The Designer

The walls smelt like fresh paint and the air made her dizzy, as she walked up the stairs to Kimberly's office. Carli needed to talk to her boss about her design, she had to finish it. She felt as if the nightmare wasn't over until her design was complete. She had to start focusing her positive energy on something that could keep her mind off things. As she neared the office, she heard two voices.

One belonged to her boss the other some middle-aged man. They were arguing, Carli realised, yet decided to take the risk and enter. A bright light hit her pale face as she steeped in, the two faces turned in her direction. Kimberly looked extraordinarily annoyed. The man mirrored her frame of mind. He was finely dressed, with a sharp posture. He gave the impression of a rich aristocrat with his parking meter for hair that had links to fashion fields.

"Sorry, did I interrupt something?" Carli quickly apologised.

The man frowned, turning back to Kimberly as if he never really saw Carli.

"I still don't think this is helping in any way. Your business is going down Kim, and you know it." The severity of the conversation startled Carli.

"No way," Kimberly argued, "No matter what may happen, Alan, my company will find a way to survive."

Carli didn't know what was safer, to creep out of the office or to keep dead silent.

"Bull!" Alan howled, his laugh was small and cruel, not like a laugh at all but an evil chant.

Carli watched as he slowly made his way to the window. He placed his palm against the glass in frustration and turned to Kimberly who was seated once more. "If you need help, you can ask for it. Just ask for me at 'Go Girl'." Alan said as he took a business card from his pocket. He glanced at Kimberly as if to ask her something, she appeared disinterested, but she stood with her arms crossed over her chest. She was hardly impressed. He turned to Carli for a moment; there was a sudden concerned nature in his eyes.

"Do you have a pen?" he asked. She nodded not even sure if she had one on her, but for some reason as if she was hypnotised she couldn't refuse the man. After some time of searching Alan pointed out a pen was clipped to her folio, uncomfortable she passed it to the man.

He added a number on the back of the card, and handed it to Kimberly who clasped it with crossed arms. "The number I gave you is my cell, if you feel inclined to ask for me direct, you can reach me on it."

Carli noticed how angry her boss was like she would go off any second. If this was Kimberly's way of hiding her resentment she wasn't doing a good job of it. She stared at the number, and laughing foolishly dropped the number into the bin beside her desk.

Why couldn't she just accept the offer? Carli wondered.

"Kimberly! I am disgusted. Why, you shall be broke in a weeks time." Alan quipped.

Kimberly got up, "Just because of an accident, doesn't mean I'm broke."

"You are missing the point," Alan explained, "Three people in this company were found dead, and have not been replaced. Listen, if I was broke, I'd appreciate you offering your help."

"Is this what this is all about!" snapped Kimberly, "So when you're down, I can help you out?!

Well, no thank you. I can look after myself."

"With what designs?" he nodded at the blank response, "Exactly, my dear."

"I have a design, and several others that Blaine helped me with." Carli intervened.

Kimberly turned to her with a smile. "Is that why you came in here?"

"Yes." Carli admitted.

Alan took great interest in her suddenly.

"Can I see the dress or costume you are completing?"

Carli turned to her boss who obviously didn't want him to see. Kimberly rolled her eyes behind her head, "It isn't complete yet!"

Alan hushed her, by waving his hand "I'll look at the sketch. It is good enough, for me."

"She hasn't finished drawing it on paper yet." Kimberly lied. Alan didn't believe her.

"Bull, Kim. The girl just told you she is almost finished her design, and when it's complete, it's far from being drawn on paper."

"It's true, I do have the sketch done, but give my one good reason to show it to you." Carli demanded.

"I think, what she is trying to say, she doesn't trust you," Kimberly spat "and to be honest with you, I don't trust you, so cut the crap!"

Alan grinned in a twisted sort of way. "So you're Carli," he said turning to her.

Carli nodded briefly.

Alan rambled on, "Kim, the publicity is enough, but Carli, I thought you would have rid her right away. She is the cause to all your problems."

Carli was unsure whether or not she was hearing right. How could anyone be so malicious?

"Shut up Alan. The girl is here and here to stay. I cannot say the same for you." Kimberly sat up, pointing to the door, "Do us a favour Alan and get out."

Alan stood expressionless, as he edged towards the door he turned to get one last glance at the plump boss.

"What you're doing isn't safe."

Her boss snorted incredulously, her singlet falling off her left shoulder.

"I have never been wrong in my entire stay at this company, and I never will have to worry about being wrong. Others such as yourself should respect that and learn to understand that your help isn't necessary." She turned to Carli, cocking up a brow in amusement. "Am I right Carli?

You're not a nuisance in this facade or a threat to the business in any way are you?"

Carli was glad her boss was sticking up for her, yet her comment startled her. It was as if she were asking a question, however it was rhetorical in her response. She shook her head.

Kimberly smiled in satisfaction, "No. I didn't think so." She turned her attention to Alan, "See, no problem."

Alan nodded, flabbergasted he opened the door for his escape, "You always were one to risk everything."

***

"You sure you like it?" Carli was beginning to doubt her design.

"It's brilliant, like I said a minute ago." Kimberly repeated, studying the design closer.

"Are you sure?

"Yes. Carli I feel the same about it as I did two moments ago. If you were to ask me again though, my idea may change."

Carli smiled bearishly, she couldn't help it. It was a while since she last smiled, she missed that feeling. "Thank you, that means a lot to me," she admitted "Are you okay with finishing it though?"

"Uh-huh. You'll be wearing that outfit in less time than it takes to say 'Caboom.' "

Carli understood, by that she meant she'd complete it within a week. The whole episode was still stuck in her mind. It wasn't any of her business but she wanted to know what the argument was all about. After all she was also the subject of discussion.

"If you don't mind me asking."

Kimberly cut her off as if reading her mind, "I don't mind. I know you are referring to Alan. He owns 'Go Girl'. We used to share 'Go Girl' and eventually I quit, and started my own business. He was always a bossy control freak and completely self-centred. He's doing better now than ever before and because I am in a little financial grub, he has to try and rub it in."

"Yeah. I can imagine."

Carli started to wonder whether Alan could go as far to murder people to come on top of Elle.

Could he be responsible for any of the deaths? How far would he go?

"Pauline used to work for him, and so did Blaine for a short period." Kimberly placed the portfolio sketch on the table.

"Oh. What happened? Did he fire them?" Carli questioned in astonishment, this was news to her.

"No. He was happy with them. It was them who weren't happy."

Carli raised her brows in confusion as her boss studied her spiral on the end of her folio. "I found Pauline snooping and watching an early start-up show when I approached her. She told me she had so many great ideas but Alan was always sceptical. I told her to work for me and she could be as creative as she could be."

Carli wondered how he would have taken it, Kimberly smiled as if knowing.

"He wasn't changed by the decision, but he had to come by to point out that I tried to get one of his employees. He said that if I was that desperate to get a mere designer then I should simply ask."

"Ouch. I'd hardly have called Pauline merely average."

"Yes, my dear. She is impeccably audacious in her creations. She certainly has made her mark and that has to frustrate him. I met Blaine in the highlight of his career. I made it to the States parade to view many of her startling designs. She had a casual yet somewhat elegant touch to her work. The one that caught my attention was an emerald halter neck with a supple front, which crossed into a tie died deep green. The cut was surrounded by the most beautiful diamantes. She was definitely amazing. I hadn't seen such talent in my years so I made an effort to approach her."

Kimberly was in tears, pulling on a brave face she carried on. "She told me how her pay had hardly jumped since her breakthrough in her designs. I was stunned so I made a proposition,"

"I bet Alan didn't like it one bit."

Her boss shrugged without a care, Carli got the impression she would do about anything to annoy Alan. Could he have had a grudge against Blaine for trading her job for another that motivated him to kill her? If so, that could mean Pauline was in danger.

"Is he in any way related or close to Pauline?"

"No. I don't think so. I'd describe her closer to me than to the old hound."

That wasn't as reassuring as she hoped. Perhaps Alan could feel more tempted to attack if he weren't close to the victim. Or maybe he found terminating Kimberly's workers a form of enjoyment.

Carli's heart stopped, "Where is Pauline right now?"

"I believe she's in her office." Kimberly frowned in concern, "Why, what is wrong Carli?"

***

Author:

Calliope Alexandris

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