Chapter 3

Michael.

I yawned as I steered my car into the underground parking lot, hoping that I was at the right place or rather, in the right mind. After playing hooky for an hour, I decided to give the employees a break and actually come to this lousy party. The booze must be worth it or else someone's going to die tonight.

Suddenly receiving an email from my father after twelve years, requesting for me to take over his company, gave my peaceful life a complete one-eighty degree flip.

Although I was an Accounts graduate, my whole life has been centered on photography. The thing that shocked me the most wasn't the request in it but the person who sent it. My father never had much interest in me. I thought that he'd give the company to my goody-two-shoes younger brother who, last time I checked, was such a devoted ass kisser.

I looked around and noticing that nobody was there, I slowed my car down before looking into the compartment under the radio for my pack of gum. I suddenly heard a loud thump and my head instantly shot up, my eyes meeting a strange pair of mismatched eyes. One was a beautiful ocean blue and the other was a soft emerald green.

It was a short, young woman and she was a mess. She quickly regained her composure after taking a few steps back and continued her speed walk.

Without much thought, I turned off the engine and got out of my car. I quickly caught up to her and grabbed her by the elbow. "What the hell was that? A suicide attempt!?" I hissed as she turned to face me. "If you want to die so badly, choose someone else's car."

"I'm so sorry. My m-mind was occupied and I didn't think I'd-" She brought her hands up to her face as she burst into tears. "I'm sorry."

My eyes widened in surprise. "Hey now, I'm sorry. I admit that my tone was a little harsh but you don't have to cry about it."

"It's not-" she sniffed as she wiped her hands on her jeans. "It's just.... Oh God, I'm being so pathetic right now. I'm sorry."

"Could you quit apologising?" I gave her arm a slight tug. "I could take you for a drive to clear your head if you're okay with it."

She pulled her arm away. "No, thanks. My car is over there and I'm heading home right now."

I looked at her closely and hummed. "Let's take a walk around the area then."

"Sorry, sir bu-"

"This place has good security and I'm sure that I can't kill you here. If anything, you're just going to cry in your car while drowning in self-hatred."

She hesitated but nodded after a while. I was surprised that she actually agreed but a little happy nonetheless. Seeing people cry troubled me more than I liked to admit. As soon as we left the parking lot's sheltering warmth, we were engulfed by spring's cool embrace.

I glanced at the woman walking beside me. She had her arms around herself as she tried to hide the trembling of her body. I sighed and I took off my coat before throwing it at her. She looked at me with wide eyes, completely surprised by my gesture.

"Never seen a coat before? It's ninety percent cotton," I said.

"Thanks," she mumbled as she put it on.

"Uhm... So why were you crying?" I cleared my throat, hoping my question wasn't too much of a deadpan. "I understand if you don't want to tell me. After all, I'm just a stranger but after your family and friends I guess that.... I'm the next best thing?" I stated not really sure of where I was heading with this.

She hesitated again. Well, who wouldn't? I was just someone who had too much free time on my hands. "Something really embarrassing happened and I want to disappear." She sighed heavily and I could tell that she had a lot on her chest. "I don't even know how I'll be able to show my face at work tomorrow."

"What happened?" I asked after a few minutes of silence.

"My co-workers aren't the nicest people but I try my best to avoid trouble. Today, my arch nemesis just embarrassed me in front of the whole staff." She pursed her lips in irritation. "Now my hair is apricot flavoured."

I chuckled.

"It's not funny," she said with an adorable pout.

"It's a little funny." I dug my hands into the warmth of my pant's pockets. "You know, people will always find reasons to dislike someone. Even having no reason to be disliked can make you disliked by someone so, you should learn how to stand up for yourself and don't allow yourself to be pulled along by your arch nemesis."

She nodded slowly. "They don't bother to be discreet about it though. They think that I can't hear them at all."

I hummed. "Is it hard to pretend that you haven't?"

She looked at me then turned her gaze back to the ground in thought. "I never thought of that."

"Talk it out with your best friend. Women like that sort of thing, right?" I stopped and turned to face her completely. I took out my handkerchief and handed it to her. "The rain's stopped but it's still cold. Take care of yourself."

Before I knew it, we were back in the parking lot and I walked her to her car. She turned around and smiled at me. "Thank you."

I nodded, figuring that it was time for me to put the party attendants out of their misery. "I have somewhere I need to be. See you whenever."

~

Alexia.

The walk to my station the following Monday was the most uncomfortable thing I've ever experienced. I kept getting curious stares from people while others tried to ignore me but failed miserably. I had to force myself up from the love of my life, my bed, to come for work today. The least they could do was cut me some slack.

The secretary on the front desk told me that the new boss was already in the office with his father and I was very nervous. I never had the chance to meet him at the party and I wondered what kind of person he was. Reaching the door of Mr. Clarkson's office, I knocked on the wood as I carefully balanced two lattes on the holder.

"Come in," the usual rough voice replied and I realised just how much I would miss him when his son takes over.

"Good morning, sir. I've gotten you and your son lattes or are you in the mood for a proper breakfast?" I asked with a soft smile as I walked inside the room and put the beverages on the table. The chair across his table was empty and I resisted the urge to look around.

"That won't be necessary," Mr. Clarkson said. "Alex, please show my son around the company and be of great assistance to him as you are to me. Make sure that he gets the hang of things perfectly."

I guess that miracles do happen. He finally got my name right.

My eyes finally caught sight of the tall man standing a short distance away. His black suit beautifully held onto his slightly bulk build and his black hair was neatly gelled back. He had his back turned to me while he stared out of the windows.

"Yes, sir," I replied.

He stood up from his seat. "You can start working now, Michael, is that okay?" He asked his son but after receiving no reply, he sighed and left.

I was a little surprised by this and wondered why Michael hadn't responded, but I didn't linger on that thought. It was not my place to worry.

"Good morning, Mr. Clarkson. Do you need a tour or must I read out your schedule first?" I asked cheerfully as I approached him.

"I'm not a child, I know this place already. Read out the schedule," he demanded coldly and I was taken aback.

I paused in my steps. "W-well, since you're new, I put off your meetings until next week and this week will mainly be about you knowing more about the company. Is that agenda suitable for you?"

"Yes," he turned and I chocked on the gasp I tried to contain.

It was the same stranger who comforted me on Saturday. The chocolate brown eyes and his smooth deep voice were all too familiar. I was too occupied to notice then, but he was a very handsome man.

Letting out a small breath, I smiled at him and almost said something concerning that night when he suddenly walked passed me.

"Schedule, please," he said as he sat down on his desk and by the tone of his voice, he was getting impatient.

His indifferent attitude baffled me. It was like he was a completely different person from the gentleman I thought he was. Where was the gentleness he portrayed that night?

"Sorry," I said and cleared my throat before doing as he asked. As I read it out, I kept stealing glances at him to see if he recognized me but he didn't even look at me properly the entire time. "That's all for today," I said, closing the notepad and putting it on his desk.

"You can leave."

"Uhm...." I began nervously and he looked up from the file he was reading through.

"What?"

"Mr. Clarkson, your dad, what will he be doing now? Has he retired?"

"Why don't you ask him yourself?"

"I'm sure that he's already quite busy."

"But I'm not?" Before I could respond, he interrupted. "He's on vacation. He'll be back after a few months at another branch."

I nodded, seeing that he wasn't up for a talk, and went back to my desk. I thought that as the day went by, he'd be more relaxed but he kept up with his unfriendly attitude. I guess that night was only meaningful to me, huh?