My Beloved Boss (The Short Story)

2

Kyra Lewis:

I was devastated, completely shattered. Hearing those words from the person you love hurts in an indescribable way.

“I found a better one.” If I was already feeling insecure, now the situation became unbearable. At that moment, my mother rushed into the room and hugged me. That gesture made me break down; I cried like a child.

— Did you hear what he said? — I asked between sobs. She nodded while wiping my tears.

— Don’t pay attention to what he said, my love. You are perfect, and he’s the one losing.

— I’m finished. Did the others hear? — I asked, casting a doubtful look at her. In response, she looked at me with an encouraging smile.

— They heard, and when I went upstairs to your room, Pietro was giving him a beating.

A small smile appeared on my lips upon hearing that.

— I need to thank Pietro for that.

I imagine Alex must be furious for taking a beating, especially since he’s always been so concerned about his appearance. His obsession with beauty was one of the main reasons I suffered; since we started dating, he always looked for flaws in me to diminish my self-esteem, pushing me to seek perfection at any cost. Now, with the breakup, I realize how much that was consuming me, but despite everything, I still love him. Sometimes, you can’t control your heart.

— You need to rest. Sleeping a little will do you good. — She gently kissed my forehead and left the room.

I lay on the bed and started reflecting on everything I had been through. Sleep soon took over, and before I knew it, I fell asleep.

[...]

Months went by, and my prosthesis was ready. My parents hired a physiotherapist to help me adapt. His name is Felipe, and he is very kind. For now, I am doing physiotherapy and exercises at home, but next week I will have my first solo appointment at the clinic.

Finally, I will be able to manage on my own.

Since that day with Alex, I haven’t heard anything from him, and I can say it’s much better that way.

In the past months, my life has undergone a significant transformation. I have changed, and I can say I am proud of the new woman I am becoming. The experience taught me to value myself more, to realize that true beauty lies in confidence and self-value, not in the relentless pursuit of imposed standards.

Now, looking ahead, I feel empowered, ready to face new challenges and rediscover my path. The journey is long, but I am excited about the possibilities that await me. It’s time to live, and I intend to do so with intensity.

[...]

Matteo Rossi:

— Damn! — I exclaimed, clearly irritated.

— What’s the reason for all this frustration? — asked Nathaniel, my best friend, with a curious look.

— Our new bikini collection, man, is driving me crazy! I haven’t found “the perfect model” yet.

Despite my young age—only 22—I am the owner of Italy’s largest modeling agency. My business spans several agencies around the world, and recently, I opened one right here in Rio de Janeiro. We’re about to launch a new collection of bikinis, coinciding with the opening of the new branch.

The problem is that I wanted to do something innovative, something that hadn’t been done before, but so far I haven’t thought of anything that really excites me. That’s tormenting me.

— That’s easy! We have plenty of beautiful models here! — Nathaniel added, trying to cheer me up.

— But I want something unique, something no one has done before! None of the models so far has caught my attention for this project.

— Melisa is eager to do this job. — He looked at me with a sideways smile.

Let’s just say Melisa is a model who stands out in “extra work.” Don’t get me wrong; she’s really excellent at it. The problem is, she believes we’re dating, and that irritates me profoundly. Just thinking about it causes internal conflict.

— She’s not going to do this job — I said, leaving no room for doubt.

— Did you fight with your girlfriend? — His tone was provocative; he knew this annoyed me.

— She’s not my girlfriend and never will be. Now, I have to go! I need to deliver a document to Felipe.

— Alright! — He let out a laugh. — See you later, love! — he said with a teasing voice.

— Go to hell, Nate! — I replied, as I left the office.

[...]

I headed to Felipe’s clinic, my cousin and the only one in the family who pursued a career as a physiotherapist. I feel very proud of him. We grew up together and have always maintained a strong bond.

While walking distractedly toward the elevator, reflecting on Felipe’s achievements, I accidentally bumped into a girl, causing my documents to fly. She quickly bent down to pick them up, and when she stood up, I was struck by her beauty. Her shining eyes and charming smile left me speechless.

— Sorry, I was distracted — I said, fixing my gaze on her. I needed her to be my model.

— No problem — she replied, clearly uncomfortable with the intensity of my look. — Here — she handed me the documents and ran off.

— Miss! — I called after her, but it was too late; she had already entered a taxi and pulled away.

— Damn! — I ran my hand through my hair, frustrated. “i***t! You kept staring at her and probably made her uncomfortable,” I thought.

I went up to Felipe’s office, knocked on the door, and heard his voice calling me to come in.

— Matteo! — he said, standing up in a friendly gesture.

— Here are the documents you asked for — I handed the papers to him and hugged him.

— Thanks, man! I really needed this.

— Listen, do you know a girl I saw downstairs? She’s about 1.69 meters tall, blonde, and has a leg amputated.

— You must be talking about Kyra — he commented, smiling. For some reason, his expression made me a little uncomfortable.

— I have a photo of her. Hang on a second… Here! — he showed me the image.

— It’s her. — I felt excited.

— Why all this interest in her? — Felipe asked, observing my reaction.

— I’m launching a new line of bikinis and wanted something different. I thought she’d be perfect as my model.

— She really is amazing — he cleared his throat, hesitating before continuing. — But you’re going to face a small problem. She’s been through a lot and still feels insecure about her body.

— So that’s why she ran off after we bumped into each other in the elevator.

— Yeah, you probably stared at her, and she thought you’d judge or say something disrespectful.

— I’ll take the risk, Felipe. Do you have any contact info for her? — I asked, determined.

— I do. I’ll give it to you. Did you know her father?

— Sério? What’s his name?

— Eric Lewis.

— No way! Eric is one of the most important partners at the agency.

I recalled that about nine months ago, there was a media incident involving the Lewis family. His daughter had an accident and needed risky surgery. I didn’t know it was Kyra.

Now, all I needed was to find her. And then, watch out, Kyra Lewis.