Her toes fought for air inside the flats she wore. She had worn heels the day before, and didn't think she was in the mood for heels or wedge sandals today. The executive suite was half open, so she tiptoed inside. The prince had his back to her and was sipping something, black tea presumably.
He was fully dressed, she could deal with that.
"We have a meeting to attend today." He blurted out, setting the cup on the reading table before turning to face her. He was wearing a creamy white shirt today and his tie -well, there was no tie on his neck.
"What meeting, sir?" He gave her an odd look.
"Am I that old?" He asked in return, lifting the cup to his lips.
"No. Twenty-eight years is not old." He dropped his cup of black tea roughly on the table and Esmeralda watched as black liquid jumped out of the cup, splattering on the soft brown of the smooth reading table.
"Have you been browsing my age?" He asked, taking menacing steps towards her.
"No. I don't have to browse to know your real age." Esmeralda almost stuttered in her words. The prince came to stand in front of her. His eyes dropped to her chest.
"My face is here, sir." Esmeralda told him calmly.
"How did you know my age?" The prince asked. Why was he pestering her with the question as if knowing a person's age was a bad thing?
"You were cursed twenty eight years ago." She replied confidently. The silence that followed enveloped the whole of the executive suite like a thick blanket. He stepped back. Esmeralda wished she had not said anything at all. She had touched a very sensitive skin there.
"Is that a topic of controversy for you too?" He asked, hitting the table and rattling it with force, causing the black tea to spill again. She prayed inwardly he wouldn't throw a tantrum.
"Are you going to run away like the rest? Am I the wolf prince? Yes, I am! I'm weak and frustrated and confused!" He hit the table with so much force that the cup turned over and slid to the floor. It didn't break, but the black tea spilled over the rug.
"I'm mad at everyone, the universe especially! I have done nothing to deserve this. She cursed me and disappeared! Just like that! " The fury in his eyes scared her.
"Why aren't you running? Huh? Will this be enough controversy for you? Is this frightening enough for you?" His hands came to rest by his sides.
"I'll be in the restroom, sir." Esmeralda didn't want to watch any of it any longer. If she stayed anymore than necessary, he might hurt her in his angry state. Or chase her out himself. She would just leave the executive suite gracefully.
"The restroom is this way." Esmeralda stopped in her tracks. She turned stiffly to face him. The fury in his eyes had been replaced by worry, regret and different kinds of emotions she couldn't quite describe at the moment. She traced his pointed thumb to the bathroom in the adjoining room.
"I was heading for the-"
"Suit yourself."
Work dragged on slowly till evening. The prince continued to throw things around and when she tried to intervene, he asked her to resign if she couldn't handle it. She reminded him of the meeting he said they were supposed to attend and he snapped at her the more.
A confused Esmeralda sent a memo to the other party, relaying the prince's ill state of health to them as the reason he wouldn't be showing up for the meeting.
On her way home, she met Ravina at the parking lot.
"You look miserably worn out, Esmeralda." Esmeralda's hands lingered on her car door.
"I look miserably worn out because I am worn out. I don't think I can do it. You know, everything. I don't think I can handle him and my mother's pressure at the same time."
Ravina shook her head.
"I'll tell you something. You're the first woman who has ever entered his executive suite. Take it as a start. You're progressing, I'll tell your mother that."
"You know I've been there?" Esmeralda asked.
"Yes."
Esmeralda made to open her car, but she didn't. She called out Ravina's name instead.
"Ravina, what do you know about the Mondes war of almost thirty years ago?"
Ravina clicked her tongue.
"I wasn't born then, if you ask me. Why?"
"I feel like there's more to what my mother told me about the war. She is hellbent on revenge, why?"
"We'll talk about this some other time. Are you having any problem with him?"
"No."
"Okay, see you tomorrow then?"
Esmeralda nodded. Getting into her car, she did a replay of what had happened earlier in the day. She caused the prince to flare up. She could have just kept her mouth shut. It was all her fault. She felt very guilty. Her mother's heart was hardened already, there was no going back.
She turned on her ignition and let it roll for a few seconds. She adjusted her rear view mirror before finally turning the stick to gear and driving out of the fashion house's complex.
She lived a boring life. Her mother made sure she had no access to the internet or any gadget that might link her to the outside world. Her mother believed she would be the next enchantress. Why was her mother so adamant about her taking over? Wasn't she supposed to receive the calling?
Her mother had told her to her face that she was of no use, yet she insisted she would take after her. It didn't make sense. Why not Greta? Why not Margot? They were good at luring men and making advances, she wasn't. Her mother had chosen her instead. The girl who couldn't even maintain eye contact with people.
She needed answers. Who would she ask? Oh, she could go to the book tower where she used to work and ask for the history of the Mondes war.
She had to be sure of who was on the offensive and defensive side. There was something about the prince that appealed to her. Like she was supposed to protect him from her mother. Protect him. That was it. Instead of eliminating him, she would protect him. A change of plan. That was it.
Her mind finally settled, and she stopped tossing about on her bed. Her mind sprang up again. The prince was a wolf prince who… It didn't matter, she told herself. He was a wolf prince, so what? All she had to do was overlook, endure and persevere. She would keep a stiff upper lip, soldier on, and stick to her guns.
For the first time since her mother tasked her with the prince, she slept soundly. Perhaps it had something to do with keeping a clean conscience.