The Destined Queen

Chapter 5

After I finished the food and Emerson stopped dancing, I told him that I have to go to my job, He wished me luck for the first day of my job. And I went off on my journey. The traffic was hectic. It took me more than I thought it would. But fortunately, I arrived at the office before 9. I was led to my office by my boss's assistant. My office was large enough for a bed to fit in. The big window beside my table gave me the perfect view of the city and the sky. When I looked at the sky, I thought, where the damned soul realm is? I have to ask Emerson afterwards. I sat on my cushy chair, waiting for my boss and my group to come. I was assigned an assistant, too. Her name is Katniss. She would inform me when I will be summoned. I thought of a new product. The decoration of the new scented candle and it's contents. After thinking about it for a while, I decided on decorating the outside of the candle with red thunders which would look like swirls emerging from the bottom and some snow here and there. And the contents, I would use flowers this time rather than chemicals or herbs. Yes. Perfect. A knock on the door jerked me on the chair. " Come in. " I said. My assistant Katniss entered my office as I placed my palm under my chin. " Mr. Hufflepuff is calling for you, Miss. Salvia. " She said. " I'll be right there. " She nodded and left my office. I took my jacket off of the chair and left my office, too. Everyone stared at me as I passed by them. I held my chin up high, and I walked to Mr. Hufflepuff's office. I knocked on the door and entered after a muffled answer came from the inside.  

" You called for me? " " Yes, I did. " His office was still dark, the curtains drawn, no sunlight came inside the office. Only a little lamp was providing him light. He motioned for me to sit and dipped his nose further into the papers. I waited. After few seconds, He closed the file and graced me with his attention. " I am very sorry for your loss, Miss. Salvia. " He said, his face unreadable. He is a businessman, all businessmen has unreadable mask on their faces. " Thank you. " I dipped my chin slightly, granting his condolences. " As today is your first day, You only need to introduce yourself to your juniors, and you have to make a good relationship with them. " He said. I nodded my head, with understanding. " You can go to our lab. Your assistant, Katniss knows where it is. Good luck. " He gave me a small smile and I was dismissed. I went to Katniss, straight. She showed me the way to the lab. My lab. The lab where I will work with my juniors. I was excited and it shown on my face. Everyone stared at me as I passed by. Again. My grey hair swung as I walked. My heels of the shoe clicked on the floor. And I was close to my lab. We turned and A grey door appeared. " This is your lab. Everyone is waiting for you. " Katniss smiled. When I nodded, she said, " All the best. " And with that I was left alone. I put on my mask, my boss mask and entered the room, my chin high and one brow slightly raised. All of them were chattering with each other. When I walked in, they stopped. And a hush fell over the room. The entire lab. I saw some girls and boys who were with me that day on the day of my interview. But they are my juniors and I there boss. " Good morning. I am Winter Salvia. Your Senior. I will be looking after all the work you do. And I will share my ideas with you so that we can thrive together. Congratulations to those whose it is first day, as I myself is new here. I want to know all of you. So, please begin introducing yourself. " I said in my most bossy tone. One by one, they introduced themselves. After the introduction, I asked themselves to give me some ideas. One of the girls said that she would love to smell like candy. And others agreed and some laughed. I accepted her idea. Suddenly A guy, Matrix said, " What about making a perfume smelling of rainbow. " Some snickered and some outwardly laughed. Rainbow. Indeed. " Do you know how does it smell? " I asked. Matrix shook his head but didn't back down. His gaze piercing through her. " I would love to smell like rainbow. If you can make it. " I smiled slightly. A challenge. I love a challenge. The look that appeared on his face told me that he loved challenge too. I like this guy. " You lot will be working on the rainbow perfume from now on. Begin your work. " I clapped for them to start. Matrix grinned and started his work.  

They kept on working and I kept on looking and instructing them what to do. until Lunch break. Everyone left the cafeteria to eat while I started to make my own scented candle. Out of the blue, Emerson appeared which shook my hand and all the contents fell on the floor. I glared at him while he just stood there grinning. " What are you doing here? " I snapped. " I came with food. " He sang and in his hands dangled a bag. My stomach grumbled on the thought of food.  He casually sat on a chair beside me. " I suggest you sit and eat before you faint and your boss have to take you to hospital." He smiled and placed the bag on the table where I was working. " Fine. Let's sit on that chair. " I pointed to my chair that sat away from all these stuffs for making perfume. I washed my hands and sat beside Emerson. Although he is a damned soul, I didn't feel cold siting near him. " Why don't I feel cold sitting near you? " I asked him. " Who told you that damned souls are cold? We are hot. Extremely hot. " He whispered leaning in. Then burst out laughing when I glared at him. " Another question, Where is this realm? " I asked. " It's in between two dimensions. Now, eat up. It will get cold. " He said opening the bag. " One more. How did you know that I work here? " I narrowed my eyes. How did he know? His shoulders tensed and he stopped for a second but then started taking out the boxes. " Well, I followed you. " He gave a breathy chuckle. " You followed me? Stalker. " I tried to slap his arm but my hand passed through him as it always did whenever I tried to touch him. I always shivered when my hand or leg passed through him but never did it made contact with him. His mood dropped considerably, his fists tightened on the boxes as he laid them in between them. I bit my lips and said, " Sorry. " " What are you being sorry for? I am dead. " He shrugged but the pain was still there on his face. Damned soul has feelings. Who knew. I opened the box and sniffed to relax his tense shoulders. The box had my favorite egg salad and blueberries. " I love this. How did you know? Do damned souls have i********:? Are you stalking me there, too? " I narrowed my eyes and placed both of my hands on my hips. He looked up at me and smiled slightly. " I didn't know. But now I do. " He smiled broader which make his eyes shine brighter. I dug in my food. And it was delicious. " Mmmm. Will you be my cook? Please? " I pouted and pleaded with my best puppy dog eyes. He chuckled and nodded, Motioning me to eat the food. Puppy dog eyes always worked on My Maw. Always. A small smile tugged on my lips as I remembered the moment when she grounded me because I had freed Mrs. Jensen's dog. How would I have known that she didn't capture the dog and tortured him brutally. I thought for his own good. So, I freed him. And Mrs. Jensen complained to My Maw. I used my puppy dog eyes to get out of that punishment, too.  

I finished my lunch and put it in the bag. Emerson got up and gave me his grin. " See you at home. " He said and waved until he disappeared. " My apartment. " I muttered and my juniors entered.  

They started working on the project and I looked upon them.  

At 5, My shift ended and I was called by my Boss to meet with him. I knocked and entered as he allowed me to. " How was your first day, Miss. Salvia? " He asked in his usual deep and husky voice. " It was great, Sir. I loved working with them. " I smiled and let him see how happy I was to work here. Because My dream at last came true. I wish Maw was here. I calmed down and let him speak. A smile tugged at the corner of his lips but he quickly concealed it. " Tell me. What did your group achieved today? " He asked. " Matrix suggested to make a perfume, which would have rainbow smell in it. " I told him. He scrunched his brows and clasped his hands and kept them on the desk. " And how is your group going to achieve that? " He asked, raising his brow. " Rainbow. The idea is to make a perfume that will make everyone feel as they feel when they see rainbow. Colorful, excited, lovely, and so on. " I explained, feeling proud of my junior. His brows raised more, then he nodded. " I'm looking forward to it. See you tomorrow before 9." He said. I bid my farewell and happily left the company. I went to my car and when I entered, I screamed. Emerson was sitting there at the passenger seat, waving at me. " What are you doing here? " I breathed, my hand on my chest to calm myself down. I took deep breaths. The damned soul only laughed. I glared at him and rubbed my chest softly and exhaled, leaning my head on the wheel of the car. " I'm sorry. I just wanted to see your face when you see a soul sitting in your car. " He laughed and laughed. Jerk. " Shut up, Emmie. " I muttered and started the car. But he kept laughing and laughing.  

I restrained myself from kicking him. Because one, my leg won't touch him and two, he will be upset. Again. And I don't like to see my friend hurt. " How did your first day go? " He asked after his laugh stopped. " It was great. The people I'm working with are great. And creative. You know, A guy came up with a idea of rainbow perfume. RAINBOW. " I said, grinning. I gave him a sidelong glance and saw him looking at me with a smile on his face. " What? " I asked. " Your face is shining. " He grinned. " Ha. Ha. " " You look beautiful. " He said, a compliment which made me gulp and all the shine gone. " This is where you blush. At least normal people would." And gone was the shivers and the tingles. I glared at him from the corner of my eye. He laughed. " Jerk. " I muttered. He bowed while sitting. I turned on the radio because the traffic was still hectic. We have to wait for minimum two to three minutes. And again the song ghost busters came on. I think the radio station love this song. But I love it, too. So, I didn't change. Emerson was giving me a look. " What? " I practically barked. " Ghost busters? " He asked, raising his brow. I shrugged. " Rose will love you. " I shook my head, smiling. " Who is Rose? Oh, that pretty girl who was with you all the time? " He asked. I nodded. " She believes in these things? " " Yes. She does. A lot. " I chuckled. " And did you believe in these things before you met me? " " Not at all. She is going to be so happy to see you. " " Please. Don't tell her. " His face features turned gloomy. " Why? " I asked, the cars ahead of us started to move. Thank Lord. " I don't want anyone else to see. And know about me. " He said. I frowned. " Why? " " Nothing. It's none of your business. " He snapped. I fell silent. He ran his hand through his hair and vanished. I have unknowingly made my friend upset. Again. Some friend I am. I sighed and drove to my apartment.