Dusk till Dawn

••••••  Scarlett  •••••• My mom used to say that, "On your darkest of days, pull yourself out of bed, freshen up, put on some clothes you love, look into a mirror and say, 'I am enough. I know I'm flawed. But I am enough.' Everyone is flawed, Carly. But never let your insecurities ruin the beauty you were born with. Believe that there is something beautiful inside you." I vaguely remember Linnea playing with her dolls as my mother combed my hair and trussed it up into two cute little pigtails, with bows. Today, I met my eyes through the vanity mirror as I fastened the buttons of my neatly pressed olive green silk shirt. My vivid blue green eyes stared back at me, obliviously. Today was one of those darkest of days. The concealer I wore covered my dark circles and puffed up eyes, the symbols of my four o'clock adventures in my bed. All alone. Crying myself to sleep. Opening my accessories drawer, I pulled out a slim gold chain accentuated with a single pearl in the center. I am enough. The onyx black slacks contrasted deeply with my olive green silk shirt and my sun kissed skin. My mid parted, neatly flat ironed waves, fell around my face, framing the only subtle makeup I had mastered. I know I am flawed. I draped my coal black blazer, over my arm after I slipped into nude pumps and headed downstairs to the kitchen. Placing my faux leather handbag on the counter, I buttered a cinnamon toast and whipped myself some coffee in a go to cup as I took a glance at my home. But I am enough. My west coast high rise condo was a spacious and luxurious one. It has been my home for about four years now. My dad got the apartment as my graduation gift when I graduated college. And here I am even when I have built myself my own architectural firm. After brushing my teeth again quickly, I dabbed a light coat of nude gloss over my lips. I locked my condo and slipped the keys into my handbag. A rummage within it assures me of my work iPad, keys, phone and my wallet. With my coffee cup in one hand and my hand bag and jacket in another, I found myself heading to the elevator to my car after I pulled my shades out. The traffic was hectic as usual on a Monday morning in New York. I weaved through the city traffic as the radio alerted me of the day's weather forecast and other news. "Girl on fire" by Alicia Keys began streaming as I pulled out of traffic. The city always fascinated me with its bustling streets and tall skyscrapers. My hometown was not necessarily a 'small' countryside town but it was not a freaking city either. Pulling into the parking lot, I parked my car into my usual spot and headed to the elevator. Taking off my shades I slipped them into my bag, ignoring the silent greetings of my employees. I offered them a curt nod when I exited the lift. "Ms. Mitchell," Lilian, my secretary acknowledged me by standing up from her desk and following me into my office. Her strawberry blond hair was pulled back in a tight ponytail and a simple black tie-waist body con dress accentuated her slim figure. I threw her a polite twitching of my lips. Three long years of dealing with me, she knew it was the best she'd ever get from me. "What have we got for today, Lilian?" I asked her as I took my seat at my desk and unlocked my laptop. She tapped away on her tablet, before replying to me. "Ms. Mitchell, sharp at ten you are supposed to meet with Mr. Gupta for his demolition project and then a lunch meeting with Ms Wanton regarding the art gallery renovations. The finance board meeting is scheduled for three in the afternoon and at five, you've got a teleconference with Luxor group of companies, for their upcoming constructions," she told me as I nodded, registering my day's events. "I am assuming that the final design for LanDar's new head office is ready?" I asked, leaning back in my chair. "Yes, ma'am. I'll have it on your desk within fifteen minutes." "The initial draft for Perry's studio?" "I have emailed that to you already. If you approve of it, I will forward it to her manager. Besides, Roach is handling the new middle school project." "Perfect, Lilian. Ask Roach to run the base plan by me before mailing a proper draft of it to the school's management," I nodded, setting up my iPad. "Lilian?" I called her before she left for her desk. "Yes, Miss?" "I assume that you had to attend your son's parents meeting today?" I asked her opening the design I was working on at the moment. Lilian McCoy was a single mother of a chubby four year old. Her son's father left her because well, she got pregnant. It was an unexpected and unwanted pregnancy but Lilian decided to keep him. "Yeah.." she trailed slightly confused. "Will two hours be sufficient for you to go back and forth?" An ear splitting grin broke on her face. "Thank you. But I can manage that. My son will understand if I won't make it-" "Your son is a child. I am in no place to tell you how to be a good mother, but what I know is that a child who grows up listening to his parents' excuses ends up being lost. It will be absolutely fine, Lilian. Just ask Sophia to fill in for you." She gave me a prompt nod, but I could sense her happiness. "Could I get you anything else, Ms. Mitchell?" "Thank you, Lilian. I'm good. Just tell Roach to run by soon." She gave me a polite smile before exiting my cabin. Not long before she left, a single knock caught my attention and a middle aged man came in after my acknowledgment. "Ms. Mitchell." He gave me a diplomatic smile. "Roach, the design?" He held out a Manila folder without batting an eye at my curtness. Before I got some time to catch my breathe, I was on my way back from a business lunch with an overbearing trophy wife who was way too much obsessed with an art gallery. She cared very much about her figure that she ordered some Caesar salad with chicken, which tasted like a mouldy rubber duck. But this project cost me a few millions so my lips were sealed. "Ma'am, Mr. Garett has requested an urgent meetup to choose his textures," Sophia Callum piped in with a giggle, as I walked into the lobby of the building in which my office was. I could sense the redhead's excitement within a five mile range. Ignoring the strong urge to politely ask her to shut up, I took a deep breath. My eyes went to the gold Rolex on my hand. "Now?" "Apparently he has trouble having the meeting tomorrow. He wanted to reschedule. But day after tomorrow, your agenda is packed and he needs to finalize the textures before that day's midnight," she informed me, with another one of her sickly sweet smiles. "That is assumedly none of my concern, Sophia," I pursed my lips. She did not reply just gazed at me for my decision. Her lips pulled in a bright smile. Why was she so happy? Damn, Scarlett you sound like a psychopath now. I mean, seriously what has got her so happy that the sweetness in her voice and actions revolted within me. I shook myself making myself aware of my surroundings. "Let him know we would send him the basic thematic preselected textures for him. If he needed handpicked ones, he should have been careful with his scheduling. And do send him the new blanco tranco marble samples," I said sauntering into my office. "Will do, ma'am. Oh and Mr. Evans called for you," she added. That caught my attention and I reached into my handbag, fishing for my mobile. "How come I did not get any calls?" "He called to your cabin, ma'am. He said to not interrupt you in your meetings and just to let you know that he called." "You had a standing order to forward any calls of certain people to me, at any time, Sophia," I reminded her in a steely tone. "Yes Ms. Mitchell," she nodded, looking slightly flustered. Her eyes were on her five inch stilettos. The smile wiped off her face. "Hold my calls for now, Sophia. And I will not have any of this funny business whenever you are on duty. Get back to your cabin as soon as Ms. McCoy returns," I nodded at her before shutting my office door behind me. I think I saw her deep grey eyes glistening with something. Tears? Maybe. Shrugging the guilt off and blaming it on her tardiness, I settled at my desk. It took precisely fourteen seconds for my call to be answered. "You could have asked to be put through," I began with a complaint. A chuckle met me in response. "Sweetcheeks. I am not dying. It was just a call to gossip," Logan laughed. "Whatever. There was a temporary change with my secretary. Otherwise you would have been put through," I grumbled, tilting my neck to soothe away some tension. "This girl sounded airy. I wondered why it was not Lilian," he added. "What for?" I snorted. "She is hot. Come on, you can't deny the fact that she is hot?" "You can't deny the fact that she is also a mother," I rolled my eyes in retort. "So? MILFs are the new normal. She is young too," I could imagine him smirking. "You are right. She is younger. Two years younger than us. That is it. Besides, I think that you are forgetting that you already screwed her, the last time you were assumedly visiting me." "Doesn't mean I can't once more, does it? Babygirl, I am paraplegic, not impotent." "Eww. Gross. Shut up, Logan," I groaned, only to hear him laugh. It felt good to hear him being happy. "Anyways, I called you to ask about something," he said, sobering up. "Hm? I'm all ears. Please let this not be about that reunion shit." "Babygirl, you said you didn't wanna talk about it. Period. That would never stop me though, but still now is not the time," he said, eliciting a groan from me. Birchmont High was doing a reunion for our batch. To which we all received formal letters from the management inviting us back to school for a two day soirée. "Did you get an invite from Barbie?" His query halted my wandering thoughts. "Barbie as in Barbara —?" "How many other Barbies do you even know?" He duh-ed. "What invite? But for your information, nope. I didn't get one." "A wedding invitation." I stopped playing with a paperweight on my desk. "You are shitting me. What the hell?!" "Yeah, Scar. I was shocked as heck too," he chuckled. "She is getting hitched?!" "Seems so." "Damn," I sighed leaning back in my chair. "Yes girl, damn. You going then?" "Told you, I did not get an invite." "I got it this morn, anyway. I'm sure sent you one. She might not have your home address but at least to your office," he added. "One sec then," I told him. I pressed a button on my desk alerting my secretary's cabin. Within the passing of half a minute, Sophia presented herself. "Was there any personal mail today?" "Ma'am, Lily said that she would sort the mail out after she was back," she reddened, bowing her head down. I bit my cheek, closing my eyes. "Ms. Callum, I expect you to be on point with your work. Even though you are just filling her position temporarily, I acquire the same efficiency. Could you now please sift through the mail and let me know if there is one from a Ms. Figgs?" She nodded rapidly. "Sorry ma'am," she mumbled before scurrying away. "Is she hot?" Logan wolf whistled through my phone screen after Sophie vanished out of sight, making me huff in annoyance. "Well, she is a twenty year old intern. Much younger than you, isn't she?" "Oh sweetcheeks, don't get so defensive," he laughed. His easy smiles softening my tense mood. "Excuse me, Ms. Mitchell?" Sophia's shoes clucked on the marble flooring as she walked in, an ivory envelope in her hand. Dismissing her I flicked the envelope open. "Fancy, eh?" Logan asked, I could hear him shuffle with something. The words Barbara and Dwayne shone in a subtle glitter on the ivory parchment. The details were printed in a mauvish pink, in pretty contrast. An R. S. V. P. included in another pale pink. "It is well, kinda pretty," I murmured back. "It is Barbie. What did you expect?" "I don't know. A hot pink mess, probably," I smiled sensing him chuckle at the same. "So you going?" I double checked the date before responding. "It is closer to the reunion right?" "Mhm, mom asked me to drop by. Said I was missing too much of her and dad. Two birds with one stone, you know? The reunion s**t and her wedding." "I know," I trailed off, humming. "There is definitely going to me good food, though," he added at my hesitance. A soft knock pulled me out of my reverie. "Ma'am it is time for the board meeting," Sophia stated politely. Dropping the wedding invite you back on my desk, I gave her a quick nod and pulled myself away from the phone, motioning her to take up the necessary files to the boardroom. "I got to go Logan. I will catch back up to you later," I huffed out as I heard him sigh. "Give it all a thought," he paused. "Both the reunion and the wedding." I ended the call with a quiet promise to consider it all.