CHAPTER 112: 112-EMBARASSING ME

Iris:

When I woke up, everybody was already sleeping.

I stood, looked around the room, and noticed that Luca was not in the room.

I felt defeated, especially because I was upset that the cure had not worked.

With that, it meant I was stuck with my mother for even more time.

Sadness settled over me, but I knew there was nothing I could do except move forward and look for another way.

And in this case, another way would be the water from the Blue River.

I stepped into my kids’ room, checked on them, saw they were sleeping peacefully, and then found Luca in the living room.

I returned to my room and slept a little more before waking up in the morning.

There were some text messages on my phone about the brand opening of our perfume.

I stared at the screen for a while with my swollen eyes.

I had not expected to be a part of this opening because I had thought I would slip away once my child was fine.

So now that I had to get ready and be a part of this launch, I felt defeated again.

"Blue pants, white shirt, high ponytail, office coat, you look like a businesswoman," my mother remarked the minute I stepped out of my room.

I gave her a quick stare before sitting to put on my sandals.

"Aren’t you a little too cheerful for a cure to not work?" I told her.

"Well, it was bound to happen. I already knew it would not work. But I let you children try. And now that you know the only cure could be the water, you must make a clear choice and not waste time," she replied.

I started to nod.

"Wow, you did not argue with me," my mother observed.

"Because unlike you, Mother, I was dragged into this without my knowledge. Besides, it is not the curse that makes it painful for me. It is you," I commented as I held her gaze.

"Anyway, best of luck with the launch," my mother added, taking a sip of her coffee.

I stared at her face for a moment before I stood and left.

When I stepped out of the house, the wind hit my coat, making me adjust it instantly to look proper. It was a big day.

Across the yard, Kash stepped out of his mansion at the same time.

He wore a black suit that fit him well. He had a black shirt and a black tie.

His black hair was styled with a few pieces resting slightly on his forehead while the rest stayed neatly behind.

The moment he stepped out, he paused, his hand still on the car door, and he raised his head a little.

The sharp look he gave me with his grey eyes made me take a deep breath.

But the glance was brief, because he turned his head back to the door, opened it, and got inside.

I headed toward my own car. Once I settled inside, my driver began to move, staying close behind Kash.

When we arrived at the location, I saw that everything had already been arranged properly.

The event took place in a large hall where people had gathered near the display of the new perfume.

Soft lighting filled the room, and workers guided guests to try small samples.

A few photographers moved around while Keith and Lara arrived.

Lara rushed toward Kash, wearing a bright red dress that did not even cover her thighs.

Her hair was in a messy bun with a few strands hanging low.

Kash and Lara posed for a few minutes before it was my turn to pose with the perfumes.

The flashes hit my eyes hard, but I kept a smile on my face, acting like nothing had gone wrong with the cure.

In the back of my mind, all I could think about was my son.

Then Keith and Lara posed with the perfumes again before Kash stepped onto the left side of the small platform, a few steps away from the table, and held the perfume bottles.

The room slowly grew quiet, and he lifted the microphone.

"Thank you for joining us today," he started, and everyone’s eyes stayed on him. "This perfume took time, patience, and a lot of testing. We wanted something clean and simple, but something that would not only enhance your body scent but could also bring you some health benefits," he continued.

People began to nod and praise him with their gestures.

"But it would have never been done without the help of my partner," he stated.

As soon as he said that, my body reacted with goosebumps.

Hearing him call me his partner in front of everyone was something I had not heard in a long time.

I joined him near the platform and smiled.

"With her and her mother’s hard work, and the secret ingredients," he laughed, and others chuckled with him. "This perfume would not have come to life."

After saying that, Kash lowered his microphone.

I picked it up and looked around for a few seconds, taking small breaths.

"Thank you for supporting our work," I told the crowd. "This launch means a lot to us. We have worked with a careful team, and we are glad to share the final results with you. We hope you enjoy the fragrances and the experience today."

I kept my speech brief. I did not know what else to say, because I had not prepared for this day.

I had been preparing to leave. Everybody cheered, and I placed the microphone down.

"We want you two posing together," one of the photographers told me and Kash.

With very fake and phony smiles on our lips, we stepped closer, still keeping a small distance.

He moved beside me, and our hands brushed only for a second.

The contact was light and casual, yet it sent a sensation up my arm strong enough to make my fingers tense before I pulled them back to look relaxed.

"Please, closer. Wrap your arm around her," another reporter called out.

The moment they said that, Kash shifted without hesitation and placed his arm around my waist.

My body jolted. As soon as he touched me, memories of us lying in bed together rushed into my mind.

I hated how my thoughts worked. I forced myself to smile for the cameras as they flashed, while Kash’s arm stayed around me.

There was a clear tension in his fingers. He moved them slightly a few times before forcing them to stay straight, almost frozen.

As we repositioned for another photograph, someone rushed in. It was not just someone.

Lara stepped between us, and she hit me with her shoulder so hard that my foot slipped on the floor.

I lost my balance, and the next thing I knew, I was falling while all the cameras were on me.