Chapter 22

In a blink of an eye, the day for the grand opening of Essence was finally here. Helen, Isabelle, and the staff had gone home early the previous day after crossing off a checklist. Helen was tired of being inside the restaurant as it only made her constantly worry about something else every two seconds. For her sanity, it was best she went home and let the day play out as it would.

Her employee's also needed the rest even more than she did. Tomorrow would be an important day for all of them just like Helen. They would get to showcase the skills they gained from training and to prove to Helen she had hired the right people for the job. Cody, Jacob, Sasha, Marc, and a new waiter Nicole Adams hired by Marc, all wanted to make Helen have a successful grand opening.

Nicole was hired by Marc last minute and Helen decided to give him the chance to prove she was reliable considering he hired her so late. Helen had paid careful attention to the training her employees went through but she didn't get to see that with Marc. Helen decided to think positively and trust Marc's word as the manager.

Helen had arrived early along with her employees long before 2 pm so they were in the position to greet the guest. Helen felt a lot of pressure in her chest either from nerves or happiness as she counted down the last few minutes. This was it, the day for all her hard work to be showcased.

Helen wore her waist-long silky black hair in a high ponytail, styled by her friend Julie Owen who was a hairdresser. Julie was out of town on a job the last few weeks counting down to the grand opening but arrived last night so she wouldn't miss it. She wore a red pencil bottom dress not going overboard with dressing up too much. It was the grand opening but she wanted to stick to the chill vibe she envisioned for essence.

"There's the boss lady," She heard the familiar voice of Julie. Julie, Jennifer, and Isabelle had all arrived together.

"You changed your hair. When the hell did you have time to do that?" Helen questioned noticing the blonde hair Julie wore last night had changed to blue. She was just complaining about being tired but had enough time to dye her hair? "Why didn't you just sleep?" she asked.

"I was in the blue mood after I did your hair last night. It looks good right?" Julie desperately begged for confirmation about the color. She did this half asleep, half awake early this morning. She was skilled when it came to doing hair but something looked off about her hair right now.

Julie prided herself to be one of the best hairdressers in Harlow city, she couldn't walk around looking crazy. It was either her hair looked one hundred percent awesome or it was terrible. There was no in-between, above or below.

"It looks great. Stop fishing for compliments," Jennifer Hodge commented rolling her eyes at Nicole's need for attention. Jennifer Hodge from an influential family of old money who were in the business of developing automobiles.

"Really? The queen of attention-seeking is telling me that?" Asked Julie bewildered by Jennifer's statement. Jennifer was the optime of attention-seeking so it was like the pot calling the kettle black.

"Why are we friends again?" Helen wondered hearing the bickering started. They could be at each other's throats in one second and gossiping in another.

"You're telling me," Jennifer replied flicking her hair also wondering why chose to be friends with them. Unlike the other three girls she had grown up with a lot of money and there was a, how do you say it politely, bitchiness to her personality.

She was a Hodge who grew up hearing she had the world in her palm. You can't expect someone who was placed on a high pedestal and enjoyed showing you the pedestal to be nice all the time.

The backstory of their odd friendship was Helen knew Isabelle and Isabelle knew Julie because they went to high school together. Julie knew Jennifer because she was her hairstylist. Julie then introduced Jennifer to Isabelle and Isabelle then brought Helen into the mix. Collectively, they had been friends for four years.

"The door is wide open for the both of you to leave if you don't plan to be on your best behavior today," Helen warned ready to kick anyone out she needed to and she didn't care who the person might me. She would kick out a baby if it got things twisted and tried to ruin this moment.

She wouldn't hesitate to personally pick up Jennifer or Julie and throw them outside herself.

"Congratulations," Jennifer said impressed with what Helen created. She honestly didn't expect it would look like this. Now she wanted to move on to the more important topic. "Both myself and Julie are dying to know how on earth did you even manage to hook up with Eli King?"

"He was prime material among myself and a few other friends. All of a sudden he blows up on social and now he happens to be dating you. What gives?" Jennifer demanded to know more. A simple car accident could not have simply led up to this. She would give Helen props for her flirting skills but who was she lying to when she one minute said she hated Eli King but then the very next day she agreed to a date? "Have you two slept together?"

"I don't sleep around on the first date," Helen flat-out denied. With a friend like this who needed enemies? But there were some small redeeming qualities.

As much as Jennifer like to brag about her lifestyle she knew the girl had no real friends outside the business world which was why she always tagged along with Julie to visit Helen and Isabelle.

"How was the date?" Inquired Julie who was just as nosy as the other two to know more. Isabelle had to know something since she was so quiet. What weren't they spilling to her and Jennifer?

"It was your typical date. Food, movie, laughter, and setting up bounds for the future. Can we get back to my opening? You know, the reason why you're all here. My guest is arriving and I'm starting to get annoyed that this whole Eli situation is overshadowing today," Helen's thin line of patience had snapped. She was tired of having to explain her situation with Eli and how legit it was.

Normally she would indulge her friends but she had something much bigger to worry about.

"Sorry, Helen. We've been so caught up about the date we weren't focusing on what you accomplished here today." Isabelle was the first to apologize. Their priority was to celebrate Helen's success. They had one job but they were miserably failing it. "From this moment on everything we say is only about you and essence."

"There's terrible timing with that Bella. The guest are arriving and some customers are pulling in but there's also Eli King at the door right now," Julie commented when she noticed Eli had arrived. It was as though he heard his name being mentioned and arrived for that dramatic moment.

"What?!" The three others exclaimed looking towards the entrance where Eli had indeed arrived.