Chapter 83 - Mutual Acquaintance
Aarna picked up her coat and put it on, she then grabbed her bag and put it on her shoulder before approaching April's desk. She was apprehensive for this afternoon but she trusted April fully.
April finished the design dimensions for Dean and her condo, she smiled and saved her work before looking up at Aarna, "Let's go." April then picked up her bag and placed it on her shoulder and she linked Aarna as she seemed to need the support before walking to the lift, she could hear heels behind her but she ignored them.
Sophie had jumped into the lift with Aarna and April. April continued to ignore her presence but Aarna wasn't as subtle she looked at Sophie and asked, "You want to join us?"
April thought it was funny and laughed, whatever Sophie planned she was sure she would be there even if it was in the background to watch, so she would give her a good show.
Sophie's face dropped, "No no, nothing like that I am just eager to get lunch."
The lift doors opened and all three of them got out and walked through the lobby and out through the front doors. Sophie stood at the doors and watched as Aarna and April walked to the curb and got into a cab that pulled up.
Sophie then quickly made her way to the curb and did the same, entering a cab and heading to the same restaurant as the two girls in front.
April sat in the back of the cab with Aarna and she glanced back watching Sophie desperately waving down a cab, she was right. Sophie was joining them.
Aarna and April soon arrived outside of a restaurant it was called D&Z's, it was decadently decorated and in one of the upper class areas. No doubt their client was high up in a company or even a CEO. But that didn't faze April bad people were still bad people no matter what they did for a living she held her bag in one hand and Aarna's hand in the other as she walked up the steps to the restaurant.
A man approached them and bowed, "Do you have a reservation?"
April smiled and responded, "Yes it is under Walker Interiors."
The man's smile slipped for a brief second before he replied with his arm extended, "This way please."
Aarna and April followed the man through the restaurant which was packed full of people enjoying their lunch. They then walked up a flight upstairs where the private rooms were and she felt Aarna's grip get tighter. April glanced at her friend and then at the man in front as he stood outside an opened door.
"Aarna don't you need to fix your make up? Go to the bathroom first." April announced.
"Are… Are you sure April?" Aarna knew April was giving her an escape route and she didn't want to take it but she thought that she could stay outside and if April didn't come out in ten minutes she could go get help. All this seemed so against what would usually when they met a client, it would always happen inside of Walker Interiors the purpose of it was to protect their employee's and keep it professional.
"I'm sure," April replied and Aarna nodded.
The man in front held the door open and once April got inside he smiled at Aarna, "Miss the restrooms are just down the corridor on your left.
Aarna nodded and walked down the corridor but when she looked back the man had taken out keys from his pocket and locked the private room door. Aarna held her mouth to stifle her gasp before she hid in the restroom. She immediately took out her phone but she soon realised she didn't have Dean, Michael or Sean's number.
She panicked, she had no male friends to ask for help from and April was now locked in a room alone with a mystery male client. It was all going really wrong. She stared at her phone and dialled the number of the only man she had in her life, surely he would help. She paced up and down inside the restroom, "Please pick up, please pick up!" She mumbled.
"Hello." On the other end of the phone, a deep and sultry voice answered. Aarna sighed in relief… He answered.
Once inside the room April heard the door behind her close and then a click… it was being locked behind her, she wasn't stupid. She scanned the room and she smelt something very sweet. She held her nose and approached the window where an incense was burning. As she reached out to touch it she heard a man's croaky voice from behind her.
"Leave it."
April turned but as she did she knocked the incense out of the window and she laughed, "Opps my bad."
April saw a man sitting on a sofa just opposite her, she had thought this room had been strangely laid out. Wouldn't a restaurant have dining tables rather than a sofa and coffee table? She forced a smile and spoke again, "Hello my name is April I am the representative from Walker Interiors."
The man chuckled, he picked up his glass in front of him, he downed it in one go and licked his lips, "I know, I asked for you specifically. Director Compton."
April was disgusted but she gave no inclination of it on her face, she stood opposite the man waiting for him to continue but he didn't, so she spoke, "Really? Have you heard of my work before?" Knowing that although she had two accounts, one was Dean and the other was James she knew neither would have put her in a room with this man.
The man finally answered, "Your work? No, but from a mutual acquaintance. I am hoping you will be a lot better than her, you look inexperienced but I like that."
April sneered internally, all she wanted was a name then she would leave this room, "Oh a mutual acquaintance and who would that be?"