MY SISTER'S BOYFRIEND (CHAPTER ONE)

Theresa's POV Hale!” Miss Anastasia Young’s voice rang through the open roof of ‘Vux Luxe’, I staggered on my feet walking quietly into her office, where she sat by the glass wall, holding a printout of my concept board. My concept board!. the one I stayed up till 3am reworking because the first draft felt weak. Her red nails, digging into the paper. “What is this?” She says, not sparing me a glance. “It's the……uhm….” “ the event is in a month and this is what you want representing Vux Luxe?” She finally looked up. “Have you gotten a lock on the event center, the one you pitched. The board just called they went with Maison Revere”. “ Not yet ma’am but I'm on it”. She looked at me, steady eyes, narrowed, as if evaluating a mistake. “I'll fix it” I uttered immediately. She sighed, taking her glasses off. “Theresa, don't mess this up, this is the biggest event we're having, and we cannot afford for it to fail, do you understand that” I nodded, unable to say anything. “Now fix this and get the venue ready , I don't want this repeated” She shoved the design towards me, I took it and hurriedly left her office. Walking down the hall back to my office, I could hear whispers from interns and staff. “ I think, boss is really angry” “ Do you think Tessa is fired?” I increased my steps back to my office, shutting the door behind me, The click sounding like a coffin lid. I walked slowly to my desk Heels too loud in the silence Dropping to my chair. I blinked back the tears that threatened to fall The scream, and just tilted my head back and stared up. The ceiling is white. Not the soft, expensive white Anastasia demands for the showroom. This is office white, she stares at the ceiling, rethinking her life decisions, demanding an answer but the ceiling sits there holding up the roof, holding up the weight of of Vux Luxe, holding up all the version of her that wasn't good enough “Are you alive” Katherine busted through her train of thoughts, her eyes darted to her, she shook her head “Barely” Katherine pouting “I brought chocolates” She said with a bright smile I took it, stuffing it into my mouth. Katherine knows exactly how to comfort me. How could she not, she’s my best friend after all. “She rejected it?” I nodded “Aw Tess, I'm so sorry” “How am I supposed to come up with an entirely new concept and design in a month” I haven't even been able to get through the venue organizers” “ it's okay babe, we'll figure it out, okay, just relax and I'm sure we’ll figure something out” I nodded hoping she was right. FEW HOURS LATER Staring at sketches for hours Red pen slashed all over them The door opens without a knock. Anastasia steps in Heels firsts Then Chanel The air in the room changes, just now noticing her outfit She's wearing a black satin camisole–style top with lace trim along the neckline and hem, paired with a light–wash, leg–wide jeans, phones in one hand, car key in the other. “I'm heading out to pick up Jordan from his football practice “ Anastasia said as her eyes sweep through the sketches, the red marks, the disaster on her desk, she doesn't comment , she's done commenting for today. Theresa swallowed. “ Do you have anything else on your calendar I need to know about”. “No” Teresa says, her voice flat “ I shifted your meeting with Mr Delgado. The investor from Merrick Capital to tomorrow morning, 9am”. Anastasia studies her for one long second “Good, have the files ready, we'll need a clear head, he's pulling funds if we don't impress him” I nodded. She turns to leave, the door clicks shut, I release the breath I didn't know I was holding, just then the door opened again “KATHY! knock!” “ No, are you ready, it's past closing time” Katherine said walking back out. I sighed, gathering my handbag and smoothing down my blazer, I followed behind her. Heels clicked softly against the marble floor as we stepped into the hallway. As they walked Theresa gaze lifted instinctively, taking in the building she knew so well yet still couldn't but stop admiring. Vux Luxe' stood like a statement rather than a structure–glass and steel rising with elegance. The lobby alone felt like stepping into another world. Flowers that were being changed weekly, art pieces that screamed wealth and a scent in the air that always smelt like expensive perfume and ambition. Theresa adjusted her bag strap as they reached the elevator. “ Sometimes I still can't believe people walk in here like it's normal” Katherine glanced at me “It's normal to them, not everyone feels like they are inside a fashion war zone everyday” Theresa huffed a quiet laugh. Stepping out of the elevator the glass doors revealed the city outside, warm evening air wrapped around her skin like a quiet release. “ So I was thinking we could go to the party tonight, you know being stressed and all” Theresa opening the passenger side to Katherine's car “I'm not going to your party Kat” “ Not a party, it's a stress detox. Rooftop. Dj, come on it's going to be fun” she said as she started the car engine. “Kat, you know I have dinner with my family and don't forget I also have a deadline for the event, I can't afford to be at a party”. “ So, move dinner, Tell Celophine you can't stand her, Tell Veronica you're allergic to her voice. Tell your dad…..” “ I'm not telling him anything. I said cutting her off “ And I'm not moving dinner, come on, go have fun for the both of us” Katherine's face softens, her eyes still focused on the road “ I don't know why you agreed to go to that dinner , she has no right to ask anything of you. That bitch!. Theresa's eyes widened “ Kathy! Stop! that's my sister….” “ Step sister “ Katherine cuts in. I rolled my eyes “ and besides we haven't seen her in what, five years, and she sounded really nice on the phone” Katherine scoffed “ are you seriously listening to yourself, or am I the only one seeing through Veronica, the same bitch that has been the cause of everything wrong, or are we forgetting when she slept with your boyfriend claiming she was drunk, amongst other things” Theresa rolled her eyes “ okay, Daniel was a douche” “ He was, but he was also your boyfriend, God I could kill her”. Katherine's hand tightened around the steering “ Okay Miss hot pants, calm down, and besides it's just dinner what could possibly go wrong” I said knowing fully aware, everything could. The car rolled to a stop outside my dad's house. Big, white tall columns in front , the same house she grew up in, the porch light is on as always. “You know we could drive to my place. Watch The notebook, drink some wine” Theresa let out a small laugh “I'll be fine,You. She pointed knowingly “don't do anything I would not do. “ You mean get drunk and fuck a stranger” “Kathy!” I said my eyes widened “ I would. Definitely not do that. I rolled my eyes. Stepping out of Katherine's BMW. She waved goodbye and I watched as she drove off, leaving me with my thoughts. I turned to the house walking slowly to the porch, each step feeling heavier than the last, behind the door I could hear my dad's laughter.

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