Destined by Desire

CHAPTER 4

The elevator dings and I step on to the top floor of a gleaming high-rise.

The office is dim, bathed in the glow of city lights through the glass walls. The space is modern, sterile-no warmth, just power.

It’s been a while since I last came here and everything was even more strange and unfamiliar.

At the far end, behind an imposing mahogany desk, sits my father; Arthur Arthur. Late 50s, a titan of the fashion industry.

He was putting on an Immaculate suit as I have always remembered, his silver looking hair was combed back, his eyes were cold and calculating and he barely looks up as I enter.

“You finally decided to show” his cold voice spreads around all the corners of the office, or was it just in my head?

I scoff and step forward to face him “Didn’t realize it was an invitation”

He leans back in his chair, finally looking up at me and steepling his fingers “Everything is, whether you want it to be that way or not”.

I exhale deeply, pacing a bit, my eyes scanning the room and every object in it, my eyes settle on a photo frame of Him and my mother, why does he even have that hanging on his walls?

“You know my day was ruined when I heard I had to come meet you, but I’m done avoiding it, I’ll hear what you have to say now” he watches me carefully and silently “So what do you need?”

“You have always been a smart boy” a smirk forms at the corner of his lips

“Too bad I got that from my mother” I take a seat without him telling me to

“Grayson, as you know, I built this empire, brick by brick and now I need something to strengthen it even more” he says and I burst out laughing

“Is your business cracking and you need me to patch the holes?” I rest my hand on his desk and for a moment there was something unreadable in his expression, was it regret that was ever buried so deep?

“You have always had your way with words” he exhales “you’re right, I do need you”

I get up, even faster than how I took a seat “you can’t be serious” I head for the door

“You walk out now, you lose your chance” He raises his voice a little and I clench my fists at my side but I don’t turn around

“I don’t have anything to lose Sir, infact you lost your chance years ago when you neglected my mother and I” with that, I leave, the door closes behind me leaving my father in his cold glow of the city skyline, how much I despise him.

“Let’s go Collins” I say as I walk past him, he was busy talking to some lady

“Is everything fine Sir?” I hear him as he tries to match my pace from behind

“If my father ever tries to reach out again, keep the information away from me” I say

“Yes sir” he replies

*Elodia’s pov*

I finish up calling all the important people in my life to tell them how the event went and they were so happy for me, a lot of people appreciated my work, many asked for sets to be made for them, money was going to be coming in when I make sales. I lift my laptop towards my lap and I see the card, I pick it up and look at it “Grayson Arthur, CEO of Ironspire financials” I look at the card and then I make the call, I was feeling a little bit anxious but I couldn’t wait

“Grayson’s Arthur’s secretary, how may I help you?” I hear on the other line, why wouldn’t he give me his personal number?

“Uhm, I was wondering if I could speak to your boss? My name is Elodia Martinez” I say

“We have been expecting your call, Good day ma’am, I will put my boss on the line”

I had set up a time to meet up with Mr. Grayson Arthur and so I got up to get ready

I pick out a dress I made my self, it looked like a Women’s sweetheart Neckline Midi dress because I made it with that in mind, I slipped on a pair of glass heels and touched up a bit, first or third impression matters a lot

I stepped off the elevator and into a different world—polished marble floors, silent halls, the kind of place where every breath feels expensive. The receptionist gave me a tight-lipped smile and gestured toward the double glass doors at the end of the hall.

“Mr Arthur will see you now”

My heart skipped once, okay maybe twice from the weight of the opportunity.

I smoothed my dress and pushed the doors open.

The office was drenched with soft light, framed by floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the sky line. Mordern, minimal and cold, well except for Grayson Arthur.

He was standing near the window, gazing outside but his presence was undeniable. He had his sleeves rolled just slightly

“Elodia Martinez” he says without turning “Welcome”

I force a smile and step in, I don’t know why I was so nervous

He turns to face me, with the kind of eyes that would make you forget what you wanted to ask, so deep and fixated on me “Please sit”

I take the seat across from his desk, suddenly hyper aware of every movement he made. His gaze lingered for a second too long, not disrespectful just interested, that’s my guess.

“You being here tells me you’ve accepted my offer?” Grayson speaks up

“Well, sort of sir” I tap my nose in panic and he gets up

“Elodia Martinez, what you have is rare” he starts as he walks slowly around his office “you don’t just sketch clothes, you build stories in silk”

I was flattered and caught in a wave of hope, he must really want me

“Thank you, that means a lot cause I didn’t think my work would be so recognized” I smile

“The thing is, I trust my instincts and it’s you I want to collaborate with me on my mothers fashion line” he walks back to the desk and brings out a photo from the drawers, he places it on the table for me to see “My mother, Celeste Arthur; she started her fashion line back in the eighties, it was small, but fearless. Before she passed, she handed it over to me but I shelved it” he pauses for a bit and continues

“I couldn’t bring myself to touch it, I didn’t want to disappoint my late mother”

I didn’t even know what to say really, I was out of words and I decided to keep it that way and watch the young CEO talk or grief I don’t know

“But that was until I saw your work Elodia” he sat on his table, almost beside me directly, that made my heart pound a bit “It reminded me of my mother- bold, refined, emotional with a keen eye for fashion and so I want you to be by my side when I relaunch her fashion line” My eyes widen as he looks up to me, waiting for a reply I suppose

“Wow, you’re really saying that……”

“Elodia, I’m offering you control, I could even give you full control cause I trust you to do a good job. I’ll fund everything, the team, the materials, the shows. So you’d just be leading the line with me beside you on the business end”

I stare at him stunned and then I catch my breath

“Sir, you don’t know how much this means to me” I start expressing gratitude “This is basically everything I’ve worked for, the sleepless nights, being treated so lowly and you’re just offering it? Just like that?” I don’t want to say I doubt myself but I don’t believe it is really happening

I watch Grayson Arthur laugh at me, it’s giving “this poor cunt” he gets up and stands behind me. I don’t move, I try to catch my breath slightly as he leans in closer, just beside my ear. He pulls my hair away from my ear. His voice now in a whisper, deliberate and intimate.

“You make it sound like there’s something else, like I want something from you” he chuckles

My pulse quickens, but my expression stays cool, I try to make a bold move, I turn my head just enough to meet his eyes

“Well do you want something else from me?” Oh no, I think I said that too flirty, what would he think of that? I watch him laugh and he heads over to get glasses and a bottle of wine Screaming Eagle Cabernet Sauvignon, he sure was classy, damn that wine is expensive

“Elodia, I’m not just offering you this, I’m betting on you so don’t make me regret it” he pours the wine into both glasses and hands over a glass to me

“I can’t express how grateful I am for this opportunity, really, my words can’t be enough, Thank you for believing in me” I say as we clink our glasses and drink “And by the way, is this how you seal all your business deals?” I laugh, making reference to the wine

“Only the dangerous ones” he smirks and I smile, slow and deliberate. There was a thick force of tension I felt between us, Lord let it be in my head please “And please call me Grayson, It can’t be hard” he adds

“Okay okay” I nodd “Grayson Arthur” I say

“Now I’d cheers to that” he smiles and briefly lifts his glass