The Penitent's Rose

CHAPTER 6

Adrian blinks numerous times before turning to the person beside him. “Your company truly belongs to the A-list, Neil. Just look at this place!” He spread both of his arms wide to accentuate his point. “We’re not even inside the main hall itself yet!”

Neil brought him today to the venue where the latter’s company rented for its upcoming event. As Quelle’s representative and hired Event Designer, it was his job to check out the venue so he can formulate different design layouts and estimate the total costs that they will charge their client. But even with just one look, Adrian knew that creating the aesthetics and vibe for this place equals a huge amount of money.

Neil chuckles. “Believe me, I’m as amazed as you are,” he said, whose eyes are also busy inspecting the hall.  “I was only informed about this yesterday after I was instructed to check this place with you. I admit I saw some photos of the place, but I didn’t expect it to be this grand. If I’m not mistaken, my boss’s older brother was the one who booked this place three days after he attended our meeting about the event.”

“You’re telling me that he managed to book this place in less than a week?” Adrian asked, eyes wide in astonishment. “He doesn’t own an event management company like Quelle right?”

“I’m afraid not.”

“Whew! That’s good news for your sister. Less competition, more income. But seriously, if you ask me, your boss must be best of friends with the owner and give him a huge discount for this place or he is super duper rich.”

“I say that he’s both, minus the discount part,” Neil commented, smiling smugly as Adrian shook his head. “Anyways, let’s check out the main hall.”

Both men walk towards the right side where an arched, dark brown wooden door is. Adrian’s lips parted in awe as he felt how solid and heavy it is after he grips its brass handles. Without further ado, he pushes the door open, and his eyes get even wider at the sight that welcomes him. 

“Wicked...” was what came out of Adrian as his eyes continued to feast in the grandiose site. Adrian shakes his head in amazement. If the grand foyer outside is huge, the main hall is massive!

The entire hall was painted in beige, with Doric columns, arched walls, and a coffered ceiling that gives off the Renaissance-era feel to every guest of the place. Heavy, Pearl-white curtains drape down on four big windows on either side, reminding Adrian of the draperies that he often sees on Da Vinci and Michaelangelo’s paintings. The lights from multiple, crystal chandeliers, as well as from small LED lights illuminates the area enough to see the intricate details of combined metal and paint on the ceiling.

Adrian took a step and was once again in awe when he felt the carpet below his shoe. The color and the latticework of the rug added another level of elegance to the hall. And he can confidently say that a raw egg won’t c***k open if someone drops one base on how soft the rug felt below him. A marble-tiled area, which he guesses as to the dance area, splits the area into two. 

“I love the details of this place,” Adrian said as he continues to inspect the hall. “Especially how they designed the middle part. The setting of the dance area is superb as well as the stage. It doesn’t occupy most of the room but you can still say that it is one of the main focal points of the place.”

Neil nodded in agreement. “Check out the other end, Adrian,” he said as he pointed at the opposite area of the stage. “Usually, that area serves as the bridal lounge. But my boss said that he wants it to be decorated with something else instead. Something that the guest will love to look at.”

“Are you sure? Don’t they want to have their table placed in there?” he asked. Normally, the ones who hosted the event requires very special seating for them or someone important. 

“No. They said that they wanted to be seated near the stage but among the rest of their employees and guest.”

“How humble. How many people are we expecting for the event again?” Adrian took out his phone and started taking pictures.

“We sent out invitations for almost 700 people. All employees and business acquaintances combined. ”

“And this place can accommodate…?”

“Up to 1000 guests, as per their description on their official webpage.”

“Impressive.”

Adrian continues to take pictures of the hall, working out possible setups inside his head. He is buzzing in excitement thinking of all the flowers that he will use. “Are there any requests from your bosses when it comes to the setting? Would they like to see a certain piece or something?” he asks a few moments later.

“Ah! I almost forgot about that,” Neil exclaims. “They wanted the color motif centers to white and light blue.”

The sound of his phone camera click suddenly stops. Adrian slowly turns towards his friend. “Seriously?” he asked with a frown. “Remind me again what type of event are we planning? Is it really a company anniversary or a newborn’s christening party?”

Neil immediately held both of his hands up. “Hey, I was just instructed here. I have no say about that,” he said. “But if I’m not mistaken, white and light blue are the company’s color. That’s the only logical thing that I can tell you with regards to that matter.”

“That makes sense.” Adrian let out a sigh. “Don’t worry. It’s not a bad thing but it limits what we can do.” He took more photos, adding a few notes to some using a note application so he wouldn’t forget when he transfers the files to his laptop and drafts his proposals for Quelle. 

“What a huge table,” he commented after he approaches one of the many tables around the hall. “Do you have an idea of how many people can it accommodates?”

As he starts to count the chairs surrounding the table, Neil flips his organizer open. “They said it can seat up to fourteen people,” he answers, grinning at him when he manages to answer him before he can finish his count. 

“We can place the host and their family here at the table near the stage. How many do you think are they?”

“I guess we will need to reserve two tables for them. My boss’s uncle will be attending, and I’m sure that he would want to be seated with some of our senior associates who happen to be close to their family.”

“Noted on that.” 

He then turned to the table setting. A very formal and sophisticated setting was placed atop the pristine ivory table linen. Three bottles of different liquours are placed at the center beside the tall, brass vase centerpiece. Utensils like plates, bowls, spoons, fork, and knives of various sizes were arranged neatly, showcasing a three-course meal setting for a high-profile clientele. 

Adrian picked up a salad fork from the table. The gold, shiny cutlery was smooth to his touch. Suddenly, a distant memory pops inside his head. 

“Why are they putting too many utensils?” a small boy asked, curiously watching as the maids place one utensil after another on a long wooden table. 

“Adrian, that is how you set the table for a formal dinner.” The female teen smiled gently at the boy. 

“Ah! There’s a small fork! Why is it so small?” 

“That’s a salad fork. You use it when you’re going to eat your salad,” the teen explained.

“Yuck! I don’t like salads. Leaves are for rabbits. I’m not a rabbit.”

“I don’t like salads, too!” another boy said, his face scrunch up with the mention of vegetables. 

“That’s bad, you two. You both need to eat your vegetables. They’re good for your body.”

“Fine.”

“Okay. But do we really need that many utensils? Can’t we just use the same spoon and fork for everything?”

“Are you an i***t? Of course, we can’t! If I were you, I’ll start memorizing all of these for later. Mother will definitely scold you if you made a mistake.”

One of the boys turned towards the teen, eyes started to tear up. “Please teach me! I don’t want to be scolded!”

The teen chuckled “Don’t worry. I will teach you both. Listen to me carefully, okay?”

“Adrian?”

Adrian snaps his head up, eyes immediately meet Neil’s. He must be frozen for too long because he can definitely see the worry in his friend’s dark orbs. 

“I was asking if my sister sent you an email last night with regards to your next meeting with her,” Neil said. “Are you okay?” 

Adrian shudders internally with Neil’s question. “Yes, yes, of course,” he replied and smiles. He nods his head as he pretends that there isn’t an invisible hole in his chest that sucks his energy out.

“Are you sure?” Neil insists, and Adrian wants to curse him and his ability to be super observant. 

“I’m fine, Neil. Sorry if I spaced out.” He makes an effort to liven up the tone of his voice and to smile widely. “I just thought that it’s stupid to have a lot of utensils on the table. I mean, you can still eat your salad using your dinner fork, right?”

He forces himself to keep his smile on his face until Neil’s lips stretch into a small smile and the frown on his forehead disappears. “I agree,” he said. “Do you still need to inspect the place more?”

He shakes his head. “I”m done. About Quelle’s email, I’ll check it out later.”

They silently walk their way out of the hall. They were about to turn right towards the main entrance when Adrian noticed something on the right side of the hall’s foyer. “Hey, Neil. Your company rented the whole hall, right? I mean, not just the main hall but this entire building?”

“Yes,” Neil answers with a knotted forehead. “Why are you asking?”

Adrian grins as he stares at that particular part of the foyer. “Nothing. I was just wondering if I can put something here.”

“Something?”

“Yeah.” His grins grew wider as his vision for his special project becomes clearer and clearer on his head. “Something that your boss and their guest will feast their eyes on.”