Chapter 40 Downpour
Susan guided Emma through the maze-like corridors. They rounded a corner, and there before them was a big wooden door, carved with fine details. Susan pushed it open to reveal a comfortable and well-designed space. Emma noticed that it was the only private office on level six.
"Welcome to your new creative haven!" Susan smiled and motioned for Emma to enter.
Emma entered the room with her eyes wide in amazement. The room was decorated with shelves stacked with design books and artistic references, and the walls were painted in quiet pastel tones. Natural light flooded the room from the large window at the opposite end.
Susan drew the blinds closed, hiding what was going on inside behind the transparent wall. “If you do not want anyone to see what is going on in your office, you can put that down,” she said, referring to the blinds.
Her office? That sounded like a dream.
Her attention was pulled to the design machine. It was tastefully placed on a made-to-order desk that was ideal for being close to the window so she could draw inspiration from the surroundings as she worked. The machine's sleek design, complete with chrome accents and a smooth touchscreen, made her heart sing.
"I can not believe it is all mine," Emma exclaimed, her voice filled with appreciation.
"You have earned it, Miss Facer. Your talent and dedication have gotten you this far," Susan said, smiling with pride for her protégé.
"I suppose this is the only office around here."
"I have been here a long time, and this office has never been used. I guess Mr. Queen was really preparing it for the best of us. You really earned it.”
Emma let out a sigh. "It is just a shock. Having my own office space. What would the others think?”
"Do not be concerned about others. If they are envious enough, they will work hard to be in this position. While this is happening, you should work harder to maintain it. It is not easy to become a worldwide trend."
Emma nodded. She couldn't help but feel excited as she settled into her new office. Although she had previously entered level six to work, she’d never thought of it having a private office. Perhaps no one knew about it except the people who worked there. Floria and Gia would have said something to her if they had known.
Emma was admiring the view from her window when she heard a knock on the door, causing her to turn around. She and Susan exchanged glances. Susan shook her head, indicating that she had no idea who it could be.
Emma got to her feet and went to the door. She opened it and was surprised to see Scarlett. Emma's heart raced with excitement and nervousness and she tried to calm herself.
"I apologise for the interruption," Scarlett said. "I was told Miss Facer was here."
Susan pointed to Emma, who was frozen at the door.
Scar looked at her. Emma remained unmoved, staring at Scar. “Miss Facer?” Ema sniffed upon Scar’s touch.
“Are you okay?” Susan asked.
“Y- yes. I am fine,” she said. She looked at Scar. “Sorry about that. Please come inside and take a seat.” She rushed to take hers, pushing her chair closer to the table.
"I guess this is my cue to leave." Susan said as she walked away.
Scar graciously accepted Emma's offer of a seat, leaning back comfortably. "I have a one-of-a-kind project in mind, and I believe you are the right person for the job. I would like you to make something special for me."
Emma was befuddled. "Do you have a design in mind?"
“Surprise me.”
Emma was intrigued and excited by the challenge. "Surprise you? That sounds thrilling. Could you at least give me any hints or preferences. You know, colours and the like?"
Scar shook her head, her eyes sparkling with excitement. "There will be no hints. I want to see your raw creativity at its best. Make something that will amaze me, something that no one has ever imagined."
In response to Scar’s words, Emma experienced a surge of guts. This was an excellent opportunity for her to show off her skills and step outside of her comfort zone. She thanked Scar for believing in her, and she eagerly accepted the challenge. She clasped her hands together. “Alright. I think I can come up with an alternative idea.” She walked away from her chair. "But first, I would take your measurements. When I have finished designing it, I will send it to you for feedback."
Scar also rose to her feet, a smile on her face. "You do not have to do that. I trust your work. I am confident that you will deliver a satisfactory result."
Emma sighed when she heard her alarm rang around 7:15 p.m. She switched it off and closed her eyes for a few moments. She’d used her hours to illustrate the type of dress that might interest Scar. She looked down at the disorganised mess of her sketchbook's torn pages on the ground. She’d try so many times, and if it was not what she imagined, she would rip them off and start over.
"At this point, you are not going to get anything done." She stretched then rose from her seat. Then she started cleaning up the mess in the office. It was 7:30 when she finished cleaning and she got ready to head home after that.
It was awfully quiet and empty as she stepped into the elevator. Gia and Floria would have left by now. She desperately wanted to tell them the news and celebrate with them over drinks. Well, she could do that after her media shoot tomorrow.
She pushed the revolving door open and exhaled a sigh of relief as she left the company. It had been a long and exhausting day, and she hoped for a better one tomorrow. As she stepped onto the pathway, she could see the busy street ahead. She intended to go for a short walk to clear her mind about creating the outfit before calling a taxi home.
Emma heard honkings as she walked by. She then stepped onto the road and waited for the passenger light to illuminate. When it did, she crossed over with the others who were also attempting to reach the other side. She had never before taken such a walk since joining the company. Instead, she would call a taxi and take a direct route home, but not today. She did not have to worry about getting home early because of Zoella. Phoebe was taking good care of her.
Phoebe! Emma suddenly let out a gasp and stopped abruptly. How could she possibly have forgotten? She only saw Ezra for a brief moment today, and all they talked about was work. She did not have time to speak with him about Jones.
If Phoebe found out about this, she would be furious. She continued walking until she came to a halt in front of a bench on the sidewalk. She took a seat. Her bag was dropped next to her.
The air and people passing by, as well as the atmosphere, sparked an idea in her head. Emma sat at ease on a weathered bench, her sketchbook open on her lap. The moonlight danced through the leaves of the surrounding trees. Emma looked around, taking in the colours of nature, from the blooming flowers to the lush grass.
Her pencil glided across the paper, capturing the importance of the view. The delicate brushstrokes seemed to mimic the swaying branches and gentle rustling of leaves in the breeze. Emma's gaze darted from one enchanting sight to the next, the beauty of it all fueling her creative spirit.
She could not help but be drawn to the kaleidoscope of colours around her as she pondered the design of the dress. The soft lavender hues of the flowers complemented the deep emerald of the grass. She imagined various colour combinations in her head, imagining how they would look on the fabric.
Suddenly, a small droplet of water fell onto her sketchbook, startling her. Her fingers instinctively reached up to her cheeks, looking for tears, but there were none to be found. Perplexed, she looked up to the sky, and another raindrop landed on her nose. The moon had vanished, and raindrops started to fall more steadily around her.
In a panic, she gathered her sketching supplies, desperately trying to protect her precious drawings from the sudden downpour. Emma decided it was time to leave her artistic haven and seek shelter as the rain poured down.
She dashed down the sidewalk, her heart pounding in time with the raindrops drumming on the leaves above. Within seconds, she was soaked, her clothes clinging uncomfortably to her skin. However, just as she was about to give up, she heard a car horn blare behind her. She came to a sudden halt and spun around to see Ezra waving from inside his car.