Chapter 2
How to lose a guy in ten days
Andie: "Michelle, if the most beautiful woman in the world acted the way you did, any normal guy would still go running in the other direction."
Michelle: "No. No guy would go running from you, Andie. You could barf all over him and he'd say, "Do it again."
Andie: "Oh, that is both incredibly disgusting and categorically untrue."
The room was dimly lit and wreaked of the essence of high society. There was no one of interest to ever find at these work parties. Choosing to become a business woman paid the bills at night but did not keep the other side of the bed warm. It was a lonely path I had chosen but it had been my choice so I stuck to it. I hadn't dated since my senior year of high school. It's a cold; cold world, Old Gal. I thought to myself bitterly. Love was a merciless tragedy of affairs. Rather than pine for lost loves I enjoyed the work force.
For a twenty two year old woman I was high on the food chain in the writing world. I adored literature even in elementary. I was a highly educated intellect. Wit beyond measure was indeed a man's greatest treasure. Yet, for all my youth's recollection of writing I was a disappointment to myself. I worked for It Gal the most valued magazine in all of New York City. It was admired monthly by billions of women around the United States. Yet, I held no admiration for my carrier with the company.
The articles I wrote were tedious. I wrote what my boss dictated to write. Many of my articles consisted of the following: How to tell if you're a cool tone or warm tone, what nail polishes are in style and It Girl's five steps on how to keep your man in your bed. My writing potential exceeded such mundane and superficial topics. Once, against orders I had written on my point of view when it came to children hunger in America. I almost lost my job for it; except America loved the topic so much, my boss had no choice but to allow me to write a follow up article. She'd kept a tighter leash on me since that article though, sadly I returned to the mundane girlish topics of the company. I was supposed to be a famous journalist; that was the dream. Dreams are born in the brain and die within the heart.
So here I was a young twenty two year old surrounded by petticoats and caviar. The business world was my oyster soon these old goats would die and the next generation would publish the magazines of America. When I took over what was in the press the News Paper and magazines would finally be of face value to read. Helga G. Pataki had never written anything tacky of her own free will. If I had control over the topic then the reader was always guaranteed a 100% good read. I had been busting my butt working overtime knew the day was coming when my boss would choose one of my own personal articles for the magazine. My promotion was any day now I just knew it!
"Helga, Nadine is rather sad," Phoebe whispered in my ear. Phoebe was a petite Asian woman with long raven silk hair. She wore contacts in her light brown eyes verses the glasses from our youth. "Nadine will get over it she's just bugging out." I retorted. Sheena scuffed smartened by my statement. "Helga you can be so insensitive honestly. Nadine just had a break up before the work party, she's a wreck right now!" Sheena scolding in her sings song voice. She wore a dress accessorized with several peace signs. Even in adulthood she was a hippy. "Yeah; yeah Sheena, let's stop gossiping and go comfort her." I snapped feeling a little stung by her retort about my sensitivity. Together the three of us made our way to a corner where Nadine was sobbing into a brunette's shoulder.
"Nadine pull yourself together you are staining my red Vera Wang gown!" Rhonda hissed half-heartedly as she stroked Nadine's bleached hair. I held Nadine's russet toned hands rubbing them gently. "Two break-ups in one week!" Nadine wailed puffy eyed to Phoebe. "Oh, Nadine it happens to the best of us!" Sheena assured her timidly. "I told him I loved him! He said maybe one day he'll love me if it suits him!" Nadine sobbed at her. "Well, honestly Nadine. It was only two weeks love is a potent word for strangers." I said as sensitively as I could. She snapped her head anger seeping through her facial expression. "I can't stand you Helga! You're stunning! If a guy came up to you and you said you were in love right then and there he'd be all yours." Nadine whined. "Oh, yeah right save it for the choir sister. If I did half the nutty stuff you and about a billion other women did I would be lonelier then an old cat lady." I retorted irritated to have my physical beauty referenced like always.
"No, Nadine is right you couldn't lose a man even if you tried. They don't care for brains, face it Helga you're too hot for your intellect to matter." Rhonda insisted. "Phoebe do you hear these three?" I probed Phoebe trying to pry her into the conversation. Phoebe merely nodded her sights set on the other side of the room completely. "In fact, I know how you've been trying to get the boss to take your articles more seriously." Rhonda added and I nodded for her to continue confused by the course the conversation was taking. "I talked with our boss. She adores my fashion segment. You owe me your soul Helga because I got you your promotion!" Rhonda informed me. My azure eyes stared dumbfounded. "You have to write one more article for her and then she'll let you write about anything you want for the December issue." Rhonda spoke wickedly. "All you have to do is reenact all of Nadine and other women's mistakes. You have to write an article of how to lose a guy in ten days!" Rhonda laughed delighted. Sheena, Nadine, and Phoebe looked at us curiously awaiting my response.
"Princess, you got yourself a deal. So whose heart do I have to break?" I tilted my head back laughing. "How about tall, blonde, and gorgeous? He's holding two champagne glasses and headed your way." Nadine teased. Phoebe shook her head uncomfortable. I was in different. "If he's who you guys pick then so be it. First guy to come my way is the guy for my article," I agreed non-sealant. Rhonda just laughed rather malicious. "Unfinished business is always the dirtiest of businesses." Rhonda assured me. I opened my mouth to respond but was interrupted as a strong hand wrapped around my shoulder.
"Do you believe in love at first sight? Or, should I walk past a couple more times?" A charming husky voice pondered behind me. "Well that is cheesier then the Cheese Festival in my home town," I shivered I hadn't been to the festival since I'd broken up with the love of my life. "Well, I'll tell you what; if you're as hunky as your voice sounds pal, I'll by pass how clique your word play is." No matter what I wouldn't hurt my heart again. This guy wouldn't get in and I wouldn't lose my business opportunity.
"Deal, so why don't you turn around so I can admire that pretty little face of yours," His voice had an air of kindness that intermingled with playfulness. He would be fun to know I almost didn't want to lose him in ten days. For the first time since working for It Girl I had found some entertainment something to pause my boredom momentarily. I spun around and my jaw dropped as I was face to face with my ex-boyfriend. I hadn't seen Arnold Shortman in four years. Damn, four years had done Arnold nothing but good. His shaggy hair framed his face, you could tell that when off of work a blue fitted cap rested at the center of his cornflower hair. His wide Emerald eyes glistened with an intensity that even after all this time made me tremble with desire. He was tall I had to gaze up at him admiring his masculine jaw line covered in five o'clock shadow. His body was built much like a Greek God. He was almost fictional in his physical perfection.
I loved him now just as I had before. We were star crossed lovers though. We were a modern day Romeo and Juliet. We would never be together. I couldn't risk my dreams for a relationship that would always plummet to the ground no matter how I felt about said relationship. Rhonda's deal was still on. Break my heart once; shame on you, break my heart twice; shame on me. A million memories flooded the repressed membranes of my mind. Out of my entire memories one flashed before my eyes. I could feel myself practically reliving the memory. I began to recall the break-up. All is fair in love and war. All that's well ends well right? I wasn't so sure anymore.