10: Guilt Feelings

SERENA

Presently inside my boutique, I turned on the lights first before going to open the windows. I haven't been here in days, so, its dustiness was understandable.

"Damn," I muttered under my breath, standing at one corner. "How do I intend on cleaning up this entire place and still work without today coming to an end?" I asked myself a rhetoric question, my eyes wandering all over the place. I straight up kicked myself for not begging Willa to follow me.

'Serena, the more you do nothing, the more time flies and of course, the more likely you will enter Chanel's bad books if you don't turn up your designs tomorrow before two pm.' My subconscious subtly reminded of what to start doing. I would have to agree with her at this critical moment.

First thing I did was to pack my hair up in a semi tight bun and switching my shoes to a more comfortable slippers. Then the next was to remove the dresses that were on some of the mannequins...out of about fifteen mannequins, only four were clothed. I pushed the naked ones to one corner before moving to the clothed ones. As I was about taking off the pink laced gown on the mannequin I was nearest to, I heard my doors opening, a young woman coming inside.

"Serena, thank goodness you're back."

"Oh...uhmm, hii." I greeted her like I knew her even though I didn't, I was just surprised she knew my name. 

"Where have you been? I came back to town few days ago and wanted new pieces..." Her eyes looked around my disheveled store. "What's going here? Where are your dresses? Are you moving out or something?"

"No, no, I'm not moving out. I got a new job as a designer, so I'm kind of transforming this place to my work studio."

"Oww, I was looking forward to changing my wardrobe," she sighed, looking disappointed "I don't know if you remember me. I got quite a number of blouses and gowns from you early last year."

Early last year...ohh, that was my peak period but it didn't last that long 'cause Willa's uncle pulled out his investments without warning. Would never blame him though, he really tried his best.

"Not really." I shook my head. "I saw a lot of faces back then. Not now, that I barely even see one face." I laughed dryly.

"That's fine. Happy that you got something else. How many pieces do you have left, though? I want to get them all."

"Uhh?" I didn't hear quite well...or wait, I did but I needed to be sure I heard right.

"I said I want to buy every single clothing piece you have left." She said slowly, one word at a time.

To say I was shocked was an understatement. I haven't sold a single piece in more than a month, now someone wants to get all of them...all of four of them actually.

"Alright," I straightened the lace dress I had wanted to pull off. "I've got just this and those other three." I said, pointing at the other mannequins that had a denim jumpsuit, a blue wrap dress and a shiny gold sleeveless blouse.

"How much for all?" She asked, bringing out her phone from her handbag.

"Uhmm, this cost about a 100." I said, about the lace gown.

"Okay, your prices are still cheap as last year. And the rest?"

I bit my lips, instantly regretting why I didn't put the price a bit higher. I would definitely use the rest to cover up for it. "The jumpsuit is 250, the sleeveless blouses is 145 and the wrap dress is 165."

I was expecting her to dispute the prices but she didn't. She only nodded. 

"Okay, pack them up. What's the total?" 

"660, if I'm not wrong." I still got a sharp brain.

 In about ten minutes, I gave her her purchases while my money wa sitting pretty in my bank account.

"Thank you, Serena." 

"No, I should be the one saying thank you." Never in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would sell those clothes. 

"You said you're a fashion designer, right?"

"Yes,"

"Those clothes you just sold to me and the ones you've been selling, were you behind their designs?"

"Yeah, most of them."

"Can I have your number, please? I would be needing some of your designs. I don't mind how much the cost."

"Sure." I took her phone, my hands shaky a little with excitement as I put my digits.

"My name is Eliana. And I hope this won't disrupt your new job... I mean you making designs for me."

"Of course not, please. I have plenty of time."

"Nice. See you then."

When Eliana had left, I sat my astonished ass on the table trying to take in what just happened. I fucking got two jobs now. It felt surreal.

"Hey girl," Willa came in. "Why didn't you call me to help you clean this place?"

I was really wrapped in my thoughts when she snapped her fingers on my face.

"Serena!"

"Oh, Willa, it's you."

"Did something happen? You just zoomed out."

"I have another job." I said, my mind was still spinning.

"For real? From another biker club?"

"Hell no, a young woman walked in her few minutes ago. She bought my remaining clothes and took my number for more designs. Her words, she doesn't mind how much it will cost her."

"Wow, congratulations. I'm so happy for you." She literally pulled up from the table and gave me a big hug.

"I even forgot to tell you. Guess how much I was offered at Frost Vipers for a month."

"Twenty thousand?" Willa said with her eyes wide.

I nodded with a smile.

"Oh. My. God! That's huge, baby. I told you it was worth it."

Willa helped me in cleaning while I set my the table and chair as well as getting my tools ready. It was some minutes past twelve noon, so apparently, I've got plenty of time to work.

"I'll be leaving now, Serena. I have to be at my book club meeting before one."

"It's fine, babe. Thanks for coming to my rescue."

"It's nothing, really."

"No, it's actually everything, Willa. You supported me all through, let me stay in your house, fed me... I don't think I can exhaust the list of what you've been doing for me. You're more than a best friend, Willa. You're the sister I never had."

"Aww, you're going to make me cry."

"Cry if you want to. That's the fucking truth. And I promise with everything in me that I would pay you back."

"No, no, Serena. Don't even think of that." She sobered up quickly. "I'm going now, bye." Before I could say another word, Willa was out of my studio.

I might not necessary refund her how much she had spent on me, but I would find another way of paying her good heart back. Oh well, all that aside, I have work to do.

I picked out five designs. One for the president, the second for his vice, the third for other biker executives, the fourth for other patched members, and the last for the prospects. The design I selected for Havoc was the best of the four...and I didn't just chose it 'cause Havoc was worth it or something. But I did because I wanted my own style to be unique, something that would wow others and of course impress Chanel. 

The next five hours, I buried myself in creating the most perfect jacket designs ever. Yes, I gotta be the first to hype my craft.

When I checked the time on my phone, it was fifteen minutes past six. 

"Oops, bed time." I packed up my tools and carefully put the design sketches inside my bag against tomorrow. Chanel should get ready to be impressed.

As soon as I opened the last drawer to get the keys to my studio, my fingers touched something...an envelope to be precise. 

Initially I had thought it was my contract with Frost Vipers but then, I was deathly sure I had given Chanel back that envelope. 

Sliding my hand inside, I pulled out two...no three photos.

My eyes suddenly went teary when I saw the first one. It was an old picture on my mom, Lionel and I on Lionel's eighteenth birthday. It's been five years, yet that particular day was still fresh in my memory.

"Ohh, I missed you two so, so much." A sob escaped from my lips, tears pouring down my face as I lifted the photograph to my lips to give each of them a kiss.

The second photo was a picture of my mom, Willa and I at my college graduation. Another bout of tears 'cause this fucking reminded me of my mom's death three weeks later.

However, the last picture stopped the tears immediately. 

It was a black and white photograph of Lionel leaning on a bike against a black painted wall with Frost Vipers emblem on it. A clearer look at his jacket, I saw a 'prospect' tag on his left side of his chest.

Wait... No! A horrific realization hit me.

My brother was a member of Frost Vipers...and that hit and run was never an accident. 

My brother was killed... intentionally.