5

"It's bland" I uttered to the wide-eyed man, wiping off the grin which had once settled on his face.

If it was any other day, Colton just might have left it at that, returning to his space, and making a few touches in the underlying departments.

But not today.

Not when we had a few notable names arriving in examination of this office handed to me.

Here I was, over at the Winery, sat in a space with a rack of bottles positioned before me-All creations of Wagner Winery, brought for my review.

Meanwhile, stood at a side, was the young man, head of the laboratories, who awaited something, anything even, from the lady before him.

"Every one of them?" I heard the voice of Colton.

"No. Just this one" I pointed at the bottle in my hold.

"The white one's perfect" I made sure to add, downing a cup of it yet again, but soon turning to the bottle in my grip, that worry had been found to cloud my gaze.

"If we decide to add liquor into our line of products, I recommend having strong liquer blends in them" I began. "I just can't seem to feel that prominent burn on my tongue"

"Perhaps, I could be wrong" Came my voice.

"Oh, no, no, no" Colton piped. "I as well thought same" Followed the man.

"The liquor lacks every essential of spirits" He made sure to add.

"Then have it re-produced, for we must get the taste right"

Now I wasn't better oriented with all what father dealt with on this corner. I, in fact had no business being here while he was alive, but being dumped, such huge corporation to your name, with the role of running it, I wasn't left with much choice.

I had to uphold Father's possession.

"Once production is complete, have it sent over to Phillip for his own review.....He is the Company's tester, he surely would know better"

"Of course, Ma'am"

I watched Colton pack up the bottles, and with a slight nod, he was already proceeding out of the room, leaving me to the quietude I had most certainly gotten acquainted with by now.

It was no different.

Every passing hour, the same lingering hurt would claim the most of me, with mind only bent on one thing; finding Asher Rikkard.

The bastard!

First Father, and now my own personal driver?

Surely, I got his message so well.

He was coming for me, but not before I laid the attack, with every fiber in me, I swear to be the one to stick a bullet in his heart.

The ring of my cell had managed to pry me out of those warring thoughts, and soon receiving the call on this end, I was met with the blaring voice of Valerie.

"Where are you?" Her words dropped.

"Good afternoon to you too, I'm at the winery"

"What?!"

I knew that tone of hers. One that said, there's a lot of scolding for you.

"You can't be at the winery when you have a ball to attend in two hours" She called flatly.

"What ball?" I inquired.

"My ball" She dropped.

And then it hit me.

I had in fact made preparations for a ball hosted by Valerie herself, and at once I had taken to my feet, snatching my gloves and coat from the rack.

"I promise to be with you soon" I rushed those words, pushing myself to the drawer on the other end of the room.

Rummaging through, I was soon met with the piece I long searched for; A pistol.

Unladylike, Valerie would spew at me, coming to know of that piece I had concealed in my dress.

Oh, the lots of her ramblings, when she comes to find a gun stacked with me. Now, I believe it was to my knowledge, and that of every other person who cared, that I was in no way prim and proper.

In fact, I differed in that manner, knowing so well I had a man on the hunt for me.

Perhaps, I was the one hunting for him.

Either way, I swore to end this.

I wasn't to be even the slightest laid back, and so, I snatched my glock off the drawer, making my way out of the winery.

~~~

I walked into a sea of beaming faces, jovial figures, all which had the company of another which them.

At a far end, was an orchestra, blessing the room with tunes which had the lots of these forms engaging in the new-found glee of the night.

I caught onto those chatters breaking out, while the people immersed themselves in such harmonious atmosphere.

It was a pleasing corner to be at, coming to meet people who seemed like they had no worries to ponder on, and then there was me-As distressed as my heart was, I sought to mingle with the crowd, hoping the load eating at my soul, would bear no effects on my appearance.

"Heather!" I spun around to that voice at once, the figure of Valerie hurrying towards me.

"Thought you bailed on this one" She pulled me into her hold, a smile soon crossing those red-stained lips of hers.

"Believe me, I needed the escape" Followed my words.

"And yes, congratulations on your recent success" I pulled her into my embrace, the sound of those soft breaths of hers, bouncing into my ears.

It was only a week ago, when Valerie had snatched the biggest investment in an organization bestowed onto her by her father, as my dear friend would have it, she wasn't to pass out on a chance to get knackered and battered by liquor, hence, this very ball.

"It's a great feat, V"

Her arms tightened around me, a sigh escaping her lips.

"It's all what I've prayed for" Eyes beaming on at me, a smile took those lips the instant she pulled back.

"How did you come about fetching such crowd?" I ached to ask.

"Oh, I know someone who knows someone who knows someone"

Of course. It was Valerie now, wasn't it?

I believe, hosting the best balls, should in fact be added to her list of achievements.

I listened to her go on about how most of the people in here were from her organization, and some, she barely even knew, all those figures strangers, scattered all around England, all who saw a reason to party, and jumped at it in a second.

Still immersed in her foretelling, I was, when such troubling silence, came encircling my form, and the room had come to a pause.

Those beaming faces were no longer as bright as they were a minute ago. Those swaying figures no longer took the floors. Instead, they had all paused on their feet, attention directed to the screen mounted atop the stage.

Now I tell you, the image which my eyes were about to gaze upon was enough to have me dropping to the floors, but only benumbed I turned, coming to behold the picture of Asher and I, wrangled in each other's body, up on that screen.

I heard the murmurs which had broken out in the space, and with whispers flying around, those prying eyes had come to settle on me, all bearing one look or the other.

"Is she the one?"

"How low!"

"Surely, lassies in the country haven't parted with their dignity as much as this"

How could I miss out on the lot of those words which were spat at me. All those utterances which pricked at my skin, boring holes in my heart.

How could I now kill the hurt?

"Someone take it down!" I heard the voice of Valerie follow, with her figure soon advancing the crew behind the stage.

"Do you hear me people?" Followed her bellow. "Someone take this down!"

I heard my friend yell to no one in particular, for everyone's focus was now on the image taking the screen-The image of me being humiliated.

Snickers poured all around me, cackles of mockery, and the load much heavy for my weak shoulders to carry, I turned on my feet, taking my leave from the room.

I still could hear the voice of Valerie calling for me, telling me to stop, yet, I did otherwise, I hurried out of the hall, and with so much as a heavy heart, I got into my car, soon driving out of the area.

Perhaps, this was the life I had to go through now.

Living with the pain, the shame.

I couldn't go a day without having the burn run me mad.

Perhaps, that was what I needed. Something to run me mad. Something to have me lose my senses.

Maybe, just maybe, I would in fact feel better.

You're stronger than this, Heather. A voice bellowed in my head, but I knew the truth.

I was weaker than I thought, weak to prey on, weak to humiliate.

And only then did the tears which I had struggled so hard suppressing, come rushing to the surface.

My heart burned.

All of me felt withered. And at that, I churned in worries.

I pushed hard on the brakes, pulling the vehicle to a halt at the side of the road, having decided I wasn't in the proper state to go on, but that was when I came to notice the black ford which had taken a stop right behind me.

Its lights were now dim, and all I could make out through my rearview mirror were silhouettes in the car.

Those figures remained sat in that vehicle, neither getting out, nor driving off, and only when I turned my ignition, did that vehicle get a jolt, and at once it began.

I was being followed.