Hi HOA fanatics! I'm Fame, better known as FABINALIVES to the general public. This is not my first story ever written, but it is the first one on the profile. If you like my writing, please check out my personal account mentioned before. This story might not have regular updates for the time being, but once summer kicks in, I'll have a lot more time for writing. Alright, to the disclaimer: I don't own House of Anubis. I know, I know. Shocker, right? But seriously, if you like this story and want me to continue, don't hesitate to leave a sweet little review in the box at the end of this chapter. Thanks!
Fate is only the beginning to a wonderful life, despite how it may seem at first.
Chapter 1
I didn't mean to fall in love. Of course, I had been looking for someone I could spend the rest of my life with. And maybe that meant falling in love. But I wasn't really sure how it worked. I certainly didn't want the sweaty palms, the overactive emotions, the tears that came with falling in love. It should've been easy.
But nothing great in life comes easy.
Certainly not when it comes to love. How was I supposed to know what to say to a guy when he came up and asked me for my number? No? Yes? Should I completely ignore him or wink? Nevertheless, love found me. With it came hearts and flowers and chocolates and little pink ribbons on top. You have to be careful, however. Ribbons unfurl, chocolates expire, flowers wilt. Hearts break.
It all started when Amber hired me to work at her designing studio.
One of the days that would forever be burned into my memory, you know?
"Nina! Nina! Nina Martin!" I heard my name being called from down the hall by none other than my best friend, Amber Millington. She had just gotten me a job at her business, which was steadily on the rise. Her outfits were beginning to dominate fashion magazines and her image was expanding rapidly. I, on the other hand, had just been laid off by a magazine company I had been with for two years. Amber had gladly offered me a position as a journalist for her new magazine, Millington Fashion.
"What is it, Amber?" I sighed, lifting my gaze from my screen. Amber's new line of dresses, Glamourz, was going to be featured on the next issue of Millington Fashion and I was trying desperately to finish the main article I had been assigned. I wanted to prove to my boss and my best friend that I was worthy enough to be promoted to Chief Editor, since the woman holding the position now was leaving.
"Glamourz just reached a profit of one million dollars! I never thought that…just wow, Nina, I'm so excited!" Amber squealed, her perfect curls bouncing frantically as she entered my work cubicle.
"Oh my gosh! This is just the start, Amber! You're going to be known worldwide soon!" I celebrated along with her, smiling and hugging her tightly.
"I even have an interview with the press in four days and I'm getting to model some of my new releases next week and I am just so happy!" she gushed, not losing any of her energy.
"Really, I am so proud of you. Remember in high school when you got a letter from the geometry teacher saying that you weren't going anywhere in life? Well, he's probably buying his granddaughter one of your dresses for her sixteenth birthday," I reminisced with her, causing her to laugh.
"Also, I have some other great news. Mick's best friend applied for a job here!" Amber continued with a big smile splashed across her face once we had quietened down a little.
"What's so great about that?"
"His friend is a boy. And you know how I feel about you and boys."
"For the last time Amber, I don't need a boyfriend right now! I'm really starting to get somewhere with this job and having a boy around to distract me isn't going to help anything," I explained for the umpteenth time.
Any time an employee of the male gender was hired, Amber would try to put a good word in for him to me. She believed that it was time I 'got out and lived.' Truthfully, I was interested in having someone to spend time with, but my main focus right now was to get promoted. And that was going to take all of my attention.
"But he's super cute! Well, I mean, I wouldn't date him because of Mick, but you know, if I wasn't in a relationship, I would probably be interested," Amber pressed the subject.
"I know you think it's all about looks, Amber, but-"
"Nina, I've known him for almost three years. He is probably one of the sweetest men I've ever met. One time, Mick got stuck in this huge-"
"Alright, alright, I don't need you to go off into one of your big, long stories. I'm sure he's a very nice person, but you know how I feel about guys right now," I pleaded, hoping to escape the conversation soon.
"But last week, you told me about… one of your co-workers in this department," she bent down to whisper in my ear, since her goodness knows-inch heels made her quite a lot taller than me. My cheeks turned a slight red color.
"A little! But you-know-who's still dating Melissa, and she's one of those clingy people who would rather die than see her boyfriend even speaking to another woman. So lay off!" I hissed in a low voice, trying not to attract attention.
She had been hinting at Austin Kent, the heartthrob of the journalist department. I had been crushing on him for a little over two months, but had hesitated to tell Amber for reasons that didn't really need to be explained. Unfortunately for most of my co-workers, he was in a relationship with Amber's assistant secretary, Melissa Carmichael. Both of their parents had tons of money, which would explain the seemingly unlikely pairing of the two. Don't get me wrong: Melissa was sweet to everyone, and I even had her number in my phone. But as soon as someone showed any visible signs of flirtation with her precious Austin, it was every man for himself. Well, in this case, every woman for herself.
"Well, at least be open-minded to the thought of someone new. Since everyone here knows that Austin's taken, they'll be on Fabian like gravy on rice," she warned, her voice returning back to its normal, but still slightly loud, volume.
"His name's Fabian?" I inquired, thinking that the name sounded familiar.
"Yep. Here's his profile," Amber answered, throwing a pink folder onto my desk.
"Alright, let's see his credentials. He's written for 365 Days of Summer and Closet Drama, as well as non-fashion related magazines such as The Egyptologist's Guide, The Modern Sarcophagus, and Wonders of the World. For a guy who wants to get into the fashion business, he sure sounds like a nerd," I mumbled the last sentence, earning a slap from Amber, who had sat down next to me on a spare chair.
"Nina! I'm going to tell him you said that!" she scolded. "Keep reading!"
"Sorry, sorry. Don't tell him I said that, though. Alright, he's been around the world, has connections in Paris and Rome, and wrote a book called Marry Me?: Tips to a Successful Marriage. He's got a bachelors in counseling and in journalism. And he…woah."
I had expected the next page to be another list full of achievements, but instead, it was a headshot for his file.
"Amber, are you sure he isn't applying for a modeling job?" I asked her casually, trying not to reveal anything that would indicate my heart practically thudding out of my chest.
"I knew it! I knew you would think he's gorgeous! And he specifically applied for a writing position in the magazine. So just look at him for a second. I can make a copy of the picture for you if you want," she giggled.
"No!" I snapped, sliding the folder away from her to look closer.
Even though the picture was in black and white, his eyes were enchanting. He had a small crinkle around the edge because of his big, beautiful smile. The smile revealed a pair of pearly white teeth. His hair, most likely brown, was swept across his forehead perfectly. A brief thought that wasn't completely appropriate crossed my mind, involving my fingers running through that hair. My vision turned back to his eyes. For the life of me, I couldn't tell what color his eyes were. Secretly, I hoped I would have the chance to find out.
"Can you stop drooling now and get back to work?" Amber's voice jolted me out of my thoughts. They were still centered around Fabian's eyes, which I concluded that I would simply have to speak to him to discover it myself.
"I am not drooling over his picture! Here," I tried to hand the profile back, the glitter on the folder rubbing off on my fingers, but she waved it away.
"No. You're keeping it," she said in response, earning a slightly confused face from me.
"Why? Oh my gosh Amber, I don't want his picture!" I half-shouted in exasperation.
"No, no, although that will be a perk of keeping it. You're keeping it because you're going to be his boss. Well, co-boss, since I'm officially his boss too, but you get what I mean."
All my anger that had been directed towards my best friend suddenly faded away. "Does...does this mean what I think it means?"
Amber cleared her voice and stood up, taking on a straight face. Since I was still seated, my boss was a little intimidating. For a moment, I wasn't sure if what she had meant was actually what I thought.
"Nina Martin, you are hereby promoted to the seat of Chief Editor," she stated in her most serious voice, which I almost never heard. She once told me that her 'serious voice' was reserved only for meetings and negotiations. Other than that, she was her usual bubbly self.
My face broke out into a grin as I jumped up and wrapped her in a huge hug.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you Amber! You are the best boss in the world! I won't let you down!" I shrieked happily, earning a few icy stares from the workers around me whom I had interrupted with my shouts.
"You worked hard for this position and now is the perfect time to reward you for it. Besides, this way you can keep Fabian's picture without it being creepy," she happily added, to which I giggled.
"Imagine what he would say if he had to come in here to ask me something and the first thing he saw was his headshot pinned to my wall," I laughed along with Amber.
"Well, I'll send Tracy over here to help you move your stuff. Pauline officially moved out last night, so the office is all clear," Amber offered.
"No, it's fine. I barely have anything to move over there anyway," I declined, stealing a glance at a few simple things I had decorated my small cubicle with. A pencil holder, a metal basket for holding papers, a vase that never held any flowers, and a photograph of my Gran and I standing on the beach.
"Okay, if you say so. But we absolutely have to go shopping for some office supplies. I want you to get cozy in that place, since I'm hoping you'll stay there for a while," she winked. "Now that you've gotten your promotion, will you at least look at possible boyfriends? Please?"
"Amber, if I do, will you promise not to try and hook me up with everyone I say looks cute?" I questioned.
"On my honor!" she said, raising her right hand faithfully. I lifted an eyebrow.
"Well, I can't make any promises, but I'll try my best," she admitted, smiling.
"I guess that works for me," I mumbled, knowing the kind of self-control Amber needed to even keep her mouth shut.
"Fabian comes to work the day after tomorrow, so...hey, give me your phone!" she commanded, ignoring my protests and snatching my purse from the floor anyway.
"Amber, what are you doing?" I worried frantically, watching as she unlocked the phone and started tapping the screen. "I swear, if you put Fabian's phone number in there I'll-"
"All done!" she piped up, handing the phone back to me. I doubled tapped the home button, but Amber had cleared the history.
"Please tell me what you did!" I begged as Amber continuously shook her head.
"Nope. You'll just have to find out. Now I've got to go. The models for the magazine are here and its scheduled publishing date is in five days," Amber informed me, walking slowly backwards.
"Speaking of, I still need to move all of my things into my new office and finish the article on Glamourz so shoo! I don't need you in here distracting me! I'll be up to your office in a minute to sign the papers," I dismissed her, pushing her out of my station.
"I'm going, I'm going. But don't forget when he's coming!" she warned, pointing a perfectly manicured fingernail at me, her heels clicking as she walked back into the hall.
I plopped down onto my swiveling work chair, finally glad to have a little time to myself. I loved Amber like a sister, but she could really wear a girl out.
An office. I would have a real office. An actual room with walls and a window looking down into Los Angelos, the skyscrapers glistening in the sunlight. I would have a huge desk with drawers and more space than the tiny little work area I was moving out of today.
After a moment of soaking all that information in, I took a deep breath. Striding confidently out of my alcove, I walked past my fellow workers and into the hallway. I was ready to enter Amber's office and sign the documents officially naming me the Chief Editor.
I had worked too hard to go back now.