Arcane

Chapter 7: Trauma

The contours of her face changed. Her face paled. Fear gawked at her form. Did she just sabotage herself? The clear anxiety made her forget about the cut on her hand momentarily. She held his card with a trembling hand. She tried to calm herself down but got betrayed miserably. She was left in a trance. "T-the C-ch-chairma-an?" she choked. He scoffed internally, experiencing the visible fear in her tone. He was satisfied with her reaction. It was just as he expected. He had the power to get anyone down to their knees. He knew it. "I-I am Alora Laurence, sir. It is my first day here and I will be working in the Strategy department." she voiced out, faking a smile. The least thing she wanted was to let this job go. "And, please. I-I do not want any sort of compensation. I just did my part. I just did what had to be done" she pleaded, softly. Her eyes were stuck to the floor. Compensation for showing humanity? No way. He watched her in fascination. He tilted his head, he inspected her. How fast did she change her tone? He asked himself. Anyone in place of her would not hesitate to accept a five hundred dollar check. His lips tug up. "I didn't ask for your opinion, Miss Laurence. It was not a request but an order." He spoke, voice was emotionless. "I think-" Alora was cut off by Catherine, who came sprinting towards the chairman. How can she run around in pencil heals so swiftly?! She surely is talented. Catherine paused for a second as she found it utterly shocking for the Chairman to talk to a girl.....by himself ? "Sir! I just got a call from the CEO of 'DZ holdings' and he apologised for the absence of the security today. He wants me to set up a meeting with you. Turns out, his company is on a strike. No guard came on work today except Mr. Correy there." she completed, pointing at the old man standing outside. That poor old man with a cute protruding belly would not fight someone with a knife. Would he? "Do I hire them to laze around? Catherine, make sure they go on a permanent strike now. Take out all the investments we have put in DZ." he spoke in a low and husky voice. Alora gulped, fearing his wrath. She felt a chill down her spine. 'I think it is my choice to accept or refuse that' Alora wanted to say this to him. But after hearing his gruff voice, she dropped the idea. Catherine was dismissed by him. "I- I shall take my leave now, Mr. Chairman" Alora uttered. He scoffed at her, calling him 'Mr. Chairman' again. She turned around and was ready to flee until, "Who gave you the permission to leave, Miss Laurence?" Zyran interjected, calmly.
"W-what?" Alora stuttered. She turned back, trying to hide her stammers. "Do you perhaps have any task for me?" She questioned. "I think you are forgetting about something, Miss Laurence." Zyran badgered. She looked around, scanning everything. She was confused. It appeared funny to Zyran. His lips almost broke into a smirk. Was he like this with everyone? No. Did he talk to anyone for more than five minutes? Hell no. Then, how come she was an exception? Well, let's say that he found her amusing. He hated her guts. He changed his expressions back to normal. He pointed his long, slender finger towards her hand. She looked at his finger. Her lips unintentionally tucked up into a small pout. She followed the direction of his finger, only to find out the long, deep wound carved on her smooth skin, blood was still oozing out of it. Ouch. It was bad. He eyes widened as she hissed at the sight of it. He signalled the lady at the reception to come. She quickly noticed it and came running towards him, putting down her earpiece. Her head bowed down in respect and nervousness. He had such aura, it made everyone dread his presence. "Take Miss Laurence to the infirmary and ask the doctor to treat her properly" Zyran commanded. The receptionist froze. Zyran Allison, caring for a person? A lady, on top of it? Unacceptable. She regained her composure. "Right away, sir." She answered, professionally. Alora blinked her tears away. She had been holding them for too long. The situation itself was overwhelming. First, she could not take in the horrendous state of the child. Second, she was angry at James and pitied him at the same time. Third, she messed with the chairman on the first day itself. Fourth. the injury was least of her concerns but it still pained like a bitch. Fifth. she was starting to question her decision of joining this company, after listening to James." "This way, Miss Laurence" the receptionist broke the trance Alora was in. "Thank you so much for this, Mr. Chairman. And I am deeply sorry for the behaviour displayed by me earlier" Alora finally spoke up, gaining courage, looking at Zyran, maintaining eye contact. He was yet once again shook by her. Did she not get it? Did she not get that she was not supposed to be so calm and normal in front of him? Did she not see everyone shaking in panic with his demeanour. She sure was different. He didn't speak further and she left with the receptionist. The tears were not left unnoticed by him though. He smirked. You can say that our boy has ten times the senses and instincts of normal human beings. He notices these minute things faster than average people. 'You can blink away the tears but you can't do that for your fears, little lady' Zyran thought. He made up his mind. He was going to make sure that she would not be able to connect those chestnut eyes with his ocean blue ones again. He was the grim, destructive and glacial truth. He was gonna show her what the real world looked like. It was not ravished or beautiful. It was cunning and shuddering.