Muse [18+] • REVISING

21 | Tunnel Vision

V E R A

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"Congrats on getting through your first week here. Passez un bon week-end, tout le monde." [have a lovely weekend, everyone.]

All of my classes this week consisted of getting familiar with the campus and going through endless packets of syllabi, causing the past four days to go by in slow increments. The one thing that proved to be the hardest though was finding somewhere I fit in. Unlike back home, it seemed much more difficult to make friends here as most students at Beaux-Arts were from Europe. Aside from surface level conversations with a few people during orientation, none of them actually stuck.

Packing up my stuff, I walked down the steps of the lecture hall and made my way out of the room. As I only had one class today, it was barely noon, meaning the rest of the day would consist of being at the museum. Seeing Damien.

Having not heard from him since the last time we spoke, I had no idea what was going on with the break-in situation aside from a few texts from Cordelia telling me that it's still a work in progress. Pushing my paranoia and doubt aside, I convinced myself to focus solely on the fact that I'd be receiving my paycheck next week. Just a half day more of work to get through.

Taking the elevator to the parking garage, I made the short trek to the car that Damien had lent me for the time being. After doing my research and looking up "How much does an Audi R8 cost?", why he would trust me with a two-hundred thousand dollar vehicle was a question that racked my brain at least twice a day.

Still getting used to pressing a button in order to start the car, the engine ignited where I then put in directions for the museum on my phone before driving out of the parking lot.

❦

Walking through the back entrance of the museum, I made my way to Cordelia's office to try and get more updates out of her. Walking up the long staircase, I heard yelling coming from down the hall—Damien's office. Peaking my interest, I wandered towards the beginning of the corridor, careful to not make any noise as one of his doors was slightly open.

"Que voulez-vous dire par "un jeu de clés a disparu"? Vous êtes le chef de notre sécurité! Putain, pourquoi je vous paie?" Damien's loud voice echoed throughout the hallway. [what do you mean by "a set of keys has disappeared"? you are the chief of our security! why the fuck am i paying you?"

Although I was unable to make out what he was saying, I knew better than to walk in and bother him with my attendance. Turning around, I walked down the right-side hallway, towards Cordelia's office and knocked on the door.

"Come in," She yelled.

"Guess who's here," I smiled, pushing the door open with excitement.

"Vera, sweetheart! Come sit," She gestured to the chairs in front of her desk.

Closing the door behind me, I placed my bag on the corner of one of the leather chairs and sat down. Looking up at Cordelia, her face was painted with a concerned expression. A newfound bothered demeanor blanketed her.

"How are you doing?" She asked, sincerely, placing her hands on the desk.

"Eh...I'm okay," I answered, not sure how to answer the rather broad question. "First week of classes went by pretty smoothly. I'm glad to be back here though,"

"I mean with the exhibit and all. I know you put a lot of work into Femme de Sexe," She continued, seeming as if she was trying to carefully choose her words.