Asin
Nightmares are funny things.
Like I had this reoccurring weird one.
I saw a random thing in normal size... and suddenly, the object was gigantic and kept growing until I felt my breathing heavy and laboured.
Freaked me out for years. I couldn't even explain why I felt that rare fear...
Today, I understood.
The feeling of disappearing from this world, getting smaller and smaller... until we are no more.
After last night that nightmare... that old friend returned, except, unlike previously, I couldn't wake up.
Trapped there... felt insignificant as the world grew around me. My breathing... the fear... all returned and magnified.
Then something happened.
The light breeze brought a familiar smell, and the invisible stitching around my eyes disappeared.
"Good morning, my love."
Marie's smile cleared my mind in an instant. The nightmare... as if it never even happened.
She kissed my lips lightly and stood up.
"How's this for my first day?"
I shot up from the bed and observed.
Perfect. She looked magnificent.
"Nothing is showing... I approve."
She wore a pantsuit. Made her look older, professional... Her hairstyle today was curly.
I checked the time, and it was early... too early.
"Marie, you're not supposed to get dressed two hours before start." I laid back down. "...I do like the look."
She stared at her reflection in the mirror.
"I went for a little more... mature style. Plus, I don't have many men who work there, so..."
"My love, the men who work there, I have nothing to fear when it comes to you." I smiled to myself.
She understood my meaning, I saw that eye roll, since men in fashion tends to be... well, flamboyant and outlandish.
"Get ready, you're coming for breakfast at the company." She turned around. "I'm not going anywhere without it. Hurry."
I liked her bossy side. The employees are in for a treat.
~
We met up with all the working girls, and Oliver looked tired and ragged.
"You okay?" He asked.
"Well... better than you. Oli..."
He came and hugged me suddenly.
"Alright there... okay..." I patted his back.
Last night clearly kept him awake. I checked on Ayshe, and she didn't look any better.
He finally let me go and gave a stoic nod.
"Oliver... I'm fine." I made sure he looked right at me. "See... we continue to reach."
His smile spread, and finally, some life returned to his eyes.
I checked on both of them...
"Oliver, you wanna stay home with Ayshe today? Take it easy?"
He rubbed his neck. "I'm okay... I just need some good food and a strong coffee."
"Exactly." Ayshe locked her arm into Marie's. "I'm not leaving my sister alone on her first day."
It's her first day...
I tried to make them understand that it's just a meet and greet, but... the girls looked so happy I let them have it.
On route Marie kept checking me... observing. It was fine... but then she was joined by both Oliver and my noisy sister-in-law.
My encouraging smile didn't last long, and by the time we arrived, I was getting annoyed.
"Oh my God... this place is insane." Lilly gasped, getting out.
The building was right next to the Martell group headquarters. Lovely Greek revival, the rooftop has been converted into a large patio.
It gave the place some much needed color, and from the top of other buildings, it looked like a small forest sprung from its head.
"I'm more impressed with the headquarters... whoa!"
Henny was stretching her neck, trying to see the top.
"It's not just the skyscraper... all the smaller ones around, and even the warehouses over the distance..." Marie pointed it out for her.
Oliver walked beside me. "I guess she done her homework on the company."
"I can't believe some people's dreams are to actually work here... surreal."
"Absurd," He agreed.
We shared a smile, and I bet we were both thinking how, without G.O.D., our lives would be extremely dull.
After a few more minutes of ogling, we ended up in a nice cafe beside their new business.
"Will you come in with me? You know for a little?" Marie asked.
"Don't you worry, dear... I'll be spending some time with Dede so I'll be close all day."
"Is this about the business you bought?" She asked.
"Hmm... I can't have him think it's another gimmick on my part..." I nodded.
Maya will be happy there. She can do her own research with plenty of funding... or mix stuff up? I'm not sure what modern chemists do.
"Brother Asin... this place has a name?" Henny asked.
"Umm..."
I remembered someone telling me at some point...
"It's called Elgemen-Martell Cosmetics... come on, brother..." Oliver shook his head.
Marie and Ayshe joined him in disbelief, but seriously?... Elgemen-Martell Cosmetics? It's not the most catchy...
"Elgemen... I could never afford their stuff." Lilly lamented. "...You can buy an entire makeup kit from the price of their face creams."
"I used to believe it's better than others... but I guess it's like fashion. You can find similar stuff cheaper..." Ayshe thought out loud.
As Lilly attacked her on how fashion is not like cheap makeup?... I checked out mentally.
I looked at my wife, trying her best not to stain her clothes with that slice of cake.
"What?" She asked.
I just gave a small kiss... tasting the raspberry on her lips.
"We'll be okay."
Her smile cleared the little fog, still clouding my head.
Now, let's support her as she supports me.
---
Oliver
"I'm so under-qualified that it hurts."
Ayshe was squeezing my hand so hard it hurt me a little bit as well.
"Nonsense... Personal assistants have to start somewhere, and your boss will be your sister. You also inspire to be a doctor," I joked.
She punched my arm a little, but she did manage to relax as well.
"How are you, sweetie?" She asked in a low voice.
I leaned down and gave her an encouraging little kiss.
"Thanks to you. I'm fine."
Her facial expression smoothed, and she could return to her own problems.
We were walking inside Elgemen-Martell Cosmetics for the first time. The fake red brick interior really clashed with the outside, but I guess it had a purpose.
The staff already gathered behind a nervous looking lady in her 30s with glasses holding a bunch of dossiers.
"Welcome, Mr. Martell. We are all honored to have this chance..."
"Do you guys have one of those... ahh, right. Excuse me..."
Asin interrupted her when he spotted a stapler on a nearby desk. He just put it in his pocket and walked back.
"Thank you for the warm welcome. Please don't mind me. I'm just here to support my wife... your command in chief, so to speak..."
Brother... he didn't even know the proper name of positions in a company. Chief Executive Officer...
"...Marie, I'm sure she will have a one-on-one with you all soon. For now... disperse."
They needed five seconds to process his words, but soon, everyone walked to their respective desks and offices. They even had a cake on a desk behind them.
Fuehh... it was a little sad, in a strange comical way.
"Asin why... just... why the stapler!?"
Marie started straight away.
"Who cares? Don't care, my love... it's my own personal..."
She grabbed his shoulder, sinking her fingers in, and their play just began.
"What do you think?" I asked Ayshe.
"I don't know... they all look at us strange." She looked at her new coworkers.
Can you blame them?
"Look... you are here as an assistant. That lady with the glasses will probably be the one you need to listen to the most."
"The one with the paperwork?" She asked.
"Uh huh... get in good with her, as an assistant you need to know everything your boss supposed to."
"As in Marie is useless?"
"Yes... no!... that's not what I meant..."
"But you have an assistant, right?"
"Yes, but..."
"Does she know everything you do?" She raised an eyebrow.
"You mean I'm useless?" I asked, stepping back.
"Those are not my words, they're yours!"
I let out a long sigh and tapped her shoulder.
"Good luck, beautiful."
Good luck to us all.
~
"Seriously... why the stapler?"
We were alone, and I had to ask.
"I have my reasons..."
We were heading up the elevator after leaving the girls alone and fully in deep water. Time to sink or swim.
"Did Aunt Krista say why Maya stopped calling?" I asked.
I know how close they were. He didn't truly find his new self until Maya started to beat him up for his antics.
She was a freak. Too strong for any girl.
"No... and I contemplated ignoring her for the next year unless she lost the ability to speak... brother, I think it's something bad."
"Like?"
"...a man." He shook his head.
Hmm... Maya found someone? Absurd.
Although I knew Asin, I couldn't understand the reason why she stopped calling the last few months.
Boy, if it's true...
We arrived at the meeting room.
Currently, they were closed in. So we accepted the coffee and sat down.
"Do you think they are ready to run a company?"
He didn't need long.
"We were? Is anyone?... they need to learn, gain confidence, get humbled, learn again, and all that other self-help BS." He smiled.
I guess he had some truth.
"We on tonight with the crew?" He asked.
"Yes... all at the warehouse, we talk and plan for the future, tomorrow Old Ivan moving back with those who want to the 9th, I suppose we be there."
"Absolutely, we celebrate with everyone."
"As in... everyone? The girls..." I asked.
He smirked and gave a shrug.
"We can't always leave them out... at least not from the good. What do you think?"
I imagined Ayshe celebrating with everyone in a 9th ward way... outside fire and family style, cook out, loud music, and all the nasty mixes of alcohol they can produce.
"Can't wait." I smiled. "I talk to Leyla and sort out everything."
This will be a nice way to unwind. Despite his words and my own... I would bet anything he had nightmares like I did.
And we continue to have them. It's the new life we live.
I was pulled from my dark thought by the opening of the meeting room door.
"How do you explain the chemistry lab?"
"It's already done... but I want something else as well."
"What?"
Instead of an answer, he walked past some board members and into the jaws of corporate affairs.
This day arrived as well.
Walking behind him, I wished a final, silent good luck to Ayshe.
---
Ayshe
After the boys left us, we were left to the care of Mrs. Evelyn Jivel. The lady with the glasses.
She took us around the place and showed us the meeting room, office, restroom, kitchen, and finally, the patio on top.
"...as a holder of such storied names as Martell and Elgemen, our company is providing the best of everything."
She walked us out into a giant open space with various comfortable chairs and beanbags, there was a place just for yoga mats and even a cafe-style bar, serving free drinks and snacks.
Trees and plants everywhere, small to large flower beds and a fountain in the middle.
Needless to say, we were in awe.
Henny and Lilly looked at everything like they saw it for the first time, and Marie did her best to keep up with Mrs. Jivel.
"For now, let us take a break. We will continue in an hour if you like Mrs. Martell?"
Marie was a little late, she forgot she was supposed to be the CEO.
"Yes... we will be in my office." She nodded.
The lady left us alone.
We all let out a collective nervous sigh.
"This is unbelievable. How are we supposed to fit in here?"
Lilly looked like her nerves were getting the better of her. This was far removed from the small and comfortable saloon she ran where every customer was a friend or neighbor.
"I know what you mean. I studied marketing and suddenly can't remember anything I was taught."
We sat down at the cafe bar where a nice guy made us some drinks.
"She said so many things... I will give you my card for the day if you can repeat half of it."
Marie was overwhelmed. We all were.
Talking about a new career was easy enough. Being here and actually doing it was another.
"Let us stop doing ourselves in, ladies. We been here for an hour... and we already given an hour break. Get it?"
I saw the slow reality set in that they already used kid gloves when it came to the wife of Asin and her friends.
"We been moaning enough." Marie set up and took off her blazer. "...better. I felt stuffy. We will spend another few minutes and you two find the appropriate head of your operations."
Henny and Lilly slowly nodded, clearly reluctant to leave the safety of her bubble.
"You and me sister will start taking notes and study them." She took my hand. "...then go have lunch with the guys."
"Sounds good, boss." I nodded.
I was glad to see she was able to rally us and herself. What I said could've had the opposite effect.
We sat inside the office my sister got.
It was like in the movies. Her table even had those long pens CEOs had on their desk to sign important deals.
The art was pretentious... like most art. Probably cost a fortune. Comfortable high-rise chair and a nice pair of leather couches.
"I feel like an imposter a little bit." She tapped her desk.
"Don't... the Martells own everything in a four-mile radius. You are one of them. Do you see Asin being uncomfortable or shy?" I asked.
"No..."
"...and you shouldn't either. You own these people... in a way. We are not imposters."
Mrs. Jivel left us with a bunch of paperwork and legal stuff but advised us to read through them.
The salary for a starter personal assistant like me was more than enough to live a good life in the capital, big company discount, a bunch of benefits, all in all a dream...
Marie's was absurd. Plus, stock options and yearly bonuses, use of the company cars and the helicopter. Everything we made is free for her.
"...I share. Stop staring."
She asked after I handed back her contract.
We signed, and it was official. Since they were made with us in mind, there were no time constraints as far as the employment was concerned.
We could end it whenever we liked it.
"This pen is cool." Marie examined her executive tool.
I checked the time and sent a text to Oliver. We had two more hours until lunch and done nothing yet.
---
Asin
( CLICK. )
"...Dede, chemistry is more than just a silly word. It's an opportunity."
I stapled my research on the softboard.
"How can I say no after such an eloquent speech... and presentation." He smiled.
"Don't ignore all the things I said before... nearly every single product we make uses chemistry specialist, and our investment in those labs will be safe."
I sat back and enjoyed my family mix of expressions. Pride, joy... Yary just kept shaking his head since I came in.
I got his answer.
My dad actually looked at the proof at least... turns out chemistry is pretty important. Maybe Maya knew what she was doing.
"But why now?"
"Pardon, Dede?"
"Why right now?... it's very sudden. Remind me, Yanam... has your son ever showed interest in the hard sciences?" He turned to his son.
My father shook his head, playing along.
"...I didn't think so. So tell me, young prince... why now?"
I couldn't stand their smiles... or my brother's heckling.
Oliver was no help. He just kept watching everything like a soap fan.
"Dede... what do you mean why now? You asked me to run a cosmetics company, and I told you I'm a man. I will find my own way. Choose something safe and yet profitable. What exactly can I do for you?"
Guilt is hell of a feeling.
My father was long convinced, and my brother couldn't be even if the Pope told him. But Dede was old. Experienced and knew me well.
"No..."
"Excuse me?" I asked.
"No. I pass. Chemistry labs don't net the profit we need for the investment. We use them, yes... but not enough to justify a large uptake. Do you have anything else?"
Damn, an old man who understood business.
Fine... I just buy them myself. It's one of the benefits of having your own money.
But rather, he killed two birds with one stone.
"No, my king. Nothing else... Yary, stop, or you'll be sorry!"
My older brother kept making sad faces.
"Hehehe..."
My father gave a defeated shrug.
"Actually... I have a favour to ask. If it's profitable, of course..."
Dede didn't let himself be goaded.
"Absolutely... just not another silly investment." He smiled.
~
"Even the best would fall... eventually."
"Thanks, Oli..."
We were on our way back to the girls' building.
"We have Simid Corp. Buy and fund it." He tapped my shoulder.
Simid was our legal counterpart. We mainly dealt with land, but it was useful for a bunch of things.
"At least he agreed to the fundraising."
I asked him to invite all his friends and even his enemies to donate to the 9th ward victims. Mother will set up a foundation for them where the money raised will actually reach them in its totality.
"Ayshe texted... life is unfair when you normal... huh... she must be having a day." He read it off his phone.
I checked my own but to my surprise there was nothing from Marie.
She is probably a little overwhelmed. I hope she understands she can fire anyone who's annoyed her.
Inside the place was nearly empty.
"They probably on the patio on the top..." Oliver guessed.
"All of them?... and where the hell are the security guards?"
We took the elevator and arrived at a literal circus.
People were doing yoga, shared selfies and lattes, there was music, and they even had a girl playing a guitar near a water fountain surrounded by people who appreciated the sound.
"This isn't work... it's a retreat." Oliver laughed.
Marie and the girls were talking to a bunch of others. Ayshe noticed us.
"Hey!"
They looked fine. Laughing and sharing just like as they would inside a café.
"I guess she got better since the text, huh?" Oliver observed.
"Hmm... life seems fair now." I agreed.
As we closed in, the girls quickly disappeared.
"Marie... you look well."
I leaned down for a kiss.
"It started out rough... but after we talked to some of the others, it got a lot better. How was your meeting with grandfather?"
"A failure... but it taught me a valuable lesson as well... wanna hear it?" I asked.
"Hmm..."
"Dede is... mean."
"""Oohhh."""
The peanut gallery gave their unwanted opinion.
Marie was more understanding and soothed me with some head pats.
"I can't believe your grandfather said no to you..." Ayshe commented.
"Happens... usually when it's something crazy... or stupid. This case, he... just a mean old man."
Some guy who worked at the cafe they had brought me and Oliver some unwanted coffees but didn't wanna be rude.
Marie looked relaxed. It was a huge relief seeing her smiling at her new job. The people as well... looked okay.
90% woman the rest are musicals.
"I'm going to make a call. I'll be back soon." Oliver got up.
I nodded towards him... something happened?
He just smiled and shook his head and then walked away.
Marie was observing.
"Did you just... talked now?" She asked.
"You guys can't do that? Understand each other without words?" I nodded towards Ayshe.
From their looks, they were trying it now.
"Drinking this early?" She asked after a while
"What?" Ayshe got confused.
It didn't work well.
"What me and Oliver have is like a cartoon friendship. Legendary... nothing like the real world can recreate."
They made some disapproving comments and used science to justify their views, but I knew they were wrong.
I had two brothers... one given by my mother.
The other faith.