I Hate You, Mr. Black

“You're so dead, bitch."

Anthony, my ex, snarled, grabbing my hairs while blood flowed from the corner of my lips as I could feel a rush of blood flowing out my body with a sharp pain.

"Please… I.. Be- Beg you..."

I whimpered with uncontrollable tears streaming down my face, trying to bear this tribulation which suffocated me.

He threw me away, I fell on the floor, sobbing my anguish out and when pain shot through me, the realization hit me like a truck back then.

‘Is this the life you wanted, Marianne?’

Closing my eyes I released the final tear, glaring at him.

"What's with the look, huh?"

'If you don't fight for yourself then no one will'

My sister, Rebecca's words echoed in my mind as I grabbed a knife and without a warning stabbed him.

I… took a life.

“NO!!”

Waking up with a loud gasp, my hazel eyes were coated with horror as I desperately tried to wipe my face, to remove the blood only to find out it was just in my imagination.

With a pant, my body was quivering as I searched for my anti-depressants desperately to subdue the frightening sensations roaming freely in my body.

“It was nightmare, Marianne, just a nightmare, everything’s fine,”

Chanting, I chugged the pill along with some water down my throat. Pushing my hair, I fell on the bed, struggling to breathe.

I must recover from this state.

No matter what, working for the Obsidians was my dream and I couldn’t let anything ruin it. Not a single flaw was acceptable this time.

It means more than anyone could possibly comprehend to me.

I couldn’t mess this up.

My breaths hitched, jaw dropping, when I checked the time.

I was so damn distressed about the nightmare that I forgot it was my FIRST DAY for the shoot!

I panicked once again, falling off the bed with my head hitting the floor, “Argh, fuck!”

Going through my things, grabbing them quickly while checking my phone real quick.

“Byron has left over ten texts. Dammit! I am late!” I sighed, pushing my hairs back, sighing mentally that the bonk didn’t leave a bruise and ran down after getting ready.

“Late again, huh?” My househelper, Amie, couldn’t help but to laugh.

“Here you go, I prepared your juice already,”

“Thanks. Bye,”

“Take care, Ma’am,”

Shaking my head to ease the throbbing pain recurring those venomous memories. Even after dying he had to haunt me before my every endeavour.

I tend to discard it but the sight had rooted deep within my core, I couldn’t annihilate it, even if I wanted to.

“What a great start….”

I muttered, fixing my form in the car to uphold my graceful and heart-throbbing image before all.

Plus, I heard Mr. Black was extremely strict about work, and this would give him a reason to scold me.

Another damn reason to insult me… Fuck!

After I was done regaining my composure and handling my anxiety, I finally decided to attend the call from Byron who was highly displeased.

“Where the hell are you, girl?! Mr. Black is here too. He is asking for you, he seems… angry,” Shit.

“I am on my way, Byron, I am sorry, I will be there,”

“Everyone is present and you are late on your first day. How could you be so irresponsible, Mari?”

I couldn’t help but to get irritated, not that I did this on purpose.

“I told you I am sorry. I will be there soon, I just had a nightmare, okay?”

“Shut your excuses and come quickly.” He said furiously before cutting the call.

Sighing, I mentally prepared myself for a long scolding from him, resting my chin on my palm as I looked out of the window, convincing myself to not mess it up more than I already did.

“Okay, you can do this, Marianne, don’t let a nightmare ruin your dreams,”

Convincing myself, I got out hastily when we reached the studio. Tilting my chin up with forming a sly aura around me to assert my presence and walking forward.

Byron was with my team that rushed to my side the second I arrived.

“Oh, thank Goddess you are finally here. Get ready, let’s not enrage Mr. Black more than you did already,”

“Okay,” Nodding quietly, I obeyed.

But unknowingly, my eyes searched around, seeking a certain billionaire who didn’t bother to catch a glimpse of the model he hired so hopelessly.

‘You wanted me as your model, right? Then why don’t you come and see me? Where are you?’

This mindless thought evoked but shaking my head, I entered my luxurious vanity to prepare for the shoot.

Still waiting for Mr. Black to come and see me once, at least.

Place the sourness aside, I was his model, the face of his upcoming brand, his attention should be on me, right?

“Uh, Byron?”

“Hmm?”

“Where is Mr. Black?” I finally decided to ask when there were no signs of him.

“Who knows? He was so annoyed that you are not here and walked away. Maybe went for a smoke,” He shrugged his shoulders.

“I see…”

“Anyways, let’s go,”

When everything was done, my immaculate form was completed, I rose to leave. But not before sparing a glance at my beautiful self, laced with bewitchment, smiling to myself.

“Aren’t I the most beautiful, Byron?”

He smiled, “Yes, you are, Mari.”

Going with Byron, the second we entered the studio, a familiar strong scent discontinued my steps. Inhaling sharply, my eyes fell on the dominant man who was talking over the phone.

“...-That is not my concern. Do as I say. Now.” So... commanding. I thought.

“Sir, Marianne is here,”

Gracia cleared her throat, snapping her fingers twice to get his attention and pointed at me, causing him to cut the call and dart at me.

“Hmm?”

And then I saw him.

The irresistible, drop-dead gorgeous man with shimmering emerald eyes, one could easily drown in them and that is exactly why, I won’t stare into them.

His brown hair combed to perfection. In an all black three-piece suit jacket, emitting opulence. Aura wrapped with a charm none could resist yet through his sly demeanor.

All I found for myself was a… glare.

“Mr. Black, I apologize for the delay-”

“Marianne.”

My heartbeats picked up upon being called so authoritatively. Cutting my resonance and strength through one word.

Just my name.

He saw through me and his anger faded. Handsomely resting his hands in his pockets, he arched his brows and threatened me before everyone.

“Do that again and this will become your last day here, Marianne Morris,”

He smirked. Victoriously. He won, again.

Winning thrice in a row, that bastard walked away after asserting his dominance which indicated: ‘This is my territory. You are going to be how ‘I’ want,’