Hatred

"How dare you?" he growled and shoved me away from him. I tumbled and crashed onto the hard floor. I groaned in pain and looked at my bruised elbow.

He kneeled next to me and grabbed that bruised elbow harshly. Tears rolled down my cheeks as pain shot through my nerves.

"You have no fucking idea who you're messing with and what I'm capable of doing to you and your poor family!" he snarled, squeezing my elbow harder. "Don't raise your fucking hand to me ever again! And if you dare disobey me, I will do something unthinkable, something you could never even imagine in your whole life," he whispered threateningly and narrowed his eyes at me. "Now, get the fuck out of my sight!"

I grimaced at the pain.

I hated him fiercely!

“Alice!” Mom called. “What are you doing?” She knocked on my door, which made me jump. “Get up, honey.”

I got off my bed, stretching my body. “I’m coming, Mom!” I yawned and headed towards the door so I could answer it. “Good morning, Mommy.” I instantly pulled her into a hug because I always started my day with a warm hug from her.

She hugged me back, smiling. “Good morning, honey. I’ve been trying to wake you up for fifteen minutes. You know that today is your first day of work at Robinson’s.”

The second I heard the name Robinson, my heart fluttered with excitement. I pulled back, looking into her hazel eyes. “I know, Mom. You don’t have to worry about it. I’ll get ready on time.”

“Yeah, you better,” she said before leaving.

I sighed, feeling thousands of butterflies burst in my tummy. I was extremely excited to start working at Robinson Fashion House.

Robinson Fashion House!

I had dreamed of becoming a fashion designer since I was a little girl. I remembered the day I designed my mother's outfit for her seventeenth anniversary. At that time, we did not have enough money to buy new clothes. My family background was pretty disappointing. My father was a laborer, and my mother was a housewife. Despite this, they always managed to get me everything I needed.

I would never forget how much my family had sacrificed for my dream. My father never took care of his needs but ensured mine were met. He borrowed a huge amount from his company so that I could make my dream come true.

And I could finally prove that I was worth it. I had been given a chance to repay my parents with a better life. I could proudly say that I was a fashion designer at Robinson’s.

Robinson Fashion House was the most popular in the country. They mostly designed for celebrities and the super rich. Their designs were classy, elegant, and modern. If you made an appointment, you had to wait six months to be seen. And it was all owned by Mr. Henry Robinson, one of the youngest billionaires in the country. I heard he had been just thirteen when he started his modeling career. And then, at sixteen, he became a fashion designer.

Ugh, Alice, relax! Don’t overthink this!

I sighed and went into the bathroom. Peeling off my clothes, I stepped into a warm shower. I hoped it would help relax my overwhelmed brain. Over the past few days, many thoughts had run through my mind. What kind of work would I do there? How would I react when I met Henry Robinson? Would I even fit in at such a multinational company?

Pushing these thoughts away, I wrapped a towel around my body and walked out of the bathroom. I put on a pair of jeans and a white top and pulled my long brown hair into a tight bun, deciding to leave my face free of makeup. I found myself a little boring when I checked my appearance in the mirror. I always liked to keep my look simple.

I walked downstairs and entered the kitchen. “It looks like you’re not ready yet!” Mom studied me from head to toe.

“I’m ready, Mom.”

“Are you serious? Look at your clothes!”

I looked down at myself. “Yeah, what’s wrong with these clothes? They were a gift from Dad, and I promised him I would wear them on my first day.”

“I understand, honey. But you also need to understand that you’ll be working for the biggest fashion house in the country.” She stroked my cheek. “My daughter is so beautiful, and I want people to notice her. Alice, don’t hide your beauty. You’re only twenty-three, and you’re living like a sixty-year-old granny.”

“What rubbish are you spouting, Kate?” I heard Dad’s voice say. “Our daughter is naturally beautiful. She doesn’t need any expensive clothes or makeup to look beautiful. Don’t you know how many boys are chasing her? But she’s always chasing that British boy Evan.” He laughed, pulling my leg.

“Dad!” I snorted in annoyance. Evan was my ex-boyfriend, and I had recently broken up with him after he moved to his hometown in England. Sometimes I missed him because he was the only person who could make me laugh.

I brushed this thought away and smelled the aroma in the kitchen. “Mom, are you cooking anything special?”

“Yup, your favorite cheesy pasta and chocolate cake.” She smiled, showing me her pearly white teeth.

“Wow! What’s the special occasion?” I inquired.

“Your dream is coming true! That’s what we’re celebrating today.”

“Aww.” I grinned and sat down in a chair next to Dad.

“I wish you all the best, Alice,” he said with a warm smile.

“Thank you, Dad.” I gave him a side hug. “And one more thing: You don’t need to worry about money, clothes, or any accessories. From now on, you both are my responsibility,” I said proudly.

“Aww, my daughter is all grown up. I remember when you used to roam the entire house in just a diaper.” He broke into a laugh at those memories.

“Dad!” I gave him a soft punch on the shoulder. “Don’t you ever get tired of teasing me?”

“Ow, you punch really hard, sweetie.”

“Come on, Dad, you’re not that weak.” I punched him again, and we both laughed. “I know you have a lot of muscles under this shirt.”

He grinned wide. “They were the only reason your mother used to love me. But I lost them.”

“Joe, what do you mean used to?” Mom chided, folding her arms across her chest and glaring at him. “I still love you just as much as I used to.”

Stifling my smile, I lowered my gaze to my plate. They were talking about their love life, and it was a little awkward. They had been married for twenty-five years, yet they still loved each other like teenage sweethearts.

I quickly finished my breakfast. “I gotta go. As you know, today is my first day, so I don’t want to be late.” I stood up and grabbed my handbag. “But, please, continue your romance you two.”

Both of them snapped their eyes to me. When they didn’t speak, I said, “What? Did I say something wrong?”

Dad cleared his throat. “No, not at all.”

“Dad teases me all the time. Why can’t I tease you back?”

They both smiled. “Come here, sweetie.” Dad hugged me softly.

“I’m going to miss you two.” Tears welled up in my eyes. “I’m nothing without your support.”

“We’ll miss you too, sweetie,” Dad whispered.

“You two are talking as if she’s never coming back home,” Mom said, and we all burst out laughing.

*****

“Miss, we’re here,” the driver informed me when we arrived at Robinson Fashion House. I climbed out of the cab and headed straight towards the building.

I gasped, mesmerized by the tall, black-gray building. It was lit up in the middle with the words, ‘ROBINSON FASHION HOUSE.’ It looked great in person and had a stunning view.

At the door, the security guard asked for my name, his eyes running down my body, which made me feel self-conscious. Ignoring his inappropriate gaze, I walked inside.

“Oh my gosh!” I looked around. The interior of the fashion house was beautiful and unique. The ambiance and atmosphere were peaceful. Everything was furnished with bold, colorful materials. And it made me disappointed in my appearance because of my plain look. Everything was high fashion, modern, and classy. I felt like garbage in such a beautiful place.

I walked up to the receptionist to ask about orientation. “How can I help you, ma’am?” she asked with a polite smile.

“Today’s my first day. Where should I go for orientation?”

“Just a moment, please,” she said, typing something on her computer. “The twenty-fourth floor,” she informed me.

I gave her a nod before heading to the elevator. I stepped in and pressed the button for the twenty-fourth floor. When the elevator door opened, I let out a deep breath before exiting. I walked down the hallway, reaching the entrance to the meeting room. Everyone seemed busy talking and giggling. But as soon as I arrived, they all snapped their heads to look at me.

I didn’t know why they were all eyeing me curiously. ‘Do I look like an alien?’ I thought. I knew I looked simple, but they were watching me like I was a clown.

“Hey, you!” a redhead called. She was in a skin-tight blue dress that barely reached her thighs. “This room isn’t for dump-crawlers like you.”

I frowned at her statement. “E-excuse me…?” I stuttered. I was already a pretty awkward public speaker, and the situation wasn’t helping.

“Dump-crawlers.” She crossed her arms over her chest, and one corner of her mouth turned up. “Look at yourself, you look like you came straight from the garbage dump.”

“Lisa, you don’t have to insult her like that.” A pretty girl with blond hair and soft blue eyes scowled.

“Seems like she doesn’t check herself in the mirror before leaving the house.” Lisa rolled her eyes and walked away.

“Hey, are you okay?” The pretty girl approached me.

“Yeah, I’m fine. Thank you,” I said with a forced smile.

“My name is Ava.” She held out her hand for a handshake. “Ava Miller, personal secretary to Mr. Henry Robinson.”

“I’m Alice Bennett.” I shook her hand. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you too, Alice.” She smiled and glanced at her watch. “In a few minutes, Mr. Robinson will get here. Please take your seat.” She gestured for me to enter the room.

I walked inside and took a seat beside a blond boy. “Are you new here?” he asked, his voice thin.

“Yeah, I got an internship here through my college,” I answered.

“Cool. I heard they even pay the freshers and trainees well. By the way, I’m Elio.”

“I’m Alice.”

“Oh my!” Suddenly, he jumped in excitement. “Look over there! It’s Henry Robinson.”

I followed his eyes and saw a tall figure come into view. “I’ve heard of him, but I’ve never seen him in person.”

“I heard he’s as cold as Antarctica and as hot as the Sahara.” A blush crept onto his face. “I like him.”

He was funny! I giggled at his comment. “You like him?”

He nodded at me. “So much.”

Mr. Robinson finally entered the hall, Ava trailing behind him. He looked confident and attractive. He was tall and handsome, his face as hard and chiseled as stone, with high cheekbones, the biggest, clearest dark eyes, and the fullest, most perfect lips. He was the most beautiful man I had ever seen.

For a while, Mr. Robinson discussed his fashion brand and house. He was standing in the middle of the hall, carrying himself with confidence and a stone-cold expression. “We only make the best of the best. One mistake could ruin our reputation, so don’t forget you’re a designer at the Robinson Fashion House now. If you ruin my reputation, I’ll ruin your career,” he stated coldly.

“What!?” I blurted, and heat instantly gathered on my cheeks as every pair of eyes in the room turned to me. I nearly stopped breathing when Mr. Robinson’s cold eyes fell on me. He kept staring at me for a few seconds before taking a few steps towards me.

No!

He approached my desk and placed both his hands on it, lowering himself down until we were face to face. I could smell the scent of his expensive cologne as he leaned closer to me. I tried not to shake with nervousness. But my hands couldn’t help but tremble.

“Do you have a problem, Miss…?”

“A-Alice…B-Bennet,” I stuttered, lowering my gaze.

“Miss Bennet.” His voice was cold and deep and sexy. “Look at me,” he ordered, and I obeyed, looking into his dark and mesmerizing eyes. He kept his eyes trained on me. I wondered if he would ever blink. “Now answer me: do you have a question?”

“No…” I quickly shook my head.

I swallowed hard under his intense scrutiny. His eyes fell to my lips, then my neck, then my breasts, and then returned to my eyes. A blur spread across my eyes as he stared at me in silence. Finally, he moved away and adjusted his suit. “Welcome to Robinson Fashion House, Miss Bennet,” he said coldly and stalked out of the room.

How cold-hearted this man was! He had personally warned his employees on their very first day.

*****

I checked the time; it was half-past eight. I didn’t even realize that I had worked overtime. I looked around, and only a few people were left working on their designs. I stretched my body. I had been working the whole day, and my back was hurting. I was completely exhausted. I had to leave now, otherwise my mom would begin to worry. I quickly grabbed my handbag, stood up, and headed out.

When I entered the elevator, something hit my leg and made me stumble. I was ready to fall on the hard floor, but someone’s hand wrapped around my waist and prevented the crash.

I nearly jumped out of my skin when I opened my eyes and found a pair of deep eyes staring down at me. Henry Robinson. My heart began throbbing in my chest, and something pleasant fluttered in my stomach. I was in his arms. I was so close to him that his breath was fanning across my face. I couldn’t help but look at his flawless skin, his hard jaw, and his sexy lips. How could a man be this perfect? Muscular, wide shoulders, a tall build—6’3 or 6’4—and a five o’clock shadow.

“What are you staring at?” His deep voice broke my stare. Before I could pull myself away from him, he shoved me away. “And what the hell are you doing in my elevator?!”

What!? In his elevator? I looked around and noticed I was in a different elevator than before. Oh hell no! “Sorry, sir,” I apologized and quickly got out.

I heard him mutter something under his breath as the doors closed behind me.

“Insane girl.”