RED

9. Daffodil

There is no remedy for love but to love more.

by Thoreau.

Kiana stared at her reflection in the mirror but the harder she stared; the more she couldn't recognise herself. She lightly soothed the eye bags that had suddenly surfaced under her eyes. She sighed quite loudly, filled with exhaustion as her hand dropped to her side. She knew she couldn't waste any more time staring at herself or trying to sort out what was going on with her at the moment, so she moved on to searching her handbag for her one and only lipstick. 

She lightly applied the pink shade of lipstick, then smacked her lips together for even tone. She brushed her hair with her fingers before holding them together with a rubber band, styling it into a bun. She brushed the surface with her hand so as to smoothen it before finally standing still to stare at her reflection. She soothed her skirt as if to get rid of the little wrinkles that appeared on it due to lack of ironing. The door opened and a woman walked in. She spares Kiana one glance, before moving forward to use one of the empty toilets.

Kiana took in a deep breath before swinging her handbag to her shoulder, picked up the one bag she managed to stuff all her clothes into. By morning then, Kiana had realised she couldn't live in front of the door to the apartment she used to own and her landlord was refusing to pay heed to her. She knew she still had work to attend that very day, so she had to gather herself together and do the right thing. She was simply going to endeavour to find somewhere else much cheaper than her former apartment. Really cheaper. Kiana had pleaded that morning to a shop owner just so she could get ready within the restroom and thankfully the nice lady accepted, understanding her plight. She had quickly brushed her teeth, washed her hair, face and hands before changing into something suited for her office work. She thanked the shop owner very much before finally leaving.

Kiana took a deep breath as she stood in front of the EDOARDO VINEYARDS's building. As she approached the main entrance into the building, she bothered a bit about the security guards inquiring about the really noticeable bag in her hand but miraculously, one smiled at her with a nod and Kiana smiled back, before she pushed the door to open and in she walked. She stood for a second to take a look back at them but they weren't staring at her. She let out a huge sigh of relief before walking further towards the elevator.

As soon as Kiana got to the floor she belonged, she glanced around to realise she was really early. She was grateful for that as she didn't have the strength to begin asking strange questions as to why she brought her luggage to work and those that couldn't ask will definitely throw her questionable glare. She quickly got to her seat, pushed her luggage right under her desk to hide it from prying eyes, then she drew her seat closer to the desk as she set her handbag on it. She let out a loud sigh afterwards before burying her face into her palms wondering how things ever got this bad for her.

Enrico's eyes seemed glued to the papers in front of him but that wasn't so. His mind had eventually ventured out of his body, his thoughts not much farther from his present circumstances. He hadn't slept much last night and he couldn't really fathom why. He has got the big penthouse to himself and a soft bed to lay on, but sleep kept eluding him. Perhaps, it was the recollection of all that had happened that very day that disturbed him. His aunt had definitely matched him with a stranger. A woman he hadn't shown interest in. She had done that without letting him know and then she walked away with Kiana leaving him in an uncomfortable state.

Cecile hadn't said a word to him. She just stared and he stared back. She put up a brief smile before walking away. He was glad she did, but at the same time worried she might let his aunt in on the fact that he wasn't giving her entire arrangement a chance, so that on its own was a huge problem. He had got two drinks and went after Cecile. He stretched a glass to her and gratefully, she accepted it.