Chapter 4 Familiar scent

Alisha is an intelligent working class lady, she works at a big fragrance company which specializes in producing perfumes and deodorant,her keen sense of smell makes her outstanding which got her promoted as the head of production department. She has passion for her job and has produced one of the best selling perfumes,one of the top special perfumes is named 'Memory fragrant'. This was the perfume that made her stand out in the company and her first product, it had the highest rating and orders which made it VIP.

Alisha was seen rummaging in her office when she heard a knock at her door. She seemed to be looking for something in her drawer, raising her head looking towards the door. Come in, she said calmly as she stopped and sat on her chair.

A tall blond man in his early 40s walked in smiling at her, "how are you doing Alice'',. "It's Alisha," she corrected, standing up and bowing to him. "Good morning sir", she said, smiling back at him. "I can call you anything I want. Alice and Alisha sound quite alike", he said smiling.

"Sir,to what do I owe the pleasure of your early visit?You could have called me to come over via the phone. If someone sees the manager walking into my office I don't know how to explain that, I don't want gossip". She said with a plain face "It's a serious matter which I need you to handle. That's why I had to come myself so you can see how serious it is".

The manager sits on the opposite chair facing her desk and his expression changes to a more serious one which made lisha heart skip for a bit. "We're having a new director," he said , looking a bit worried.

"Why?, I don't understand,what happened to the previous director? Are we in some sort of trouble?". Lisha bombarded him with questions, she looked very worried. "I can't answer all your questions but all I can say is we've been owing lots of debts, that was before you came. The director took loans from the bank and couldn't meet up. When you came you turned out to be our savior, the perfume you produced helped us pay some of our debts but it's far more than enough, the staff are complaining, the management is owing them some month's salary so one of our prominent customers offered a deal and invested lots of money that helped us clear every outstanding bills and with his help the company has now gotten more attention".

"Hmph a lot has been going on and I barely know anything about this" she said in a small tone, she felt really guilty for not knowing the company's circumstances. "I didn't want you to know cause I needed you to concentrate on the new production project". "So why the change of director?"

"I don't know what transpired between them but the director has handed over everything to the new owner". "What would happen to us?" lisha queries,looking worried.

"We still get to keep our jobs, everything remains the same, it's just a new director, nothing much changed".

"I hope this new director will be a good person else we're doomed, do you know him?". "I heard he's a young billionaire in his late 20s" the expression on his face wasn't a nice one, he couldn't believe he was gonna work under someone he was way older than.

"What?, a young guy?", her throat ran dry, her face was expressionless at this point.

"Yes miss storman" this was the first time he had addressed her by her surname.

"All I'm saying is please get your team ready, the new director will be coming to see the production team soon". "Okay sir, I'll hold a brief meeting with them". "Very well, how's the new product going? Is there a breakthrough yet?" She asked with a little hope. "Not yet sir, I haven't gotten the exact fragrance but I will, I'm still doing some research". "Okay", he stands up and heads out.

She picks up the line to call her assistant "Hello,I want you to notify all the team members to meet up in five minutes at the meeting room".

"Okay ma'am" the voice replied.

She drops the phone, tidies her desk and heads towards the door.

The elevator opens and a tall young man in suit enters,the door locks Alisha was busy glancing on her phone she didn't notice the person standing beside her, "Which floor are you heading to miss?"

The man asked without glancing at her, he was tall enough that he could see her hair. "The ninth floor thank you," Alisha replied without looking at him.

Hold on, this voice sounds familiar she paused and raised her head to look at him, she almost froze in fear as she realises who was standing right next to her.

'What is this handsome devil doing here, she said in her mind' she used the files in her right hand to cover her face preventing him from seeing her face. The elevator shook a bit causing lisha to fall towards to man, but she quickly got a hold of her self. "Careful young lady,The familiar voice warned, he's voice sounding cold, it was more like a warning than an instruction.

Not again, lisha thought,looking worried still covering her face, she kept glancing at the number hoping it would somehow magically move faster. "Sorry sir" the elavator door finally opened and she stormed out before he could say a word.

At this moment Zeriel thought the voice was familiar and he could perceive the scent of the woman right before him, it was a familiar scent which was soothing to him. "Hello miss", He said walking out following the lady behind that back looks way too familiar he thought. He increased his pace but to his surprise the lady took to her hills running off. "What a crazy lady," he muttered.

Zeriel was walking through the hallway,he seemed to have lost his way, as he was about to place a call to the manager, a few minutes later the manager came walking up to him. "Hello sir", the manager extends his hand for a handshake bowing his head to show respect, "sorry for keeping you waiting he said"

so this is the young director I was supposed to meet he said within him. "Sorry for keeping you waiting sir, I was busy in my office".

Zeriel heard his thought and looked him in the eyes, it was a cold glare which was capable of sending shivers down one's spine. "Seems you lost your way", asked the manager, smiling but stopped when he saw the seriousness in the looks on his face.

It was the cold expressionless look that made it hard to read what was going on in his mind. it felt like the man Standing in front of him could read him like an open book, the eyes looked like that which was seeing through everything including his soul. He withdrew his hand as it was left hanging.

He felt embarrassed and was sweating inside at the same time. The countenance of the man before him scared him so much but he tried not to show it. "L-let me take you to the office," the manager said stammering.Zeriel cut him off before he could finish his words with a question. "Where is the production team? I'd like to meet them right away" he said with an air of authority.

"W-well sir they're having a meeting" he shuttered even more. "Better, cause I want to meet the production manager, Now lead the way". He said nonchalantly. "Okay sir" the manager responded, leading him to the meeting room, while Zeriel quietly followed behind.