When Oneil finally got discharged from the hospital, the house that suddenly got strange though the same has welcomed him with all the warmth he seemed to miss for a long time. Jacques even met him at the door. His face is filled with surprise and relief.
Oneil nodded at him as a greeting. This young man has been antagonizing Oneil in all of his pursuits within his career. But Oneil never took him seriously. He’s just a kid who’s bound to learn more.
“How are you while I’m not around?” Oneil asked that surprised his cousin.
“Not that great,” Jacques was careful in his answer. Is he talking about the incident in Forestier Village? But these familiar words and the way Oneil would show a knowing smirk after that question brings Jacques to compare it with Oneil’s past attitude.
Oneil also got amused at Jacques’ response. Just like how he always do whether Jacques answered with fury, sarcasm or silence.
“You have grown up. That’s good. You’re not s
Everything is relatively peaceful. And such state is more dangerous than the knowledge of an impending doom. Gwyneth doesn’t know what’s her reaction to make. It’s hard to take Oneil’s recovered yet selective memories as worth to celebrate for. He has just returned to the frightening and cold version of himself. The very character that Gwyneth always tried to get along although he would scold her from time to time. But Gwyneth pities her cousin. He doesn’t know Essi has been the best part of his life. She is his new but better reason to be more efficient in work. Admittedly, Gwyneth knows that sadness has won over her dislike on the old version of her cousin.Gwyneth stares at the gift that Oneil placed in her desk. She could only laugh at herself because it was her spoiled attitude that prompted Oneil to always give her gifts after his work. She has gotten used to no more receiving it that it felt strange.She went towards his office. One
Oneil has a little prejudice on the person that they have to meet. If it is not for his cousin, he wouldn’t be agreeing for a meet up. Jacques modified his schedule and intended it to be in line with the dinner in the house of the Doltos. Oneil has to cancel his prior appointment since the new one reminds him to commit in business.“Where is that person we’re going to meet?” Oneil has already set himself to be impatient. His priced watch, the only article in himself that would make everyone around understand what kind of economic status he has, tells him that there is only a minute left before the sharp time meant for the dinner.“Hello, Oneil.”The greeting itself made Oneil to secretly smirk. Doesn’t this person know how formal and solemn this meeting should be? Her voice is not even familiar to Oneil. What makes her to deal with him casually? He lift his head to meet a woman with the glimmer of her eyes. Oneil nodded
Jacques has a history of pulling pranks on people. If shock didn’t flee from her, Essi might not be able to realize about such an irrefutable reality. What if Jacques just stirred the dinner scene by his mischief? In any case, why would Oneil collude with him? Not unless it’s Oneil’s idea too to get things disturbed. Victor once mentioned that Oneil was probably displeased about them being together. He might have intended their meet to pour those feelings. Unfortunately, Essi got irritated on him as well. She should have been more understanding especially when she sensed some flares of anger coming from Oneil. Essi convinced herself that if she can have a heart-to-heart talk with Oneil right away, this problem will be cleared out.She tried calling on him. Thankfully, he answered.“Oneil, can I have some time to talk to you?” Essi asked gently. “I’m sorry for what I did last night. I was just irritated. Can I make it up to you?
It is always in the dark busy highways that Essi could meet her saddest moments. But she didn't care about this traffic towards St. Tropez. Her schedule was supposed to guide her thinking. She must be attuned on participating to the culmination of the econ-conference. But she has been trained under pressure and can still think quick amid emotional turmoil only if she is already within that situation. The culmination is still far. Her car is quiet. The music didn't help but only remind her of Oneil. Is the future where there is no home? Everything around leads her to the memories of him. There's the mascot still giving out fliers along the streets. Oneil cannot choose her now not because he cannot remember, but because it is hard for Oneil to believe in her. Upon closing her eyes, she let the silence fight her misery. When she arrived in St. Tropez, she dealt with the guests and corporate personalities as if she's not having any thorns in her flesh. The success she had in the
Oneil couldn’t believe that Essi would just dive to the waters for a mere ring that she declared to be thrown away. What has gotten into her? She successfully drew him to follow her. From the dock, where Essi has actually managed to run and dive from it's nearer side, he joined the waters too. Fortunately, the luminescence of the moon penetrates through the water and makes the white clothes of the woman distinct in his sight. He swam throughout and took her hand. But she was trying to get away from him to go down. “Essi, it’s dangerous!” Oneil told her when they got both of their heads above the water. “And no way can we still find that ring now.” He kept holding Essi closer to him just to stop her. But Essi pushed him to escape from his hold. “Did I tell you to find it for me? I’m searching it on my own,” she replied while walking back to the farther part of the seafloor. She’s hoping that the ring would wink with brightness at her. The moon is helping her. But the
Oneil has been swamped with the need to check the details of the foundation. He is near to accurate. But the lack of information on how the Mercator Group started hinders him from his goal. It would be a shame to ask Grant when Oneil is the one tasked to supervise the entire program. When he decides to take a break, someone is looking for him. It seems like he couldn’t get busier today. His mind is already filled with thoughts about what he has done back then. He’s a perfectionist. That same reason should at least make him relieved that he didn’t do anything wrong. But now, he’s doing otherwise. It’s because of Essi. He must have messed up big-time to get tangled with her. He doesn’t have enough confidence in himself anymore to believe that he didn’t fail at some point. It’s because of Essi that he finds himself strange these days. He’s been trying to find himself and that is the least of all the things that the Oneil Mercator would like to do. He discovered many thing
There is something suspicious about where Oneil spent some of his money. Why did he purchase another house when he already has one for himself? All the documents are revealing his ownership of this property. He decided to visit the place only to meet the familiar silhouette of the woman he wanted to ask about the M&A. He was waiting for the right time to ask Essi because of the considerations hindering him. He cannot get impulsive on preventing the M&A without enough knowledge about it. “How did you get in here?” Oneil asked while trying to be calm. Every footstep he made towards her was loud enough to fill the hall. Essi didn’t startle. She turned around with a subtle sigh. She showed up the keys that helped her to enter. “You gave this to me so that I may come around.” “Now I see. I must have bought this for you,” he said coldly. His fingers were touching the tables smoothly. A speck of dust ended up in his finger. “Are you starting to get r
Another day has come in the house of the Mercators. As if the confrontation didn't happen, Grant keeps on inquiring about the progress of the anniversary preparation. Where there are discussions about the business, the others resorted to not meddling and let themselves only listen to the conversation. This is always how their breakfast goes anyway. They eat about the business plans and drink the market strategies. "All the target programs are going smoothly on their progress. But in terms of the foundational aspect, challenges are meeting our way." "And what you should do about that?" Grant asked a warning that Oneil should not ask for help from him. "We will solve it right away, Sir." How else should Oneil respond? He can't make war with the old man. Grant has been clear in his instructions that he would not stop Oneil on how he would handle the anniversary and he would not care about the outcome except to see it successful. It is also a sensible thing