The Wedding Night

“Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don’t resist them- that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like.

Lao Tzu

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Melody POV

Just as Monday came, the week flew fast and the day of the presentation which was Friday came and it was now or never. Throughout the week, I busied myself with the proposal. I almost lose my mind because I couldn’t come up with something until Wednesday morning. Even my boss didn’t bother me with work because he knew how busy I was.

The morning of the presentation, I woke up early and prepared for what I wanted to say and Lorena was helpful because she made me bought new clothes all for the presentation. When I got to the company, I prepared the conference room for the meeting and dance around excitedly because I felt the project was going to be mine.

Soon, the conference room was filled with the board of directors and the CEO’s department and the meeting began. Cassandra was the first to present and she spoke about making a make-up product that would wipe sorrow away from people’s faces.

As if makeup can wipe the sorrow in my life away.

Since the theme of the product was makeup, she picked a sub-theme called wipe.

” with the wipe, you can wipe the hurt and pain on your face from the world. This makeup product is called wipe because it wipes your fears, pain, heartache, and troubles. With a wipe, you can as well wipe the sadness off your face.” When she finished speaking, they all clapped for her. I must admit that I was also impressed because I didn’t expect her to be as smart as that.

When it got to my turn, I took the deepest breathe and walked to the front of the directors, my boss, and the CEO’s department. My heart raced as I looked up to see everyone in the room staring at me. I balled my hands into a fist as shook vigorously. I was freaking out and it wasn’t helping me because it was my first time.

“Miss melody, can we have your presentation?” My boss’s voice bought me out of my thoughts.

I closed my eyes and when I opened them, I was ready for the journey of my life to begin.

“Here I introduced you to the new makeup brand of DReam Empire in collaborations with Xians company, shine or go crazy” when I announced the name of the new makeup brand, I could see the mischievous smile on the faces of the directors.

They were probably wondering why I came up with such a name because it sounded stupid and unprofessional but It was the best I could come up with.

“You all might be wondering why that name? Here is the answer to your questions.” I pointed to the white screen for them to see the images projected on the screen.

“Shine or crazy as I call it not only includes makeups but it also includes other cosmetics products, ” I explained and pointed to the screen showing a cosmetic kit with the name shine or go crazy. “As I’ve said to the Chinese investors, I told them we have a lot out there facing traumas, heartbreak, and pains but with shine or crazy, it only a matter of time before you either shine or go crazy. Are you ready to shine or go crazy? When I mean by going crazy, I meant that you can either chose to face your worries or shine and overcome your worries and pain. Not only will shine or go crazy become a brand but It can also become a place where those with these problems come once in a while to speak their minds.”

I inhaled exhaled breathe heavily because I was finally finished with my presentation. I bow and raised my head with a smile on my face because I felt I’ve done something good for once in my life and the directors clapped after I was done. but, what I didn’t expect was the expressions on my boss’s face. He looked extremely angry and I could feel his glaring brown eyes on me.

“You think this is a joke right? All your blabbing about traumas and problems is not a concern to us. This is a company, not a hospital where we will sit down and listen to crazy people speaking their minds.” My boss said angrily and the room grew silent.

I folded my hands and listened to him like a child that was getting scolded.Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

“I expected more from your melody and for your information, your presentation is a piece of trash, ” he said with a tone filled with disgust.

Calm down melody.

“You think you can come here and make us waste our time listening to this trash and then at the end you’ll get the project. This is the DReam melody, not some company that is just starting. You are a personal assistant so I’ll like it if you know your place and stand there.”

Deep breathe melody

His words were like knives cutting deep into my skin but I decided to keep my cool because I felt anything I say would result in more problems.

“I think the directors can agree with Cassandra’s presentation. Since she has always been in charge of the previous project and it has always come out successful, this year’s project is going to be handed over to her.” He announced while looking at me.

Now is the time melody.

“Miss Cassandra, I’ll like it if you could stand and tell us more about the new project, wipe.” He said to her with his eyes still on me.

He called my proposal trash after all the endless nights I’ve passed through. After all the troubles of finding a name and coming up with ideas. If he didn’t like my presentations, he could have just said it is a good way but the way he spoke to me made me felt like a failure but I wasn’t going to back down because, for the first time in my life, I thought I did something good.

“aspettare(wait)” I said in Italian because I knew the majority of them didn’t understand what I was saying but I knew my boss understood what I said.

“You made me go through all those troubles of trying to present and then after everything, all you could think of is humiliating me.” I laughed and pointed to all the directors. “I knew your clapping was all fake. It appears clear that no one wants me here and everything was a lie and you,” I pointed to Cassandra who was smirking at me and having the expression I told you so on her face. “You were right about me knowing my place and our freaking boss right here just made it known to everybody. You can have the projects but I bet with you that the Chinese investors would never agree with your ideas.” I said to her with a smile on my face.

My boss opened his mouth to speak but I shut him up with my hand. “I’m not finished, boss,” I said stressing on the word boss. “I think your ego is your biggest problem in life. You think you are above everybody else and you also think you own the world but I’m sorry to break it to you Mr. Aderemi, along with your egos, you are the biggest problem of your life Because you think hiding under all those ruthless, mean and narcissistic attitude is going to prove to the world that you are perfectly fine.

I sighed deeply as I thought of what to say and when I found the perfect word, I smiled at my boss.

“continuare così ti renderà infelice per Tutta la vita. (keeping on like this is going to make you miserable for life.) “I said to him in Italian because I knew 80% of the people in the room probably didn’t understand what I’ve just said. I was right when I said nobody knew what I said except the boss who stood up and slammed his hand on the table causing a great bang.

“How dare you? Get out and never come back here!” He roared and I could have sworn the room was shaking.

“Gladly,” I smiled at him. “So you see how hurting people feel when you speak lowly of them. That’s exactly how you are feeling now.” I said to him, he looked at me with a murderous and pointed to the door.

“Get out before I throw you out,” he threatened.

“Throw me out? You do not need to throw me out because I quit.” I said and flung the company’s ID around my neck at him. “tu e la tua Compagnia potete and are all inferno(you and your company can go to hell)” I said before walking out of the room leaving everyone present speechless and unable to speak.

When I got to my desk, I began to clear my desk but I couldn’t pretend anymore as I slide down and burst into uncontrollable tears.

The presentation turns to tears…