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“Well, well, well,” a smarmy voice whispers in to my ear, making me shudder. “If it isn’t Gemma Dove. Representing Dove Corporation, right?” Urgh, there is such a patronizing tone there. I want to lash out, but I need to keep my cool. Kicking someone at a charity function won’t be received well. “Nice to see you, looking hot as always. Loving that skin-tight red dress. Your cleavage is incredible, do you know that?”
“Oh, Roman,” I shoot back coldly as I see the man attached to the voice. “Yes, I am here representing my business. Not with my breasts, no, so you can certainly stop looking at them.” He doesn’t. I am fully covered up in this red dress, but that doesn’t seem to matter. He only sees me for my body. This is why I hate these pigs. “And since I have had a much better year than your company, I don’t know why you would say that as if you have something to brag to me about.” I cock my head curiously to one side. “Well, Roman?”
“Yeah, yeah, whatever.” He dismisses me as if my success feels nothing. If Eve doesn’t return with my drink soon to take the edge of this interaction off, then I am going to lose my mind. “I’m still doing well, thank you very much, and it isn’t like I didn’t win some of the campaigns that we both went for.” His eyes are now off me and all around the room. “Although neither of us are out doing Daniel Wilson, are we?”
Urgh, the mention of my biggest rival nearly makes me scream. I don’t know if Daniel is beating me or I am destroying him, it’s usually neck and neck when it comes to us too, but of course a sexist pig like Roman is going to believe that I could possibly be the top of the advertising world. His opinion shouldn’t bother me, I am supposed to rise above all of this shit, but I have to admit that every so often it gets to me. I can’t help it. If I was being judged because I wasn’t good at my job then that would be one thing, but because I don’t have a penis isn’t an excuse at all. I can work just as hard and as well as anyone else. Fucking pricks.
“Look at Daniel now,” Roman laughs, dragging my focus to the last person that I want to see in this room. “He really has a way with the ladies, doesn’t he? That young hot woman is practically salivating just from talking to him. It must be his never-ending charm. I would like some of that.” I roll my eyes, knowing that he could certainly do with it, not that I am about to engage in that conversation with him. “He must have at least one woman in his bed every single night and never the same woman twice. It’s impressive.”
“Is it?” I burst out, unable to stuff my feelings down anymore. He has riled me up in a way that I shouldn’t have let him but it’s too late. My lid has popped out and lava has spilled everywhere. “Because it seems like something that shouldn’t be bragged about or praised at all. Treating women like they are pieces of meat, just to be used. Do you really think that you should be celebrating another notch on his bed post?”
“Ooh sounds like you like him,” Roman teases, his eyes glinting with excitement at the idea of winding me up as much as he can. “Do I detect some kind of sexual tension there because that could be fun? Business rivals fucking on the side. Ooh, it’s an explosion waiting to happen. Then I will end up on top…”
“You are an idiot, Roman,” I growl angrily at him even suggesting that I would mix business and pleasure. God, he really can only see women as sexual objects, can’t he? How sad for him. “I don’t like Daniel. He is a real fool. Look at him, wasting the night away when it’s supposed to be something for charity. For other people.”
“Sure, sure.” Roman gives me a knowing grin. He doesn’t look convinced that this isn’t me being jealous which only winds me up even more. I’m starting to think that this night has been a total waste of make-up and a nice outfit. “Whatever you say, Gemma. I believe you, thousands wouldn’t…”
“Hey there, Gemma.” Thankfully, my friend, Paige, seems to sense that this is the moment to interrupt the conversation. “How’s it going? Thank you for coming tonight, I really appreciate it.”
She takes me away from Roman, allowing my temper to cool by the moment. It’s amazing how some little prick can have such an impact on me. I hate him for that, and I am annoyed at myself for getting sucked in. Especially when it came to all of that Daniel nonsense. Now he is a real twat. He thinks that his shaggy blond hair and tall, muscular body makes him a catch. He uses those sparkling green eyes of his and his dimples when he smiles to lure women in, and he thinks that makes him cool. How can being a play boy make anyone cool? How can other guys respect that? It honestly baffles me. Men seem backwards in their priorities to me.
