CHAPTER ONE
"I loved you for a thousand years and missed you in all of them."― Christina Strigas, Love & Vodka: a book of poetry for glass hearts TWO YEARS LATER ~ The employees chattered loudly while they enthusiastically awaited the arrival of their new boss. They were very thrilled to meet this new female boss as the rumor has it that the new CEO of this small branch of TO International is the daughter of the former chief executive officer of the company, which meant that the company will finally take care of this small branch and increase its production rate, which simply meant: more money and better salaries.The employees heard the sound of the elevator moving towards them, approaching like a hawk, and their heartbeat began to race as they hit the culmination point of their enthusiasm, and fear for their future. For, this either meant a better future or a worse one. There was nothing in between, and they knew it.Suddenly, the elevator stopped, opened, and there was dead silence sweeping over the room along with the sound of high heels clicking against the floors-- all mingled with the waft of an expensive women's perfume, the price of which was equal to the price of some people's apartment rent.She stood in front of them with charisma that attracted everyone's attention, then spoke in a voice full of confidence, yet managed to maintain its sweet kindness as she said, "Hello, I am Valentina, the new CEO, and it is an honor to meet all of you, and get to know you. I hope that we will work together diligently, hand in hand, for the future of TO International, and for the sake of this branch, we want to promote its condition to become like the rest of the branches. I want you to believe that there is no certain secret to success," She took a small pause as she looked around her at the strange faces before carrying on, "for, success is only a result of preparation, practice, hard work, and learning from failures. "Valentina made a slight bend of her head in gratitude in the midst of the employees' applause, and the words of praise that rained down on her. Everyone seemed optimistic about their professional future after those few words she uttered. The new president won the approval of all employees almost instantly, especially men. After all, nothing arouses admiration more than a strong and beautiful woman who is well aware of what is going on in the surrounding environment, does it not?No, it doesn't. Especially not to him.There, far among the happy and cheering crowd, he stood glaring with a scowl on his face.He was looking at her from afar whilst sweating from the horror of the sudden shock that had befallen him upon her arrival, to the point that he started trembling out of rage.Unable to control his nerves or move his body, he blinked his eyes quickly, in hopes that she would disappear or at least just turn into a resemblance of a woman of the girl he once knew.Fear, anger, and hate were all feelings that swept over Dean's body like a tornado and it made him lose his sense of those around him because, at that very moment, she was the only one he saw. He grasped his right palm so violently that his nails began to hurt the flesh of his hand, trying to control his body as he whispered under his breath, "Bloody hell!"The fact that she had the nerve not only to show up in front of him after all these years but to have the audacity to think that now he was supposed to work under her mercy, no less than a personal assistant, made him seethe with rage. "I will see this face of hers from the start of my day to its end," He passed his hand through his dark hair in anger, "But no, I will not allow a which like herself to seize my golden opportunity at work here, there must be some solution to get rid of a mental case like herself without harming my future." He thought to himself."So where is my new assistant? Is he not present today?" Valentina asked the crowd in puzzlement since her assistant was supposed to be one of the first people to meet her at the airport; and also because her entire agenda was with him, and she needed to start planning and working as soon as possible.Confused, everyone began to look around with worry, they could swear that Dean had been standing next to them only a few moments before and now he was nowhere to be seen until his friend John spotted him heading to the hallway exit, away from the people's eyes.John moved towards his friend, whispering the dirtiest insults an ear could ever hear.He looked directly into his friend's eyes, his blood running with rage, as he whisper-shouted at Dean: "Are you crazy? Do you want to lose your job? You were supposed to wait for her at the airport before she even landed in Seattle, but instead, you did not welcome her even after she arrived. You amaze me, Edgar!""I'm sorry John, but I don't feel well. In fact, I want to ask permission to leave," He said, avoiding his friend's gaze, since controlling himself had become more difficult with each passing minute he was in that bloody room with her.Pressing his forehead with his fingertips, he sighed and his friend continued, "At least welcome her before you go. You don't want the new president of the branch to make a bad impression on you on her first day here, do you?" He tried to encourage Dean with a sincere smile as he continued, "Who would have believed that Valentina would become our boss one day? Are we not so lucky?"Dean's eyes darkened as the words of his friend ran through his mind before he said with a poker face and an emotionless voice, "You are right, I must give her a good impression."John didn't like his friend's unenthusiastic response, but before he had a chance to comment, Dean had already begun walking towards the commotion, heading towards Valentina.CHAPTER TWO 'The only thing worse than a boy who hates you: a boy that loves you." ― Markus Zusak, The Book Thief It had been a long time since he last saw her, now that he finally glimpsed a sight of her after three years full of anguish and hatred, he couldn't seem to realize whether this feeling that was flooding against his spine and heart was in fact out of longing for her, or out of pure rage. "Hello, Miss. Cuthbert, it is an honor to meet you, I am your new assistant, Dean Edgar." He spoke as if nothing had happened just a few seconds ago, or more clearly as if he didn't just ignore his duty towards the new boss on the first day of her arrival, and that he didn't even welcome her as he was supposed to. She flashed a little smile at him, returning his fake smile, but without raising her hand towards him to shake hands as she has done with the rest of the staff. "It is all my honor, Mr. Edgar, I hope we will work in harmony together for the sake of this branch." Her words de
CHAPTER THREE “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that."― Martin Luther King Jr., A Testament of Hope: The Essential Writings and Speeches The first day of work has come after the weekend, and Dean still couldn't believe that she had the nerve enough to show up in front of him again. After all, she has done. To him. He had expected, or maybe hoped, that she would not deal with him much because of the past between them, but, much to his dismay, she called on him whenever the opportunity allowed her. She did not have a driving license, so she couldn't drive and hence it became one of his duties as her assistant to relocate her from her apartment to the company and vice versa, which meant that he was literally forced to see her face from the beginning of his day at work to Its end. As for Valentina, she was trying to make sure that she did not make any mistakes in order to save the image of her family's company. Sh
Chapter 04"She's mad, but she's magic. There's no lie in her fire." ― Charles BukowskiThe lark had made an appearance just when I started to lose faith in myself; as if he were a sign from The Mother to make me get going, and not to let morbid thoughts imprison me in a hopeless state of mind. I had to make it in time, there was no way that I was to leave them waiting, and thus angering the spirits of the woods. I've got this.For some reason or other, the trees seemed to let me go smoothly this time, and the once freezing, chilly air seemed to warm up after he vanished out of nowhere. I wondered if he were one of the immortal creatures of the bushes that lived all their lives lurking in the deep spooky woods; I wondered if they were harmless, or if one of them was to appear and block my way again.The lark, flying high in the, now, breezy night; escorted me all the way while I held the
Chapter 05"Fire and IceSome say the world will end in fire,Some say in ice." ―Robert FrostFloating up in the atmosphere withmy knees curled uptomy chest in a ball of fire,I realized I was shaking, wincing in pain, breathing heavily; and that my body control was not working under my will. I strived to stop the seething heat that was coming out of me, but nothing I did seemed to work. I couldn't fathom where possibly have I gone wrong. Was it some word I said wrong? I spent years reading the book of enchanted rhymes, and love spells that I found in the attic one time when I and Ophé were but little kids playing hide and seek. Could it be a forged copy? Had I angered the spirits, the trees, the lethal creatures?Doomed in
CHAPTER 06"And
CHAPTER 07"December's wintery breath is already clouding the pond, frosting the pane, obscuring summer's memory..."―John Geddes A Familiar Rain
CHAPTER 08"You'll forget it when you're dead, and so will I. When I am dead, I'm going to forget everyting- and I advice you to do the same."―Kurt Vonnegut
CHAPTER 09"All kowledge meets an end at the question'...WHY?'"―Criss Jami, Healology