Chapter 6:
Ah, another chapter. All I have to say is if you see this:
"Writing in speech and in bold" This means that the characters are speaking in French or other languages that will be made clear.
9th May 2011
The dinner date that Drew took May to was over three weeks ago. He didn't take her out anywhere after that except they started to travel to work together every morning – a plus.
May did as Drew said and took more days off from work at the office, instead of working five days a week she only worked four and spent the three days she had away from business living it up as a rich socialite by going shopping and going to posh hotel spas and cafes for treatments and fancy afternoon teas.
But May was smart; she didn't let her guard down at any time. She did her research, only wearing certain outfits; only going to specific hotels and only going to specific shops when shopping, waiting for the right moment.
And lady luck appeared to be on May's side today.
She watched as the woman with long flowing brunette locks strutted into the café and settled down into her seat. When the time was right, she was going to do what she had to do.
xxxxxx
12th May 2011
It was time for one of Drew's special meetings. He'd been calling them a lot more often than normal but that was because business had been kind of slow lately. Sure they had stuff going on but none of them were from a well-known company and what Brendan said to Drew at the restaurant a few weeks ago still lingered in the back of his head. Having his pride wounded by his rival was not what he needed – especially not in front of his wife!
Most of his employees had gotten increasingly nervous every time they were called to a meeting with their boss. There were rumours that had spread around the office that one time Drew allegedly fired someone for showing up a minute late to one of their presentation.
All the employees including May and Brianna sat in their seats, patiently waiting for Drew to show up. He always turned up late to his meetings. When he did arrive, he took his seat at the top of the long oak desk and May made a note his mood, still looking visibly agitated.
"You," Drew said as he pointed to one of his pristine male employees. "Start." He ordered.
The man Drew pointed to nodded and immediately rose to his feet and started to ramble on about something that Drew must've thought was insignificant. Either that or Drew just hated his shaky voice. The poor guy - May felt for him.
Drew continued to order people to go, signalling them to start with his eyes, do what they're paid to but one by one, he stopped them all. None of them were things that he wanted to hear; none of them mattered to him. He let out a frustrated sigh as he signalled for Brianna to start her short presentations which were usually updates of what was happening with certain projects. She rarely -if ever – disappointed him.
"Well, I've had another meeting with fashion designer Paris a few days ago and it sounded like she was really keen to sign her new boutique deal with Birch Corporation. They apparently have better-"
"Stop." Drew interrupted. He really didn't want to hear any more about this. "If no one has anything interesting to say-"
"Wait," May interrupted "I haven't presented yet." she said coyly. She kept her gaze straight ahead.
Drew was impatient and was at the point of firing everyone in the room, everyone could tell that. "Fine, go." he said.
The tension was building to a climax in the room: the nervous looks that were shot from room to room; the fact that their jobs, most likely depended on what words were about to be delivered by the head honcho's wife.
May nodded and rose from her slowly and steadily seat, a sure sign of confidence. "I'd like to start by saying, like Brianna, I've also been to see Paris." Everyone felt nervous for May. "She seems like a nice person." she said, "A nice person who seems to like this." May said as she held up a document and passed it to Drew.
Drew took it and skimmed through it. The signature was what really surprised him, in a good way though. He looked up from the paper and looked at his wife instead. "How did you get this?"
May tried to look like sealing the deal with Paris was no big deal. "I saw her a few times while I was out shopping and we spoke and turns out we have a lot in common." May replied with a shrug.
Brianna looked at May, shocked that she managed to convince Paris instead of her. The rest of the room looked at May as if she had just proved the impossible to be possible. It was essentially what she had done though.
Drew smiled for the first time in a while. "I'm impressed, May."
May smiled arrogantly but didn't say anything. 'I knew you would be.' she thought. It was nice to be arrogant to someone who is usually the arrogant one.
"In that case, everyone can go off for an early lunch." Drew announced.
With that said, some people couldn't leave the room quick enough. May took her time gathering up her stuff.
"You can leave first, I want to talk to May." Drew said to his personal assistant. His personal assistant couldn't leave the room fast enough. "When did you do that, May?" Drew asked, he was no longer sitting in his seat but sitting slightly on the table beside May.
"A few days ago." May said.
"How did you do that?" Drew asked.
"Good planning and I like to think Paris and I think alike." May said.
"Why did you do it?" He finally asked.
"When we spoke of this at the restaurant a few weeks ago it sounded like you doubted me. You didn't think I could do it." May said smugly.
"You did it to defend your pride?" Drew asked, finding it unbelievable.
May nodded. "And to prove you wrong. But yes, I don't like having my pride wounded."
Drew just looked at her. The room was silent, as they stared intently at each other. "I have to say, May, you're a lot smarter than I thought you would be." Drew confessed.
May rose to her feet. "I'll take my compliment and leave." she grinned as she headed towards the door.
"Join me for lunch, May." May froze before she got to the doors.
"Okay." May said then proceeded to open the door to surprised Brianna.
She looked at them like a Deerling caught in the headlights. Her brown eyes stared brightly back at May's blue ones. "I was just wondering something but never mind." Brianna said quickly before she scrambled away from the door.
xxxxxx
The canteen was filled for a changed. But as soon as May and Drew entered the canteen, Drew's favourite window seat opened up. No one dared take Drew's seat - no one knew what happened to the last guy who did and refused to move...
Unlike everyone else, Drew didn't need to go to the counter to order his food. The canteen staff came to him instead, after all, they didn't want to piss the guy who signed their pay checks off.
It was weird for May. This was the first time she ate at work with Drew and she wasn't used to the whispers that people were saying when they walked past.
They sat down and within seconds, someone had taken their drinks order and food order too.
"What did you actually say to Paris?" Drew asked, curious as to why Paris managed to get Paris to do business with them.
"A lot." May said, "And I had to do most of my presentation in French."
xxxxxx
9th May 2011
May got up out of her seat and took one last soothing breath before approaching Paris, with a cool, calm, collected and completely unreal demeanour.
"Hello Paris." May greeted in French with a smile.
The said woman looked up and took a visual voyage of May. She seemed pleasantly impressed by May's style. May had chosen to wear a beige coloured sleeveless top with a tight, cream skirt teamed with a pair of white stilettoes with what was probably the thinnest heel ever and a red bow shaped clutch bag designed by the very woman that sat before her.
"That's very brave of you." Paris said in French. "Not many people dare to team my bag design with an everyday outfit!"
May took a seat at her table and placed her clutch in front of her. "If I have an outfit that matches it then I may as well just use the bag and flaunt it." May replied. She was amazed that she still remembered her French and didn't get her tongue tied in anything so far.
Paris mentally checked May out. "You're Drew Hayden's wife." She said to May, who nodded. "You must be here to talk business with me."
May shook her head. "Just because my husband wants to do business with you doesn't mean I'm going to talk business with you." She replied. "I just wanted to say I loved your new shoe line."
Paris lit up at the compliment. "Why, thank you, darling." She beamed. "You look like the ideal type for my new shoes. Poised and elegant."
It was May's turn to light up. "Thank you for the kind words, Paris." May said, "But... Never mind, I suppose that's not your fault."
Paris looked at May curiously, "What isn't?" She demanded. May knew that Paris had a reputation of being an absolute perfectionist. "You must tell me now, my dear."
May put on a disappointed look, "Well the shop wasn't arranged very well, I mean, shoes are like a woman's pride and joy yet they were hidden away where no one can see it." May commented, "Take it from someone who's worked in a boutique before. Most women enter a store when they see shoes on display or a designer that they like."
Paris nodded, urging May to go on. "Yes, yes."
"Your section in the boutique was hidden in a very secluded corner and no shoes were on display. I only knew where they were because I used to work in one of the boutique's branches." May said.
"That's why I'm opening my own store, dedicated to my designs only." Paris informed her.
"And I've seen all the shop layouts." May said. "Ouch." May flinched slightly as she spoke.
Paris looked confused and shocked at May. "What do you mean? The one at Birch Corporate is the best one I've seen so far."
"Maybe, but if I was designing the shop, I'd design it differently." May casually said.
"Keep talking." Paris urged and May did so.
The fish was officially hooked. Now all May had to do was to reel it in.
xxxxxx
12th May 2011
May continued to eat her noodles. She enjoyed nothing more than a bowl of steaming hot, delicious noodles. It made even better knowing that Drew paid for them.
"Oh, and you won't have to let Brendan Birch ruin our dinner next time," May said after she swallowed her mouthful. "That is, if there's a next time." She was swift to add.
"There will be." Drew confirmed, "Paris is one of those people who like to hold elaborate parties. She'll definitely throw one when her boutique opens."
May secretly celebrated. She really enjoyed last time's dinner date and she felt like she could almost completely be herself and let her guard down slightly. But not completely. She could never do that now – not unless she wanted a heavy fine for breaking contract.
May thought about what Paris's dance would be like. She had seen pictures of other rich and famous celebrities and WAGs and business men all dressed up for her parties before but alas, she was finally going to experience one for herself.
She thought about what kind of dress she should wear to such an occasion. Maybe a long frock designed by Paris herself, or something that was designed by Dawn Berlitz? Or would Paris find it offensive that she wore something designed by someone that wasn't her? May stopped her thoughts. She was thinking too far ahead. The boutique was still weeks away from opening!
"That was an amazing bowl of noodles!" May complimented. Her day could not have turned out better.
But as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. But it turns out when the phrase is inverted, the opposite also rings true...
xxxxx
13th May 2011
May woke up after what was possibly the best night of sleep since she got 'married'.
She had a meeting with Paris about finalising the shop outline and design today in the office so May needed to ensure that she was strategically dressed to impress. She wore a ruby red dress with an over exaggerated shoulder design while the dress clung to her waist but spread out at her legs. On her feet, May wore a pair of White shoes with a metallic heel.
She was set for work with Drew and in no time, they were there. May had to prepare herself and put herself in French mode to speak to Paris if she wanted to get this business over and done with.
May entered her office and set out all the documents she would need to one side. So far, her day could not have gone any more smoothly. Her new shoes were delivered to her office, her documents were ready, her tongue was ready to rattle away in French and all she needed now was Paris to arrive.
May didn't need to look up or leave her room to know that Paris had arrived. Her arrival caused quite a stir in amongst the employees. The girls were trying to suck up to her while the boys caressed her with several compliments.
May greeted her with a warm hand shake and a "hello, good to see you again" in French before inviting her into her office and offering her a cup of tea or coffee and some more words in French.
Brianna walked in moments later with Paris's cup of tea. May was surprised that it was Brianna who was bringing the tea in rather than the brunette with the glasses who's name May could never remember.
Brianna set the cup of tea down on the edge of the table, causing it to fall and pour all over May's bag of new shoes.
The three ladies in the room gasped and watched as the tea continued to seep through the all the packaging of the shoes. Brianna immediately picked up the bag and opened it up, revealing a pair of shoes that weren't May's.
Paris gasped as she noticed the shoes and more importantly, recognised whose design they were.
May noticed it too. She wanted to cover them but it was too late. Paris had already noticed and was leaving. Angrily would be an understatement.
May rose from her seat and followed Paris out of her room and through the sea of office workers and over to the lift.
Meanwhile, Brianna's plan could not have gone more smoothly.
xxxxxx
May stormed back into her office and slammed the door behind her. The tea mess had been cleaned up and strangely so had the shoes, in fact, the shoes were so clean that they were of a completely different style by a completely different designer.
Someone had switched her shoes.
"Brianna." May said angrily. But rather than to pull her up about it, May had to worry about what she was going to tell Drew when word got back to him that Paris left the place angrily and she knew that that length of time was going to be very short, especially if Brianna's involved...
Hope you enjoyed this chapter and don't forget to drop me a wee review of some shape or form!
~Silver-hedgehog