IAN’S POV.
“I mean…” I paused looking fluttered. “I don’t understand why you’re holding back grandma.” I bit my lower lip to contain my anger. “This is our chance to usurp Saraya from the seat she is occupying.”
My grandmother sighed. “Ian, your uncle and Arlan jointly hold the bigger amount of shares as we speak, if they throw their weight round their shares, we stand no chance of winning.”
“After all is said and done, you will agree with me that things won’t be the same with them again.” I explained. “It’s time to strike while the iron is still hot.”
“The problem is your uncle, you can tell from what you’ve seen tonight that he has no intention of punishing Saraya through her position, no matter what has happened, Saraya still have his support.”
“That is because he is only trying to make up for the lost time in Saraya’s life, he handed her that position to feel less guilty but if he continue to tolerate Saraya’s insolent, it would be the end of the Newman’s empire.” I pointed out. “You wouldn’t want that since it is your lifelong sacrifice and sweat.” I added and watched my grandmother nodded in agreement.
“I agree with you but for us to stand a chance, we must find a way of acquiring more shares and gain more people to our side.” My grandmother said.
“So you figure out how we can get more shares, grandmother. I know you can do something about that. I will meet with executives that used to be on my father’s side when he was alive. They owe us, and they know it. If I can rally them, we’ll have the numbers.”
She seemed to ponder the idea. “Alright, Ian. I’ll do what I can though my slush funds is not much and can only get us a little more of shares. Remember, the more people you get on our side, the more shares we gather to vote you in. At the end of the day, it’s all lies with you now. I no longer have the influence I used to have.”
“Don’t worry about my end, grandma. I’ll pull as much people as possible.” I kissed her forehead and turn to leave.
“One more thing, Ian.” My grandmother called my attention and I stopped on my tracks, turning to her. “You have to be discreet about this. Alex can’t find out about this.”
“I know, grandma.” I smiled at her before walking out.
ARLAN’S POV.
I don’t know how long I stood on a spot and paced into the empty space but I know it was long enough for my legs to begin to hurt.
My eyes fell on the center table and landed on my car key, I grabbed my car keys and step out with no destination in mind.
I started the engine and began to take a tour round city until I ended up at the club. “This is it,” I told myself. “I should drink the pain away tonight.”
I walked inside, making my way toward the bar without bothering to say a word to anyone.
A part of me wondered if I was just trying to drown out the voices in my head, the memories that kept haunting me. Another part knew this wouldn’t work. It never did.
The bartender looked up as I sat down, offering a small smile.
“Something strong?” he asked.
I nodded. “Yeah. Something that’ll make me forget.”
He poured the drink without hesitation, and I downed it in one go, the burn spreading through my chest, the first drop of relief in hours.
I wasn’t looking for answers tonight. I wasn’t looking for redemption. I just needed to be lost for a while.
I drank until the world blurred around me, until I was no longer sure of anything-except that I had to keep drinking. I couldn’t think of her without feeling this emptiness, this ache that wouldn’t go away.
Half drunk, I staggered out of the club house and drove off but I didn’t end up at my place.
I put in the pin on the door lock but it read error, I tried again but it was still error.
“Damn it!” I cursed out loud and with my back against the wall, I sat on the ground.
Just then, the door opened. “Arlan?” Matilda was surprised as she rushed toward me. Her eyes widened in shock when she saw me, drunk and not myself. “What the hell happened to you?”
I barely heard her words so I closed my eyes and shook my head. Then, I saw her in front of me… Saraya.
I gasped and hugged her. “Saraya… don’t leave me. Please, don’t leave me.”
I mumbled her name, with so much desperation. “Saraya, please, don’t go. I can’t… I can’t lose you.”
She grabbed my shoulders, forcing me to look at her. “Arlan, listen to me!” Her voice was sharp and angry and her next words made my heart sank. “I’m not her. I will never be her.” Matilda yelled at me.
I blinked, disoriented, as her words hit me like a slap to the face. My mind screamed for her to be Saraya, but the clarity was right there in front of my eyes, the way she looked at me with so much spite.
“You’re not her,” I said and recoiled away from her. Tears rolled down my cheeks.
Matilda slapped me hard across the face. “Get your acts, together.”
The sting on my cheek was like a burst of cold water, clearing some of the fog from my mind.
My eyes met hers, and for a moment, everything was still.
“It’s better you forget about her existence, Arlan,” Matilda said, her voice softened but the spite on her face remained. “She will never be yours.”
“Then why does it hurt so much, if she was never mine?” I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper. “Why can’t I stop thinking about her?”
Matilda pulled me into her arms and patted my back. I didn’t resist, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I let it all out.
“I tried,” I said, my voice cracking. “I’ve tried to move on, but everything… everything reminds me of her. I don’t know how to let her go.”
She pulled back slightly, her hands on my shoulders. “You don’t let go of someone like that overnight. It takes time. But this?” She gestured at me. “This isn’t the way to handle it. Instead of wine, you can use me to forget her.”
I shook my head, my hands covering my face. “I don’t know what else to do. It’s like I’m stuck, Matilda. Stuck in this… this pain.”
“You’re not stuck,” she said, her voice softening. “You’re just afraid to move forward, forward to me. You can’t keep drowning yourself in drinks and memories what should have never be. This is not fair to you or me.”
“I don’t know how,” I said again. “Nothing makes sense without her.”
“So use me.” She said, her tone soft but insistent. “Isn’t that the reason you found your way down here?”
I looked at her, maybe she was right. I was looking for comfort in the wrong arms. “I should go.”
She shook her head and helped me to my feet. “You’re a mess, you should come in.”
“No, I… ”
Matilda tightened her grip on my arm. “You should come in.” She repeated and led in. “Sit down on the couch. I’ll get you some water.”
She disappeared into the kitchen, returning with a glass of water.
“Drink this,” she said, handing it to me.
I took the glass but was reluctant to drink from it. She must have noticed my reluctance because she took the glass from me and took a sip. “Can you drink without any fear now?” She stretched the glass towards me.
I took it from her and took a sip, only then did I realize how thirsty I was and emptied the entire glass.
Matilda looked at me in shock. “Do you want more?”
I shook my head, embarrassed. “No, thank you,” I muttered, feeling like a mess.
She sat down next to me, watching me carefully. “You’re crashing here tonight, okay? I don’t trust you to drive in this state.”
“Thanks for the offer, I will pass.” I replied, setting the glass on the table. “That’s not a good idea.”
“Why?” She asked. “Do you think I will jump on you?”
“Matilda!”
“If you have no further objection, then do as you are told. At least, tonight. Just listen to me.” She insisted.
“Alright, you win.”
“So what about we go in, you shower and we sleep?” She asked.
“I’m perfectly fine on the couch, you go ahead.” I said, a bit sober. “It’s late for you to be up, consider the baby.”
But she stared at me in a funny way, biting her lower lips. She gently pulled her gown off her shoulder And I looked away.
“What are you doing?” I quickly adjusted her gown and placed it back on her shoulder. “You should go.” I said looking away.
Matilda sighed, clearly frustrated by my rejection, but she didn’t move. Instead, she leaned closer. “Arlan, let me help you forget her. You need to stop torturing yourself over someone who doesn’t care about you the way I do.”
Her words only made me feel worse. I didn’t want this, not from her, not from anyone. I closed my eyes and rubbed my temples, trying to steady the storm brewing inside me. “Matilda, stop,” I said firmly. “This… whatever you’re trying to do, it’s not going to work. This is not what I need.”
Her hand rested lightly on my thighs, her touch gentle. “You don’t know what you need right now,” she said, biting her lower lip and winking at me. “Since you’re lost, Arlan. Let me help you find yourself.”
I took her hand away from my thighs, regretting my coming to her place. “I’m sorry, Matilda,” I said gently. “I can’t give you what you’re looking for. And I won’t use you to escape my pain. You deserve better than that.”
Her face fell, her confidence crumbled in an instant. She stared at me for a moment, her lips trembling as though she wanted to say something but couldn’t find the words. Then, without warning, she stood up and took a shaky step back.
“Fine,” she muttered but I could hear the hurt in her voice. “You win, Arlan. Stay here if you want, or don’t. I don’t care anymore.”
She turned and walked away, I heard her bedroom door close with a loud slam and the silence that followed was deafening.
I sank back into the couch, staring at the ceiling and closed my eyes, quietly and desperately praying for sleep to overtake me.