VELVET のすべてのチャプター: チャプター 1 - チャプター 10

Office Talk The abruptness of the situation caused me to step back into the stiff figure and drop my wine glass, shattering all over the granite floor below me. As I tried to regain my composure, a pair of soft hands landed on either side of my body, steadying me. Attempting to hide my embarrassment, I exhaled and turned around."You must be Miss Daniels. Alex Thompson." He extended his hand out, waiting for me to shake it.Making eye contact, the first thing that came to mind—he wasn't what I expected a museum director to look like. I had expected a man well into his years, someone with wrinkles and gray hair, and possibly a receding hairline. To be blunt, I expected someone old.I mean, being the head director of a renowned museum that held thousands of expensive works wasn't an easy job and it wasn't like there were a lot of people below the age of sixty that appreciated learning about art history."Oh—oh no, it's okay. I don't think that's from the broken glass. I tripped earlier

The Valley As Nancy finished showing me around the rest of the museum, she brought me to my new office and allowed me to get comfortable with my surroundings for the remainder of the day. I spent the next hour moving the furniture around as well as placing my desk in the center back of the room—a layout similar to Mr. Thompson's office.I wondered if he had also designed my office. The ambience in here was much different than how his office had felt. Everything was brighter; simple looking. His had felt somewhat cozy and intimate while mine felt cold and detached. I made it a plan to pick up some small decor and other office things to make it look more appealing before I went home. I'm sure he wouldn't mind if I made this place my own.I also couldn't help but think about what Nancy had said to me about Mr. Thompson. A man who craves discipline in every aspect of his life. Her words replaying in my head, a part of me wanted to figure out what that meant. A man obsessed with control i

The second those words left my mouth, I instantly regretted it. Despite how bothered his claims had made me, I knew better than to put my feelings before my job. Not to mention, a job I had traveled four-thousand miles away from home for. The only thing I felt right now was stupid.If anyone else were in this cafè with us, they'd feel how enraged the man sitting in front of me was. The director I had met yesterday that easily held a poker face was nowhere to be found. The current look on his face was enough to make you run for the hills—rage sat in his eyes and caused every part of him to tense up. From his narrowed eyes and clenched jaw to his closed fists, causing his knuckles to turn white, anyone could see that he was pissed off. That I was the one that caused this.Expecting him to say something back, possibly fire me on the spot, he shot up from his seat and headed towards the cafè doors."Mr. Thompson—" I stood up, in an attempt to stop him from walking out."Go home." He said,

EVEIt had officially been a month since I moved to Paris, as well as three weeks since I started working at Musée de l'Ếrotisme. While I haven't had the easiest time settling in, I was still grateful for everything I had experienced so far. This also happened to be the first time that I felt like I actually fit in somewhere. Entering my office, satisfaction filled me up as there was a newfound warmth the room had given off due to me finally settling in and truly making it a space I felt comfortable in. I filled the once blank walls with small pieces I had finished over the past month as well as a few works I picked up whenNancy and I had raided an artists'auction. I also placed some pictureframes on the bookshelves.Sitting at my desk, I tried reading through my emails but was too distracted to thoroughly comprehend anything I was looking at. In fact, I haven't been able to focus on work for a while now.I would have had a much easier time concentrating

EVESitting in front of my mirror and looking at myself, the only thing I could notice was how sleep deprived I looked.I hadn't slept more than two hours last night as all I could think about was the fact that Alex wanted to have a conversation with me. Having to be at work in less than an hour, I showered and quickly got ready before heading out the door and to the museum.As the cab pulled up to the front of the museum steps, I paid my fare and gotout, straightening out my clothes beforewalking up. Reaching the top, Nancy had been standing at the entrance with a smileon her face."You're back!" I exclaimed, running up to her and kissing her on the cheek."After being surrounded by misogynistic, uptight businessmen for the past two weeks, I'm finally glad to be back in your presence, ma chérie." [my darling]"Aside from the barbaric men you'veexperienced, you'll have to tell me all about Toulouse. I'd love to travel outside of Paris whenever I'm not s