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Stuck in my Skin

Silvia POV

I applied and went to the interview just so I could tell my sister that I had done it, but had no intention of getting the job.

So I showed up prepared to be unqualified. My dress was professional, but it was probably a size too small and had very clashing colors all over it, completely inappropriate for a corporate setting. If this didn't bother the Hush brothers, my lavender hair surely would. And if none of that worked, the fact that I had no experience working in a corporate art department should make me ineligible for the job. It's not that I couldn't get it if I really wanted it, because I was sure I could. But the thought of being in a cubicle all day made my skin crawl.

Although my sister had married Ronny, she didn't know her brothers very well. She had met Gerard at the wedding, but she hadn't talked to him much. She only knew his reputation. Up close and personal, I could see why she was so successful with women and had earned that reputation. He was a big man with broad shoulders. Even beneath his suit, there was something about him that seemed sexually primal. The artist in me wants to strip it down and paint it. Or better yet, sculpt it. A specimen like Gerard could be as famous as Michelangelo's David.

I could see some resemblance to Ronny that indicated they were brothers, but while Ronny was the classic Southern California blonde boy with pretty blue eyes, Gerard's blonde hair had a reddish tinge to it and his features were more raw and rugged. While Ronny could be a surfer, Gerard would be a mountain climber.

I was on my best behavior, and at the beginning of the interview, he also seemed to be on his best behavior. But, soon, we let our guard down and our real nature came to light. The most surprising thing of all was that he amused me and even turned me on. But as much fun as it was to argue verbally with Gerard, I had better things to do with my time. Mostly because what I was looking for in an artist was something so uninspiring that I was sure it would suck my soul out if I tried to do it. So I cut my losses and left when things started to get out of hand. I was surprised that he followed me and continued our little dispute.

I pressed the elevator button to go. As much fun as it was, it probably wouldn't be a good idea to get caught fighting with my sister's brother.

"Are you the runt of the family? "I asked while waiting for the elevator to arrive at my floor". Because compared to Ronny, you're a complete jerk.

"Rude”?

I shot him a quick glance to see if he was offended, but the sharp gleam in his eyes suggested that this was all a game to him.

"That's a good thing coming from you. Compared to your sister, you're a little minx.

I let out a quick laugh”.

"This is what Gerard's free will seems to be, something you don't seem to have within these stuffy, boring walls of Hush Incorporated. "The elevator arrived and I entered, turning to look at it”.

His jaw had tightened, and it seemed like he was trying to think of what to say to get the last word. Maybe this game was that: the last word. I wanted to win this game, so I searched my brain for what my last word could be. She would be ready to say it just as the door closed on his handsome face.

But he surprised me when I got into the elevator. He was an immense man, not only in size, but also in presence. Suddenly, the elevator looked like a shoe box.

"Are you sure that's what you think I am?" Or is this just someone who doesn't want to grow up and continues to act? " He said.

"Since when is growing up defined as losing the sense of creativity, fun and play? "I took a breath as he looked at him". But you're the one who has to talk, Gerard. You have the libido of a sixteen"year"old boy winking at Internet porn. "Then, just in case, I added". If you're as good in bed as your reputation seems to suggest, it's a shame you can't take all that energy and creativity and actually put it into an advertising campaign that can sell shoes.

“You have a big mouth,” he said, following me out of the elevator as we reached the garage level.

"It's a shame you only use it to spout such nonsense. There are so many other things that such a pretty mouth could do..."

The woman in me wanted to turn around and slap him, but she knew that was probably what he wanted. All this was to put pressure on each other. I wasn't sure why either of us cared so much, except that it was an interesting morning. But since I was almost at my car, I decided I would ignore it.

"Are you out of clever questions? " He asked when we got to my car.

"Well, to be honest, Gerard, I'm a little disappointed that you've stooped to misogynistic sexual innuendo. I thought you were smarter than that.

He stopped dead and blinked. If I was not mistaken, the expression on his face was more due to the embarrassment he felt for how far we had come than because I called him out on her sexist comment.

I must have gone crazy. I do not know what happened to me. I was looking at Gerard. When he wasn't speaking, he was a specimen of perfection: tall, broad, sexy and fierce. And, despite what he said, he was really fun to joke with. As I stood there waiting to see what he would do or say, I felt it. The Excitement. The anticipation. And that must have been the reason I did what I did. I reached out, grabbed his tie, and pulled him towards me, pressing my lips against his. It would be the last word. But when my lips touched his, I immediately determined that I had gotten into trouble with him. His lips were soft but firm. His breath was a mixture of coffee and mint. The small moan in the back of his throat made me want to rip off our clothes and see what happened next.

His tongue ran over the corner of my lips and, as if they had a will of their own, they parted to let him enter. And that's when all the fireworks started going off, not just in my brain, but in my bloodstream. It was like sparks were flying everywhere.

As intoxicating and exciting as it was, it was also extremely dangerous. I don't know where I got the strength from, but somewhere I did. I separated my lips from him and moved away. I got into my car and didn't look at him once as he started the engine and pulled out of the parking lot. As he walked me home, I couldn't help but wonder about our little exchange and who, in the end, had had the last word.

For the rest of the afternoon I worked to try to get the kiss I had given Gerard out of my head. Most likely, my attempt to have the last word would have backfired. He had probably forgotten about it almost as soon as it had happened. No doubt he was looking for his next conquest. Men like Gerard Hush didn't like women like me. He was like a caveman who wanted a docile, long"legged, blonde"haired woman who would allow him to do whatever he wanted with her. I wasn't ugly, but I was too loud"mouthed and extravagant for someone who liked, in quotes, traditional and classic.

To completely get the interview and Gerard Hush out of my head, I put on my oversized overalls, a tank top, and used a ribbon to keep my hair out of my face. Then, I went to my studio to work. The word "studio" is not very precise, since it is basically a corner of the apartment, but it was the corner that received the most light, which made it the ideal place.

Focusing my attention on the work at hand, I pushed everything else aside and immersed myself in the colors and textures of my latest work.

I was so lost in my art that I lost track of time. I only came to my senses when there was a knock at the door. After checking my watch, I saw that it was almost time for dinner.

"Wait a minute," I said as I put down the brush. I walked over to the door, opened it and was surprised to see Katy there. She had a pink bag from a bakery in her hand.

"I brought you a cake from Melinda's. I thought we could hold your interview today.

I wondered if she knew something I didn't know. Or, perhaps, she hadn't realized what a disaster she had been. But I opened the door to let her in and grabbed the cake as she passed me. I didn't want to give him the opportunity to take it away from me once she told him the truth about the interview.

She came to the corner of the studio to see my latest work.

"Wow, it's turning out very well.

"Thank you. "I took the cake to the kitchen". Do you want some wine or coffee or something?

"A glass of wine would be nice.

She walked into the kitchen and sat at the small table. For many years we both lived here and often ate together. We also had some pretty intense conversations as we helped each other navigate life.

“Tell me about the interview,” she said as she took out two glasses and poured cold white wine into them. I carried the glasses to the table and placed one in front of her.

"There is not much to tell. Except it's gone very wrong."

Her eyebrows furrowed and she tilted her head.

"What do you mean it was bad?

"I don't know if you've realized it or not, but Gerard Hush is a fool".

"Oh, what did you do?"

"I? "I put my hand on my chest to emphasize my words. "Why did you assume that I was the one who had ruined everything?"

"Tell me what happened," she said, picking up her wine glass and taking a sip.

"I went looking professional, at least to me. I was prepared to be serious in the interview, and so it was. He showed me some of the work they had already started on the campaign and then she asked me if I would I hated finishing it. To which, honestly, I said no. "Katy rolled her eyes.

"Why did you say no? The only reason you were there was to help finish the campaign.

I was speechless.

"Have you seen him? Has Ronny seen it? I can't believe that either of them really thinks that can work in Europe".

"Well, perhaps, instead of offending Gerard, you could have kindly suggested some alternatives".

I stared at her as she worked to keep my hurt feelings under control. Why was she defending him?

"Tell me, is Ronny having this same conversation with Gerard? I mean, he basically called me a loser and someone without talent because he wasn't selling any of my work. And then he basically called me a big mouth and made a vulgar suggestion about a better way to put my mouth to work".

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