A Dorian Gray Story

On that snowy day, while every soul was at home, Dian said goodbye to his pyjamas and left for the New Year’s event which he held for his boss. Since he was planning to return home before the party started, he decided to put on comfortable clothes.

Streets were empty, under the white snow that had fallen throughout the week the city was getting ready to celebrate. He stared at the windows along the way, he could see the lights shining from the Christmas trees. At one point, he let out a silent curse when he slipped on the ice. It was too cold that steam came out of his mouth with every breath he took. He waited nearly an hour for the metro due to the extended expeditions during holiday period. Sometimes his job had to come first in his life, he had come to terms with that now.

His boss was a fatherlike man to him. He was once treated him with a bottle of quality brandy after his 65th birthdays celebration and spent an hour to chat with him. He was the man he trusted and care. After all, he was doing all his private events, dinners and many other stuff for him. That thoughts comforted him a bit in return of his sacrifices.

When he arrived at the office he checked the party area if there were any lacking things. He was always careful with the details which is one of his best competence that he was proud of. The party was at the roof top of the high office building, it serve as a private space for high level people. Thanks to his profession, when no one had ever been to this room, he had watched that beautiful city view many times with an expensive cold glass of wine.

That day, on the contrary he was planning to leave as early as he can. He wanted to spent his night under the warm blanket watching his favorite movies. As he was thinking at the bar of the private room, his boss came in. He smiled at him against this magnificent preparation and twinkled with excitement. Small chambers separated by hanging tulle from the ceiling with silver drink buckets and very inviting treats. Warm sofas covered with cozy fur were ready to watch the city view from the glass walls and in the very center of the room, there was a burning glass fireplace which was mounted on the ceiling. “Soo, dear Dian! I was expecting to find you here. It was a rough week for you, so please stay with us and have some fun for me.” He had to give it in against his bosses demand which wasn’t expecting an answer.

With a forced smile on his face Dian checked his unsuitable clothes from the mirror, got up and started to wait for the guests to arrive. As he left the hall the boss showed his contentment by tapping his shoulder. One of his favorite Brahms was playing. Although Dian wasn't wealthy, he always thought he was a man of taste.

One by one fancy women, stylish men and some older dignified people filled the room. People were talking, maybe making deals, dancing and laughing on the top of the highest building in the city, in a majestic glass room covered with snowy sky. In hours as various of shows and artists passed, a jazz band started to perform and the dessert was served. He had already drank 3 glasses of champaign, was hanging out by the bar at his best observing spot. He was trying to enjoy his time by over hearing some adventure stories of some collectors. For instance, original art pieces or mysterious objects which they were still trying to decrypt. He knew his boss was one of them, for his opinion it’s a wealthy persons way of satisfaction.

He felt a light finger tapping on his shoulder. When he turned back, he saw a handsome gentleman with a blood red couture suit. From his stance he seemed like a noble person, it was hard to say his age but when he started to talk he appeared to be at his 70’s , anyways he was glamouring. “Dearest Dian, would you please show me where the private room please?” Dian was unable to hide his confusion against the information this guest got. Only he and his bosses assistant got the key of the room, so this question was not a coincidence. “Oh, sorry if I was too direct. Me and your boss want some more of his special champaign, if possible.” Dian checked his boss across the room. He was talking and laughing with a lady. “Would you like to ask him to confirm?” He hesitated to interrupt him at such a moment. That would be very inappropriate, so he decided to go and get the bottles for him. The man kindly accompanied him to elevators. While he was talking mint scent spread from his mouth and Dian could also smell his luxury fragrance diffuse from his hair. He was already facinated by his guest’s charming look and dominating demeanour.

When they got away from the earful party, his guest frowned “How rude of me!” turned to him smiling “I didn’t introduce myself. This is Dorian, I am a collector.” Eyed him from head to foot. “As it seemed you are the right arm of one of the greatest boss and the art collector of this continent.” Dian couldn’t find an word to say, glanced away to hide his shy. He was proud. When elevator arrived at the floor, Dian ran throughout the hall, aimed to reach the office alone. There was a private section of the office which was hidden at the back of the wall. When his boss handed him the key for the first time, he told him that they had to kill the people who built these rooms in ancient times to keep it as a secret.

He left the lights off to keep privacy. The door was not visible at first glance, as it was camouflaged on the wall. Dian found the small hole underneath the cap and reached to his necklace to grab the little key. By the time he unlocked, a crack like sound came from inside. The thick metal door opened smoothly. He checked his guest before he entered, with slow steps Dorian was still on the way.

It was an unexpectedly large room, smell like expensive leather and cigar. That was a privilege for him, sharing his bosses trophy. He had been here so rare and knew that his guest should never have been in this office. That made him nervous.

He checked the wall covered with locked drawers at one side, in the middle there was a heavy golden safe and at it’s side there were some leather cases in different sizes. He went towards the soft illuminated bar. By the time he grabbed the bottles from the cooler, he saw the charming man stood at the entrance of the room. He was playing with a coctail spoon at his hand while examining the room. “What a mysterious room dear Dian... I can smell the brandy and cigars.” He walked towards the bar and reached for the wooden cigar chest. “May I smell them? Maybe I can buy one of these cigars.” Dian knew that he was wealthy. Only wealthy people could tell the difference between cigar scents. Why not he thought, he had already seen the room. Probably he had one too.

While he was trying to go out, Dorian hit his arm and a bottle fell on the ground broken into pieces. It was a schocking moment. “At least I have to save the carpet!” he thought. So he ran back to the hall and instead of the slow elevator he used the fire escape to reach the cleaning room. When he got back breathless, his guest was waiting, siting on the huge table of his boss and smoking one of his cigars. Smiled at him behind the smoke he blew with sharp blue eyes. “Dear Dian! It was a pleasure to met you. Let me grab the bottles for you to upstairs and let’s forget what happened here. People are toooo drunk righ tnow, no one will ever recognise what happened. I’ll see you upstairs my dearest friend. Ok?” He walked calmly out of the room.  

After cleaned up the carpet Dian got upstairs, he was upset of his careless acts! He had broken an expensive champaigne and let a guest saw his bosses private treasure. What kind of charm had blinded him and caused such a destruction. Party got louder, windows were steaming because of the heat and people were swaying around with enchanted expressions on their faces. In later hours there left flirting and kissing people in the room. His boss was also at his chamber with Dorian and two other ladies. Despite the distance between them he could still feel the effect of this special guest on him. Everyone in the chamber was listening to him, fascinated by his charming voice and stare. He felt anger and desperate with jealousy. His name was echoing in his head, Dorian! He had used him and now left him alone when he was done. All the blame would be on him. Anyways, he knew that he had cleaned his bosses room so well, that no one would ever suspect of any champaign bottle loss.

After the new years holiday Dian got back to office, refreshed and prepared to start his new working period. He found a small gift box standing on his desk. Made him too happy! He knew his boss would thank him of his great efforts. When he opened the package, a luxury wooden box appeared. There was “DG” letters carved at one side. He pushed the small metalic button, it clicked and opened itself slowly. In the middle of the blood red satin there were button sized pare of diamond cufflinks. There was also a small note “Thank you Dian! Life for a life. Please accept this gift as a payment.” signed again with “DG” letters same as the carving on the box.

While he was trying to understand the situation he heard the nail steps of his bosses assistant Nadia. She was cold as always entering his room. She took pleasure while telling him that he fired because of a precious painting that got lost. Therefore he got too lucky that he just fired! Any other person who would be at his place would face very serious consequences. While she left, she examined the room. “You’ll never be able to step in this building ever again and leave as soon as possible without getting anything.” she hissed.

The job that he believed he had raised from and ever owned had slipped out of his hands. He felt the cold fire burned his heart. When he had been able to ease his sadness and daze, he headed to his bosses office to upstairs. He ran up against Nadia when he stepped out of the elevator. He checked the huge doors at the end of the hall, they were closed. Nadia told him that his boss left early and again, he would never want to see him. So Dian turned back to his desk.

One last time he took a moment to look at his office. He remembered his celebrations, good and bad times. He cursed Dorian from inside but also he was aware of the fact that it was his mistake too. Therefore he had no more words to say, he had to settle for what he got. He left without saying farewell to anyone.

So he took his only fortune, two diamond cufflinks and returned home... Later he heard about the painting at the news. Rumor has it, the painting belonged to a cursed young man’s portrait who never got old. Who cares after all he thought, he knew he was not strong enough to strugle with rich people’s problems. Tomorrow he was planning to go and sell the cufflinks. Afterwards he was planning to stay at home for along time and watch the movies he wanted.