The CEO's Curvy Dream

Carla "If you had taken your body as seriously as your work, we would have found a modeling job for you in this agency years ago." My boss's words stung, but it was only the third time today she had said something terrible about my body. I was used to it. It wasn't easy, but I learned not to let her words get to me. She made it clear from the moment I started working here that no matter how good I was at my job, my body would always be a problem in her eyes. I lowered my gaze as she scattered the papers I carefully arranged across the floor. I squatted down to pick them up, trying my best not to focus on her gaze that I could still feel burning into me. “What are you waiting for?” she snapped. “Go get ready for the meeting. It's in five minutes and I don't want anything out of place.” “Yes ma'am.” I quickly stood up, gathered the remaining papers and walked out of the room. The moment I stepped into the main office, I felt everyone's eyes on me. Pretending not to notice, I focused on preparing for the meeting. I finally got the papers together and walked into the room just in time. Everyone else was already seated while I walked to stand beside my boss. She cleared her throat and lifted her head, stretching her neck as she looked around the room before finally settling her gaze on everyone. “The CEO of one of our greatest contributors, Lingling Fashion Company, just passed away.” Before the gasps could rise around the entire room, she lifted a hand and everyone went quiet. “Hush now. His soul will rest in peace,” she said before continuing. “The company has been taken over by a son of his, Lazio.” She paused briefly. “Since Lingling has been one of our biggest clients for years, the new CEO has requested a fresh face for his new collection. The collection will launch alongside the announcement of his transition from his father's seat to his own.” From the corner of my eye, I noticed a young woman enter the room. And it wasn't just any young woman. It was Elisa Cruz, the exotic model I had always seen in all the fashion magazines I read and knew I could never find my face on. “Come closer darling,” my boss said, stretching her hand out as she shoved me slightly with her elbow. “This here is the face of the season and she needs no introduction. She is my preferred model for the new fashion line.” My boss rose to her feet, gesturing toward Elisa. “I believe this is the kind of image our clients are looking for. Elegant, slim and marketable,” she said. “Not someone who has to be squeezed into clothes two sizes too small.” The room went quiet. I felt the familiar sting in my chest as a few eyes shifted toward me. I had heard worse. Still, hearing it in front of everyone made it hurt in a way I didn't want to admit. I lowered my gaze to the papers in my hands, pretending to read through them even though I already knew every detail. It was easier not to look at anyone. Especially my boss. If I let myself react, even for a second, she would know that her words had gotten to me. I couldn't afford that. Not when this job was the only thing keeping my family afloat. “Anyway, I guess we have to manage the body that we have been dealt by God. Isn't that right?” She gestured toward the other members present at the meeting, and they all nodded their heads almost immediately. Of course, they did. Nobody would dare cross Miss Veronica Ross. She had a reputation for firing people who spoke against her and that was the only reason I managed to take her endless bullshit for years. Shortly after that, there was a little more discussion about how the new face would be introduced and how the campaign would be run before the meeting finally came to a close. My phone beeped as evening began to creep in. I glanced at the notification and the first thing I saw was a message from my mum. (I made your favorite soup. Don't come home late or your brother will finish it.) That text was enough to put a small smile on my face. I picked up my bag, already looking forward to getting home and finally relaxing for the evening. Then I heard it. “Carla.” The devil's voice. My smile disappeared. I hurried toward Miss Veronica's office, still holding my bag, hoping she would take the hint that it was already time for me to clock out. Instead, I found a dress wrapped in a small waterproof package sitting on her desk. I recognized it as the last edition of the Lingling Fashion Collection before looking up at her. “I need you to return this dress to Lingling today,” she said. I stared at her for a few seconds, trying my best not to lose my mind. “Ma'am,” I said with a faint, polite smile. “That's not really my job and I don't have clearance. Most of the clothes are usually submitted to the top floor.” “Oh, is that so?” she asked mockingly. “Well, if you don't believe this is your job and that I, Veronica Ross, have the clearance to give you, then maybe this job isn't for you.” She paused. “I can find someone else to do it much better.” I knew exactly what she meant. I didn't say anything else. Instead, I took the dress and the clearance card from her and headed downstairs. At least once I dropped it off, I could go straight home without having to see her face again. I took a cab and got there in what felt like ten minutes. I quickly walked inside, flashed the card at the receptionist and was allowed through with the dress. Next, I made my way to the elevator and eventually reached the top floor. But something was different. The color and arrangement of the entire office had changed. It had been completely cleared out, leaving only one large table sitting in the middle of the room. I walked towards it. “Hello? I'm here to return a dress. Is anyone here?” There was no response. I finally reached the table and noticed some papers scattered across it. They had the most beautiful drawings of clothes and from the looks of them, they hadn't been launched yet. I picked one up, studying the way the intricate designs came together. Suddenly the lights went off. I reached for my phone to turn on the torch. In the process, the dress slipped from my hand. I reached to pick it up when I felt a presence, someone standing right in front of me. I panicked, spinning around so quickly my feet stumbled beneath me. Before I could fall, a pair of strong hands caught me. “Signora, what are you doing here?” His voice was so deep but that wasn't what surprised me more. It was the fact that he had been holding me for more than fifteen seconds, and his hand wasn't tired of carrying me.