Verena studied business management in university while Claire took magical studies specializing in research like Heimirich.
Before returning, Verena worked in different companies at grassroot level to gain experience and climbed her way up. Using her experience, Verena entered the head office in management while Claire took the position of one of the researchers.
As soon as Verena is seated in her office chair, there was a knock on the door. Lia, Verena's secretary, entered with piles of files that need to be signed, "Good morning, ma'am" Lia gently puts down the files and informed Verena of her schedules and meetings.
"Lia, you can take tomorrow off." Verena said without looking up from the document.
"Because of the banquet?"
"Yes, is the dress arranged?"
"As you requested."
"What's the status of the Research Laboratory of Magic? What did they say? When is the meeting scheduled?"
Lia scrolled through her tablet," It is scheduled to be held day after tomorrow at 3 pm."
"Then you can leave at 6 today, have the makeup artist come to my room later," As Lia was leaving the office, Verena stopped her, "And go find out what is Claire wearing to the banquet and who she will be coming with. "
It's the same every time. Claire will try to find out what she will be wearing so she does the same.
She was not prepared the first time she attended a party after returning from university and her dress was snatched before she could even wear it, only to find Claire wearing the same dress that evening. She learned her lesson then.
Though their dressing style is different, as the host both will try to draw attention in the banquet so the more glamour, the better.
How can she let Claire outshine her?
Usually, Verena would have chosen the dress by herself, unfortunately due to heavy workload she could not find time and asked Lia to prepare it.
Verena was satisfied with the dress.
There is no doubt Lia knows her preference the best, she mentally makes a note to give her a bonus next month. Lia also arranged the multiple dress to mislead Claire beforehand and leaked false information.
She loved it the first time she saw it, a sleeveless and sea blue color dress. The sequin dress later flows in georgette from slant in mid-thigh with slit on side. It had another layer of georgette draped on the shoulder, making it look like flowy one shoulder.
The makeup artist and hairstylist worked on her as she had her eyes closed. Half an hour later, she admired herself in the mirror for two minutes, took some professional photos and called the driver to pick her up.
Verena arrived an hour late because of the traffic jam. She crossed the entrance and countless eyes filled with judgment, envy, hatred and different types of emotions zoom in on her.
This is her first appetence in public after taking the office and second after returning, so naturally people are curious. Verena looked around but she couldn't find Claire.
She glanced at her Heimirich who was standing in the middle of the hall talking with someone without any intention of greeting him. She turned to walk in the direction where she saw some familiar faces.
Some of her fake friends notice her coming and stop talking as if hitting a pause button, without approaching Verena knew they were badmouthing her.
Suddenly, she noticed someone walking towards her from the corner of her eye. She turned around to find Mr. William and his wife walking towards her, he is one of the business partners she worked with after joining the company.
"Mr. William, it's nice to see you again. How was your vacation?" Verena shakes his hand with a small smile. "Is this Mrs. William?"
"Yes, She wanted to you meet you after hearing you run an art gallery. So, I thought this was a good time for introductions. Look how fast the news spread. I just came back two days ago and now everyone knows.You should also visit it sometime; it's a good place to relax."
"No wonder, you both look refreshed." She paused and turned towards Mrs. William, " I have heard about Mrs. William who is a famous art curator, I also wanted to meet Mrs. William after hearing from Mr. William."
Actually, she had seen Mrs. William many times at art auctions from distance. Another reason she remembers this woman was because she had snatched some of the paintings, she had bid on which left her angry for days. Verena wanted to add them in her collection but she took all of them away.
After a short conversation they part ways, Verena turned back to find her fake friends only to find the place empty.
There was sudden commotion at the entrance and she spotted three familiar faces entering from the door, in a minute they were surrounded by many people. There was a sudden surge of excitement in the hall.
The banquet may be organized by Andersons. The main characters of the show have arrived.
Magicians representing the Centre of the Magic.
Who hasn't heard about the recent fight that broke out between the people from Centre of Magic and The Headquarter of Common People? The fight escalated to the point two people were injured and taken to hospital in ambulance.
The three major pillars of the country- the Centre, The Headquarter for the Common People and The Center of the Magic balance each other out. The Centre if the highest and the main government body.
While The Centre make rules and regulation for people. The Headquarter of Common People overlook the implementation of regulation and interest of the majority of the population, people without magical powers.
The Centre of Magic keep magicians in check.
Taking this in account previous generation, with more power magicians tend to feel more superior and become unruly. It was difficult to control them. So some elder magicians decided to set up the Centre of Magic to keep all the magicians in check, at the same to protect them from being exploited.
Not only Verena but also many people glanced at people from The Headquarters of Common People standing in the corner. People from the Headquarters were already looking at the magicians and whispering among themselves with some younger ones openly throwing hostile gazes.
Magicians ignore their disdainful looks. People from the Headquarters and magicians from the Centre never get along. The power imbalance between normal people and magicians can the two see each other in equal grounds.
The exciting scene did not happen and soon people lost interest, going back to their conversation.
Some whispers can be heard from the people behind Verena, "I wanted to talk to them as well, but that place is too crowded."
"People from the Headquarter and Magician Centre are present, will people from Research Laboratory come too?"
"I heard they were invited and today's banquet is related to them?"
Verena took a sip of her juice while imagining how wonderful their expressions would be when they find out the true purpose of today's banquet.
The Research Laboratory of New Magic Science is major organization which hold a considerable amount of power but it is a private institution instead of a governing body.
It is filled with all kind of researchers, some them are obsessed to the point of craziness. It has a large influence because of the discoveries they have made over the last thirty years