The Devil's Sweetheart

In the afternoon, Merl went to lunch along with her colleagues. Nick insisted on coming with her, but she denied telling it would lead to misunderstandings. Nick didnot object, for he knows Merl has a fear of being misjudged. 

Bliss is built in the bustling business park, and when the team made their way to the foodcourt, Mandy was the first to rush towards her favorite California pizza kitchen. Almost everybody was a woman in the company, and Merl wondered if Leena is prejudiced against men. But then again, Leena is close to Nick, so she brushed off the thought. 

Twenty minutes later, everybody gathered and settled on the chairs. Mandy had a barbeque Peking duck and Bacon pizza loaded with extra cheese. Chicken wings and mashed potato for sides. Two bottled sodas to make her eat less.

\'\'You are supposed to go on a diet, Mandy,\'\' Naomi said, taking a bite of burrito.

\'\'The weight I am losing is going to the person I hate.\'\' Mandy\'s chubby cheeks puffed as she loaded her mouth with the chicken wings. \'\'So, I am putting a stop to dieting.\'\'

\'\'Is that hate towards Leena madam?\'\' Megan giggled. Mandy is like a roaring lion behind the scenes, and in front of Leena, she is a scared rabbit.

\'\'Not Leena. Call her Witch.\'\' Mandy corrected. Everybody burst out laughing except Merl. 

\'\'Don\'t criticize Leena.\'\' Merl bit her lips nervously before voicing her thoughts. \'\'She is a very good person.\'\'

\'\'Oho!\'\' Mandy drank the soda through the straw and burped before putting down the can. \'\'It\'s because you haven\'t seen her true colors, Merl. She is a big fatty bully.\'\' 

\'\'Stop it, Mandy. Did you forget the punishment you received last time for bitching on Leena?\'\' Naomi and Megan reminded.

Ignoring the two, Mandy nudged Merl to come forward and whispered. \'\'She has dated many women in the past.\'\'

\'\'W_omen? But she is married...\'\' Merl stopped short when she saw Leena, Savny, and Reese standing behind Mandy\'s chair. Merl swallowed when Leena gestured, \'don\'t talk\' to all the girls sitting next to her. Even Naomi, who was sitting next to Mandy, sensed the powerful aura, but Mandy didnot.

Biting down the pizza, Mandy said. \'\'She was forced into marriage because her uncle saw through the acts. He got scared that she would tarnish his reputation. So, he convinced his friend, and reluctantly, his son has to marry this crazy. You might have already known who the man is...He is the heartthrob for girls. Poor my Devin..\'\' Mandy wiped her tears and looked at Merl to see if she was listening. Merl nodded her head to continue under Leena\'s command.

\'\'She was secretly dating Reese before marriage. I heard that she built an island for Reese as a token of their love.\'\'

Reese clenched her fists, ready to knock Mandy\'s head, but Leena stopped her.

Mandy stuffed the mashed potato into her mouth and then continued. \'\'Although that witch is married, I heard a rumor that she is still not over Reese, and they secretly fool around masking behind Devin.\'\'

\'\'Done with your bitchology class?\'\' Mandy choked on the food when she heard the voice from behind. She slowly turned her head like a scared kid in the ghost movies. Ghosts are better compared to Leena in Mandy\'s view. \'\'L_eena..I was telling them how good...you are to the employees.\'\'

The girls around her bit their tongues to keep from laughing. 

\'\'It\'s funny how obedient you act on my face,\'\' Leena said, her voice insipid. \'\'It\'s hilarious how you talk shit behind my back, and it\'s downright comical that you think I am unaware of it.\'\'

\'\'Leena..\'\' Merl hesitantly spoke up, like a scared bunny. \'\'Don\'t reprimand Mandy. She probably did not mean to hurt you.\'\'

\'\'Oh, Merl! You are too innocent for this world.\'\' Leena felt pity for the girl. Everything she sees positive around her. Leena wondered how Nick is going to handle this innocent being.

\'\'For the punishment.\'\' Leena shifted her gaze to Mandy. \'\'One-hour yoga practice for the whole month.\'\' With that, she left with Reese, and Cutie tagging behind her.

Mandy\'s world crashed. One-hour yoga practice? The last time when Leena gave a one-day punishment, the whole week, she got up with a sore body. How is she supposed to handle it for a month?

\'\'Don\'t worry.\'\' Merl gently grabbed Mandy\'s hand. \'\'I am the one taking classes. I will go easy on you.\'\'

\'\'Thank you, Merl. You are so sweet.\'\' Mandy looked at Merl like a goddess at that moment.

\'\'Let\'s go. It\'s late already.\'\' Merl said, and all were back to the office.

Meanwhile, Leena and Reese were giggling like hyenas recalling Mandy\'s nasty face. \'\'I have to bow down to the way she made up your story...What was that...island as a token of love...pfft..\'\'

\'\'She is the gray sprinkle on a rainbow cupcake.\'\' Leena switched the button of her bracelet, unable to hold herself from sharing Mandy\'s incident with her babylicious.

Reese\'s eyes broadened as she watched Devin\'s face on the bail of the bracelet. \'\'Holy mother of Gods! How did you do this?\'\' Reese tortured Leena until she turned off, and his face was gone. With a frustrated sigh, she explained the story behind the bracelet. \'\'I can track, I can listen to his voice, I can even see him. Happy?\'\'

\'"Can you do one for me, Leena? Please.\'\' Reese pleaded. She can see Rew\'s face anytime and perhaps spy on him sometimes. 

\'\'No.\'\' She declined. \'\'It\'s exclusive to my Devin.\'\'

\'\'Pretty..please.\'\' Reese pleaded again. Just then, they heard a knock, and Merl appeared.

\'\'I need your signature on the approval file.\'\'

Leena scanned the papers thoroughly before signing the document. \'\'Here you go.\'\' She handed back the file.

\'\'Thank you. The bracelet is beautiful.\'\' Merl said, unable to take her eyes off the beautiful. \'\'Where did you buy it?\'\'

\'\'It\'s custom-made,\'\' Leena replied, grazing her fingers over it.

Merl smiled and went back to her seat before looking at the bracelet for one last time.