Factory
Chapter 19
Entering the building brought back a rush of memories that made me stumble slightly. Angelo reached out and steadied me before the girl behind reception could notice. His hand dropped from my elbow the second she looked up, her eyes ran down and back up me cooly. She smirked, “Can I help you?” I fought not to roll my eyes, I hate women like this. Always trying to make you feel they better then you. I gave her a wide smile, “I have an appointment with the Director.” Her smirk dropped, her skin went pale underneath her tan. When she turned to type in her computer her hands shook.
She must be a failed factory girl, only a factory girl would react like that to the idea of the Director.
The Director was the big bad wolf to our red riding hood. The boogie man who kept us all in line when we got here, some girls reacted badly to their new lives in the factory. The ones who rebellion became too much for the normal staff and discipline to contend with. They were sent to the Director. And they never came back the same, they left with fire in their eyes. Women, they returned to class broken girls.
My palms began to sweat while we waited in silence for her to find my appointment and call on for instructions. The only thing that stopped me from running was Angelo’s comforting presence behind me. That and the knowledge that Lau would want me to be brave. “Someone will be right out Miss Daniels.” I nodded to her and turned slightly away from her. The wall caught my eye and i was walking over before I could stop myself. Would my picture be up now? I was a success story after all. All success stories went up on the wall, it was meant to motivate us. The pictures of beautiful girls smiling pageant smiles on the arms of the old men that had bought them. I don't know why I was thinking like this, I had been bought just like all the others. I just had to luck of being bought by a man not much older then me, one I was actually attracted to.
I paused at a picture of a girl I recognised, her name didn't come to me, but her face was stuck in my mind. She had left about 3 years ago in a sea of rumours, whispers had raced round that she was pregnant, and not by the man who had eventually bought her. A chill ran down my spine as I suddenly remember that she was found dead 3 months after she left. And the man that bought her started coming back to parties not even a week later.
“Ma’am?” Angelo gently touched my elbow, I jumped slightly and spun on my heel to face him. “We can go back now.” I leaned to look round him to see a red head standing by the reception desk, she gave me a welcoming smile as I walked towards her. “Harmony, pleasure to meet you,” She held out her hand, “I’m Megan, the Directors Secretary.” I shook her hand and gave her a weak smile, “Do you know why he wants to see me?” Her own smile became sympathetic, “I’m sorry, I don’t. But its best to get it over with. He’s not as bad as the stories make him seem. Follow me.”
A trio of heels clicked on the wooden floors as we walked back towards his office. The sharp click of stilettos from both my shoes and Megan’s and the heavier sound of Angelo’s loafers.
My mouth dried out as I tried to calm my nerves, I was failing. We slowed to a halt as we entered an office, Megan stopped beside the desk and picked up the phone, she pressed a button and spoke into the handset after a moments pause. “I have her outside.” Her eyes moved to Angelo as she listened to the response, “No. Of course sir, I’ll let them know.” She hung up the phone and gave me a grimace, “He wants to see you alone.” “Out of the question.” Angelo spoke before I could even process what had been said. Megan’s eyes flicked towards the double doors at the back of the office, “Please. He won’t have it any other way.” Her voice shook as she finished her sentence, “Its ok Angelo. I can go alone. I mean, You’re just a shout away, Right?” He didn’t look happy, but as he looked from Megan’s pleading face to my own, forcing calm, he nodded. “I stand right outside at all times.” Megan nodded frantically, clearly glad she didn't have to explain our refusal to The Director.
Angelo was true to his word, Megan took me inside and I saw him take up post beside the door as we passed through. Frightened to look at the man that had built an empire on selling frightened girls I instead scanned the office around him. From the corner of my eye I could see him smile as my eyes took in the floor to ceiling Windows behind his desk, the light from outside muted by frosted glass. The thick carpet silenced the click of my heels, leaving the room eerily quiet. I ended up standing before his desk, much like a child sent to the office for bad behaviour, I fidgeted and still I couldn't bring myself to meet his gaze.
I could feel him looking at me, the weight of his stare was making me sweat, praise the Lord for setting spray. "Miss Harmony. I must say you're looking well." His voice wasn't what I expected, the mere scope of his presence had me expecting a deep growl to come from his mouth, instead I got an almost girlish breathy whisper. My eyes shot to his face and I was amazed to find kindly eyes smiling at me from behind bushy white eyebrows. The director looked like Santa. I gave a shy smile and tucked my hair behind my ear, "Thank you sir." "Sit," he motioned to the single chair next to me, "A drink?" I shook my head as I sat down, something told me that even if he looked like Santa, I needed my wits about me. He smiled at me, "You seem nervous. My reputation precedes me again I see." Not sure what to say I let his words hang between us. He sighed after a moment and covered his eyes with his hand, his nails buffed to perfection, I focuses in on them. Something about a man with a manicure was strange to me. My dad used to get his nails done every week, religiously. Lau didn't do his nails.
"Harmony," he rubbed at his eyes before dropping his hand, "I just wanted to see how you were settling in with Laurent.” taken aback it too me a few seconds to answer him. He watched me, fingers steepled in front of his mouth, “Everything is going well Sir, better then i could have hoped.” his eyes didn't leave my face but he nodded. “And this internet thing, do you plan to continue it?” I chewed the inside of my lip, “I want to.” Again a nod, and then another question, “The situation with Dani,” I stiffened at her name, guilt sweeping over me. She was still in prison, for something she didn't do. And here I was happily about to begin planning my wedding. “I would like to apologise for that, I was unaware of her, issues.”
“It wasn't her.” The words slipped out before I was aware. His snowy eyebrows lifted, “Then who did? Surely you’re not suggesting it was Laurent?” I shook my head, unsure how to say that, for all intents and purposes, I had tried to kill myself. Well, a part of me had tried to kill another part. His eyes narrowed and he reached out to press his intercom, “Could you bring Miss Daniels file please?” Megan replied quickly, “Of course Sir.” She came in moments later, a thick file in her hands, I could see Angelo still posted by the door outside. His eyes met mine as Megan handed over the file and turned to leave. He questioned me silently and i gave him a small nod as the door slid shut behind her.
“Harmony,” I turned my attention back to the man sat opposite me, “Are you aware of the trouble you had when you first arrived?” I gave a small head shake, “I found it hard sir, it was upsetting to know my parents didn't want me.” He amazed me by grimacing, “Yes, your mother was one of the more ruthless parents I have come across.” he paused, “We will talk about her later.” The hairs on the back of my neck rose at that, why the hell would we have to talk about her? “We had to put you in to see our therapist when you arrived. Do you remember having black outs?” I nodded, he flipped open my file, flicking through the pages, I caught glimpses go pictures of my past self. My chubby face downturned and sad, my eyes dead. He took one on picture and placed it on the desk facing me, “These were taken in one of your sessions,” he took another and placed it next to the other.
The difference between the two faces was so much it could have been different people. But in a way I guess it was. One picture was me, the me that stared out of a mirror at me for the first few months that I lived here. Broken, dead inside and feeling worthless. The other was burning with rage, eyes flashing, chin jutting forward, lips pulled back in a snarl. “Shall i read you what the doctor reported?” He flipped a page as i continued to stare at the face of the me that tried to kill me. “From what I can see, Harmony’s mind was unable to deal with her current situation and found a way to protect itself. The other personality seems to have a lot of hate for both Harmony and her mother. She calls herself Isis and is insistent that if she had always been around she wouldn't be in this situation. Her anger at Harmony stems from her perceived weakness. She is disdainful of Harmony and the fact that she has to get them through hard times, she often speaks of that fact that without Isis, Harmony would no longer be alive.”
The Director paused, still staring at the picture, I nodded when he asked if he should continue. he cleared his throat and began again, “The hate for the mother is stronger, Isis feels that Harmony’s mother should have been able to recognise that Isis was inside Harmony, wanting to get out. That Isis would have been the daughter she deserved. Isis has often said that given that chance she would kill them both.”
“And one day soon, I will. Just you wait Harmony.”
