Semua Bab Fallen Apart: Bab 101 - Bab 110

DAVE'S POVThe morning sun streamed through the large windows of the conference room and pooled in splashes of gold across the polished mahogany table and the orderly tautness of the chairs. My heart raced, a mix of anticipation and determination. This was it, the day, the one I'd been preparing for since I walked out of prison. Today, I would stand before Styles Company's investors and convince them their trust in me and the company wasn't misplaced.I straightened my tie and looked to my left at Nixon, who was sitting beside me, going over his notes. Through all of this mess, Nixon had stood by my side. As managing director, he had managed to keep the ship afloat during my tumultuous years away, but he also knew as well as I did that what the company needed was some serious juicing to get it back on track."Ready for this?" Nixon asked, looking up from his notes.I nodded nervously. I was trying to steady my nerves. "Yeah, I'm ready. We worked hard for this moment."Nixon smiled, se

Dave's POV The office seemed to hum with activity this morning. I could feel the eyes of my employees upon me as I walked the halls. I couldn't rightly blame them; no doubt it was just as hard to get used to having me back. I took a deep breath, squaring my shoulders to push myself to be sharp today. It was one more step travelling down this long, difficult road of taking back my life and rebuilding this company. I had barely settled into my office chair when Nixon appeared in the doorway with a load of papers tucked under one arm. He gave me a nod, that thin smile again. "Good morning, Dave. Ready for the day?" "Morning, Nixon. As ready as I'll ever be," I replied, extending my hand to take the papers from his grasp. "What's on the agenda? "We've got a few meetings lined up, mainly with some investors. They're still a little gun-shy after everything that happened, but I'm sure we can win them back," he said reassuringly. "Thanks, Nixon, I appreciate your support," I said a

Dave's POVI was seated at my desk in my office, the pen drumming on the smooth wood, the hard gaze set on the pile of papers before me. Contracts, proposals, and another sort of very important document to do with Styles but my mind strayed—again. It always did where she was concerned these past few days.It was a few days after the meeting with the investors, and though I felt much more confident about the prospects of my business, my mind kept reverting to her. What a look she gave me in that restaurant, all mixed up with one of both surprise and something else, which I could not quite lay my finger on. And then there was that very undeniable spark that flew between the two of us, prompted by Aranne, no doubt.I exhaled noisily, and I shoved the papers aside, facing instead my phone. It was then that I began to scroll through the usual deluge of work mail, updates, and messages of assorted mundanity—until something did catch my eye. Written in scarlet red across the middle of some e

Dave's POVLeaving Aria's apartment was like treading away from a piece of my heart. Sometimes that quiet click of the door closing behind me did feel very much like an echo in my mind, marking an end to something I wasn't ready to let go. That was a very cool night—much of a contrast to the raging fire in my chest. I stuffed my hands into the front pockets of my jeans and wrestled with frustration, hurt, and loss, almost palpable at the base of my throat.I needed a drink. Something to wash away the image of Aria's tear-stained face, her quaking voice when she said we were through. This was more than one should have to take sober. Half-consciously, I wandered into the nearest bar—well, then, a tiny, dimly lit, hole-in-the-wall that used to be a regular when things got tough. It wasn't classy, but it did the trick: a place to lose myself for a few hours.It was all but empty until I came in except for a couple of regulars nursing their drinks at the bar. I took the stool at the very e

That morning of Lena and Nixon's wedding was soft. My window lace curtains dyed the light, which coloured the walls. I lay back with a stretch, and a mix of excitement and nerves fluttered around my stomach. Well, today was going to be a big day, in just a few hours, Lena and Nixon would finally take that plunge, and I felt so elated at the charge given to me to be Lena's maid of honour. It all seemed surreal, the distance they had come since those early days of their relationship and all that had built up to this momentous day of their lives. But amidst all of the joy was this little knot of tension that had been building all week, sitting heavy in my chest. It was anonymous, much like the others. Every day, I open the doors to my office, and something new is laid there, flowers, chocolates, even a piece of jewelry. It was flattering but also bewildering. And today, of all days, I couldn't afford to be distracted.I shoved those thoughts from my mind as I threw back the covers to g