5

Jennifer.

"Yes, purge it all, leave it lifeless, coldness all around. It's clear that no lady lives here," I replied, mocking his ignorance with a hint of sarcasm in my tone.

He approached me with an air of arrogance, turning his body fully to face me. His eyes raked over me from head to toe, and then, with a flick of his fingers, he poked my nose and said with an air of superiority, "And who are you to criticize my furniture and my house?! You’re hardly a princess yourself! Look at you!" He raised an eyebrow, disdain dripping from his words as he mocked my appearance.

At that moment, my hatred for him deepened! He was rude, arrogant, and insufferably superficial. His judgments were based solely on appearances, and it made my blood boil. I felt a surge of defiance; part of me wanted to strip off all my clothes just to see his reaction when he realized how beautiful I really was beneath this facade. But I decided to hold my head high and not be fooled by his insults. Perhaps his harsh words were just a desperate attempt to mask his insecurity about my looks.

I took a deep breath to control my anger and tried to make myself look less appealing, just as Mr. Carl had suggested. I could feel Mr. Tomas's eyes scrutinizing my clothes, my high heels, my hair, and the long skirt I wore. I could sense him judging every detail.

He pretended to be frustrated and crossed his arms in a dramatic fashion. "Well, Mr. Carl, I can figure out who she is!!" he declared, widening his eyes and glancing around as if putting on a show.

"Mr. Tomas, she is..." Mr. Carl began to explain, but Mr. Tomas interrupted him with an impatient hand gesture, signaling him to stop talking.

Mr. Tomas stepped closer to me, circling my body like a predator sizing up its prey before stopping right in front of me. He placed his fingers to his cheeks and said, "Yes, you, the foolish girl, the one who offended me with your morning article! Are you really that dense?! You did it all for the money! Look at you! This is all just a fantasy in your head!" His harsh words cut deep, and he reached out to touch my fake wig, but thankfully, he didn’t pull it off.

"Mr... um, Tomas, right?! Did you hire me just to humiliate me? Or do you actually need my expertise?" I asked, desperately trying to suppress my anger while secretly wishing I could slap him across that handsome but infuriating red face of his.

Yes, he was undeniably attractive, charming, and impeccably dressed. His height and physique resembled that of a Greek god, and it was infuriating. But his rude comments were unbearable, and I wanted nothing more than to stab his arrogant eyes with something sharp and pointy. However, I knew I couldn’t let myself get into trouble over someone so heartless—someone who looked down on others as if he were somehow superior.

"Huh? Your expertise?!" He chuckled dismissively. "You’re nothing," Mr. Tomas said bluntly, rubbing his chin as if I were nothing more than a mere annoyance to him.

I turned away in frustration. "Then I quit, Mr. Tomas," I said simply, feigning ignorance, which only seemed to make him more enraged and aggressive.

"Please, Mr. Carl, tear up that contract," I said casually, looking at Mr. Carl with determination.

Then I started to leave, walking away without making a sound, fully expecting him to react.

"Wait, wait! Are you crazy?! You can’t quit! You haven’t even started working yet," Mr. Tomas shouted after me, his voice echoing off the walls.

"I don’t care! I’m not a doll! I’m experienced, and I’ll find another job. If I can’t find a good one, I’d rather work as a maid for someone else than spend a single minute working for you. Good luck with your apathetic doll of a secretary, Mr. Tomas," I shot back, then walked out the door without even glancing back at him.

"Carl, go get her now!" Mr. Tomas commanded Mr. Carl, his voice filled with frustration and disbelief.

I continued walking slowly, fully expecting him to do just that. Men like Tomas Charl were not used to rejection; they were accustomed to firing and hiring at will, but not to being rejected or ignored.

"Wait, Jennifer, what’s going on with you?" Mr. Carl stopped me by the large door and whispered, clearly concerned.

"It’s just a game, Mr. Carl, don’t worry. I swear I’ll make this womanizer regret it," I replied in a challenging tone, feeling a surge of determination.

Maybe I didn’t have anything that could compare to Tomas Charl, according to his standards. But I had one thing that couldn’t be bought—my dignity.

Mr. Carl looked at me with a pleading expression. "No, please, he’s so sensitive. I know he has many faults. But please, don’t judge him so quickly," Mr. Carl urged, his voice full of concern.

I shot him a disbelieving look. "This rude, selfish, cruel man?! He’s sensitive?! Seriously, Mr. Carl?!"

"He forced my boss to fire me! He made me lose my job! And in just a month, he’ll probably kick me out of this job too!" I said anxiously, my voice rising as my frustration boiled over.

"He’ll never do that!" Mr. Carl said confidently, his tone unyielding.

His confidence disturbed me. "How can you know, Mr. Carl?" I crossed my arms tightly over my chest, staring him down.

"I can feel it! Okay, Jennifer! Do whatever you want, but please don’t lose your job!" Mr. Carl gently patted my cheek, and I felt a flicker of warmth from his gesture.

I let out a long sigh, feeling a mix of emotions. "Okay, Mr. Carl." I had to admit that Mr. Carl had a lot of influence on me and could easily convince me of things, even though we had just met. Maybe it was the way he spoke to me like a father figure that eased my tension just a little.

"Now, please come in and let’s start your job. The maids will bring your clothes to your room," Mr. Carl informed me, his smile reassuring.

I re-entered the room, and Mr. Tomas was sitting on a massive chair, chewing gum with an air of indifference, as if he were a king in his own kingdom.

"Carl, I need her to use a room near mine," Mr. Tomas requested, his tone casual.

"Why?" I interjected, unable to help myself.

"It’s none of your business. You work for me. This is my home, my money, my rules, and I am the one in charge. You just need to follow my requests. However, I will give you an answer this time, since you are my private secretary," Mr. Tomas said, a devilish grin spreading across his face.

"What does that mean? Do I need to sleep with you?" I shot back, my sarcasm bordering on defiance.

"Really? Yes, why not? But don’t worry, I have no interest in an ugly woman like you, and I never will," he scoffed teasingly, his words cutting me deep.

I clenched my fists in anger. "What? You are so..." I began, but Mr. Tomas silenced me with a wave of his hand.

"Don’t you dare say anything bad to me, or I will do everything in my power to make you regret it for the rest of your life, Miss," Mr. Tomas warned bluntly, and the intensity of his gaze sent shivers down my spine. I couldn’t afford to make him my enemy. I wasn’t that powerful, and I nervously gulped, trying to calm myself.

"For now, go to your room," Mr. Tomas commanded me sternly, and I stomped upstairs in anger, cursing under my breath as I climbed the stairs.

"I’m not interested in you, Jennifer. I will never touch a terrible girl like you," Mr. Tomas yelled loudly, mocking me as I ascended, indicating that he realized I wasn’t the type he usually went for. Perhaps Mr. Carl’s plan had somehow succeeded.

"We’ll see, Mr. Tomas," I muttered to myself defiantly.

Mr. Carl showed me to my room, which was huge, immaculate, and dream-like. However, it felt cold and sterile, with stark white and black colors that resembled an office building more than a cozy home. The lifeless atmosphere was suffocating.

"Okay, Jennifer, I will be in my room on the ground floor. If you need anything, just call me or the maids. You are part of the family now," Mr. Carl said, his smile warm and inviting.

I nodded with a small smile, feeling grateful. "Thank you, Mr. Carl." He turned to leave, but before he reached the door of my new room, I called out to him.

"Mr. Carl?"

"Yes, Jennifer?" he replied, turning back to face me.

"Can I call you dad?" I asked softly, feeling a longing for familial connection. I hadn’t seen my parents in ages, so why not seek a father figure in this confusing situation?

He approached me and kissed my head gently. "Of course, Jennifer," Mr. Carl said with a smile that warmed my heart.

I grinned, feeling a wave of happiness wash over me. "See you at lunch, Jennifer. Don’t be late. Take a shower and join us in less than an hour, please," Mr. Carl instructed as he left my room and closed the door behind him.

And so, the war would begin soon. My room was uncomfortably close to the devil himself, and I hoped he wouldn’t ask me for anything inappropriate at night or barge in and discover that all my clothes were fake.