♞ Adrian: “From how you handled the issue with the divorce years back, do you think you deserve her forgiveness easily?” The question was sudden. My fingers subconsciously stopped tapping at the armrest of the couch I was sitting on. My gaze trailed outside the window, and fell on the song sparrow perched on the window sill, twitching annoyingly, and tapping the window glass with its beak. The bird must have noticed me gazing at it, it tilted its head. Left. Right, and then left again, before it turned around and flew away. The absence of the sparrow brought back my attention to Iris’s question which threw me deep in thought. There was a particular reason why I had chosen Iris as my therapist years ago. Actually, it goes both ways. She believes she had chosen me herself, while I, on the other hand, know for a fact that I picked her out of the countless options available back then. She had a reputation for being sharp and brutally honest. She didn’t sugarcoat things or ent
♞ Adrian: If words were physically sharp, I was certain hers would have stabbed through my heart, or fucking knifed my bloody heart out of my ribcage. “You mean she moves on with someone else?” I asked carefully. The words sounded bitter in my tongue and I had to let it out. Iris had a thoughtful look on her face, before she answered, “Not exactly that… but in this situation, yes.” I remained silent for a moment, and Iris waited quietly for an answer. A minute passed, and I eventually answered “I don't know," I murmured more to myself but she heard me clearly. Iris pressed her lips into a thin line, and then shook her head. “Then that's your answer,” She said. “You’re still tying your worth to whether or not she forgives you.” I clenched my fists, letting her words sink in. “I just want to make things right.” “You can’t rewrite the past,” she reminded me gently. “All you can do is be the kind of man who won’t make the same mistakes again - whether she’s in your life or not
♛ Aurora: Despite what I thought, and despite continuously convincing myself to not care about Lucy’s words the other day, I still couldn’t ignore what she had said. I knew for a fact that I shouldn't simply believe whatever she said without confirming it first from Adrian, but still… I ran my fingers through my hair, and let my head fall on the headrest with my eyes closed. Should I just speak with him? That wouldn’t be easy to do, at least on my part but it would make my thoughts stop spiralling this way. A deep breath escaped my lips, and I finally opened my eyes after a long moment. It’s been exactly three days from then, and to my surprise Adrian hadn’t shown up at the site this week, which was really weird, especially considering the fact that he had been the one constantly showing up everyday since we started two weeks ago. “Ma’am, are you listening to me?” My eyes finally trailed up at the sound of Bonnie’s voice. I blinked, pulling myself out of my thoughts, and
♛ Aurora: My gaze fell on the neatly brushed sleek black hair, before it trailed lower to the pair of dark brown eyes staring right at me. My brows creased into a frown, “Noah?” Noah’s lips pulled up into a warm smile, “Hi. Aurora.” he greeted softly. “I had no idea you were coming around,” I stated, and he simply shrugged at my words. “Had no intention of letting you know I was going to drop by your office.” He said after a moment. How did he know my office? I had no idea. But I don't think it would have been difficult to. He must have asked around. And besides, Astra & Co. was a company one could easily locate in the city. After we saw each other at the charity event weeks back, I hadn't seen him since then, and I was far too occupied. I almost forgot about the fact that I could call him since we exchanged numbers that night. I stepped aside from the door, and gestured, “You can come inside.” He nodded, and without another word he stepped inside the office. He was
♛ Aurora: My brows pulled together at his words. “What proposition?” “I need your help with something,” he clarified in a clearer tone. I folded my arms, and leaned back on my seat, having a gut feeling that wherever this conversation was going wouldn't settle well with me. “If you are the one who needs my help with something, then that’s not a proposition, that’s a favor, right?” His lips twitched, and he smiled, his dark brown eyes brightened a little. “Alright, fine. A favor, then.” I sighed. “What is it?” Noah hesitated for the first time since stepping into my office. He leaned back, tapping his fingers against the armrest of his chair. “I want you to work with me on something. It’s... important.” I frowned. “Work with you? What kind of thing is that?” His dark brown eyes searched mine. “A case.” I stiffened, my brows furrowed at him. “A case? What kind of case are you talking about?” Noah nodded. “I can’t get into the details here, but I need someone I can tru
♛ Aurora: “So, don’t tell me you actually agreed to go on a date with him just because of that?” I scooped the oat cereal from the bowl on the dining table before bringing it up to my lips. Trish sat across from me on her seat on the table as she dug into the pasta we just finished cooking less than ten minutes ago. I had gone through the details of Noah’s visit in my office today, and somehow with how she was staring at me, I couldn’t tell whether she was pleased with the idea of me going out on a date with him, or whether she was displeased. I picked at my cereal, already losing my appetite because of this conversation, while Trish shook her head as she twirled her fork in her pasta, watching me with an expression that made my skin itch. “Say whatever’s on your mind before you explode,” I muttered. Trish sighed. “I just don’t get it. You don’t even like Noah. So why waste your time?” I spared her a blank look, “I already told you the reason. That it stems from his mothe
♛ Aurora: I heard the sound of a car pulling up to a stop outside the apartment and a breath I hadn't even realized I was holding before escaped my lips. My gaze trailed over to the wall clock which read 6:45 P.M. Thank goodness I got ready and prepared early, I whispered to myself as I stood by the mirror in my bedroom, trying to wear my pair of earrings. I glanced down at the tight brown dress I was wearing, my fingers brushed against my neck as I fixed the collar of my dress. With one last look at myself I sauntered outside my bedroom door and headed straight to the main door in the living room. The house was very quiet, mostly because Trish wasn't around. Something held her back and she wouldn't be able to come home till later. I picked up my purse on the couch, and slipped my phone inside. When I reached for the door handle, I hesitated, my fingers lingered about it. A small part of me wondered if I should just turn around, kick off these heels, and curl up on
♛ Aurora: I opened my mouth to argue, then shut it when I realized he wasn’t entirely wrong, but then I hadn't even realized. I let out a breath and answered to his satisfaction, “Alright.” “Good,” he said, leaning back with a satisfied smile. “And lastly, you have to try and have fun.” I exhaled. “That one might be a challenge.” “Then I accept the challenge,” he said, grinning. “Now, tell me something very random about yourself.” He dived into a conversation so fast. I blinked. “Like what?” “Anything at all. Perhaps a weird habit, a childhood story, something I wouldn’t expect.” I thought for a moment before speaking up, “Well... when I was seven, I tried to dye my hair with orange juice because I thought it would make me look like a fairy.” Noah stared at me for a second, then burst out laughing, his shoulders shaking with the force of his laughter. I frowned, was it that funny? “That’s the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard. Did it work?” “Of co
♛ Aurora: I ran my fingers through my hair, feeling the frustration bubbling down my nerves. I had no idea what to do. I couldn't even think. And this was the wrong timing for my brain to suddenly go blank. A deep breath escaped emu lips and I looked around, “You could have anyone do the inspection with you. I'm sure there was someone around that could have helped. An inspection or sign off shouldn't be done by you.” I already knew she was behind it all, but I couldn't just point a finger at her without proof, which is why I was drilling her with questions and watching her expression waver every passing minute. “If Dan wasn't around, and the safety officer wasn't too. Then I'm certain the security officer for the project was there.” Bonnie’s mouth opened, then shut again. She looked nervous now. Too nervous for someone who claimed it was just routine. “I… I didn’t think it was a big deal at the time. Everything checked out. I didn’t want to bother him when he was already swampe
♞ Adrian: I wasn't sure what got into me. Perhaps the fact that I've been sending messages to Rory consistently for the past three days and she didn't answer any of them. She didn't even open it so I at least know she saw them but didn't have an answer yet. I couldn't go to her office, because she said she needed space. And that meant she didn't want to see me. All I could do was send messages like an asshole, but she didn't respond to them. And somehow I found myself deliberately following the road to her apartment on my way to work instead of following the shorter road and getting to work fast. I packed my car across the street and looked up from the screen of my phone, my gaze trailed over to her apartment. It was already 2PM so it was only wishful thinking that I assumed I'd see her at home by this time of the day. I stared at the window to her apartment, even though I couldn’t see past the closed curtains. It didn’t matter. I wasn’t really expecting her to be home. I jus
♛ Aurora: My heels crunched on the gravel as I made my way towards the small crowd forming around the scaffolding near the eastern side of the site. The workers looked up to meet my eyes the closer I got. Their heads turned in my direction as I approached. The conversation they were having was hushed and I could barely hear them clearly, but what I couldn't miss was the serious tone in their voices. A few men had taken off their hard hats, while a few were simply wiping sweat that trickled down their faces. Some of them looked pale. The strong smell of dust and concrete lingered in the breeze, and just beneath it, there was a stronger metallic smell. I looked up at the scaffold building that just crashed, and fear slowly creeped into my heart as I slowed into a stop. “It's so bad,” Bonnie pointed out from behind me as she stopped walking too. I was beyond shocked and scared to respond to her words. I clutched the strap of my bag tighter and pressed my lips together
♛ Aurora: “Oh My God. I'm not even surprised! I told you from the start that I absolutely do not trust her at all!” Mia said in a displeased tone. I released a deep breath, recalling the severe number of times she had seriously wanted me to be careful with Bonnie. But I hadn't listened. I needed someone effective back then and Bonnie was exactly what I wanted. So I hadn't even thought about the consequences at all. I easily trusted her when she displayed her clean ways of handling situations and making my work a little easier for me. “Yeah, I remember when you were warned me about her,” I said, tracing a path along the pocket of my pants as the car drove past the bustling city of New York. “But you didn't listen. Now see.” “I did listen, Mia. I just couldn't let a good employee go just because you had a bad feeling about her.” I said down the line. “Well, the signs were from the start that she’s not someone to be trusted.” “If a lot of employers simply removed their workers j
♞ Adrian: Leon didn’t say a word. Nothing at all. He didn’t move either. Not even an inch. The only sign he’d even heard me was the slight widening of his eyes. For a moment, we just stared at each other. I ran my fingers through my thick dark hair, because the longer it took to say a word, the more the turmoil in my head swallowed me slowly. Because what on earth do I do? Most importantly, how do I tell Rory? I sighed, when would this space she needs be okay? I don't even know. Finally, Leon let out a slow breath and leaned back into the couch like everything I said were finally settling in. “Say something,” I muttered roughly, fighting back the urge to run a finger through my hair and tug it. He scrubbed a hand down his face. “You’re serious about this?” he raised a brow and asked, like he was hoping I would say it was all a joke. Honestly I wish it was. It wasn’t a question. I nodded once, and tight. “Jesus Christ, Adrian.” Leon dropped his head back aga
Chapter 82 Aurora: Her question was so sudden and completely random from the conversation we had been talking about, that I was caught off guard for a moment. Trish’s brows were squinted tightly as she waited for a response from me. After a quiet moment I finally answered with a shake of my head, “Work.” “Work?” She didn't look like she believed me but after a while she nodded, “Alright. I made dinner before falling asleep earlier. Have you eaten?” she asked, completely changing the topic, and I felt light hearted that she did, because I wanted to get my mind off the message. I shook my head and let out a breath. I had been so occupied that I didn't eat anything today. I doubt I would have even been able to eat anything with the way my stomach has been tied in knots since morning. “I haven't,” I answered, before asking, “What did you make?” I turned around and made my way down the hallway, before making a turn and walking over to the kitchen, with Trish trailing right behind me.
♛ Aurora: “The simplest misunderstanding could crack even the strongest of relationships. At times it's just better to let things go than go round and round. Rough.” My heart dropped to my stomach when I read the first message. I staggered on my footsteps as I rushed out of my room, hitting my shoulders on the wall but hardly feeling any pain as I turned down the hallway and rushed towards Trish’s room. Before I could get there another message came in, and this time it stopped me dead in my tracks. “Did you ever try to find out the person behind the wheels? Not your accident. I mean, hit and run with your mom, or don't you think it’s important to seek justice for her dead poor soul?” The last sentence felt like a bucket of water had been splashed on my face, as it knocked me back to the image of my mother being rushed to the hospital with blood on her clothes, her face, her fingers. There was blood everywhere. My fingers gripped my phone tightly, trying to hold myself back to t
♞ Adrian: I wasn’t planning to stop. I had every intention of driving straight home, taking a long-ass shower, and figuring out what the hell I was going to do to make things right with Rory. But the next thing I knew, my hands had turned the wheel and my car rolled to a halt in front of Leon’s place. My phone buzzed in my pants, and I stepped out of the car, closing the door shut behind me before I brought the phone out and checked who was calling. I halted in my steps when I noticed it was Christian. I slid the answer button before pressing the phone to my ear, “What's it?” I asked the moment I answered. There was shuffling from the other end, before he finally spoke out, “I got in touch with the guy for the tracking.” I ran my fingers through my hair and released a deep breath before asking, “And what’s the update on it?” Christian didn't answer immediately, and after a long quiet moment he finally answered, “I'll text you the details in five minutes.” “Alri
♛ Aurora: “I can't do this,” I whispered, more to myself, but loud enough for him to hear me. I couldn't even concentrate on driving while I was on my way home. And it was all because of him. To make it all worse, Lucy's attempt at planting seeds of doubts in my head had somehow worked. I couldn't think. My heart felt like it was being shredded into tiny pieces, and it tore me apart. I was so tired of all this. And despite all the love I had in my heart for him, it was a pity that he didn't trust our love so much to be able to completely be honest with me. What on earth could he be keeping to himself that wasn't worth me knowing? Nothing, absolutely nothing serious. The only ever thing that had tore me apart in my years of living was my parents' death, because they left me all alone. Second to that was my divorce with Adrian. And third, was the child I lost. There was nothing else he could say that could destroy me so much that it would break our very fragile relations