SELENE WOODS

CHAPTER 12

I walked into the office, the familiar scent of coffee and stacked files filled my nostrils as i took a deep breath. Sunlight peered into the office through the windows, carving out a slightly,hunched silhouette of the Professor.

"Here's my top star actress!!." - He chuckled deeply, stroking his grey beard. "You know.... I had to book an appointment just to meet with you."- He added, his tone playful as he tapped his thigh.

I stared at a small stack of disposable cups sitting unattended to on his desk, furrowing my brows with disapproval." You still haven't quit this caffeine addiction of yours. Drinking this much in a day is really detrimental to your health."

" Not again!!. I didn't go through all that stress of making appointments just to have you nag my head off." - He groaned, walking towards the window binds.

"I'm only concerned about your health, you aren't getting any younger and it's best if you came to terms with it soon." - Arguing, was never my strong suite, and yet i keep finding myself in unnecessary squabbles with the Professor.

"It's fine if you want me to stop nagging, that's absolutely doable. But first, you'd have to quit your unhealthy habits and start taking proper care of yourself." - I spoke hoarsely, my hands hitting his desk.

"Alright." - He sighed, his tone conceding. "I'll listen, no need to bang your hands on the table like that. Don't you feel your wrists hurting?" - He strode towards me, holding my reddened hands in his as he blew over them gently.

"It hurts. But this is what happens when you don't listen to me, quit being stubborn and take care of yourself." - My voice trembled, my emotions conflicting.

He stared at me for a while before lowering his grey head. "Okay, i'll listen to whatever you say."

Silence hung like thin silk between us, then he turned - hands fumbling through a pile of files. " You'll be leaving for Seattle tomorrow, do you have everything in check? " - The Professor spoke calmly.

" Yeah, Rachel has everything in order." - I replied, picking up a small file on his desk.

I flipped through the pages, finding his silence a little bit off-putting.

"Selene, listen. If this task ever becomes too unbearable for you - abandon it and return to my side. I can't afford to lose you like i lost your parents."

I raised my head, " Unfortunately, that's not something i can vow to do."

The Professor chuckled, " There she goes.....yet she says i'm the stubborn one."- He shook his head, his tone laced with concern.

I smiled, the ends of my lips curving - At least, i learned from the best.

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I pulled down my dark sunshades, staring at the bright sun rays. A soft sigh escaped my lips, the hot breeze blowing through my hair.

"Wow!!. Is this the famous Seattle i've been hearing of....?.” - She turned, gazing at the tall,towers that seemed to stretch up to the skies. "It's scorching hot around here." - She fanned her face with her hands, complaints flowing from her lips incessantly.

"You had better get accustomed to it." - I said, casually dismissively Rachel's continuous bickering.

"You should have known better than wrapping yourself up in a thick cotton blanket." - I muttered beneath my breath, my tongue clicking against my upper pilate as i walked past her.

"This. Is. Called. FASHION!!!!" - She quipped, stressing every word that came out of her lips.

"Suit yourself." - I shrugged carelessly. At least, the one getting roasted in this heat wasn't me.

My eyes wandered, glancing at every building outside the airport's walls - Not much had changed since i left. If you would excuse the fact that there were now banners, each holding Irina's face hanging off every commercial, high rise building.

Her kind smile that seemed to dazzle in the brightest ways, the soft gaze in her eyes and the halo that wrapped around her - She looked like an angel.

An angel that's been haunting me in my dreams for a long time.

"Hey, is that Irina?" - Rachel smiled, pointing at one of the digital screens where Irina posed gracefully for a perfume advert. "She looks so pretty. She's really raised the bar for you, Selene. You've got a long way to go." - She nodded, appraising Irina's features with a look of satisfaction.

"But,hey!!. With your impeccable acting skills, i'm certain that you'll have her nailed to a board." - She added, half trying to cheer me up and half trying to redeem herself.

I left her there, silently taking big strides forwards.

"Hey, you know i didn't mean that earlier,right?" - Rachel called out. "Selene.....wait up!!!"

I paused, and coincidentally.... Rachel bumped into me from behind. She let out a low, pained hiss.

"What's my itinerary?" - I glanced over my shoulders, speaking in a cool tone.

"Your what now?" - She appeared, rubbing an invisible bump on her forehead.

I stared at her, letting my eyes do the talking. Her eyes widened, finally configuring what i had said earlier.

"Oh, your itinerary for the day." - She hummed, then fumbling with her black leather bag, she slipped out a small tablet.

"There's just one thing planned out for the day. Since you insisted on checking up on the company - I arranged for a meeting, where you would meet up with the employees and also there are some documents that need your signature." - She flipped over her brunette hair, her hands swiping on the tablet's screen.

"Then, let's head over to the company."

AT THE COMPANY.......

I alighted at a tall building, rows and rows of corporately dressed people lined up, each staring at me with expectant eyes. I stood there, neither moving nor speaking.

"They're the employees." - Rachel leaned in, whispering in my ear.

"Oh!!." - I exclaimed softly. This was my first time being a boss, and i wasn't quite sure on how these meeting protocols were supposed to be dealt with.

"Welcome, Chair lady!!." - The employees chorused, each wearing polite smiles on their faces.

Unsure of what to do, i bowed deeply. Then i stood straight, watching them silently as they gasped.

Rachel nudged me, shaking her head sideways. Then she stepped forward, leading the stunned employees inside for a tour of the company. At the end, i was settled in my office, handling paperworks and attending to other protocols.

For several days, i remained stuck in the office, signing bills and closing off deals. I raised my strained neck which had been buried in a file, taking a small stretch when i heard a soft, rhythmic knock on the door.

"Come in!!"

Rachel popped her head through the small opening she'd created. "You've been buried in work for a while, care to go on a break?" - She sashayed, dropping another file on my desk.

Her lofty actions made me smirk.

"How can i?. It's hard to win a battle effortlessly when this much work gets dumped on you." - I chuckled softly at my sarcastic joke.

"The Reighler acquisition bid would take place tomorrow's night." - She plopped her ass on my desk, legs crossed.

"And what's the starting bid?"

"It's yet to be disclosed, but according to the hearsays, it would be about 35 million upwards." - She signalled with her fingers, her eyes softening with delight.

" It's quite the big deal. There'll be many competitors lining up for the bid."

I hummed softly, Of course it was. " How about the other thing i asked about?"

Rachel walked towards the brewing machine, pouring herself a warm cup of coffee. " I looked into it - Your ex definitely has a quite the good business background with a pretty long list of tax evasion and inferior building materials. Even his shareholders are skilled in moving company's funds." - She took a sip from the simmering cup, her face twisting in delight.