Fired by the CEO, Forced to Serve Him

Three

I forced myself to stay still and not turn around, no matter what. The ride to the top floor was so awkward that I wished I had taken the stairs instead.

The elevator finally dinged and the doors slid open as I got out. But just as the doors closed, I turned around to see the man who had spoken earlier.

His eyes were fixed on me until the doors closed completely and it felt like my legs were frozen in place until the elevator continued moving.

His voice sounded familiar, almost like the man last night. But his was deeper and more strict, nothing like the man who lured me into his bed with his sultry voice last night.

I didn't even know who that man in the elevator was. But the bodyguards behind him made me know that he wasn't someone ordinary. He was probably the CEO of Aurelius Luxe that no one has ever seen before.

With a heavy sigh, I made my way to the company's studio and the moment I opened the door, Ethan's hand slapped the back of my head.

“You're going to be the end of me, do you see the time? We should be done with your shoot by now so you'll be on time for the audition!” He snapped, dragging me to the frame and I winced in pain.

“I overslept, let's get this done quickly.” I said with a nervous grin and he hissed, gesturing for me to get ready.

“You have ten minutes to freshen the hell up. You almost gave me a heart attack when I couldn't find you last night. Always causing me trouble.” He muttered in dissatisfaction and I sighed again, limping to the dressing room.

“Why are you limping?” He asked with raised brows and I froze. “What did you do last night?” His gaze narrowed at me and I laughed nervously.

“I stepped on glass.” I said half-truthfully as I showed him the bandage. He seemed satisfied with that answer as he let me go.

I spent the next ten minutes freshening up and applying a little makeup to get ready. And then work began. I stroked as many poses as possible, keeping it natural and smooth.

As a model who was the best in Aurelius Luxe, and automatically in the whole country, I was so close to becoming the face of the company.

And my chance to shine was at the audition happening in the next hour. I barely remembered the speech I had been practicing for the past week so when the shoot was over, I recited it over and over until it was imprinted in my brain.

“Good luck, Kai.” Ethan said, patting my shoulder. “I heard the owner of the company will be here with his mother. You need to give it your all to impress them.”

“Got it, sir!” I exclaimed with a grin and he rolled his eyes as he slapped my shoulder.

I was so excited and nervous that I felt like I could throw up. But I shook the jitters off and made my way to the company's large hall.

The place was already decorated, and seeing my face in the middle, standing out more than other faces in the background, made my heart swell. I worked hard for this. And no one would stop me.

The event started in less than ten minutes with the announcer giving all the boring details that no one needed. I yawned in boredom as I played with the napkin in front of me, wondering when the real event would begin.

I zoned out until I heard my name and I stood up immediately.

“Please welcome our top model, Mr Kai Veridan.”

That was my cue to walk to the stage as claps erupted, giving me more courage than before. Shutters clicked as I got on stage and I took a deep breath, my face sweeping before the crowd.

“Ladies and gentlemen, and to the non-binary and gender fluid, I would like to appreciate you for giving me the opportunity to stand here in front of you today. I wouldn't have been where I am right now without your support and love. Being a model has been my lifelong dream and I have worked hard for seven years to finally make it here. I have been nominated to be the face of Aurelius Luxe, which is the best thing that could ever happen to anyone. And I'm so grateful that—”

“Do you think you deserve it?”

A voice boomed from the crowd, interrupting my speech and I glanced up to see the man from the elevator earlier.

“Do you think you're qualified to be the top face of Aurelius Luxe? Do you think you're worth it?” He continued, his tone harsh and cold, and it made me gulp nervously.

“I have done my very best to work hard for Aurelius Luxe. So if I end up becoming the face of this prestigious company, then yes. I do deserve it.” I said calmly and he stared at me from below the stage, his hands in his pockets.

Then he laughed. A low, humorless laugh that sent shivers running down my spine.

“But you don't deserve it.” He said and my blood ran cold. “You're not even good enough to be a model for my company. If you become the face of Aurelius Luxe, what will become of the reputation of my company?”

His company… If he were the owner of the company that I have heard of, then he had to be Lucien Beaumont.

I was dumbfounded as I stared at him in confusion and disbelief.

The media won't stop taking photos and I could see guests recording with their phones.

“I'm sorry, I do not understand—”

“The audition is canceled. Until you find a better candidate, the top face position remains vacant.” The man ordered loudly and my heart dropped as he turned to leave.

“I've not done anything to offend you, have I?” I asked in horror and he stopped. “We've never spoken before. Do you have some personal vendetta against me?” I asked before I could stop myself and he simply scoffed in amusement.

And then he walked away.

Just like that, my life was ruined.

The audition was truly canceled and the shoots I had through the next week were canceled on Lucien's order. I tried going to his office to know what I did wrong and probably ask for forgiveness.

His assistant sent me out like I was trash. Worse, the photos and videos were spreading so far and so wide. The comments weren't exactly pleasant either.

I thought that after a few days, the matter would die down and that I'd return to work. But the company never called me back for a shoot. Even Ethan couldn't help.

“f**k!” I groaned as I scanned through my emails to see tons of rejection emails from other companies.

No one wanted to work with me anymore.

Suddenly, my phone buzzed and my face lit up when I saw the caller ID on the screen.

I felt a ray of hope, my heart thudding dangerously, like it would slip away if I breathed wrongly.

“Hello?”