When your world crashes around and you come face to face with the fact that only your last nightmare exists, what do you do? Do you run away and burn all your pride to the ground? Or do you face it until you soon become your nightmare's nightmare instead.

Valarie stood tall, her eyes peering into the soul of the ultimate liar. Ashley stared back with the same intensity. There was nothing between them but thin air and tension. That sly one sided smile crept upon Ashley's face. Her bright red dress only added to the effect. Valarie could feel the blood warming beneath her skin. Her face becoming flush from the emotions exploding like firecrackers inside.

"Well look who showed up to work today" Ashley mused. The sound of her voice evoked a darkness with. Valarie clenched her fists at her sides. If she allowed her hands to wander elsewhere, they would definitely be buried deep within the flesh of the face in front of her.

"You ran out on the show pretty fast. You should have stayed for the best part when the cameras couldn't stop dancing in front of me." Valarie rolled her eyes. Any second longer near that scum and she would surely win herself a free ticket to jail.

"Excuse me" she said while attempting to walk past Ashley who stopped her with a firm hand on the shoulder. Valarie violently shrugged her hand off, "Don't you dare touch me" she said between clenched teeth. Ashley chuckled "What is it Valarie? You can't handle the presence of a winner?"

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize we were in a competition" Valarie responded before making another attempt to walk away."

Ashley made her final mistake to stop her again. Like a reflex action, Valarie pushed her off and connected a sound swift slap to her left cheek. The force off balanced her and she stumbled to the floor. Valarie exhaled sharply and regained her solid posture. She looked down at Ashley who was now in shambles on the floor with her hand over her cheek.

"I-said-don't-touch-me" Valarie pronounced with distinction in each word. She then continued to walk on to the office.

"That bitch!" Ashley huffed as she was left alone on the floor.

Valarie stopped at Dimitri's office and stood outside the door. She contemplated entering. After what he had let happen at the show, he didn't deserve to see her morning bitch face. Even that was too rewarding. She spun around and headed off to meet the one person who fell into her blow off list and deserved an apology, Kyle.

It was like she had wished for him to fall out of the sky. "Valarie!" Kyle screamed from across the room. He ran over to her and scooped her into a tight hug before she could respond.

"Well somebody missed me" she joked. Kyle pulled away and held her at arm's length. "Where have you been? I called your phone a million times. Why didn't you answer? Why didn't you call me back? Did someone kidnap you? Tell me if someone kidnapped you. I'll go bust their ass."

"Haha don't worry Kyle I'm fine. I just needed a day to think. I'm sorry I didn't contact you. Technically I was kidnapped...but I wasn't..."

"What?? Gurl who took you. Did you see his face. I'll go call the cops."

"Hey it's okay haha. It's a long story but I'll tell you a bit later. I just wanna settle in and get to work."

"Okay fine but lunch time at exactly 12:10pm you will tell me."

She shook her head "Okay deal."

"Did you know that witch still works here after that stunt she pulled. Dimitri still haven't told his father."

"Yea I know...I saw her already."

Kyle's eyes opened like full moons "How did that go down?"

"Let's just say I told her not to touch me and she did so she went down."

"Oh no I missed it! Why didn't you put it on pause and come call me?"

Valarie ran her hands through her hair. "I don't know it happened so fast! I don't know what's wrong with me. I took one look at her and I just wanted to rip the girl's head off. I was the one that got her a comfortable lace in here and then she stabbed me in the back with a sword. Does she even have any idea how long i worked on some of those designs?" She shook her head in disbelief.

"She's a leech that need to be burnt by a torch" Kyle inputted.

"Let's not talk about her. Dimitri didn't say anything so I guess he would take lies over embarrassing his father any day. Mama's boy ain't got balls."

"I agree. He is a total chicken. It's only a little while before I tell his father myself."

"Don't worry about it Kyle. Just forget. Everything happens for a reason. It's done."

"'Oh come on Valarie. You are not going to let her get away with what she did are you?"

"I'm just tired of the drama and i am tired of fighting. I just want to get on with work so I can save enough to clear out my problems at home. You should probably get back to work. I heard another show is in the making."

Valarie pat him on the shoulder and turned back to Dimitri's office. Kyle shook his head as she walked off and sigh.

About one hundred different scenarios played out in her head. Valarie stood outside the office wondering what would happen when she faced him. What would she do? What would he do? Would it be the biggest mistake of her life? Should she just go back home and call it another day? She sucked it up and took a deep breath. She was determined to let him see that she was not affected by the incident and continue on work like nothing happened.

She pushed open the door and walked in. Dimitri froze in his seat and attempted swallow a bolus of saliva but it felt like a brick wall lodged in his throat. The air loomed with a sickening silence as the pairs of eyes made four. Valarie kept her gaze fixed. Her silent challenged made him shift in his chair. He prayed her to be her old self and look away, look t the floor. To look anywhere but at him but she didn't even blink.

Valarie smoothed her dress and walked with hips swaying dangerously towards him. She stopped at his desk and continued to peer at him. Dimitri shifted his eyes for just a second the scan her from the knees upwards. There was something about her aura that was different. He had transformed from a warm muffin to the ablaze of the sun. She affected him in a way he couldn't quite understand but he shifted his focus into remaining emotionless.

The eerie silence was now too much to bear to she broke it. Who cares about formalities? She cut right to it.

"I heard about the upcoming show. What's my job? What do you need me to work on?"

Dimitri bit down on his lower lip. His mind clicked like gears to decide on a route to go. Should he apologize? He thought about how pathetic he would sound and knew that Valarie would definitely not buy it. If he wanted to make up for it , he needed to plan something grand and that would take time. Dimitri took the risk. He continued on like nothing happened.

"Continue to work on the designs" he responded.

Valarie's eyebrow quirked up into a perfect arch. She chuckled. "You want me...to work on the designs? I heard you have a new star around here. Why don't you ask her?"

"I said...continue to work on the designs" Dimitri said between clenched teeth.

"You know what? You can kiss me ass. I'm not working on the designs." Valarie spun around and started heading towards the door when Dimitri stopped her.

"Valarie" he called and rose from his seat. His hands sat in the warmth of his pockets. "Don't make me mad."

Her eyes narrowed "Excuse me? Don't make you mad? Haha what are we playing today opposite day? I'm the one who should be freaking mad! You just, he just....Oh no he didn't just-"

She paced the floor frantically for a few seconds then brought herself to a complete and sudden stop. She raised her hands up to head head simultaneously as she inhaled deeply then exhaled and lowered her hands back to her sides.

"You see this...I just can't deal." Valarie flipped her hair, spun around and stormed out of the room. Dimitri had to put all his effort into restraining a laugh. He pressed his lips together in an attempt to hold back but his lips were already shifting into a grin. He had never seen her like this before and her failed attempt to appear angry was weirdly adorable.

Dimitri picked up his phone and dialed in the secretary at the fashion sector. "Mr. Osbourne" the woman answered. "Tell Kyle I want to see him in my office...now" he muttered before hanging up.

Valarie walked down the halls with her fists clenched at her side. She was burning all over and she feared that at any moment now she would erupt. As she took one more step forward, it felt as though she was hit by a truck and the air was knocked out of her.

"Oh my God Valarie! Are you okay?" Mr. Osbourne stooped down to inspect her on the floor. Valarie held onto her stomach trying to breathe normally once again. Nikolai helped her up. "Are you okay?"

"Ha! Yeah I'm okay" Valarie caught her breath in between. "I'm sorry. You just appeared in front of me. "I'm sorry it's my fault my mind was elsewhere."

"Are you okay. You didn't show up to work yesterday."

"I wasn't feeling well so i took the day off. Sorry."

"Don't apologize. It was just unlike you. I'm glad you got to rest but you had my wife going crazy haha."

"Aww she missed me didn't she?"

"Yes. She almost sent out a search for you."

"Haha she is way too sweet. Sometimes I wonder how you even ended up with her."

"Wait what?" Nikolai questioned. Valarie laughed. "I'm just kidding, you guys are soulmates."

"Oohh that sounds more like it" Nikolai chuckled.

"Soo...I saw you got a new star in the house."

"Who Ashley?" Nikolai asked and Valarie nodded.

"Oh yes she is quite a fiery topic now. I had no idea she had so much talent."

"Me either" Valarie said.

Nikolai lowered his eyes on her. "You didn't?"

Valarie changed her tone. "Oh I know she had it but seeing it actually come to life. You know. You never are fully prepared for the outcome."

"I know right. The audience response was spectacular. You should have shown some of your designs too."

"Oh no no. My designs are no match for hers. None at all."

"Valarie don't be silly."

"What? I'm serious."

Nikolai rested a gentle hand on her shoulder. "Why don't you come to my office and we finish this conversation there.

Kyle knocked on the door and entered Dimitri's office. "You called for me?" he asked. "Well duh!" Dimitri responded. Kyle raised an eyebrow "Tone it down a little hot sauce."

"Sit" Dimitri ordered.

When Kyle was seated, Dimitri crossed his fingers together and leaned forward. "So...how you you like it if i doubled your pay?"

"It's about time" Kyle responded.

"How would you like it if you never get fired?"

Kyle narrowed his eyes on him.

"How would you like it if we teach that bitch a lesson she would never forget?"

"Where are you going with this?" Kyle asked skeptically.

"For the next few weeks i want you to do exactly what I say and not tell anyone about this until it's time. "If you don't, you're fired. If you don't, i'' make my father cut Valarie from her second job and drop her pay."

Kyle stood up from his chair. "Oh no you wouldn't..."

A sick smile played across Dimitri's face "My name is Dimitri Osbourne." he stood up to let his harsh eyes meet with Kyle's. "Ask me that question again. I think we both know the answer...So do we have a deal?" he outstretched his hands for a shake hand.

It felt as though all the oxygen in his cells were being replaced with carbon monoxide. Kyle swallowed a lump in his throat and stared down hesitantly at Dimitri's hand. His hand raised reluctantly until it connected. Dimitri tightened his grip into a firm shake and his lips quirked up into a wicked smile.

*Hey guys here goes another chapter. What do you guys think about this one? What do you think Dimitri has up his sleeves?

I wanted to dedicate this chapter to Rushwr for her heart warming message :). Thank you all for your support. It means a lot. Those comments always make me smile. I promise I will reply to them all but my internet have been a pain lately so it may take a while :(....Take care guys <3

ps. Forgive my grammar, spelling and what other errors I have in there. I haven't edited it yet. XD*