Time changes everything, one morning you wake up and you are no longer a child but an adult. Before you know it you're working to make a living and prove that you're capable of just about anything. Trying everything you possibly can to prove to the world you are worth while. This morning was just like any other, her alarm clock went off and she jumped out of bed. With a quick shower and throwing her clothes on, she was sprinting out of her apartment building and on the way to the office. Her messenger bag over her shoulder and her wet hair tied back. London was always busy in the morning as business men and women darted to get to their jobs. She ran over to the bus stop and made it in the nick of time. She sighed and adjusted the tan cap she had put on, her red leather jacket was zipped and she wore a white scarf. She leaned her head back on the headrest of the seat and looked out the window.
London seemed to fly by as the bus drove through the streets; she closed her eyes for a moment and then jumped out of her skin when she heard her cell phone ring. After fumbling through her bag she finally found her cell phone, "Hello?" she asked. In seconds a voice cracked through, "Anthony needs coffee, he's getting irritable again," said Jodie. Alex stood up and was quick to press the yellow button to stop the bus, "All right," she responded before hanging up. She sprinted down the street and realized that she was going into a café at the busiest time of the day, "Oh for Christ sake, you owe me big time Jodie," she said as she looked at the large line of people which stretched out the door. She scowled and jumped up and down, "Max!" she shouted and the barista turned, he sighed and shouted, "Shouldn't you be at work?" The café was noisy as people ordered their coffee and Alex squeezed through. "I know I'm late, Anthony needs coffee, he's irritable again," she said as she managed to squeeze through. Max sighed and shrugged, "Jodie didn't run to get it?" he asked as he started to make Anthony's usual order. Alex was digging in her messenger to find the right amount of cash, "If she did, then why would I be here?" she asked as she pulled her money. Max tilted his head and shrugged, "You have a point," he handed her the paper cup and said, "You better get going before your supervisor cracks down on you again." Alex nodded and took the cup, she then sprinted out of the café and Max turned to take another order. She rounded the corner and finally made it to the glass office building she worked in.
Alex threw the door open and sprinted through the lobby, "You're late," called one of the secretaries. Alex replied as she sprinted by, "I know." The elevator was leaving when she shouted, "Hold the lift!" She managed to slip in without spilling the coffee and began to pant. "Thank you," she breathed as she pressed the button for the 5th floor. "You're welcome," responded a soft and lush voice behind her. It made her shiver a little and she turned to look at the voice's owner. He was a thin and rather tall man, with mussed raven black hair and a pair of blood red eyes. His skin was as white a linen sheets and his lips were curved in a polite yet playful smile. Alex stared in shock and looked at him, he was perhaps the most beautiful men she had ever seen. "Is there something wrong?" he asked and Alex immediately blushed and turned away. "Nothing," she responded, he was about to say something when she was saved by the buzz of her cell phone. She pulled the phone out and stared at the text message, "Why didn't she tell me I was needed at Gangston earlier," she groaned. In seconds she had composed another text message and hit send. The man behind her was silent as she skimmed through her contacts, in a moment she had found the person she needed and the lift doors open. The man smiled and expected her not to say anything when she spun on her heel and said, "Have a good day," before turning her attention back to her cell phone. She ran through the office and swung into Anthony's cubical, "Alex you're late again," he said as she handed him the coffee. Her blue eyes narrowed and she responded, "Whose fault do you think that is?" Anthony fell silent as she grabbed a drafting tube and a portfolio. "I'm off to the location," she called before running out of the room.
"Good luck kid, you better run," said the manager. Alex nodded and slid around the corner, her short hair swayed as she slipped out the door and got into the lift. She was once again off sprinting through London, "Here we go again," she said as she ran past tourists snapping pictures. In moments she had managed to enter one of London's largest shops. The halls were lined with all of the previous advertisements which they had requested. Alexandra had been working as a Graphic designer for one of London's most elite design firms called, "Artistry". It was small however it had earned a name for it's self with its few skilled designers. Each of the advertisements had been designed by a different firm, which had trifled with plagiarism issues. She had been trusted with this delicate contract after her stunning design had been accepted for the use of an invitation to a charity ball. She was asked to design a larger advertisement for the store; today was the day that she would present it to the group.
Before Alex realized it she was standing in front of a pair of glass doors, she paused. This was the first time she was actually going to meet a client, usually she just sent designs and her manager would present the project. This time was different she had been asked by the president of the advertising firm to present the project. Hesitantly she opened the door to find a group of men sitting at the tables, Alex looked over the group, they were all relatively gray and then she froze. Two men caught her attention, the man from the lift that morning who simply smiled at her and the man who was seated next to her. He was taller and much more muscular, he had a pair of golden eyes and his black hair was slightly curlier than the raven haired man from that morning. His lips were set in a frown and he had a piercing gaze which affected her despite the fact that his eyes were behind a pair of glasses. Alex shivered as she slipped out of her red jacket and hat. She stood before the group in her slacks and dress shirt, she cleared her throat and began.
Even though she was prepared to take savage and cold comments she received none, in fact they all looked amused by her proposition. She pulled the massive poster from the drafting tube and heard the golden eyed man whisper, "It's probably a simple poster, I have no interest in this." Alex smiled, knowing that even though her description of the champagne had been vague, that she would prove to be. She unrolled the poster and presented it to them, it was nearly dream like. Nothing that they had expected, the name of her champagne was simple, "Rouge et Noire" however the concept was anything but. The poster was a woman with her back turned, she wore a black dress which revieled a great deal of her back, she was looking over her shoulder and a pair of golden eyes were contrasted with black lipstick. I sent shivers through the directors, "Gorgeous," breathed one of the men. The name of the store in elegant red script, the golden eyed man's eyes conveyed a silent apology and the red eyed one's smirk grew even larger. "Beautiful, I love it," said the oldest of the group, "Crafting our image to cater to a crowd of sophisticated young buyers, yet with the allure of mystery." Alex nodded and the group applauded, "It's decided you will be our newest designer," said the red eyed man. The group of elderly directors left leaving only two sets of eyes looking at her, red and gold. She felt strand looking at them, they were beyond beautiful and part of her wanted to use them to model the men's clothing for the store.
Such contrast between them, the shorter one's blood red eyes and slim body with his mussed raven black hair, compared to the golden eyed man's curly black hair and tall but well toned body. She rolled up the poster and slipped it back in the tube, as well as gathering her materials when the stack of papers slipped from between her fingers. "Ah!" she said angrily as she slowly bent down to pick them up, her other hand was clutching the few pamphlets which didn't fall. She was about to pick the pages up when she noticed a smooth white hand extended to her, the pages were perfectly stacked and she noticed his black fingernails. Alex slowly took the papers and looked up, she froze it was the golden eyed man who has doubted her, "Thanks," she whispered. The man was expressionless and responded, "You're welcome," he pushed his glasses further up his nose. A wave of intimidation swept over her and she shivered, "Claude you're making our graphic designer nervous," said the red eyed man as he stepped forward. Claude turned to him and responded, "And you aren't adding to the tension, Sebastian?" he asked. Sebastian was now standing before her, his black suite was pristine and he looked at all of the items in her arms. It was a wonder to him that she hadn't dropped anything else. "May I?" asked Sebastian, his voice was just as smooth as before and Alex nodded shyly. His nails were black as well, which amused her however she didn't dare ask. He slowly took the drafting tube which she had been balancing in her hands and Claude slowly collected the papers she was about to drop. They had just relieved her of all of her documents and had no issues doing so. "I'm afraid I don't know who you two are," she whispered in embarrassment. Her face turned several shades red and she looked at the pair which were walking next to her. Sebastian and Claude looked at each other, and then at her, "What?" Alex asked in confusion, their expressions were priceless and she began to regret asking. Claude smirked and replied, "Nothing, I'm Claude Faustus." Sebastian opened the door for her and smiled, "I'm Sebastian Michaelis," he said as she walked through the door. She paused once she was at the other side and noticed how everyone was staring at her.
She felt uneasy with this many pairs of eyes on her and noticed how both Sebastian and Claude ignored this. She slowly walked pasted groups of on lookers, each of them were glaring at her and whispering. "Who does she think she is to have those two carrying her materials?" asked one woman the man beside her nodded and responded, "The two most powerful men in the building are carrying her stuff, you have to wonder what she's doing on the side." Alex began to feel even more uneasy, she had only just met them and her coworkers were whispering. "She doesn't look like a good lay," whispered a brown haired man and Alex's stomach churned. She began to feel nauseous and turned pale, the thought of sleeping with men made her ill. "I wonder what sounds she would make?" whispered another man.
Sebastian looked at her and noticed the sweat clinging to her brow, his eyes narrowed. "Are you all right?" Claude asked as he placed a hand on her shoulder, that was it for her. The touch of his skin made hers crawl, it was wrong. It brought back memories she would rather forget, memories of pain and anguish. Without hesitation, she slapped Claude's hand away and Sebastian stared in shock, she was trembling and the room went still. Alex's eyes widened and she looked at Claude who was still holding her papers, he was expressionless. Sebastian reached out to touch her only for her to take a step back. "Miss Stark?" asked Sebastian in confusion, her breathing became labored and she felt lightheaded. "I… don't like… being touched," she panted, soon after she began coughing and Sebastian handed the drafting tube to Claude, "Miss?" he asked again in a panic. Her coughing got worse and she began to claw at her throat, "Can't breathe," she gasped. She staggered backward and closed her eyes before her knees went out from under her. "Miss Stark," called Sebastian, her head was spinning and she slipped unconscious.