Chapter 6

Chapter Six

Zaria

Everyone from the affected department sat at their assigned seats, waiting for the commencement of the event.

The hall was decorated and hired waiters and waitresses were moving around serving wines to members.

I on the other hand was seated at the back, my eyes scanning through the hall to see if he would be here. I don't know if his department was needed but I suspected they were.

I was so engrossed in searching for him that I didn't know when Mrs. Peter approached me until she tapped my arm.

“Zaria, could you go over to the podium? We needed someone to help with the slides that would match the background of the models and you were a perfect fit” she asked as she gave me a tiny remote.

"Here, there are just three neutral colors. Purple, blue, and burgundy. They fit anywhere with the dresses you just have to match them correctly.” she pointed at the buttons.

I smiled awkwardly, already fidgeting as I took the remote.

”Sure ma’am, behind the curtains?” I asked for certainty.

“Yes” she turned around talking to other people. “Let’s have the Managing Director come in now, the CEO is showing up.”

My mouth formed an “O” shape as I walked around to get to the podium. This Walk Show must be very important for the CEO and not his representatives to attend.

As I got behind the curtains one of my coworkers Mike greeted me.

“Oh, Zaria! I didn't know I would see you back here”

“Yeah,” I grinned at him. “It was a last-minute thing, I’m to control the backgrounds”

“That's perfect, just sit right here” he pointed to the table with a laptop on it. “You will see the next model to walk up the stage and the outfit they will wear. You’ll just have to match the background to the outfit, I’m sure you’ll rock this”

He smiled at me then proceeded to continue with his work.

The show started with our model sashaying from the stage entrance to the middle and then the exit with our Picnic Set Summer, blue and purple mix with flowery pints of pink. I changed the background to that of a galaxy with flowers adorning it.

I couldn't see the faces of the audience to know if they approved of it especially the CEO's face. I was yet to know who he was and I was disappointed that I had to miss knowing who he was. Few hours into the display I heard a ruffle behind me and I turned with immediate effect to confirm what it was.

I was supposed to be alone here.

Thank god for the next two dresses i could us the same background color. I left my seat to the back door and I was met by a surprise.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned him. Surprised to see him here and also slightly happy.

"Shit! get this off my feet" he wiggled his foot to get rid of the wires.

"Careful, those can disconnect." I bent down and untangled them for him.

"Thank you," he sighed.

"You're the only one in here" he looked around the room.

I have to look up at him. "Yeah. What made you come back here, it's personnels only."

I adjusted so he could enter into the space, I walked to my seat and blended the background.

"Yeah, figured."

"So?" I faced him, giving my whole attention to him.

"I needed a break, that place is suffocating" adjusting his tie he took the seat opposite me.

"I wish I was there"

"Why" he quirked a brow.

"I would love to see the designs and the expressions on people's faces"

"But you are seeing them right now" he gestured to the laptop. Even as his seated he still towered over me.

"That's through a screen, I wanted to witness live"

"Well let me tell you, It's boring as hell."

"Not if the CEO showed up"

He went quiet and nodded.

"Did he?" i looked at him expectantly.

"Huh?"

"The CEO, did he show up? I told myself that I would check him up but it slipped my mind and today I might have the chance to meet him one on one. So is he seated and where?"

"Uh-" he adjusted his tie again. "I guess, I don't know I'm not to keen on meeting him."

"Does he have a bad reputation? I doubt he does. I mean I wouldn't be surprised if he had besides what CEO doesn't have one?"

He relaxed on the chair, dragging his legs out. "Now I'm interested, what if he does? What have you heard about him?"

"Nothing! I haven't done any intense research on him yet, but I imagined him as this short "bald" man."

He chuckled. "Short, bald. What else?"

"Maybe fat? I don't know. I am speaking based on statistics. I mean I would be surprised if he is though"

He checked his watch and stood up. "That's a low expectation"

"What? Have you met him before?" I stood up after him.

He smirked. "I'm famished from this boring event do you want to grab something to eat."

I stretched my neck to look at him. "Again? I mean I'm hungry. Yeah" I mumbled, taken aback that he asked me to eat with him again.

"Good. Meet me at the park beside the building."

With that he walked away leaving me alone in the room. For this few minutes he spent with me, I felt his absence the moment he left it was like I missed his presence.

I shook my head. "He's just being nice" I said to myself as I walked back to my seat.

For the remaining time of the Walk Show, I tried to focus on blending the background, my heart at a point swoll up when I saw my design walk up on the stage. I was hoping to join them when they announced the rank of each dress.

I had low expectations for my work, I was still a novice and wasn't expecting any big deal for me. Seeing my dress as part of the Walk Show was enough for me.

I quickly shot a text to Marie.

'We need to meet this night. Good news."

I continued with my work, anticipating lunch with the nice man. I would not forget to ask him his name this time around.