“We’ll wait a week, Frans. One week.”
“Are you sure, Sir?”
“I know Jonas’ nature. If this is really his doing, we will find out soon. He won’t wait when he discovers his opponent’s weakness. He will attack me immediately.”
Andreas vividly remembered saying this to Frans yesterday, when he had politely refused to give his personal assistant a definite answer about the possibility of someone tapping his phone.
“Do you have something on your mind?”
Vlora’s voice broke Andreas’ reverie. He raised his head and realized that several minutes had passed without him touching his breakfast.
Damn it! Apparently, this is bothering me more than I thought.
Andreas took a deep breath, smiling casually as usual. His outstretched hand reached for the coffee cup as he replied.
“It’s not important, my dear. I was just thinking that maybe I won’t always be like this.”
Vlora interrupted her breakfast for a moment. “What do you mean?”
Andreas did not answer immediately, taking a few seconds to enjoy his first sip of coffee. His eyes closed and a satisfied sigh escaped his lips, an undeniable sign of pleasure.
“Not working. Spending time without any activity. Every day I just go through eating, sleeping, and having fun.”
Vlora narrowed her eyes as she continued her breakfast. It was faint, but there was a hint of a smile playing at the corners of her lips.
“You work. At least you drive me to and from work.”
“Oh, God.”
Andreas set the coffee cup back on its coaster before letting out a dramatic groan. He feigned a wounded expression, as if his pride had been injured.
“This is not good, Vlo.”
“What? Driving me to and from work is not good?”
Andreas stared at Vlora intensely. “No, but being unemployed like this is not good. What will our children say when their father is unemployed?”
Fortunately, Vlora had not taken another bite yet. Otherwise, Andreas was sure she would have choked on his words.
“Oh, Reas, you’re being dramatic.”
Vlora’s laughter did not stop Andreas from groaning with a worried expression on his face. “This is clearly not a good example for them to follow.”
“It seems you’re right.”
Andreas took a deep breath. Vlora’s concurring answer sparked something in his mind.
I want to see your reaction, my dear.
“So, what do you think?”
With fork and knife still moving over her breakfast, Vlora replied. “I’m glad you’re thinking about it. So maybe you should start thinking about how to claim everything that is rightfully yours as soon as possible.”
His eyes narrowed. Andreas stared at Vlora without blinking, intently.
But there was no hint of strangeness that Andreas could detect. Vlora remained her usual self. She was quiet and unreadable.
“At least I believe that attack is the best defense. I’m sure you can assess the situation well.”
“Do you really think so?”
Fork and knife stopped moving. Vlora finished her breakfast and turned to look at Andreas. She nodded.
“You know, right? Children are excellent imitators. So, I want them to imitate the good in us.”
Andreas was stunned. Vlora’s words had somehow filled his mind with instant imagination. It did not seem difficult to figure out the meaning behind Vlora’s words.
“At least because you are still healthy and sane.”
Vlora finished her statement with a small smile on her lips. Andreas was fascinated and then he realized something.
No, her eyes were smiling as well.
*
Silence and stillness. No sound was heard, only occasional breaths slipped into the air.
Both hands were resting on the table. The owner inhaled deeply and exhaled slowly.
During our marriage, which had only lasted a week?
Andreas’ jaw clenched. His mouth remained tightly closed, preventing a few curses from leaving his tongue.
Damn it! Did I make the wrong choice?
The possibility of the worst quickly entered Andreas’ mind. He couldn’t stay calm and his fear made it more and more unbearable.
Andreas got up and left his office. He went to Vlora’s workplace with one thought in mind.
Perhaps Vlora was hiding something. Anything that could indicate a betrayal of Andreas, no matter how small.
Andreas entered Vlora’s office and closed the door. He looked around; everything seemed normal. Neat and organized, no change from the last time he had instructed his people to prepare the room.
Slowly, Andreas took steps, carefully surveying the room. He did not touch anything and his eyes scanned different points, focusing on the corners of the room. There were probably no surveillance cameras.
Andreas walked past the bookshelf. He examined it carefully and noticed that all the books were real. There was nothing suspicious.
The next stop for Andreas was the desk. He took a quick look, then pulled out a chair and sat down.
Andreas did nothing. He just thought for almost ten minutes.
His mind was empty, really empty, like a dimension without air. Andreas needed more strength than he thought to wake himself up. He pulled open a drawer in the desk, which happened to be unlocked, and looked inside.
Again, Andreas found nothing strange. There were just a few folders containing his wife’s work. No more and no less, so he closed it.
Then the computer caught Andreas’ attention. The desire to turn it on was certainly there, but no. He pushed away the lingering thoughts and finally stood up.
I’ll wait.
The decision had been made. Andreas only hoped that his patience would hold out. He also had to prepare himself for all the possibilities that could happen, one of which was that he would get hurt.
Hopefully that would not happen. Andreas was sure that Vlora must have her own agenda. Even by tapping his phone, there was only one reasonable possibility: it wasn’t time for Vlora to speak yet.
It could be. It made sense. Just as much sense as the possibility that Vlora was actually using Andreas for her own benefit. Maybe she was using Andreas for a purpose that could lead to a loss.
Oh God.
Andreas dramatically closed his eyes. It was embarrassing, but he really did look like a loser.
Logic and feelings were at war. Reason and the voice of the heart both put up a resistance that made Andreas even more despondent.
Am I hoping I’m wrong?
The question hit Andreas. Undeniably, he would admit with an open heart that the answer was yes.
Well, for God’s sake. Andreas could only hope that his logic was wrong this time. Let his thoughts be wrong. It wouldn’t matter.
“Vlo.”
As the night wore on, Andreas and Vlora lay on the bed, ready to relax. Vlora found Andreas calling her. She turned and asked, “Yes?”
Andreas moved and approached Vlora. He hugged her and sank into her warmth. With closed eyes he tried to feel.
Nothing was different. Everything was the same. Vlora accepted his touch and felt relaxed in his embrace.
“Do you realize it’s been more than a week since we were married?”
Blinking and smiling, Vlora nodded on Andreas’ chest. “How could I not have noticed? I thought women were better at remembering dates.”
And Vlora’s attitude was the same as always. She played with words and answered Andreas.
A drop of goodwill trickled into Andreas’ heart. But as quickly as peace came, suspicion came to shatter it.
Nothing is different, maybe because I never really knew what she was like from the beginning.
Damn it! Unfortunately, it was Andreas who tensed up, and Vlora felt it.
“Reas?”
Vlora raised her face. She looked into Andreas’ eyes, which seemed empty.
“What is it?” Vlora asked and cupped one of Andreas’ cheeks. She blinked when she noticed that Andreas flinched at her touch. “Are you okay?”
Andreas sighed and held Vlora’s hand against his cheek. “I’m not sure if I’m okay, but it seems like I’ve had a lot on my mind lately.”
“You can tell me if you want.”
Andreas stared at Vlora intensely without speaking. In his mind he wondered.
Do you want me to talk when you already know everything? Vlora, what are you really up to?
Now Andreas took a deep breath. His face showed exhaustion, and ironically, it was real. It was not an act or mere drama.
“Actually, I’ve been thinking, do I really need to immerse myself in this power struggle? Sometimes I feel that a peaceful life is the best choice. Unfortunately, that’s not what I get. I can hardly live a peaceful life for a lifetime just because of this conflict.
Vlora did not immediately react to Andreas’ words. Instead, her hand left Andreas’ cheek and moved to his chest.
With a gentle stroke, Vlora’s fingers caused Andreas to catch his breath. Her soft touch managed to make him shiver. Damn it! He could feel Vlora’s sincerity and it made him wonder again.
Is what I feel real, or is it the other way around? Could it be that it’s just a camouflage I’m putting up to deny reality?
“Conflicts can never be avoided, Reas. You know that.”
In silence, Andreas acknowledged Vlora’s words.
“But what I think is…” Vlora went on, slapping Andreas’ chest again, “… if conflicts can’t be avoided, then let’s not be the victims of them.”
For the umpteenth time, Andreas could not say anything while his mind once again agreed with Vlora’s words.
“You’re right.”
Vlora’s stroking stopped. She moved slightly to look at Andreas.
“At least don’t let our children feel this conflict, Reas. You have the chance to prevent it.”
*
It was very sad. Andreas could not understand why he felt sincerity in every word Vlora spoke.
Andreas also wondered where his common sense and logic that had always accompanied him had gone. Why had they disappeared in unison, leaving him confused?
They seemed to agree to disappear at the right time. Ah! Perhaps it was just after he married Vlora.
So, it was not surprising that during the past week only one question had been on Andreas’ mind: Do I really know Vlora?
Hopefully, this question would soon find an answer. As a week had passed, Andreas’ waiting was almost over.
Frans met Andreas at nine in the morning. Without much preamble, he explained the current situation.
“The general meeting is scheduled for a month from now, sir. Everyone is preparing, and as far as I can see, Mr. Jonas is trying to find a way to save himself at the meeting. This is your chance to step forward.”
Andreas thought. Well, the AGM and Jonas were not at the top of his priority list. There was something else more intriguing to solve.
Not Jonas. Vlora and Jonas have nothing to do with each other.
This time Andreas could not help himself. After Frans had left, he went to Vlora’s office. His curiosity was restless, and he wanted to know everything about Vlora, starting with her computer.
Meanwhile, a few miles away, a woman had just placed a cup of coffee on her desk. She nodded politely at Lucas, who left the office, before sitting back down.
A faint noise delayed her initial intention to get back to work. She took a tablet from her bag and wondered.
“Who accessed my computer? Andreas?”
*