomly giving me people who I can work with, I asked them one by one so I’d know their capabilities and where to put them. It makes our job a lot easier and less time consuming. In short, everything is put into detail there.”

When they gave me the names of who could possibly join my team, I tried to search the said names. The people in the list have the lightest work in the company. Emma was one of them. And Emma apparently was a designer. Despite her typing job here. She was also very talented and she showed me a few of her works. From flowers, to interiors, gardens and mini events like birthdays from her families and relatives. I could see her love and skills in decorating. I needed someone like her. I needed her talent.

I wanted to find diamonds, not stones. Turns out, he owns a lot of them.

Chapter 4

Nile scanned the files from the folder. His eyebrows raised, obviously in surprise.

I didn’t wait for him to say anything. If he wants to insult me again, I don’t want to hear it. If he realizes he was wrong and wants to compliment me or better yet, apologize, I don’t want to hear it.

My hand reaching the doorknob paused midair when I heard him clear his throat.

“Thank you.”

I whirl around to face him. “Next time when you read a book, don’t fall too much on the cover.” Certainly I didn’t pass the chance to retort. I didn’t wait for him to speak nor see his reaction. I slammed the door shut while I revel at having the last word.

---

“I need your help.”

Quinn suddenly came out of nowhere. Her small figure covering my sight on the photoshoot happening in our very own studio.

“What can I help you with this very early morning, my dear friend?” I was sitting languidly on one of the benches here while monitoring our first work of the day that started as early as 6AM. The models had another schedule later today so we have to start earlier.