Your Company

2

Welcome to New York. The local time is 7:51 AM and the temperature is 15°C.

After the plane landed and I got my baggage, I rushed out to quickly get my luggage and find my taxi. Before I boarded the plane to NYC three hours ago, my dad rang me several times. A couple. And when I picked up the last one, what did he say?

"Did you do the laundry yet?" he said with a raw voice.

I hung up and rolled my eyes. And here I thought he cared about me leaving.
I waved to a nearby taxi. The car was rusty, and when it slowed down it made a yucky hiss out from the exhauster. The driver stepped out; an old man who could look like my dad.
Except that he looks super clean, and neat and smells good. And looks healthy.

"I'll carry that for ya'," the old man said. He snatched my luggage and threw it in the truck. I swear I saw dust come out after my luggage plummeted. I sat down in the car's passenger seat; a stench of sweat, pinecone, and leftover padthai beside me hit me like a hurricane. Most of it is from the blasting AC.

"Where to?" he asked with boredom. 
"1230 Park Ave, please," I said in the nicest voice possible.
He huffed drove away from the airport, and headed towards my destination.

---

The room was nice. It was an apartment with a high-rise coop nestled within the famed Upper East Side, right on iconic Park Avenue. I can enjoy the neighborhood's vibrant life (since it is TOO vibrant) with an upscale organic grocery store right across the street and my favorite Starbucks just around the corner. The building itself is nice. It has a nice, good-looking French doorman. The lobby looks like a hotel lobby, with all the fancy waterfalls and overpriced fragrances. 

Two bedrooms, two washrooms, a living room, a small kitchen, and a few closets. That's... more than enough for me. Too much. I went from living in a literal closet to a luxurious apartment. I am blessed. 

But as soon as I inspect the room; I have no furniture. I remember the email I sent regarding the furniture; Lily Blake, the girl who responded with an email twenty minutes ago had sent out this:

Dear Ivory,

The guy who wrote the introductory letter had forgotten to include this. 

There's a check on the kitchen counter; probably about 300 grand. Use it for whatever you need; furniture, kitchen appliances, blankets- whatever you want. If you have leftover, put it in your funds account. Also, your bills will be paid at your expense; the home you'll be living in is more expensive than the bills. 

Shit. Forgot about that. I rushed to the kitchen- it was pretty small. The floor had blue and white morrocan tiles, dark oak cabinets at the top and bottom, a dark gray countertop, and a light gray fridge, stove, and microwave. On the counter lay a check.

I picked it up and read it- signed by... well, whoever's signature that is, the check was worth $350,000. Wow.

I decided I'll do all my shopping... now. It was 9:06.

Shopping spree time. 

---

I hired people to move in the desired stuff I bought. I had $51,697.90 left over, which ended up in my bank account. It looked like my dream home.

The entrance was simple; a coat hanger, a place to put my shoes, two picture frames; one image of me and my mom and the other... empty. And a rug. 
The living room had a beige couch with fluffy pillows and blankets sprawled all over, a huge glass coffee table, a tall lamp with warm lighting, a furry white rug, a huge orchid on the left side of the couch, and an 85" inch Samsung TV.
The kitchen had a white round dining table with two chairs, and a bunch of kitchen appliances to soon be organized.
My bedroom had a single bed with a white nightstand, a weird mushroom lamp, a desk with a keyboard, mouse, PC, and computer, an 8-ball rug (my favorite game; pool), a large closet filled with clothes I drooled over, and a light pink tulip on nightstand.
The other 'bedroom'... empty. I had no idea what to put.
Washroom... just had a plain white rug, bath necessities, my makeup, and skincare.
The closets were filled separately with towels, toilet paper, Bounty, and girl needs. 

I sighed joyfully, paid the movers $500, and jumped on my new couch. 

I can't believe it. I am living in my dream home.

Home.

My phone suddenly rings- Yelena Westwood. 

I pick it up. "Hello? Is this Ivory White?" the woman asked.
"This is her," I respond.
"Come down to HQ immediately. We had told you in the email that once you arrive in NYC, get settled in, and unpack, you are to come down here. You're supposed to be having an interview right now!"
"Shi-- I mean, I'm heading down there right now. Just rushed into traffic, that's all!" I chuckled nervously. "I'll be there in... 15 minutes."
There was silence on the phone and a scoff. "Alright, hurry. The person who was originally supposed to interrogate you left; he was tired of waiting. There's a replacement for now, but you'd better hurry."
"Who's the replacement?" I asked.
"If I'd known, I'd tell you. But I don't know. Hurry down!"

I hung up the phone and exited my apartment and rushed down to the base of Artemis. Fuck, I got caught up with that shopping spree. I forgot about that crappy interview!

I caught a cab and gave him an early tip of $30 if he got me there before my 15-minute alarm that I set on my phone played. I had a mini makeup bag in my old, worn-down purse; it contained crappy mascara, lipstick, and lip oil; but expensive products (that I lifted) of blush, cushion foundation, and primer.
 I mix all of those cosmetics into my face, hoping that I'd look prepared and professional.
I pulled out a mini comb and began combing my hair back into a tight ponytail. I started putting on (fake) chunky gold earrings and locked a (fake) gold necklace around my nape.

Finally, I sprayed a bottle of Victoria's Secret perfume; 'Pure Seduction, SOL' around my collarbone, wrist, and waist. This should do for now. I look at myself when I open my phone's camera. I don't look too bad. I look fine. Simple n' Sweet.

I exit the cab, waving goodbye to the bald man who drove the taxi. I look up and admire Artemis's official building. For about 10 seconds.

It was a huge building. The walls were mostly glass windows, the entrance had a front garden filled with bushes, flowers, and trees which had a specific color scheme of blue, white, and red, and a huge title that said ARTEMIS in a fancy font.

I ran into the building, asking the secretary which floor was Room 315 on. After a skeptical look and a cold shoulder, I finally reach the designated room. 

The hallway was... well, plain. The doors looked the same, and in a way, it felt freaky. Like an image of the backrooms, or something.
I knock on the door, and I hear a man's voice.
His voice was deep; he sounded intimidating. We go way back. "Come in."

I open the doorknob, and I wish I hadn't. My heart stops beating for a second. My mind stopped working, and I could feel those emotions again. Emotions that made me... well, the old me. Emotions caused by him. Every time I lost to him, I felt anger. Frustration. The determination to destroy him. Every time I was victorious, I felt satisfied. Filled with pride. But those feelings led to the... accident. 

Stop it. Stop these feeling these emotions, Ivory.

The man, behind the dark-oak office desk, turned around in his black chair. "You're late--"

He looks at me. His eyes widened slowly. He inspects me; looking at me, up and down. Suddenly, a smirk slowly unfurls.

Who is he?

Terrence Artemis.

My old rival. The man who ruined it all for me.

"Interesting." he said, with a chuckle.