Femme Empire

Multitasking

"Emir Aslan is not the man I expected him to be.", I told Georgiana on the phone while colour coding the dresses on Corel-Draw. It was not an easy task but in the past hour, I had gotten the hang of it. Hopefully, I would be done by midnight. Hopefully was the operative word here.

"What did you expect?", she asked.

"Someone less handsome. Honestly, I hate it when beautiful people have ugly insides. Why can't he be nicer? I am sure his employees would appreciate it.", I said frustrated.

She laughed.

"Leave it you to ogle your new boss.", she teased.

" I might be taken but I'm not blind.", I retorted.

"Speaking of...", she asked, her voice suddenly soft. I knew what she was going to ask. I just wasn't prepared for it. " Any news of Ethan?"

"He hasn't called. Not yet. But I'm not worried. He can take care of himself.", I lied.

"Bullshit! You haven't even thought about it, have you? You are pretending he will home the next evening.", she said cutting through my fragile illusion.

I didn't speak. What was there to say? That I was bleeding like a fresh wound? That I was pretending to smile and laugh and be normal? That my son was suffering?

"Not a moment goes by when I don't remember him. I remember him every time I breathe. He is my air, my life force. But, if I kept grieving, I would never get any work done. So, I am just trying to survive the day, minute by minute.", I confessed.

Now, she fell silent. I reached onto the fiftieth dress in neon green and started searching for the perfect colour match on the wheel.

"What's happening at the office?", I asked tentatively.

" Meeting of the board of directors. Jules is bringing in new investors. Everybody is spooked. Things are shaky here. She has to win them over again. It's a hurdle that she has created for herself.", she reported.

"Who's with Josh today?", she asked.

" Tom's wife, Beth. She is gonna be here as long as I need her."

"How's Jules doing?", I asked, unwillingly. She was still my sister. No matter how much we fought and betrayed, some habits died hard.

"Not too good, I think. She had a major fight with Caldron at the office yesterday. I think that ship is drowning.", she said softly.

"It's awful, this war. I hate to think what else will be ruined by it."

"She started it but you will be the last one standing.", she said surely.

I wasn't so sure. Jules was my sister, my sister of choice. She was the only one capable of fighting me.

"By the way, I wasn't actually calling to mope about my relationship problems or my broody Mr. Darcy boss. I need your help to contact Chior models and get their representative on the phone for me."

"Will do. Give me ten.", she informed me.

"Gracias, Georgiana.", I thanked her.

"De nada, jefa.", she said signing off.

_________

" So, how's first day going so far?", Lola asked as I walked out of my assigned cubicle.

"Like mierda. Your boss is as sweet as a daisy.", I chirped.

She laughed.

"So, I see you have encountered his fangs.", she said wryly.

"Yes, I can assure you he drinks the blood of his employees. Bloody vampire. Pun intended."