PROLOGUE
439 Words
Stephanie.
Her name radiates like the sun, her face gracing billboards across the city, showcasing her angelic features to the world. She is the perfect embodiment of beauty, a model for every product in magazines and commercials. All eyes are drawn to her, captivated by her allure.
And Daniel is far from pleased.
With a frustrated groan, he grabs the small mirror from his desk and hastily hides it in the first drawer of his mahogany desk. He can't bear to see her face, not anymore.
But how is that even possible when she seems to be everywhere? Her image dominates every building and billboard, saturating the city.
And so it happens that her giant picture for a makeup endorsement is conveniently placed right in front of his office window.
It's only nine in the morning, and his forehead is already furrowed, his eyebrows knitted together like a tangled rope. His eyes adopt a deadpan expression, and his naturally pouty lips convey the look of a sulking grown-ass man.
He's not Garfield, but he's starting to despise Mondays.
He has piles of papers to review, meetings that barely allow him to catch a breath of fresh air, a never-ending headache, and now, the face he detests the most is staring at him from outside his window.
It has been eight long years since the history of their animosity began.
One might say he forgot the concept of 'moving on,' and his annoyed expression confirms that, even after all these years, what transpired between them remains a significant issue for him.
Reaching for the phone to contact his trusted secretary, he sighs, "Get in touch with the owner of that advertisement in front of us and tell him to take it down," he orders, his voice dripping with authority.
"What should I say if 'he' asks why, boss?"
"Let him know I'm not pleased. It's ruining my view! Either he removes it, or I'll take over his company just so I can tear it down myself!" He yells, abruptly ending the call.
Taking a moment to calm himself, he leans back in his swivel chair, closing his eyes and pinching the bridge of his nose. It takes a few minutes for him to regain composure.
He can't let this affect his work. He needs to gather himself, or he'll end up making mistakes, and he despises making mistakes.
"Get it together, Daniel," he murmurs to himself before opening his laptop and diving into his work.
But as soon as the screen illuminates, the black background reflects the view from outside. Stephanie's face is everywhere.
"You've got to be kidding me!"
- Writer
