Tabitha walked in, her heels clicking against the tiled floor, a slim gold pack of cigarettes in her hand. She handed it to me without a word. I took it, slipping a single stick out and pressing it to my lips. My favorite glossy black lighter, came out of my bag, and with a flick of my thumb, the flame caught, and soon, the cigarette's tip burned as I inhaled deeply, the smoke curling up around me.
Tabitha stood by her desk, smoothing the front of her blouse as she glanced at me. "Is it urgent, Miss Torres? Should I settle the woman waiting outside first, or do we get straight into it?"
I took another drag, exhaling lazily before answering. "Go ahead and deal with her. No rush."
She nodded, her bob barely moving, and almost immediately, the door behind her opened. One of the attendants stepped in, holding the door wide as a woman walked through. The woman glanced at me for a moment, her nose twitching slightly at the faint smoke in the air, then moved to sit in the second chair facing Tabitha's desk. My chair faced the woman directly, but I didn't bother acknowledging her further.
The attendant shut the door and left. Tabitha sat down behind her desk, pulling out a sleek ledger from one of the drawers. "Alright," she began, flipping through the pages. "Let's discuss the details for the bulk purchase, the terms and conditions that you obviously didn't care to read before visiting. Impatient much."
The conversation that followed was Tabitha asking about quantities, preferred shipping dates, the terms and payment options. I tuned out most of it, though my eyes drifted to the woman occasionally. She started shifting in her seat halfway through, her fingers fidgeting with the hem of her skirt.
It wasn't hard to figure out why. The air in the room was thick with smoke, and it clearly wasn't sitting well with her. Her face tightened every time I took another drag, her discomfort written all over her.
Amused, I stood up, grabbing my bag and walking past them without a word. The inner room of the office was just a few steps away. I opened the door and stepped inside, letting it close softly behind me.
The small space was cozy, with a beige and white aesthetic that leaned heavily on minimalism. The walls were painted a soft cream, accented by white furniture with gold handles. A vanity desk with a round mirror sat in one corner, a plush chair tucked neatly underneath it and sealed boxes of all shapes, each of some kind makeup products under and on the desk. On the opposite side was a small loveseat with decorative cushions, and in the corner stood a mini fridge, the silver and white surface gleaming under the warm light.
I crouched in front of the fridge, opening it to grab a small pack of kiddie's orange juice. With the cigarette still between my fingers, I found a straw in the fridge door, unwrapped it, and popped it through the tiny hole in the juice box.
The straw sank in with a satisfying little sound, and I brought the box to my lips, taking a sip.
Almost immediately the door opened behind me, and Tabitha walked in, closing it gently. "I'm done with her," she said, sounding almost apologetic. "Sorry for the wait."
I waved her off with my free hand, shaking my head as if to say her apology was unnecessary. Bringing the cigarette to my lips, I took one last drag before pressing it into the ashtray on the vanity desk. The faint sizzle of the ember dying out echoed softly in the room.
Sliding into the chair at the vanity, I turned my attention to the boxed lipsticks scattered across the desk. I unboxed few of them and uncapped one, twisting it to examine the shade before applying it to my lips. The color was a bold red, and vibrant, but I wiped it off almost immediately, unsatisfied.
Tabitha, meanwhile, had perched herself on the loveseat. She watched me for a moment before speaking. "What would you like me to do, Miss Torres?"
I sipped from the juice box again, the straw making a faint slurping sound as I drained the last bit. Then, I set it aside, leaning back in the chair as I looked at my reflection In the mirror with a small, unreadable smile. "Let's start with…"
As I picked up another lipstick, a soft pink shade this time, my eyes caught something on the loveseat beside Tabitha from the mirror. My hand froze mid-air, I turned to her and tilted my head, raising an eyebrow. "Is that Aura's 143 limited edition bag?"
Tabitha followed my gaze, her eyes darting to the pink-and-black-wrapped bag sitting smugly on the cushion beside her.
"Yes, Miss Torres," she said with a small smile. "It was so beautiful I couldn't resist. Took it to an event last weekend."
I leaned back in my chair, crossing my legs with an amused grin tugging at my lips. "I was wondering who managed to get it."
She nodded, brushing a non-existent speck of dust off the bag's strap, clearly proud of her purchase. "Your work never disappoints, Miss. It was quite the conversation starter."
"Of course, it was." I smirked, turning back to the vanity. My fingers brushed against a neatly wrapped eyeliner, brand new. I tore open the packaging with the same casual ease I used to toss people's opinions aside and pulled out the sleek pen. Testing the tip on the back of my hand, I watched the ink glide smoothly, then leaned closer to the mirror to try it on my eyes.
"You know the prime minister's daughter?" I asked nonchalantly, as if I hadn't just ordered her to look into someone Heather's life days ago.
"Yes, Miss Torres."
The corners of my mouth curled upward slightly. "Without Tiffany finding out, I want her taught a lesson."
I paused, turning the eyeliner in my hand thoughtfully. "Not something too big—keep it subtle. Signature style, I mean she's the prime Minister's daughter, anything big would drag unwanted and dangerous attention."
Her expression didn't change; she knew what I meant by signature style. Enough to shake someone's confidence, to make them look over their shoulder and second-guess their every move. Not enough to draw attention or leave a trail.
"I want her living in fear," I continued, dragging the liner across my eyelid in a single, smooth motion. "Something she wouldn't dare tell anyone about, something to make her doubt her existence. She's already insecure enough." I shrugged. "Show her what's like messing with a Torres." I looked at her through the mirror. "Show her what life was like when you betrayed my mother. Understood?"
"Crystal," She replied.
"And," I added, leaning back from the mirror to inspect my work, "email me a copy of everything you have on Eden. I plan to visit there soon."
She nodded once, her eyes betraying nothing. "Understood, Miss Torres. I'll have it sent to you by tomorrow."
"Good." I capped the eyeliner and set it down on the vanity, satisfied.
She stood, smoothing her skirt and collecting the Aura bag with careful hands. She glanced at me one last time, waiting for any further instructions. When I simply waved her off, she gave a slight bow and exited the room, leaving me to my thoughts.