Enhancement

Enhancement was a famous cosmetics company; but you already knew that, and I wish I never worked for them. I was Astrid Schneider desperately climbing my way up the corporate ladder when everything fell apart. The man in charge was stern and vicious. He was tall and wiry. While that alone didn’t make him awful it still added to his intimidating disposition. All his employees [including me] trembled in fear when he entered the room. Conversations would stop due to the paralysing fear that took over everyone. As you can probably guess it was crucial to stay on his good side, and I succeeded for four years. I went from beauty adviser to marketing manager displaying an unusual amount of confidence on the outside as I went. If only he didn’t get the text…

I draped a light blue coat over my shoulders, hastily touched up my red lipstick and dashed out the door. “Verdammt, ich bin zu spat!” I screamed my German coming through in my panic as I lept into my car. My parents moved from Germany to New York when I was a baby. When I was in school, I would utilise my knowledge of German to swear at the teachers but eventually they caught on. My mama always wanted to be a CEO, but she died before she had the chance, so papa put a lot of pressure on me to succeed. I needed the promotion. When I parked the car outside the immaculate building I started to check my texts. A good friend of mine had texted me “Mr. Charles is really an Elon Musk incarnate.” My fingers dashed across my phone typing out “I know, we should do the world a favour and shove his bald head off a cliff LOL!” I should have checked who I was texting.

I walked in head my head held high and a bounce in my step that caused my long brown waves to bob up and down. My long quest to find love had finally been put to rest when a handsome colleague had asked me out the other day, to go for dinner and drinks later that night. I couldn't wait. Being single had some positives I went where I wanted when I wanted, I saved more money, and no one could tell me that it was obnoxious to paint my walls bright yellow. The day was a boring blur of emails, rushed conversations and coffee. I kept my head held high and tried to hide the exhaustion clouding up behind my eyes. My fingers became sore, but I just kept picturing a picture-perfect date. We would sit in a candle lit restaurant, drink champagne, make jokes about our god-awful boss and make fun of each over’s surnames. He would place a playful punch on my arm, as I would insult him for having the misfortune of being named John Ramsmith.

At last, my fantasy became reality. We sat across from each other me in a red dress with a black corset and pair of knee-high black buckle up boots. John had combed his black shaggy hair for once and had dressed in a blood red suit with a black tie. I took a long careful sip of my champagne before touching up my lipstick. “Du bist heiB,” I said. That earned me a confused look and awkward laugh from John. “Sorry, my German comes through when I get nervous. Don’t worry it means you’re hot.”, I explained. The confusion faded from his eyes as he began to trace the lines on my palms with his girlishly smooth hands. “So, I make you nervous then?”, John asked. “No. Mabey.”, I said. The words a surrender. “Well, I never. I make the gorgeous and intelligent woman that I’ve been trying to capture for years get nervous around me. Wow I’m brilliant aren’t I.” “I wouldn’t say brilliant, but you’re nice enough,” “Aren’t you the pretty little hypocrite then. You said you got nervous around me, therefore I’m brilliant. Oh, and according to you I’m hot.”, I laughed and shifted my eyes to my feet not allowing myself to get lost in his perfect grey eyes. An awkward silence settled around interrupted only by the young waitress coming up to us. She was the traditional gothic sort. Jet black hair and eyes, a noise tattoo and an impatient glassy look etched across her face. “Are you ready to order?”, She asked in a bored tone of voice. “Yeah, can we share the charcuterie board and the meat plater pleas.”, I recited our originally agreed meal decision. We had a passionate decoction about cheese. John was French and adored his countries food. I offered up our menus to the girl before she turned away. John gave the girl a smile for a thank you and an appreciative glance to me. Everyone in the office knew he hated speaking to people he wasn’t previously acquainted with. He was quite an introvert. The night was pure magic. We laughed often, argued about whether the Bree, aged Guda or Bruschetta tasted better and lost ourselves in dazzling complex conversation. At the end of the night, we walked out onto the street which was lit not by candles but harsh ugly streetlights. A black leather coat was draped around me. My hand slipped inside John’s hand each thing protected me from the bitter cold air. My head lowered as far down as it would go in order to rest on John's shoulder. We moved in that manner, not two people anymore. When we reached my car John leaned in, grabbed my waist with his arms and began to kiss me. Since he was a head shorter than me, he stood on his tippy toes to reach my lips. I pushed myself against him, my hands wrapped around his head. When we broke apart, it felt like water had been tossed over a beautiful roaring fire. The spontaneous excitement was gone, and we were left with the boring cold night. I slipped into my car and waved solemnly to John before zooming away into the night.

The next day I was buzzing. I had never felt so alive. The perfect fairy-tail I had dreamed of for years had finely came true, but my joy was put to rest when… A tall and wiry shadow peered over me.“I’m not laughing out loud!”, The shadow declared. The words paralyzed me in moments. “Sir, what are trying to say?”, I asked cautiously slowly turning around as I spoke. “I’m talking about this text!”, He brandished his phone as a weapon as he screamed, he got so close to my face I could smell the foul sent of garlic on his breath. My blood froze as I read the message meant for a good friend. “I know, we should do the world a favour and shove his bald head off a cliff LOL!” “I’m really sorry sir. Please don’t fire me, this company is my life.”, I begged desperation dripping in my voices. “Hahahahahahaha, you’re so pathetic almost on your knees. You most defiantly are fired, pathetic little girl. Hey, at least you can leave knowing you were so ridiculous you made me laugh.” He placed a hand on my shoulder in fraudulent empathy. “I expect you out of here before lunch. Oh, and don’t expect a career in cosmetics ever again.” The words stung a little, but it was ok, because I had planned it that way. That text was no accident I needed an easy way out and I wanted to see him really mad.

I walked the walk of shame out of the office. A soft familiar hand grasped my arm and Johns sincere question in my ear. “Movie at mine tonight?” “Yep.”, I said kissing his hand on the way out. So, you have heard my story. You know about my not so accidental mistake and questionable motive. Just so you remember… Enhancement was a famous cosmetics company; but you already knew that, and I wish I never worked for them!