41- Local Brand

"Red, my dear, you were fine at the video call but what happened? You have changed." He changed me. Mrs Bennet said, rubbing Red's back. "Mama please. I am opening my outlet tomorrow. I need your prayers and support more than this." Red replied, rolling her eyes in annoyance. "They are always with you but what about my daughter? My Red which used to be so-" "It's not going to come back, Mama, until he comes to me. And you guys promised you won't talk to him about it." Red said, turning to her mother. "But, Red, afflictions won't end unless you try." "I don't want to talk about it." Red said bitterly, getting up and leaving to her room. Mrs Bennet sighed at her behavior but couldn't do anything for help. Red opened her outlet by the money she received from Lucifer by the third person and it honestly infuriated her when she received it. Millions of thoughts roamed in her mind and disrupted it, thinking Lucifer might not have considered their bond as nothing but a deal. Those thoughts are affecting her mind, forcing her to break at peculiar points. Red cursed under her breath and took a deep breath, forcing a smile, "Good Luck." April said, putting her hand on Red's shoulder. "Thanks." Red passed her a faint smile and took the first step into the life she always sought. Red was looking at her outlet from outside with a scowl on her face when Bertha who came to pick her asked, "What happened?" "Does he think I need his money to build my name? I swear I won't be at peace unless I return his money." Red hissed, getting in the car. "You put it as a part of the deal and now it's pissing you off?" Bertha asked. "Those were under different circumstances." Red reasoned. "But he can't let his emotions control him, it was your deal in the first place... you came back as well." Bertha mumbled. "Still, can't he understand what I must be feeling?" "And what about you? Can you understand how he is feeling?" Bertha asked. Red opened her mouth to reply but couldn't speak and closed it, muttering something under her breath. Red then tried to merge with the infamous brands to give rise to her name but it wasn't as she accepted. "Ms Bennet, I don't need a brand like yours to be a part of my work." J Dot, sneered with a smirk. "I understand, Sir." Red cursed him in her heart but forced a smile and left. "Ms Bennet you should show him what you can do and shut his mouth." Her Assistant Carter encouraged. Red sighed, "There's no need, it's fine let's go." Later, Red finally gained sponsors and help from a CEO of fashion Magazine Julia Jester, who was extremely inspired by her work and wanted to help Red to have her very own fashion show. It was her first time so she was nervous and wanted everything to be perfect. She was preparing the guest list but her fingers stopped at a certain alphabet. "Oh, Red, did you prepare the list?" Julia asked, taking a peek. "Hmm. Nice. By the way, Whose name are you going to write with the letter L?" Lucifer. She asked, taking a sip of her coffee. Red smiled and cut it, "No one. Here you go." Why is it so hard to see you again? Red thought. ~ 1 Year Later ~ The woman with a charismatic and vigorous personality emerged as an escalated brand in the fashion Industry. Yes, It's none other than Ms Bennet, the CEO of Red Bennet. Having supermodel Marianne Morris as the face of her brand, she gained popularity over a year and became a recommendation of many celebrities. It's admirable how she progressed in a year and being notorious enough, it was hard to go unnoticed by international brands as well. Her very presence brought tough competition to the industry by her exceptional flairs. Bertha grinned, telling Red the headline who was uninterested and talking to April. "Red you are not listening, your name is on the headline." Bertha whined. "It doesn't matter. You go to Mama and tell her this. I will join you guys later." Red said. She was leaving California and moving to New York. "I only changed the home, you are moving from the city." April said sadly. Red hugged her, "It doesn't matter." "You changed so much, Red." April said, rubbing her back and pulling away. "Time and moments forced me." "Are you still waiting for him?" An empty smile to Red's lips as she replied, "April I stopped waiting for the day I didn't invite him to my first show." "I am leaving." Red sighed. "Take care and make sure to pay visits." "You too." They bid goodbye and part ways. Red moved to NYC while April continued to live in California. Red went to New York City, marking her name there, becoming prominent as a well-known brand and taking unstoppable steps towards success and to spark her name more, all she needed was Erich's name. She needs partnership with him and for this, she is in his cabin, talking about it. Red cautiously grazed at Erich who dominantly looked out of the window while putting his hand in his pocket. "Ms Bennet, Observing your success, I was certain one day you will reach the point to work with me." Holding pride over his name, he emphasized on me, itching Red. "It would be an honor, Sir." Red said, with her heart thumping but holding the cold affectation. Erich turned to Red and walked closer. "You know my name is international." He said, stopping in front of her. "Yes." She replied. "And unfortunately, you are still a local brand." He moved and closed their prospectus. "I am sorry, Ms Bennet you still haven't reached that point where you can work with me." He shrugged, looking at her, taking Red by surprise. "Why, Sir?" She asked. "Simple; Your name is surely growing but not enough for me to pay attention. Your name is limited to America." He said, leaning on the table, closing his arms at his chest. "But, Sir-" He straightened his back and moved to his seat while saying. "If you are thinking of using my name to spread your name, then you are wrong." He took a seat. "You need to reach the sky yourself, all I could provide is illumination, not the path." He smirked, making Red frown as with great difficulty she suppressed her scowl. She heard it from other designers as well but from him, it made her burn. "If I can reach the sky, I can gain light myself." Red retorted. Erich let out a mocking laugh and raised a brow amusingly. "This delusion will lead you nowhere, Ms Bennet. You know people can distinguish between my fabrics and local ones and not to mention- My name increases the dress worth by seventy percent." He let out a triumphant smile telling her this. "Yes, I know, Sir." Red couldn't speak further. "It was nice to meet you, hope to see you in the future." Erich said, giving her the file. "Thank you for giving your time, Sir." Red said, standing up and offering him a handshake. Erich's lips curved upward from one side as he leaned back, not taking her hand, "Maybe when we will become partners." He said. Humiliated, Red curled her hand in a fist and pulled it back, forcing a smile. "I understand." She barely managed to speak. "Have a good day." She said and left. Red went to the parking lot with Carter and hit the tyre of her car angrily, cursing. "That motherfucker! What does he think of himself!? Acting so high and mighty." Red growled. Opening the first button of her shirt and running her hand in her hair, making it messy, cursing Erich. His words hurt her ego more than she could imagine, burning her. "Calm down, he was right in a sense. Our name is still not noticeable enough." Carter reasoned. "Still.. How dare he?" She hissed, taking deep breaths to lessen her anger. "He was just doing his work." Carter said, opening the door for Red. "Come, let's go back and show him what we can do." With a frown, Red muttered something under her breath and got inside. After Red left his cabin, he chuckled to himself, watching how seething was dripping from her gaze. "You already hate me, what difference would it make if it increases? What about me? I was devastated, a little more wouldn't hurt." Erich sighed and called Kylie, "Oh my, Erich?" Her voice came, taken aback by his call. "Where are you nowadays?" He asked. "Where else? London, of course." "Have you ever heard, Red Bennet's name?" "Oh, the designer who is identical to Iris Grave?" Kylie asked. "Yeah, her. I want you to sponsor a show for her in London," "Why would I?" She asked. "Because I am saying." "On one condition." "What?" "I will sponsor a show for her in London, but the one who will take care of finance, would be you." She demanded. Erich smirked and replied, "Sure thing." With this he cut the call. Red, who was fuming in her office, still hung up on the rejected handshake, tapped her pen on the desk, gritting her teeth. At that time, Carter came, "Ms Bennet." "What?" She rudely asked. "We just received an offer from Ms Kylie, she wants to sponsor a show in London for you next month." His words soothed her a bit. "Hmm? Really?" "Yes." He nodded. "He called us a local brand, I won't return until I show him what I can do." Red said to herself. "Ms Bennet why are you taking this so personal?" Carter asked. "Personal? Are you kidding me? He just hurt my pride, that's all." Red shrugged. "Jonathon Dot did the same but you weren't like this." "Don't piss me, I am working. I will take a look into their offer, you leave." Red muttered, glaring at him. He nodded and left, bewildered by her wrath. Later, Red had her flight to London, her heart was thumping against her chest, she was looking at her anklet which she still hadn't taken off. Red bit her lips nervously as a voice from inside her came, "How long are you going to wait? It's been a year, if he wanted to come, he would have done it sooner."