A heavily stressed-out Christian looked up from the heavy files he had been busy with to the executive who looked equally bored with the Pitch deep in his mind he had hated leaving home that weekend.
His phone beeped, and all eyes turned in his direction, flushed rather than embarrassed he opened the message icon that had just popped up and was rather startled to see the message from Antonia.
Just about then the sounds of the executives clapping filled the room signaling the end to the meeting much to his relief.
He cleared his throat.”Are we satisfied with the statistics or do you think there is more that could be done?”
The absence of questions marked an ending to the meeting as they all shook hands before making their way forward.
He looked around hoping to see Rhys amidst the investors that had joined the meeting but there was no glimpse of him leaving him unsatisfied.
“Damien, you can wait while others leave.”He instructed.
Soon the office was filled with eerily quietness, as Damien stood not too far from where he was, he still had the memo of the meeting right there in his hands.
“Are you fine?”He asked Christian who looked rather distracted.
Christian let out a deep sigh bet kept his smirk intact.”Nothing serious… You can have a seat that won’t take much of your time.”
Already, he could tell what all of this was about-
“You are worried about her ain’t you?”Damien spoke quickly.
“Who do you speak of?”He asked.
He groaned; he knew his boss was quite aware of what was happening but was only doing that to tease him.
Regardless he answers.”You very much can understand what all of this is about.”
He rolls his eyes.”Yeah, I guess… You know I just find this all frustrating. You make a mistake and spend an eternity paying for it.”
“Last time I checked, having kids is not considered a grave sin.”Damien muttered.
“Oh…”
“Yeah, I think you are going hard on yourself.”He grimaced.”Did you even get to go see them that last time.”
“I did, didn’t see Laura though.”
“You need to figure all this out and find that balance, you need it… Boss.”
The word balance rang through his mind as he thought of Damien’s words, could that be the answer to his quest for inner peace.?
He thought to himself as he watched him leave wondering how lost he was, the suddenly thought that she had called from the hospital crosses his mind
What was Antonia doing there at the hospital anyways…he thought.
He grabs his keys and walks out, dialing her number as he walks away.
*******
Laura’s Apartment
The door opens and Riley walks into the luxurious apartment, her gaze turned to her boss who stood in the kitchen idly nibbling on a carrot while mixing a dough.
“Oh You’re here I’ll be with you in a minute.”Laura spoke from the kitchen with her face partially covered with flour.
The next moment was mostly Riley watching her cook with sunshine streaming through the white curtains into the kitchen.
She found it very boring and paced around picking up this and that, the house was quiet signaling the fact that the twins weren’t home.
Riley stared back in her direction again just as light beamed across the marble countertop, highlighting little specks of dust that floated in the air.
“Do you need help?”She questioned.
Laura who was too busy enough to have anyone disturb her hummed under her breath as she stirred flour.
“Nah, I will soon be done.”
Sometimes Riley thought Laura enjoyed all of this, she suspected that it was her way of getting rid of heavy thoughts she was sure filled up somewhere in her mind.
Laura on the other end was trying as much as she could to get the voice out of her head in the complicated life she found herself, she was avoiding the drone of voices embroiled in her head- thoughts of the past and present, the two colliding to create a wave of dark energy.
Finally done with setting up the oven, she put it up for one hour before walking back to where Riley was.
Laura sat across the table from her, her feet propped on a chair. Her ankles tensed from the long period of standing.
She gulped water and felt better.”So how did your day go?”
With a cup of coffee In Riley’s hand, she rubbed her as she grumbled.”I need to tell you something, promise me you won’t be mad.”
Laura raised an eyebrow.”Alright, I won’t.”
Riley was quite nervy while she walked back to the sink to drop the cup, she kept her voice subtle.
“What is it about, fucking speak already.”Laura sounded rather tense. She hated being curious.
“Damien asked me out on a date.”
Laura shifted in her chair.”Now I am confused.”
She eyed Laura with a frown.”Damien, Mr Asher’s -“She’d conveniently didn’t complete the part as she could see that flare in her eyes.
“So he asked you out!”Laura asked.
Riley nods her head…
Laura sighed but then a smile crept over her face.”, You don’t seem to understand, not right, nothing good comes from Christian’s side.”
Riley was startled.”You have two wonderful kids.”
“Don’t you understand what I just said?”She asked.
Riley shrugged.”Well, I haven’t told him anything yet ”
“Getting anything from those men is like making a deal at the crossroads with the devil.
Riley giggled.”I’ll tell you what will happen and trust me don’t feel offended by it ”
Laura smirked.”Go ahead.”
“I do think you are holding on to the past for far too long.”
“Of course not.”Laura sighed.”I am more aware of what damage men in his cliq would do.”
“It would be fine, trust me.”She insists.”Moreover, it is just a date and I am yet to say anything.”
“Is that why you are all dressed up?”Laura sighed.”You need to be careful, trust me, don’t trust men like them.”
Riley’s phone buzzes.”He is calling.”
She excuses herself and walks some distances away, when she returns her answer was convincing.
Laura at first didn’t want to meddle but thought to put in one word.”Look before you take one final leap Riley.”
Riley picked up her bag about to leave.”Trust me ma’am I know what I am doing.”
“Take care of yourself.”She muttered to Riley just as they were at the door.
Soon the door closes behind Riley and Once Laura was alone and her countenance changed. She looked all gloomy and angry at the same time.
For no reason, she picked a comb, and began to work her hair. She needed something more energetic to burn out her memories of that night year’s ago.
Soon her thought was buried beneath more darkness that seemed to flow through her-
She found a rubber to hold her hair back into a restrain, the sudden buzzing of the doorbell made her all jittery and she made a mess of the entire hair of a thing.
She walks to the door and finds a package. She picks it up, turns it over in her hands, and shakes it.
A note fell to the ground and she picked it up.
“Anonymous-”
She blurted out, who could this be?