Quirky Charades

Having recently taken over my dad's company, it felt satisfying. After enduring numerous sleepless nights, the position finally rested on my shoulders. There was competition for the CEO seat from non-family members and my dad was ready to give it to anyone who proved worthy. I earned it. Not out of favoritism but hard work.

The coffee in front of me released hot steam, and the wind did a great job spreading the rich scent, convincing me that the day was perfect. I smiled as I picked up my cup to take a sip but my solo moment was disrupted by the door bell.

The housekeeper wasn't home with me; It was still very early for her to resume work. "Who could that be?" I muttered as I walked back inside the house. Since I knew I wasn't going to return to my garden, I took my coffee with me.

Peering through the lens in the door, I was taken aback to see Elara on my front porch looking disheveled. I unclasped the door lock and pulled it open. "Isabel," she hugged me. I wrinkled my nose and pulled away from her.

"What brings you here?" My eyes scanned her appearance and I felt irritated. "I need a job in your company. Congratulations on becoming the CEO," she slouched, her eyes scanning the ground, beads of sweat on her forehead. "Elara!" She looked up at me immediately, her stressed and puffy eyes still shining.

"You're pregnant and you want to work in my company? Let's say I offer you the job, what will you wear? You know my company deals with fashion, right?" She nodded and clasped her hands. Her eyes dissected me into small pieces.

"I deal with smart, well-dressed, ladies, women, name it. I won't have anyone sleeping on duty, nor will I have anyone scaring away my customers due to their inability to bathe well. Who's the father?" I pointed at her slightly protruded stomach. She looked down at it and rubbed it gently as a liquid from her eyes wet my paver.

"He rejected it," she sobbed and went on her knees. "I'm strong and able to take up any role, Isabel. I just need money to fend for this child when it comes. I've gone to different places, but they've all turned me down. Please." "I don't run a charity company," I turned my back to her to leave but heard her muttering things. "How did you even find me?" I asked, my back still turned to her. She gave no response but rather muttered things that I gave no shit about.

I pushed my door open, went inside, and shut it behind me. Elara was once my best friend until a boy separated us. I felt she snitched on me because I liked him first. Even though he didn't like me back, I felt that as my best friend, she should have said no to his proposal. She claimed to have developed feelings for him and that was how our friendship ended. Her family was of the middle class, but things got worse with them after our friendship breakup. This was the first time seeing Elara after six years.

I sucked in breath and drank the last coffee in my cup to shake off the negative energy before heading upstairs to get ready for my big day.

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"Perfect," I smiled and twirled in front of the mirror. A charcoal gray Chic pencil skirt, stylish blouse, minimalist earrings, classic heels, and a structured handbag did the magic. Isabella Brown of ThreadHarbor was perfect. Putting my perfume in the right places, I stepped out of my room, and the first person I met with was my housekeeper.

I posed for a compliment but instead got a suppressed chuckle. It was weird how each step I took made my housekeeper snicker. She took my bag from me and hurried to the car. I stopped by the mirror in my living room to confirm I wasn't looking like a clown then shrugged. Maybe she isn't feeling too well after all. I wouldn't mind paying for her to see a psychiatrist.

Getting to the company grounds, I did the Kendall Jenner walk while sipping on the coffee my housekeeper made me. The people who were waiting outside to receive me gave me the same look as the housekeeper. I could see veins popping on their foreheads as they tried to suppress their laughter. This had never happened before. It was my big day and I was effing embarrassed.

My dad also had the same expression on his face when he saw me. It was obvious something was wrong. I hurried back to my car, dropped the coffee cup and drove off to see my seer. I never took unusualities for granted.

She didn't snicker when her eyes fell on me. "You should have helped her, Isabel," she scolded the moment I crossed the threshold. "She's pregnant with a child, and any word that leaves her mouth is very powerful." I hadn't even said a word to this lady yet she knew what I was there for. Tears welled in my eyes as I crashed on the couch in her temple.

"Where can I find her?" "She's in your garden, she never left your house." I wanted to scream when I heard she didn't leave my house, but the seer's disapproving look made me reserve my comment.

Getting home, Elara had plucked my newly ripe apples and was feasting on them. I took deep breaths before approaching her. "Please lift the curse," "will you give me the job?" She was being goofy. I clenched my fists and said yes between teeth. Elara was a playful girl, and it was time to put the past behind. I was going to make her my model. A perfect model for clothes that'd suit pregnant women. A smile curved on my lips when I thought of it. Isabel, the genius.

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