MasukBianca took another pull from her vape pen and let the smoke curl out slowly. The bass from the outer club was pulsing mildly in the air.
“When’s he gonna be here?” The guy she was smoking with asked, antsy. “I got someplace else to be.”
“Chill the fuck down,” Bianca snapped, looking downstairs.
“He’ll be here any moment.”
As predicted, Felix walked in, already greeting people and clasping hands with some
Another day at work.Another day to endure till his muscles grew tense beyond control.He was in the administrative belly of the Ellington building. Wren had brought him here herself, as an unusual escort for what she said was an organizational task.She pointed at the cabinets. “These contain the due diligence reports, asset valuations, and preliminary integration blueprints for the Morell acquisition. Your task is to organize them by phase, then by subject, then by date. When you're done, create a master index and any inconsistencies.”Wren then handed him a blank ledger and a pen. “Tjere should be no digital copies. Everything stays in the room. I'm sure you understand how sensitive this is.”If only one person was to understand the sensitivity of the task Wren had just given, if was Felix.Right in that room was even information on Morell Industries and Wren's future plans for the company; ranging from what she intended to ke
The name of the gallery Simone worked at was called Aperture.She has been working there for a little over two weeks as the Gallery Coordinator, which meant she managed the calendar, liaised with the six artists the gallery represented, wrote copy for the website, and, three days a week, manned the desk at the entrance. The pay was quite a fraction of what she used to get as monthly allowance from her trust fund. But she still diligently worked anyway.Her coworker, Maya, was a willowy woman with ink-stained fingers and a collection of oversized cardigans. She had a master’s in Art History from a public university. Maya had no idea about the Morells, or their scandal and she has only hired Simone based on the fact that she showed competence during her interview.“Do you think the cobalt piece in the back reads as too confrontational next to the wheatpaste series?” Maya asked one quiet Tuesday afternoon, frowning at the far wall.Simone looked up from her computer. “I think the confron
Every third Tuesday, Agnes walked through the iron gates of the Ashford Women’s Club building. And she served as the Vice-Chair of the Arts Subcommittee for 4 years consecutively.But today, the attendant at the gate had the audacity to ask for name?“Name, please?”“What sort of question is that? Don't you know who I am?”I'm sorry ma'am, but I have to confirm your name to be sure it's on the list,” the attendant answered politely.Agnes glared. “Of course it's on the list. Let me in. I'm the VC of the club. Agnes Morell.”“One moment, Mrs Morell.” the lady picked up a house phone and turned away to talk to someone.Less than a minute later away, another woman walked out the portico.“Agnes. Hello,” she greeted without opening the gate.“Open the gates,” Agnes ordered.“Could you step this way for a quick word?” the woman told her and Agnes frowned but followed Margot a few paces to the side.“Margot, what is this? I’m going to be late for the luncheon.”Margot clasped her hands in f
Just as agreed upon, Felix started work the next day; handed his employee card by Julianne. When last had he used an employee card? That was back when he still used to work for Maria…before he married Wren.He was directed to a desk workstation, which was between some other young workers. He got stares, which he noticed but ignored, and he made no eye contact with anyone.And on his desk was a stack of five banker’s boxes and a sticky note on top of one of the boxes with Julianne’s handwriting:“Chairwoman Ellington’s 2022-2023 correspondence. Please categorize by sender, topic, and urgency. Then digitally scan when it's complete.”It was busywork for sure. Plus he was being asked to do intern work. Felix knew that the correspondence Julianne asked him to attend to, must have already been digitized somewhere. But they were giving him manual labor to occupy his hands and humiliate his mind.He took off his jacket, hung it on the back of his chair, and started work anyway.At 9:15, anot
It has official been 2 months after the big scandal.Which was enough time for Felix to decide that he had to get back his company, one way or the other. And of course, in the most legal way possible..And to do that, he had to get to Wren.Knowing Wren wouldn't want to meet directly with him, Felix scheduled a meeting with her under the under the name of an anonymous consulting firm. He was to meet with her 9am that morning.He waited in the lobby of Ellington Innovations headquarters, a place that felt both familiar and alien, waiting to be summoned.“Mr Arden?” The secretary called politely.“Miss Ellington will see you now. Please follow me.”The first thing Wren did when she saw ‘Mr Arden’ walk into her office was scoff. Felix found his way to get to her afterall.“And to what do we owe this August visit, Mr Arden?” Wren started.Felix swallowed a light lump down his throat. It was his first time coming face to face with Wren sinve the scandal, and what he felt, at that moment, w
Jonathan Wayne Ellington.Husband. Father. Brother. Friend.(1963-2023)May his lovely soul rest in peace.Arrangements for the burial fell to Wren, as the heir and the executor named in documents. Omar, who had been Jonathan’s right hand for thirty years, was also by Wren's side to help. He was in his father figure shoes now more than ever.A Venue was chosen. Attendees were invited, both friend and foe.Anthonia, the wife, also wrapped herself around every single process, always having one thing or the other to complain about Wren and how she was handling the event.“You’re welcome to attend and to grieve in your own way. But for this one day, for his sake, I’m asking you to pretend to be cordial. Can you at least do that?” Wren snapped at Anthonia.“You have no right to ask me for anything,” Anthonia hissed.“Good. Then I don't have to warn you a second time,” Wren said and hung up the call.“Such an insolent girl,” Anthonia sneered at the phone.The burial was held at a private fa
“I’m heading out to meet Sharon.”Wren looked up from the mug she had been staring into, watching the tea bag bleed colour into hot water. “Everything okay?”“Yeah, fine. Just some stuff to go over. You know how it is,” Grace answered lightl
“Has he heard?” Wren asked Omar.There was only one person whose knowledge of her downfall mattered in this particular way. And their awareness of her humiliation would be a secondary punishment layered over the first. But that was kind of a useless question anyway, because of course, her father wo
“Yes I understand, but I’m still not leaving my apartment because of that. Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. Aside from AJ being around, Grace is also staying with me.”Omar sighed on the other end. “That man died in police custody, I’m sure you und
Bianca showed up at Felix’s office the next morning with the PR report for the day. Felix looked up from his desk when she entered and their eyes met. He knew she had found a way back into work, and honestly he knew there was nothing he could do about it without causing a ruckus with her. “Morning







