Chapter 3 - New Faces
The place was like a maze. Offices, studios and more offices as far as the eye could see. Tino had tried his best to remember the way he had come earlier with Michelle, but he just couldn't and so he was stood in the middle of the corridor looking around for someone to ask for help, having not luck at all. After the meeting everyone had left in a hurry to get back to their work leaving Tino a little bewildered.
Suddenly he heard noises coming from further down the corridor to the left of him. Perhaps someone was down there who knew the place better than he did. What harm could be done in asking for help? It was his first day after all, so they couldn't expect him to know everything already, right? Clutching his binder closer to his chest he set off down the corridor. Said binder was given to him by Francis as the end of the meeting that morning and was to be used for organising Francis' schedule and other important documents that Francis would need. He was instructed to keep it safe and within reach at all times. It felt good holding such an important folder. Tino was finally being taken seriously and was obviously trusted with confidential things, even despite his little event with the glass earlier on.
The sounds got louder as he continued to walk down the corridor and finally Tino stopped outside of a room emitting sounds that sounded very much like… drilling? He knocked on the door but when it didn't open he cracked it open and stuck his head in.
"Hello? Excuse me but I… erm, I wondered if you could help me?" he called into the room. The drilling stopped but no-one answered him. Exhaling sharply Tino entered the room fully, closing the door behind him. Once inside he noticed that the room looked rather like a workshop, with large boards and piles of wood leaning against the wall in a neat pile. Over in another corner was a clutter of what looked like props from old fashion shoots. One in particular caught Tino's eye and he ran over to get a closer look.
"Oh wow, the 2010 Fashion Week backdrop. No way…" he breathed out in awe to himself and ran his fingers across intricate carvings in a thick piece of oak. It was created to resemble and old fashioned puppet theatre, and when used in the show, lights were shone through the back of it; giving the illusion that the models on the catwalk were puppets in the theatre. Tino wasn't really a fan of catwalk shows in general, he wasn't into that kind of fashion, but he loved this one in particular because of the concept. He had grown up around wooden toys and games, and the show had a magical, childish feel to it. What a waste for such an amazing piece of work to be stood collecting dust after only being used once, he thought.
Tino set down his binder and shifted several smaller boards and props out of the way, struggling a little with the heavier ones, so that he could get a closer look and the particular one that had caught his attention.
"What're ya doin'?"
Tino spun around quickly, several props clattering to the floor as he knocked them over when he jumped at the voice. He was about to pick them up, but his gaze met a pair of piercing blue eyes hidden behind wire frames, and all he could bring himself to do was stand amongst the pile of fallen objects like a deer caught in headlights.
"I…I was j-just admiring this." Tino stammered, patting the oak behind him.
The blue eyes searched Tino's for a few seconds before they broke his gaze and looked at the object behind him.
"Ya like it? It's th' old puppet theatre from-"
"2010. I know." Tino interrupted with a shy smile. The scary man's face softened ever so slightly.
"How did ya know? No one ever remembers the sets." the man said, sounding pleasantly surprised.
"I just- I loved it so much. I'm not really a fan of fashion shows... but I saw the feature in a magazine. It's really beautifully made, don't you think so?"
A small grunt came as a reply followed by silence. Looking past the menacing stare, Tino noticed the eyes that bored into his weren't all that cold, rather just inquisitive, and long, blonde eyelashes curled above them. The man wore his hair cropped short and sideburns framed the side of his face. He wore dark blue overalls over a crisp white shirt, his shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. His hands dangled a little awkwardly by his side and were large and calloused, covered in cuts, scratches and plasters. Then, upon observing those hands, it finally clicked and Tino's eyes widened.
"Wait… did you make this?" Tino asked him, motioning to the wooden masterpiece behind him. "Did you make all of these?"
"Yeah." He muttered.
"Wow. I mean, that's just incredible! You have talent, Mr… uhm.." Tino trailed off upon remembering that he didn't know this man's name.
"Oxenstierna. But you can call m' Berwald."
"Berwald, I got it. I'm Tino. Tino Väinämöinen, assistant to the editor in chief!" Tino announced, but then cringed inwardly in spite of himself. It did feel good though, introducing himself as something that sounded so important.
"An' yer lost, aren't ya." Berwald deadpanned, causing Tino to remember exactly why he was here. Should he admit it that he was indeed lost and ask to be shown the way? But Berwald was a little… well, just plain intimidating. What if he didn't really show him the way and lead him to some dark room and locked him away?
Berwald sensed Tino's hesitation and knew instantly what he must be thinking. He tried to ask casually why this youngster (he assumed he was young because of his braces, height and crazy clothes) had entered his workshop without sounding too blunt and scary, but obviously it hadn't worked and he'd ended up causing the little one to fear and distrust him.
"People don't come in here unless they're lost. Come. I'll show ya."
Tino felt relief wash over him as Berwald turned away. He glanced at the mess he'd created, but Berwald was already out of the door before he could even think about stopping to pick them up.
"Hey, Berwald! Wait up a sec!" Tino called after him, making sure to close the workshop door after him like he'd found and hurried down the corridor to catch up to his guide.
Tino walked close beside Berwald and smiled up at him, hoping that he was coming across as friendly instead of creepy. People seemed to part as Berwald walked past, he noticed, their heads down but their gaze firmly on him as he passed. He kept his gaze forward, not once looking in any other direction, not even down at Tino, who's head only just reached his shoulders. After walking in an awkward silence for a few minutes, Berwald came to a halt beside a small glass desk with one of those fun spinny chairs situated in a room just outside the main offices along with a few other desks. The walls of this room were also made from glass, like most of the offices, and Tino could see everything that was happening on the entire floor almost. On the desk sat a slim, expensive looking computer, a phone, a printer and a little vase with a single white lily in it. Best of all, it was right next to a large window with light flooding in.
"Oh, Berwald. Thank you so much! I owe you. I don't know where I'd be if I hadn't found you. Still walking around like a lost puppy I guess! You really seem to know the place; you even knew where the assistant's desk was!" Tino grinned up at Berwald who actually looked down at him now and gave him a curt nod. Before he could turn to leave, Tino acted quickly and stuck his hand out towards Berwald. Berwald took the delicate hand in his and shook it firmly.
"Yer welcome. Good luck with the new job."
Francis pinched the bridge of his nose and exhaled heavily. He and Arthur had been called to Ludwig's office shortly after that morning's disastrous meeting, leaving his new assistant stood helpless in the hallway, but nothing could be done about that, the little guy would have to be tough to handle working in this business.
"Let me get this straight. You hired that… that child as my assistant so that I wouldn't be tempted to flirt?"
"Francis if it was just flirting and nothing else then I'd have no problem with you having a female assistant. But what you were caught doing was unacceptable and now you must face the consequences!" Ludwig had risen from his seat behind his desk and was now stood with his palms flat against the table. Francis, who was smugly back-chatting only moments ago, had now backed up a few steps and blinked in surprise at how quickly Ludwig's temper had escalated.
"Not that I don't admire your efforts, Ludwig, but I just can't imagine Francis acting any different around his assistant be it male or female." Arthur piped up from where he was standing next to Ludwig's desk. Outraged by his comment, Francis turned to face Arthur and looked just about ready to murder him.
"Arthur, I put Francis is charge of this company for a reason. I'm not particularly impressed with either of you. Following up from your performance this morning I have been having serious thoughts about your position of co-editor in chief. All of the money that you've been pumping into the company hasn't really gone to benefit anyone in this company but yourself and Matthew, and sometimes you're just not worth the hassle. So I'd keep your thoughts to yourself if I were you." Arthur had been getting redder and redder in the face as Ludwig continued, from embarrassment or anger it was hard to tell, and by the scowl on his face it wasn't hard to tell that he wasn't used to being scolded. The Kirkland family had always been rather well off, and Arthur was far too used to getting his own way. Francis on the other hand found Arthurs lecture to be highly amusing, and a huge smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth.
"You two will have to work out your differences and stop all of these petty arguments for the sake of the company and your careers! Do I make myself clear? Don't make me regret handing this company over to you, Francis…"
"Yes, Sir." Francis and Arthur exchanged quick glances before replying in unison.
"Now get out."
It had just passed noon and Lukas was now on his way to the Library. Although he owned a bookstore, he liked to take trips to the public library. He used it as an excuse to see what types of books were popular at the moment as well as to read books that he didn't have at home or in the store. Hopefully the books that he found to be popular could help him bring in customers if he knew what they were interested in. He hadn't eaten lunch yet, so Lukas staggered into a small bar on the way to the Library, a stack of books balancing between his arms and chin. This bar had been a favourite of his for a while, as during the day it served sandwiches, soft drinks, tea and coffee as opposed to past eight o'clock when it began serving beers, wines and spirits. He had been a couple of times after dark for drinks with Tino, but more often than not he preferred to come during the day and enjoy a sandwich or two. He chose his usual seat by the window, sitting down in one of the booths and placing his books at the end of the table, furthest away from where he sat. He didn't need to look at the menu, as he already knew what he was having, and the waiter knew by now too. But instead of the usual member of staff that tended to his needs, he was approached by a rather tall and muscular looking young man. He wore a smug grin on his face as he approached Lukas at his table, fumbling in the front pocket of his little black apron for his order pad as he did so.
"Good afternoon, thank you for stopping by today. My name is Matthias and I'll be taking care of you. Do you know what you'd like to order, or shall I give you some more time?"
Lukas blinked up at Matthias, taking in his long winded and obviously rehearsed introduction before speaking out.
"I'd like to order now, please. I'll take a coffee, black, no sugar and a Tuna Toastie."
"Coming right up!"
Only minutes later, Matthias returned with a mug of coffee and a plate holding the Toastie.
"Here we go, one black coffee and a Tuna Toastie." He set them down with a grin.
"Thank you." Lukas didn't look his waiter in the eye, suddenly feeling ridiculously shy, and instead he slipped his glasses onto his face and opened a book expecting Matthias to leave to serve another table. Much to Lukas' surprise though, Matthias did not leave, and instead he took a seat at the booth across the table from him. Looking over his glasses, Lukas stared at his new company and raised an eyebrow.
"Can I help you with something?"
"Well, there are no other customers besides you at the moment, and you're a regular so I might as well get to know my loyal customers!"
Lukas quickly glanced around and, true to Matthias' word, he found all of the other tables to be empty. He stared at Matthias for a moment, a little lost for words. When Lukas came in here to have lunch, it was to half an hour all to himself and lose himself in a book without getting disturbed.
"You have a point, but you're assuming I'm a regular? Why is that?" Lukas asked, snapping his book shut and reaching for his coffee.
"Because you didn't even look at the menu before you ordered."
This boy was too smug for Lukas' liking. The way that he was just resting his elbows on the table, his chin in his palms, while he was trying to enjoy some food bothered him. He must be in his early 20's, probably Tino's age, Lukas thought as he looked at him from across the table.
"Hey, are you gonna keep staring at me, or are you actually gonna eat your food before it gets cold?"
Lukas was brought back to reality when a pair of fingers snapped infront of his face, startling him a little and he felt his face flush pink.
"Yes. Sorry, I was in a world of my own." He shook it off and took a bite of his sandwich.
Mathias laughed, but didn't take his own eyes off of Lukas.
"So what's your name?"
Beginning to grow irritated, Lukas swallowed his food and sighed. "What's it to you?"
"Well, you know mine, so it's only polite right?"
Lukas scoffed at this, and took another bite of his sandwich, pondering whether or not to give out his name to this idiot. Most people would have done so in this situation, as he was only being friendly, but Lukas's anxiety nagged at him, telling him that this person could be trouble. Mathias giving out his name was part of his job anyway, so it didn't matter that Lukas knew it without giving his out in exchange.
To hell with it, he would probably never meet this kid again, if he kept up his antics of stacking off to chat with the customers like this then he was bound to get fired sooner or later, Lukas thought. However, he took too long in replying, and before he could even open his mouth to do so, a napkin was stuffed in his hands and Mathias got up from the table and headed back into the kitchen without so much as a word.
Lukas frowned and unfolded the scrunched up napkin. On it he found a row of eleven letters in scruffy scrawl, making up a phone number. Had that guy seriously just given Lukas his number?
Lukas stared at it for a moment or two, before suddenly stuffing the napkin in his pocket and finishing off his coffee in a quick gulp. He stood, but instead of waiting for his bill, he took out the exact change needed to pay for his meal and placed it on a napkin of his own in the centre of the table. He hesitated, feeling the back of his neck prickle apprehension as he neatly scribbling his own number onto it and hoped that Matthias wouldn't walk back out before he could leave. Then he quickly grabbed his books and headed for the door before he could regret what he had just done.