Beauty's fingers clenched into a fist. She was so angry and annoyed that she couldn’t control herself and snapped aloud.
"I'm fat! Yeah, I know—and ugly too. That I am very aware of! Find something else to hurt me with, Kathy, because I am not hurt by those words anymore. Go on, try something else! Kathy, you are so perfect, and I am not—that’s outdated, torture me with something else." Beauty said it boldly, but her emotional expressions told a different story; her legs were visibly trembling, her face flooded with tears, and her hands shook nervously.
Kathy noticed. She sighed deeply, then gave a soft chuckle. "You're crying like a baby again? Thought you would grow up. Well, I am satisfied with the result, jealous fatty. Next time, look before stepping on my toes," she snapped, wagging a warning finger.
"You're irritating, Kathy. You think bullying is so fun? What a childish bitch you are! She is healthy, not fat. Maybe you should eat more, skinny bitch," Jessie snapped angrily.
Kathy didn’t care, laughing loudly. "Well, I am the beauty standard, honey; it’s a hard pill to swallow." She turned to her crew.
"Let's go, everyone. Next time, avoid me, Fatty." She warned and walked off with elegant poise as if she were on the runway.
The press crew and journalists, eager for her interview, followed her like puppies.
Beauty stood there, at a loss, unable to raise her face to meet anyone’s eyes—not even Bruno’s, though he had heard everything.
"I am such a…mess," she murmured, walking slowly toward the restroom. Jessie followed immediately.
When she reached the restroom, she slammed the door, crying her heart out.
"Open the door, Beauty," Jessie said, knocking on the door.
"You should stop calling me that!" she snapped through tears.
"But it’s your name…" Jessie responded softly.
"I hate it…it’s just the opposite of who I am," Beauty yelled back.
Jessie felt that deeply. "Stop being such a baby. Do you know how you sound? Like a heartbroken toddler! You are beautiful and your name suits you, so now can you at least let me in, please?" Jessie pleaded.
Beauty hesitated, washed her face, and put on a brave look. She was used to this—why act like a heartbroken toddler, as Jessie said? "Beauty, please, open the door." Beauty hesitated again, but eventually opened the door slowly. "Don’t start with your sermons, I am not crying because of what she said. I was just…crying because…"
Jessie hugged her before she could finish and kissed her cheek. "I am proud of you, Beauty. If I were in your shoes, I would definitely be in police custody right now, charged for murder," Jessie said, her serious look leaving Beauty with no doubt—she would do it!
"Kathy is an asshole. Don’t let her words get to you. She’s a freaky bitch; all she does is look good, and she’s not even that good-looking…"
Jessie added.
Beauty raised a skeptical brow, squinting at her.
What a lie!
"Alright…yeah…you got me…She may be good-looking but…she has issues. You are more beautiful than her. She’s so jealous, and I feel like hitting her right in the face sometimes," Kathy said, her fist clenched.
"Well, with that body and the visual she’s got, she’s perfect. Her character doesn’t count—it’s pretty privilege, that’s all," Beauty replied.
"Nobody’s perfect. Tell her something like, your tummy is so flat, your nose…You’re so…ugh," she groaned and sighed.
"I guess you’re right, Beauty. She’s definitely perfect in the world’s beauty standard, a perfect figure, but I won’t tolerate her rudeness toward you. You didn’t create yourself, Beauty. You eat much less than most of us, who are models. I want you to believe in yourself. You’re really a Beauty—it’s not just a name, it’s who you are. Please, see yourself like I see you." Jessie said, hugging her with a smile.
They released from the hug but still held each other’s hands.
"You’re beginning to sound like my mother, Jessie," Beauty teased, chuckling lightly.
"Well, little one, you can call me mother, as a matter of fact," she replied, chin up.
Beauty spanked her hard on the bum.
"Ouch!!" she laughed out loud. They both laughed, then hugged again.
"Thanks for being a friend, Jessie," Beauty whispered.
"Come on, let’s go back to the office. I’m sure you have work to do before that human worm decides to get on our nerves again."
Beauty chuckled and nodded. They walked back to their different departments.
Even though Jessie was trying so hard for me, as the good friend she is, sometimes she acts differently—and those times are my hardest times, Beauty thought inwardly.
She got to her desk, sat down, with a deep sigh. After a minute of silent meditation, she pulled out the cabinet, carried out some folders, and placed them on the table. Going through them, she found the particular documents. She had been searching for it, so she returned the folders and picked up the document, heading to the capture room. She had to submit the hard copy feedback reports from the customers on the company’s fashion magazines. She stopped in the photo house.
Mr. Bruno was there with his assistant and other models. Beauty drew a deep breath and walked to Jessie.
She was standing near Mr. Bruno!
How lucky! I am so jealous! How can she stay that close without freaking out?
Beauty shook off all the wild thoughts in her mind and walked to them.
"What's the theme?"
Bruno asked Kathy. "Seduction," Kathy said with a seductive tone.
"Se… what?" Beauty snapped in her mind.
Kathy was the model for this theme's photoshoot. Her body goals hit differently, also she's a picture perfect, the cameras love her, like they're kissing her with their flashes. Mr. Bruno stepped back from her and turned. As soon as Beauty saw him approaching, she clenched her fists tightly, her heart racing.
"Why is he coming over to my side!"
She screamed inside.
Bruno got to where she was standing, beside her about 2 feet (0.61 m) there's a couch. She sighed and secretly watched how he folded his long length on the chair, making him the same height as her.
I feel so insulted! He smoothly called me short in 100 languages!
Beauty screamed inside, her heart raced, never being this close to him. The scent of his cologne was so addictive that she felt like grabbing him to herself, and putting him into her pocket to safeguard him to be hers always.
"Kathy, are you ready?" The director asked, breaking into Beauty's thoughts.
"Born ready." Kathy replied and stripped naked, she was nude and smoothly shaved.
Beauty gasped in shock, beyond startled, she didn't know when she covered Bruno's face with her right hand and closed her eyes. Then the next second realizing what she did.
Her eyes widened in astonishment, she glanced at him, her hands still on his face, covering his eyes.
Oh my Gosh! What was that all about!
Beauty panicked and quickly removed her hand, praying no one else noticed it. She decided to apologize to him in a whisper.
"I… I am so sorry I..." Suddenly, he took her hand so gently that it made her heart stop instantly. Beauty couldn't hear anything apart from her heart pounding loudly, not even the director, the flash sound or anything in the room.
"Could you lend me your palm for now, believe me, I don't want to see this?" He said calmly, breaking into her thoughts.
"Eh?" That was the only thing she could utter.
Bruno took her hand and placed it back on his eyes.
Beauty swallowed convulsively. "O….okay." She replied awkwardly with the feeling of embarrassment.
What's happening! Why did he do that? How could a man like this be irritated by Kathy's nakedness?
I expected him to smirk and check her out. Is he even a man? Could it be that he is not attracted to women! Beauty had lots going on in her head.
Jessie and the others looked towards them; she could feel the heat of anger from Kathy's eyes. Beauty felt uneasy and helpless. They looked awkwardly suspicious in that position, but what is she supposed to do since Sir Bruno put her hand on his face by himself.
Kathy hissed. "Some people's hands do make a nice big shield, well thanks to their fat."
Beauty looked at her, triggered this time. Kathy is a bitch for sure, she got issues!
"Can someone get me a drink? I am thirsty!" she ordered. Her assistant came running with a cup of water. She seems like she's already done with the photoshoot.
"Now you can put down your hand," Mr. Bruno said, breaking into Beauty's mind again.
She put her hand away quickly as though she were stung by something and immediately turned to leave but froze when she heard Bruno's voice. "Kathy, apologize to…" Beauty turned slowly and looked at him.
Don't tell me he didn't remember my name, she thought.
"Sorry, what's your name?" That question hurts me more than Kathy's abuse!
Really, he doesn't even remember my name, I am here being delusional thinking we had some moments! Beauty said to herself.
"Her name is Beauty." Jessie replied instead.
Bruno nodded then turned to Kathy. "Apologize to Beauty."
"I am not apologizing for anything! And not to that fat thing!" Kathy fumed.
Bruno arched his brow. "Maybe you've forgotten your place in this company, kindly apologize for your words, it's not nice at all, that's if you love to keep your job, such behavior will not be tolerated." Kathy rolled her eyes.
"Whatever, Beauty I…" Beauty didn't wait to hear her out or anything.
She left the place hurriedly.
He didn't remember my name? Beauty couldn't stop thinking about it again. That was all that mattered to her!