One Night With Mr Braxton

Chara held a confused look, half expecting Emma to backtrack on her statement.

” Non-disclosure?” She ended up asking when the expectation wasn’t forthcoming.

” Yes.”

Chara felt out of sorts. How on earth could they work together if she didn’t even trust her? Was it her nature to be untrusting or was it something she did or said?

She struggled to muster a smile as she spoke, ” You don’t need to tell me, I’ll assist you in the best way I can.”

Emma’s eyes narrowed, ” Why? You don’t want to be accountable?”

” Of course not!” She huffed nervously, ” I don’t want to cross boundaries, If you want me to know, I figured you’ll tell me.”

Emma remained calm, gauging the lady before her, the silence turned daunting and uncomfortable.

” If you really want me to sign something, I would, If that’s what it takes to feel secure with me.” She added, ready to sign yet again since she got the job.

” Fine. I’ll draw something up, in due time.” Emma notified with a shrug; she couldn’t pinpoint when she started trusting her, but somehow, she did. She wasn’t telling her though.

Chara swallowed; then nodded.

” I want to start a company.” Emma cleared her throat, ” A shoe company.” She added, saying it aloud felt unbelievable, unreal.

Immediately, she regretted saying it aloud, sharing it. Her assistant must have thought she was a joke.

” Wow… that’s just-”

” Unrealistic.” Emma supplied,

” Awesome!” She screamed excitedly, ” That’s the best thing I’ve heard in ages!”

Emma withdrew, caught off-guard by her reaction. ” You think so?”

” I know so! I know everything there is about running a shoe business, I live for it.” She breathed, happiness radiating all over her.

Her mood was contagious, and curiosity plagued Emma. ” What do you mean?”

” You know the Steele Shoes company?” Chara asked and Emma’s face lost colour. ” My dad worked there for 15 years as a shoe maker,” She divulged, then her face fell. ” They fired him though, saying something along the lines of his age but I promise you my father still makes perfect shoes.”

” When did he get sacked?” Emma quipped, unhappy to hear just another bad tale of her father’s company.

” Five years ago. My father still buys shoes from the Steele brand, despite how unfairly they treated him, he always defends the company, especially its designer, he’d always say the shoes were not a reflection of the management.” Chara rambled, a faraway look etched on her face. ” Sometimes I don’t know how to break it to him that they are not who they used to be. Not in the quality at least.” She ended with a huff.

Emma didn’t know what to say. Five years ago, that was exactly when her father died, when Roseline officially took on the duties as CEO. Lots of employees were laid off for stupid reasons, amongst which was her mother’s preferred shoe maker.

That marked the beginning of the end.

” Where is he? I mean, what does he do?” She asked, trying to get more insights without being too intrusive.

Chara answered with a wave, ” He’s home, making shoes with the little things he can manage and selling them to the local market.”

From her answer, Emma could tell it wasn’t the most profitable job out there. The fact that her father continued in his craft despite the situation told her everything she needed to know about him: Who else could handle the productive side of the job if not him?

Emma nodded, then brought home the question. ” How about you? What are your thoughts on shoes?”

” I grew up surrounded by shoes, what do you think?” She answered with a telling smile. ” I help him market the shoes, although it doesn’t pay much, it feeds the soul.”

” I love that. Feeds the soul…” Emma’s eye widened, then she shot up and covered her in a bone crushing hug. ” You are a genius!”

Chara felt confused. ” Okay?”

” That’s it! I’ve been thinking about the right name for my shoe brand… Soul! Soul Shoes! You are a genius!” She yelled happily while she blushed.

” Soul Shoes. It does have a ring to it.” Chara affirms, abashedly.

” Everything’s suddenly coming together! You must be my good luck charm.” Emma declared, unable to hide her excitement for the progress. One thing off the list, one step ahead on her journey to achieving her dreams.

” Yet you don’t trust me.”

Emma took a seat, ” If I didn’t, you wouldn’t even be here.”

That shut her up, then reassured her.

” Perfect, go over this list,” She handed her a paper, ” I’ll need your input on the best people to fill the positions quickly. There isn’t much time.”

Chara went through the list with keen eyes, at some point her eyebrows furrowed, ” What about the Designer?”

” I have someone in mind.” Emma muttered.

” Alright, I’ll get back to you.”

Chara headed out of the room with her head between the paper, mumbling beneath her breath as her hand traced the words printed on the paper. Emma didn’t need a soothsayer to know she’s made the right choice with her. Her eyes felt heavy and for the first time, she climbed her bed and took a nap.

******

Three days later, Chara reported to Emma, done with the task handed to her.

” I’ve carried out the first round of interviews as you said and picked out the best. Which of course you get to make the final decision whenever you can.” She explained, showing proof of her work.

Emma felt elated and a huge burden lifted off her back. ” Well done, at this point, I might as well hand over the entire proceeding to your capable hands, You’ve honestly exceeded my expectations.” She complimented.

” Thank you.” She blushed profusely at the compliment, ” I’m only doing my job.” She added.

Emma went through the files again and with reckless abandon, proposed, ” You know what? I think you deserve something, more than cheap compliments. I’ll buy you dinner!” She proclaimed, dropping the file.

” Thank you, but it won’t be necessary. I’m only doing my job, I appreciate the thought.”

” Nonsense! Don’t go soft on me, I’m married to a billionaire.” She wriggled her brows, then whispered. ” That means, I have a lot of money.”

Chara smiled, at a loss for words.

” Go on, get ready, I’ll be ready in no time.” She shooed her away.

Emma headed for a quick shower, for the first time in a long time, she felt at ease. Everything was coming together and her dream didn’t feel out of reach anymore. With the presence of Chara in her life, she felt confident of her ability to raise a company from the dust into a household name before she got exposed to the world.

Merely five days in her one month of grace and she could see the light of possibility. She felt faith from nowhere spring up within her, and for the first time since the incident, she felt like painting. A design itched her fingers, eager to be brought to life but there wasn’t enough time or equipment.

She thought she’d lost her talent and for the longest time, contemplated swallowing her pride and hiring a designer to help out until she got her groove back but with the rising development, she felt confident and knew she could handle that department.

The only thing left was a suitable place to create: More like a hidden place of creation. After the earlier events, she couldn’t find the ability to involve or let anyone in on her proposed studio space. Once bitten, Twice shy.

In no time, Emma was prepared and out of her quarters. She never got over the hugeness of the house. It seemed like it got bigger as the day passed and wondered if she would ever get used to living in such an extravagant place.

She closed the door behind her and naturally, her head turned right, towards the direction of the forbidden area. Ever since that day, she couldn’t help but feel drawn to that environment. The peace and secret it held made it all the more alluring.

Emma forced her mind out of that place, knowing it only spelt trouble and headed downstairs. It didn’t take long before Jason caught sight of her.

” Looking beautiful Emma!” He called from the couch,

Mid stairs, she smiled, ” Thank you Jason!”

When she got down, she looked around and saw no signs of Chara. It finally dawned on her that she didn’t even know where she lived. They always met in the house, so she sort of figured she lived close or maybe in the building but she didn’t know exactly where.

She felt shitty, knowing Chara must have mentioned it at some point but she wasn’t paying attention enough to remember.

Mrs. Adams showed up from the corner and with one overall look, she asked, ” Where are you off to?”

Jason snorted, ” Allow the lady to let her hair down for a second. Looking pretty doesn’t always equal having somewhere to go.” He scolded then fired a wink Emma’s way.

She shook her head at his antics, then spoke, ” You are right; but Yes, I’m going out.”

” Where?”

” With whom?”

They asked at the same time.

” Get your panties together people, I’ll be getting dinner with Chara. We’ll be back early.” She explained, offhandedly. ” Immediately I find out what’s keeping her for so long.” Emma added, checking the time.

” Who’s going to tell her?” Jason asked, looking at Mrs. Adams.

That caught Emma’s attention. ” Tell her what?”

Mrs Adams cleared her throat, ” You can’t leave the house.”