For a moment, in an uncertain span of time, Andreas could only remain silent. Vlora's questions pierced, penetrated, and permeated. They penetrated Andreas' chest and squeezed the pulsations within.The air escaped. Andreas felt suffocated.Everything was out of his control. No matter how clever Andreas was in assessing his interlocutor. It didn't matter how clever Vlora was in controlling herself to become an unreadable person. In reality, they were still ordinary people with their own wounds.Andreas and Vlora were like mirrors and their reflections. They stared at each other and found duplicates, though for different reasons. Both were children from families that were not whole.There had been betrayal, there had been tragedy. Both had deep wounds in their hearts.Now, after Vlora had said it, Andreas' memories came back. He realized that throughout his life, there had never been a welcome awaiting his return.There was only Amanda. Never Bryan.Oh, not that Andreas wasn't grateful
Monday, long awaited. A general meeting was to be held, and Andreas spent the remaining two hours relaxing in Lucas' office. A cup of black coffee accompanied Andreas. It tasted just right, and ah! Lucas' look made him laugh—almost choking.“You want to say something?” Lucas grumbled. “You looked so relaxed.”“That's life. It should be enjoyed in peace,” Andreas said before taking another sip of coffee. Eyes closed, he sighed with pleasure. “Especially when accompanied by a cup of coffee.”This time Lucas couldn't resist. He left his work for a moment and looked at Andreas, who was sitting on the sofa with a furrowed brow.“Don't tell me you came to see me just to tell Vlora to make you coffee.”Lucas' accusation made Andreas quickly put the coffee cup back on the coaster. His stomach tickled and his body shook with laughter.“Why? Did you not have any coffee?”Andreas laughed until his eyes watered. “Oh, dear. You didn't have to mock me like that.”“As you wish.”Lucas decided to get
Andreas looked at Vlora. The answer implied something. It meant that Jonas not only wanted to meet him, but also Vlora.The elevator stopped. Andreas and Vlora got out and were led to the preparation room not far from the meeting room.An employee greeted Andreas and Vlora. He looked at the guard and nodded once. Andreas, watching, could only shake his head. It was like a symbolic handover, from the guard to the employee.“Where is Jonas?” Andreas asked, not wanting to waste any time. He looked at his watch and the meeting would start in twenty minutes. “I don't have much time for his games.”The clerk smiled. “Mr. Jonas is inside. Let me show you, sir.”The door opened. Andreas and Vlora entered and immediately noticed Jonas' presence.“Mr. Andreas and Mrs. Vlora are here, sir.”Jonas looked at Andreas and said, “You may go.”“Alright, sir.”A moment after the clerk left, Andreas invited Vlora to sit at Jonas's desk. Only then did he realize that Jonas wasn't alone. Alex was there, a
“I really don't understand why a woman like you would marry Andreas. You're too smart and noble for a man like him.”Vlora looked sideways. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Jonas watching her as they walked down the corridor with measured steps.“Believe me. You're not the only one who doesn't understand. In fact, I don't understand why I married Andreas either.”Vlora's words made Jonas smile. They turned and walked to a small room.There were three security guards on duty. One of them was a woman.“Still, as you said before,” Vlora continued, bringing Jonas' momentarily shifted focus back to her. “I am a smart woman, and predicting the future is one of my abilities.”Vlora's steps stopped. She turned around and gave Jonas a faint smile.“So, you don't have to worry.”Worry? Jonas froze. There was an unusual tone in Vlora's words and expression, something he had never encountered before.Vlora allowed Jonas to sink into his thoughts. She approached the security officer and
~The day Andreas approached Jonas~There was nothing more amusing to Andreas than to find Jonas on high alert upon his arrival. Even before his footsteps had fully landed, Jonas had openly shown his displeasure.No wonder Andreas felt even more motivated to tease Jonas. He pulled out a chair and sat down in front of Jonas, adopting a relaxed posture as if he owned the room.He leaned back. The chair turned deliberately. Andreas observed his surroundings with a thoughtful expression.“I don't want to disturb you, but I just wanted to have a look around the room.”Andreas proved his words with his actions. He really examined the room, as if he had plans to redecorate some parts of it soon.The chair kept turning. Sometimes it would stop when Andreas focused his eyes on a particular object, be it a painting, a vase, or even a flower pot.Andreas smiled meaningfully. A mischievous gleam in his eyes. He showed an irritating attitude that always managed to make Jonas angry.That's what Andr
The ticklish urge was no longer controllable for Andreas. Fortunately, the calm and authoritative demeanor that had been required during the earlier meeting could now be discarded.Andreas burst out laughing as he and Vlora sat in the car. Vlora turned to him, her expression a playful mixture of curiosity and amusement.“You seem so happy,” she said.For a moment, Andreas didn't answer. He continued to laugh, and Vlora didn't interrupt, but rather seemed to enjoy the moment.Only when his breathing became labored and his eyes moist did Andreas stop laughing. He took in as much air as he could and then sighed.“Oh, God. This is really funny, Vlo.”Vlora smiled faintly, noticing the lingering traces of laughter in Andreas' voice. “I admit it, Reas. Your performance back there looked really natural.”“Really?”“Yes,” Vlora nodded as Andreas grinned with a teasing glint in his eyes. “When you scolded Jonas and acted surprised, as if you had just realized his intention to leave you alone i
There seemed to be a slight difference in Vlora when Andreas came to pick her up. She, a woman who was always calm and collected, showed an impatience for the first time that couldn't be hidden.Her steps were quicker than usual. Vlora seemed excited when she saw Andreas waving to her.Andreas greeted Vlora with open arms. This was not a metaphor, but an action with real meaning. He stretched out both arms and hugged Vlora without hesitation.Was Vlora surprised? Of course, she was. But did she dislike it? Oh, certainly not.In fact, Vlora closed her eyes when Andreas kissed her cheek briefly. She didn't seem to care that they were still in a public place, or that this might have something to do with the tension between them, which apparently hadn't diminished even though they'd been apart for a few hours.Both possibilities made sense, and fortunately the night streets were not as crowded as usual. They arrived home much sooner than expected, and for a moment they just looked at each
“It seems that I really can't stand up anymore. This...”Andreas turned around and looked at Vlora lying next to him. He spoke with closed eyes.“...just like you promised earlier.”Spontaneous laughter erupted from Andreas. He laughed and realized that he had laughed several times during the day.Andreas shifted. Leaning on one elbow, he created an opportunity to look at Vlora's innocent body. From top to bottom, it was a temptation that made him swallow repeatedly.It seemed as if Andreas couldn't control himself. Just by looking at the beads of sweat on Vlora's smooth skin, he was tempted to touch her again.“Don't tease me again, Reas,” Vlora continued, holding her breath. No, she wouldn't lose control again just because of Andreas' caresses that touched her nipples. “I really have no strength left now.”Laughter exchanged for a grin. Andreas moved closer and the tip of his nose played in Vlora's hair, then he whispered.“How much time do you need? Thirty minutes? An hour?”Vlora