A/N: Exploring the relationship between Asma and Madeleine. Along with the resident bullies of the building Karina Newton and Tom Huckabee. This takes place just after Tom put the news of Zeus engagement to Irina. They belong to me.
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« See Asma? He got engaged to Irina, your little daydream would forever remain a failed dream. » Tom's mocking voice echoed through her head as she stared at the screen.
The whole office stopped working for a few minutes. Earlier on, Tom Huckabee informed his coworker that he would put on the news at lunch break. Of course, he would. The day before, he eavesdropped a conversation between his boss Zeus, and Irini Tchekovka the model he was dating on and off for six years. He popped the big question, much to Tom's enthusiasm because now he had something he could rub on Asma's face. He was aware of her feelings for the boss, it wasn't difficult to guess. Her naiveté made it easier for people to read her like an open book so very early on, everyone knew she was in love with Zeus. Some had witnessed how close she grew to their asshole of a boss and how good this relationship was for the rest of them. Indeed, Zeus was more tolerable whenever she was around and they all hoped for a real change of heart and behavior if this relationship became even more serious. Besides, Asma was a very kind soul and befriended some of her co-workers. Others, on the other hand, despised or straight up hated the woman and refused to see their boss with this newcomer. Tom Huckabee and Karina Newton were infamous in the office and notorious for their bullying of the boss personal assistant.
Tom did it for openly racist reasons, he told countless times to Asma that it was a dream she had to give up because Zeus never had a history of dating anything else than pale, blonde supermodels and she shouldn't hope too hard. He didn't like Asma for no other reason than him being prejudiced. He always treated some of his non-white colleagues with obnoxious and loud prejudiced remarks. It didn't help that most of his co-workers at the External Relations department were of different ethnicities but that didn't stop Tom from feeling superior to them. He would very often boast and use aggressive tactics to catch Zeus' eye and make himself more visible. Ambitious and ruthless, he would never hesitate to throw anyone under the bus if that could help him get his promotion. The only person he wouldn't touch would be his partner in crime and colleague Karina Newton who seemingly was as prejudiced as he was. But Asma? He hated her guts. He wanted her gone from the minute he saw her. She looked too original with her pink locks and her colorful outfits, too discreet and too old fashioned with her conservative outfits. She was kind and sweet and helpful and quite skilled and the naiveté in her eyes achieved to make him dislike her.
«..... » She couldn't answer him, she didn't have any comeback. Truth be told, her heart sank and if it was capable of making a noise, the whole building would have heard it. Zeus himself, who was in his office but had a very good view of the meeting room could see how rigid and stiff her body was and how tensed she became as she watched the news. He could tell by her body language that her heart broke and had to clench his fists so he wouldn't chase after her. Asma quietly exited the room,
« Way to go Tom! Proving once again that you're an asshole! » Madeleine's sharp voice broke the awkward silence as she exited the conference room and tried to reach out to Asma who was doing her very best not to burst into tears.
Truth be told, she should have but as usual, she held back everything inside and pretended she was fine. Her steps were fast and unnatural as she tried her best to quickly leave the building. It was lunch break anyway so she had to get herself something to eat, cover up her tears and come back to work with a fake smile plastered on her face. That was her plan but her best friend grabbed her arm and took her to the closest empty conference room they could find.
« What is it for? » Asma complained before her friend pointed at the chair and forced her to sit down.
« You tell me what's going on. »
« Isn't it obvious? I was trying to get some lunch. » She said, shrugging at the question.
Madeleine was the very first person who befriended a clueless and nervous Asma. She was absolutely gorgeous, Chinese-American with long brown straight hair, a sweet sun-kissed skin with gorgeous hazel eyes. She was a superstar in the building, renown for her beauty and her wit. She was courted by the men despite the common knowledge that she was actually lesbian. She was admired by women because she knew who she was and lived in her truth without any regrets and everyone knew of her complicated relationship with Zoe -a manipulative and abusive asshole-. She took a liking in Asma the minute she saw her and made the first move towards the young woman. She quickly found out that Asma was a good soul and sought after her company. It didn't take long for Madeleine to become Asma's friend and influence some positive change in her life. She took better care of her hair, changed her wardrobe and came out of her shell. Of course, she knew that Asma fell in love with their boss and despite her own distrust of Zeus, Madeleine encouraged her friend to at least try and see what it would bring. Apparently, it brought heart breaks and despair to the young woman, which made her best friend feel guilty for her previous advice.
« You're not. Quit it. You're trying to hide your tears. I know you Azz... » Her voice was soft yet Asma could read anger. Madeleine was upset but not at her, she gave Asma a tight smile and sat next to her. « I know you are, I know you Azz. »
« What... What on Earth do you want me to do Maddie? I can't exactly come around and wave my hands at Zeus. He chose Irina. He witnessed me spill my guts about my feelings for him and he fucking CHOSE Irina! » She leaned in her chair, eyes wide open as she couldn't believe her eyes and ears. It was so humiliating! He sent her mixed signals since he broke up with Irina, went so far as to tell her that he wanted her and didn't know how to resist her and now that she gathered enough strength to confess her feelings, he went and proposed to his ex.
« He is an asshole and that was an asshole move! He could have rejected you plain and simple and he didn't. He kissed you, hugged you, told you what you wanted to hear and now he broke your heart. I never liked him, but now it's personal! »
« It's not his fault. It's not his fault Maddie. Yes, that was an asshole move but in all honesty, he's been in that on and off relationship with Irina for the last 6 years! What was /I/ thinking uh? What was I thinking ?! » She ran her hand through her pink locks and leaned her forehead against her hand. Tears finally started to stream down her face as she couldn't hold them back. « What do I do now? I have all of these feelings and I cannot... I can't.... it's... too... it's too … much ! It's too much! » She said sobbing her eyes out. Madeleine came closer to her friend and pulled her into a hug. As her hand ran into her pink locks, her eyes were shooting invisible daggers at an invisible Zeus.
That asshole didn't know what he was missing out. He could have found some peace with Asma. He could have found someone who treated him well and understood him. Madeleine didn't know everything because Asma protected Zeus but she knew that he was definitely a different man by her sides. She had noticed his change of behavior towards the rest of his employees and she suspected that he was actually very smitten over her friend but refused to act on it. Madeleine tightened her grip on Asma and then leaned her chin on top of her friend's head. She didn't have comforting words to say to her, only anger directed at her boss, so instead of aggravating the situation, she comforted her the best way she knew, a hug. Asma cried harder, breaking her voice in the process as her hands clung onto the fabric of Madeleine's shirt.
« I hate to see you like this. » Madeleine said. « You don't deserve to cry, he doesn't deserve your tears. »
« I know..I know. » She said in between sobs « I don't think I can handle going back to work Maddie. Tom and Karina, they would taunt me all day. I have to work with Zeus.. he didn't even have the guts to tell me he was engaged when I saw him this morning!! He didn't! »
« We'll show them! You will go grab some lunch, then we'll pimp you out! I want you to look your best when you come back into this building. The following days, you'll be on your A game! Fucking delicious and breathtaking you hear me? » Asma blinked as she pulled away and ran her hand through her hair.
« I don't know... I-I Don't know. » Madeleine's plan was a good one, but Asma was uncertain.
« You can pull that off! I will lend you some clothes if we have to do it. You will look fabulous and that motherfucker would cry for turning his back on you. I'll make sure you look on point when we're back from lunch. Hair fixed, lips purty and plump, cleavage on point and that tight nice ass tucked in that pencil skirt you're wearing. I'm gonna help you fix your look and you will make those heads turn! » It made Asma chuckle and she nodded while she picked a handkerchief to clean up her messed up face. Tears were still falling at random so she knew it would take some time before she stopped crying.
« Yeah? I can pull that off you think? »
« I'm positive! » Madeleine smiled at her and then pinched her cheek. « You're a superstar here, we are! So if I tell you that I'll help you shine like a motherfucker, you'll shine like one! » She then cupped her cheek and sighed. « I wish I could help you feel better with just a snap of my fingers but I know you were genuine in your feelings for him so it's gonna hurt for a long time. »
« I don't want it to hurt anymore. » Asma said, sobbing again.
« I know precious, I know. It'll pass but you need to get yourself back in the saddle as soon as possible. You're super fine Asma and if Zeus can't see it, then screw him! You're hot and you deserve to have fun. So we're going to help you have fun. »
« You'll have to help me on that. » She said, leaning against the table and holding a fist of pink hair.
« I will gladly do so. Now, time is running out. Let's go outside and grab some lunch and then proceed with the rest of the plan? »
« What about Karina and Tom? They would have a field day with me. » She asked unsure of how to deal with those bullies.
Karina was a special case. She hated most people in the company and have a love/hate relationship with Madeleine. They both competed for the title of the superstar of the company. They both were excellent at their jobs and rescued Tartarus so many times that their names were known by every single person working there. But if there was a popularity contest, Madeleine won it by a landslide because she was much more sociable and caring than Karina ever was. So there was this old rivalry between the two of them. Things got a little out of hand since Asma arrived because Karina grew a very weird and intense hatred of her. Nobody understood why she disliked Asma but it probably was because of her position. While not paid enough, it gave Asma a visibility Karina always dreamed to have and a proximity to their boss she wished she had.
« I will deal with them, I'll always have your back, Azz. »
« I know. »
« You do? Then dry those tears and come over. We have lunch to take. »
She said as she grabbed her wrist and kindly helped her back onto her feet. She took the handkerchief and cleaned her face up. Asma didn't resist much since she was in no position to do so and once her face was clean, she followed Madeleine out of the conference room and headed outside. Zeus broke her heart but feelings couldn't be processed as they should have so Asma decided to put them aside for a while. It was the first time it hurt that much because Asma didn't have the opportunity to avoid Zeus. He was her boss and because he was, she had to spend most of her time with him.
Ah ! Stupid heart!
(TBC)
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