Top Note

Chapter 10

Eriantha

"Why are you here Miss Reux?" My words from this morning were copied and pasted to the tone, back to me.

I had rehearsed this conversation throughout my drive to his apartment, and I was just lucky that I found him here, because, he had mentioned in many of his interviews that he doesn't like to stay in his city apartment, unless he has some business at the headquarters.

Play it cool Eri.

I reminded myself,.

Don't reveal your angst in front of him. 

I tried hard to imagine Vivian, how she would be relaxed and put together,with her plastic smile, even when she was under pressure, she would never reveal her insecurities. I relaxed and smiled back at him, as if his pinning gaze hasn't affected me at all, like him in white t-shirt and grey sweatpants isn't a sight to behold at all, or the veins running in his arms doesn't distract my thoughts in anyway.

"You have a lovely apartment Mr.Karwitz." I gestured  at the neatly arranged living room with black and grey walls, and finest interiors surrounding me.

I heard a deep chuckle as a response to my words. of course, it is laughable, I had simply barged into his apartment without an appointment, and now I am engaging him in this shitty small talk, when he was enjoying a drink on a Friday evening.

"You never fail to surprise me Miss Reux" He spoke as he interlocked his fingers, after placing his drink on the table. His slightly slouched, relaxed posture, his hair falling roughly on the foreheads, made him appear younger than usual.

"Don't tell me you drove all this way, just to appreciate my apartment." He appeared amused than necessary.

Okay, Mr.Karwitz I know I am embarrassing myself now, but can you make it less obvious please.

"I was expecting you tomorrow morning, at my office. What made you so eager that you couldn't stay away?" His eyes glimmered slightly, and I took in a sharp breath. This man could pull off being handsome even when he would murder someone.
I swear I tried my best to ape Vivian, as I slightly lifted my lips and straightened my back, I didn't miss a thing copying that impeccable posture which she always holds up so elegantly. Although my heart rate was anything but steady, I spoke in a very calm voice, "Because I was curious Mr.Karwitz..."
"About?"
I could say he was fighting hard to suppress his laughter.

  Am I making a fool of myself? I didn't need a mirror to know that.
You aren't Vivian, you aren't an elite.

"If you are willing to renegotiate about your offer." I insisted.

His demeanor changed slightly, as he pulled up himself on his elbows as I continued speaking,
"I was just curious, how much you are willing to put at stake? How intensely do you want me? How much are you willing to give Mr.Karwitz?"

I don't know what my words did to him but he narrowed his eyes, he scanned me thoroughly, I could tell that his tipsiness was gone and he was now assessing me word by word. His intense gaze was testing every nerve in my body, but I wasn't here to back out, I don't have a choice, it's all Or nothing for me tonight.

"I was already willing to pay you a lucrative salary, and there will be perks for sure Miss.Reux. But, money isn't an issue, if you want more we can always negotiate." 

I gave off a dry laugh, "I wouldn't have been here if it was the job that I wanted Sir" I could feel his face stiffening momentarily, "What if I say I want more than the job? Would you be open to negotiation then?"
My throat was parched, I was already losing it, my angst was building up.
He traced the outline of his lower lip with his finger, it wasn't deliberate, but it was too sensuous for my betraying hormones.
"Depends on what you have in mind Miss. Reux. People want a lot of things from me, but I am not willing to yield to just anyone. But, you must be desperate, for someone who had just denied your skills as a perfumer back in the morning.So..." He paused deliberately just to size me up, "Give the game away."

"Invite me to a dinner, make it look like a date. I would like Mr.Karwitz to date me."
I blurted my intentions, before I could think. I didn't want to make myself look like a teenager with a hapless crush on her idol. I immediately clasped my palm against my mouth, but words one spoken cannot be pulled back. 

My futile effort of acting collected was totally busted, and my face flushed like a cherry when I heard his full blown laughter.

Perhaps, nobody has seen Darcel Karwitz laughing with his head thrown back to the point of blowing out his lungs. But, that was a sight to behold, he had a gorgeous laughter, I give that to him.
But, is it that funny? The idea of dating me?
Of course it is, you are just a hillbilly.

I shouldn't have been bothered, but I felt terrible, humiliated, like a teenager who had just been mocked at by her crush.

Snap out of it Eri. He isn't your crush.

Crossing my arms in a defensive posture, I held up a deadpan face.
He stopped after sometime, with tears in his eyes and face all red from laughing at a long stretch.

"Are you done with your daily dose of laughter Mr.Karwitz?" He nodded, his muscles still rumbling from left over laughter.

"It's Fake."

"What?"

"It's Fake dating.Please hear me out."

The one thing I had ever learnt about a fair business deal is that, if one is looking forward to a partnership they must always come clear to the other party about what they had in mind. Keeping secrets always blows off the plan in the long run.
So I came out loud and clear about my circumstances which had pushed me this far. When I mentioned the incident from this morning, I could see his expression growing intense, a nerve in his forehead ticked constantly as he heard my narrative of how they had threatened to sell me and Anders off if we fail to pay the debt.

"I know I am asking for too much Sir, but I have never once wanted to sell my art of perfumery at someone else's command. It's my empowerment. Yet, I am willing to give my best perfume to you. I... I don't want much. But if I am with you they won't touch us for now. I promise you that I will give my best creation to you and won't ask for anything in return."

Something stirred in him, I couldn't quite point out, and without another word, he picked up his cellphone and I couldn't surmise whom he spoke with but, the moment the call disconnected, I heard him say.
"You got on the wrong side with Davytans."

I clenched my fists, "Not us. It's my father. But, you know that scary woman?"

He took a sip from his glass and flinched probably at the blandness because the ice had melted completely, "Who? Diana Davytan? Everyone knows her, she is badass. She is part of the Davytan crime family, nobody talks about them. The less spoken is better. It's a bad news in itself that your father drew bad blood with them." 

He shook his head and then his gaze turned to me, "Let's talk about your interesting proposal Miss Reux. Say even if I date you."

"Fake date" I said the word deliberately and he immediately guffawed at it.

"Alright, even if I fake date you. How do you plan to pay back to the Davytans? Even if you sell your entire company, including yourselves as Diana had said, it still won't be enough."

"Mr. Karwitz" I snapped. He was telling the truth, but I felt like someone stabbing me on my bleeding wound.

"Thank you for giving me your time, but I understand it's a baseless proposal. I... I... Shouldn't have come here." I was about to get up, when he said,"I haven't finished yet Miss.Reux."

He stood up and in the blink of an eye, he was right in front of me caging me to the couch just like he did in the morning, his whiskey clad breath, with the smell of soap was overwhelming.

"What if I give you something more? Something, which can solve your problems..." His eyes were burning with lust, and palpable greed of a hunter, "While I take something more?"

"Like?" I could hardly look at him. All my bravado evaporates in front of this man, my voice was mellowed down to a whisper and I could feel my heart beat escalating. Darcel Karwitz has an acute effect on me in ways I have never experienced before, there was this undeniable physical spark between us. The similar warmth that I had felt in between my legs back in the morning reappeared. Perhaps fear stimulates me. He stimulates me.
I was waiting for him to speak while holding my breath.

"How about Marriage?"