Chapter 4 WRONG MOVE
(Alden)
I stood in front of the cracked mirror hanging loosely on my apartment wall, straightening the lapels of the only suit I owned.
It wasn't new.
It wasn't expensive.
But it was the best I had.
I dusted imaginary lint from the dark fabric before glancing down at my trusty pair of Converse.
"Just a little longer," I muttered to myself. "Things are about to change."
With Veronica's card tucked safely into my inside pocket, I stepped out of my tiny apartment.
"Alden!"
I froze.
Mr. Colbat, my landlord, stood at the bottom of the staircase with his arms folded across his chest.
"I've been looking for you."
My stomach sank. "Good morning, sir." I said trying to keep a polite smile on my face.
"Don't 'good morning' me. Where's my rent?" He demanded.
I rubbed the back of my neck "I... I don't have it yet."
"You've been saying that for three Godamn months."
"I know, sir. I really do. But today's important. I have a big interview today, it's going to change everything"
He scoffed "Another interview?"
I swallowed "This one is different this time."
"And why should I believe that?" He barked back at me.
I reached into my pocket and carefully pulled out Veronica's business card.
"I met Veronica Solace a few days ago. She asked me to come in."
His expression remained unchanged.
"You expect me to believe that?"
"I know it sounds unbelievable, but it's true."
Mr. Colbat shook his head.
"I don't care if the Godamn President invited you himself."
He stepped closer.
"If I don't have my money by the end of this week..." His eyes hardened.
"...you're out."
My heart tightened "I understand."
I didn't waste another second, the memory of me quitting the only stability I had flashed in my momf. I was such a fool!
This job had to work or else. I'd be beyond screwed.
The Solace House headquarters towered over every building surrounding it.
Glass, steel and luxury.
It looked less like a fashion company and more like a palace.
I stood there for a moment, completely awestruck.
One day...
Maybe I'd belong here. I pushed through the revolving doors.
The lobby was breathtaking.
Massive chandeliers sparkled overhead, designer displays lined the walls, employees hurried through the building wearing clothes that looked straight off a runway.
I walked up to the reception desk.
The receptionist barely glanced at me.
"Yes?"
I slid Veronica's card across the desk.
"I was told to come this morning."
She picked it up.
The moment she read the name printed on it, her expression shifted.
"Miss Veronica sent you?" She spat out like the word burnt her.
"Yes." I answered if orimg her shabby attitude.
She reluctantly nodded.
"Third floor, third door on your left."
I nodded eagerly.
"The woman interviewing you is expecting you, don't bother to knock just go in."
"Thank you so much."
Not missing the dismissive roll of her eyes, I hurried toward the elevator, my excitement growing with every passing second.
The third floor was even more magnificent.
Portraits of past collections decorated the walls.
Designer gowns stood behind glass displays.
Everything screamed elegance.
I reached the hallway, counting the doors to my left.
One...
Two...
Three.
Without thinking, I pushed open the door.
My breath caught immediately, at the sight Infront of me .
A tall man sat behind an enormous desk.
His white shirt was half unbuttoned, exposing part of his chest.
His dark hair was messy, as though he'd been running his fingers through it for hours.
FELIX SOLACE! CEO of SOLACE HOUSE!! How lucky am I to run into two of the most famous people in fashion in the span of a week? My chest tightened as I took him on again.
He was way more handsome, than the media portrayed him. My eyes roamed all over his features and then dropped to his table.
That was when I noticed he wasn't alone. A man with platinum blonde hair was bobbing his head up and down on his dick, letting out small barely there grunts with each mouth full.
And I had just stood here watching like some freak.
"Oh shit," I gasped.
Felix's eyes slowly opened.
Within two seconds, his expression shifted from mildly dazed to absolutely furious.
He looked directly at me.
I slammed the door shut, before we could explain or offer up an apology.
"Oh my God..."
I covered my face "What did I just..."
Why didn't I knock?
The receptionist said to just open the third door… to the left, if he was expecting me why do that ?
Then I noticed, damn it. This was the wrong door.
My heart hammered violently against my ribs.
Taking a deep breath, I turned to the correct door and pushed it open.
Four pairs of eyes immediately landed on me.
One of them being Veronica.
"There he is!" she said with a bright smile as she stood from her chair.
She was dressed in a breathtaking knee-length red dress that hugged her figure elegantly.
"This is the incredible designer I told you all about."
I smiled awkwardly.
But my thoughts kept drifting back to what I'd just seen.
My first encounter with Felix was...
That.
He looked unbelievably handsome.
His dark hair,and high cheekbones that accentuated his full lips. His exposed chest catching the morning light.
Why was I even thinking about that?
I forced the thought away.
"Please," one of the women said, gesturing toward the empty chair in the middle of the room.
"Have a seat."
I did.
The interview began almost immediately.
They asked about my education.
My experience.
My design process.
Why I wanted to work at Solace House.
Every time someone questioned whether I was truly responsible for Veronica's dress, she defended me herself.
"He designed it."
"I watched him."
"He knew exactly what he was doing."
By the end of it, everyone around the table had gone quiet.
The man sitting at the far end folded his hands.
"You don't have enough credentials to have you work here, if anything I personally believe you shouldn't"
I blinked in shock. This was it another rejection.
“But however, that dress you styled eas the fall of the media for nearly two days straight, of you assure us that kind of talent is ready to be groomed and perfected, we can consider hiring you" the woman replied starting at the files in her hands instead of me.
"We'll put you on observation for a few months. A minor job, nothing to high of expectations" another woman replied.
"What?"
"As a junior designer."
My mouth fell open.
"You'll present ideas to your superior. If you prove yourself, perhaps you'll earn a promotion."
His expression remained serious.
"If not...You're out."
I couldn't stop smiling "I... I got the job?"
A tiny squeak escaped me before I could stop it.
"Thank you."
I looked toward Veronica "Thank you so much."
She smiled warmly "Don't waste the opportunity."
The woman nearest the door looked down at my shoes.
"Report tomorrow."Her eyes lingered on my Converse. "And please...look decent."
Heat rushed to my face "Yes. I will."
Still grinning from ear to ear, I stepped out of the interview room.
I had done it.
I actually had a job at Solace House.
As I walked down the hallway, my excitement almost made me forget the embarrassing mistake from earlier.
Almost.
"You." A smooth voice barked at me.
I froze. Slowly, I turned around.
Felix Solace stood at the opposite end of the hallway.
He was fully dressed now in a perfectly tailored black suit.
Every trace of his earlier relaxed appearance had vanished.
Only an icy, furious stare remained. He walked toward me.
"You barged into my office."
"I-I'm so sorry, sir. I got the directions mixed up. I wasn't trying to invade your privacy."
He didn't even let me finish.
His gaze swept over me from head to toe.
His lip curled ever so slightly.
"You don't belong here."
The excitement I'd felt moments ago slowly began to disappear.
"I... I know sir, but I just got a job here and I'm hoping to prove my se—."
He paused. "What?"
"I was just hired."
His eyes narrowed "You?"
"Yes, sir."
He stared at me for several long seconds.
Then he spoke without a shred of emotion.
"You're fired."
My heart stopped.
