Top Note

Chapter 24

Eriantha

I must have gotten out from the wrong side of the bed, for my first a at work was anything but rotten. As if crossing path with that scum Evan wasn't enough, then Darcel came in like a bulldozer, a little part is me was glad that he did, but then he is no less of a megalomaniac himself. I accept that the way he had found us inside that room must have shocked him, but that man is impossible, he refused to hear any explanation. Not just that he uses his seduction skills as a tool, knowing fully well the kind of effect he has on me. That man is a wolf, a bully, and what makes me mad is that, everytime I succumb to him.
Not today, I have decided I won't talk to him, unless he mends his ways, and speaks with me like how two civic humans interact. I can't let him take advantage of my inexperience every single time.
What he did at work today could have ruined everything, fortunately when I left the room nobody was around, including Sebastian. So, during the team meeting, I only received warm welcome from all and not knowing looks, and stifled smiles. In fact I was surprised at how much the entire team of five were praising Sobriquet, particularly Julia, a woman in her late thirties, she's a senior perfumer who has been working with Karwitz from the company's inception, she was so impressed with my brand, that she personally uses Sobriquet products. I liked her persona instantly, she wasn't the professional, stiff type, like most I came across here. Julia was pretty in her own way, and her confident smile was her trump card. She took the lead to introduce me to the others, most of them were freshers but, they were eager to work, and create new things. The creative team was definitely a misfit in the all so formal Karwitz perfumes, and I got it, that moving forward I can dress casually and be myself. A tiny part of me wanted to believe that it was Darcel's discretion may be, but then I was too mad at him to admit and recognise the considerate side of my husband.

What a conviving wolf!

"It's a great thing that Darcel married you, we now have the best perfumer with us, we will be invisible now." I was surprised at how easily Julia called Darcel by his name while everyone else cowered even while addressing him as Mr.Karwitz.
"It's just too great an opportunity for me as a perfumer, I hope everyone understands that we are all on equal footing here, me being his wife has nothing to do with my work."
Julia had nodded with a smile, "If someone thinks in that way, they are nothing but dummies. Sobriquet has been an enigma for us, you have no idea how each one of us, look up to your work. You are a celebrity to us Mrs.Karwitz and that's because of your skills."
I could see others agreeing to her, and for once I smiled genuinely on that day. After that we talked a little bit more about what are the issues we are going to address first thing the next working day, as the next two days are weekend.
Time just went by with the team and it was genuinely great, the bitterness of how the day had began gradually subsided, and I was much relaxed. Then it was already time to clock out, while we were all about to leave, Julia hugged me and said, "What we produce are commodities, but what you produce is an art Eriantha. We are overjoyed to work under you."
"We are working together, no over or under business here, we are a team and that's what matters." I had beamed.
When I went back to our residence for a quick shower and change, I was relieved to find the cottage empty. Sara must have left because the counter was cleaned and food was already stocked in the refrigerator. Darcel wasn't there which was actually something I was thankful about, because I didn't have it in me to encounter him again today. Viv and I had plans tonight, it was our secret hangout, at a small club downtown.
We had been introduced to that place when Viv had met her manager Rocco. He ran a b-grade company, and helped her sell her paintings under a pseudonym. Vivian  donated that money to the Angela Charity Foundation. It was a very old charity organization under the Amber family, but ever since Vivian was fourteen she had taken it up, and took care of it's functioning. Such a spectacular woman was my best friend.
Rocco's a cool guy, and he was very capable, maybe his company isn't famous, but his connections were great, he had helped us to find our studio and with his contacts Viv's paintings has reached famous exhibitions under the pseudonym Firefly.
I had no idea on how he did it, but within the time span I had known Rocco, he was the answer to all our problems, and of course our agony aunt. So when Viv said we are hanging out at the club, I was excited, because today was just the right day to meet him. Or, how should I put it, it was Rocco kinda day. However, it also upheld my trepidation that something was wrong with Viv, because, Vivian Amber found solace in alcohol when either she was ecstatic or she was sunk in grief, and my gut feeling said that it was the second one.
Dabbing my red lips at the rearview mirror I dashed out of my car, this beast was really sexy nothing like my old car. I schooled my features to look like the carefree boho chick, the mask I put on every time I entered the club. Reasons being I love dressing up boho, and it perfectly hid the fact that I am a little shy of the drinking age. Not that I should care, for Rocco had assured that no one's going to bother us here. When we had asked why, he had simply said that, he knew people, who know people,who owned the club. It was very iffy, but that's Rocco and things about him were always that way. Initially I had been suspicious of him too, but then how he had always gone out of his way to help us, I couldn't help but trust him. He was genuine, handsome, smart and he had a thing for Viv, I just knew it, anybody would, barring our Miss Amber. Anyhow, there was no way things can work out between her and Rocco, which is why fairy tales aren't real. Especially for girls from big shot families like the Ambers, their fate was sealed from the moment they were born, they were simply bargaining commodities meant for business connections and profit.