Brunch was tense and uncomfortable. You could feel the tension weighing on them both as the sounds of cutlery making contact with plates came into play."So, your sister. How is she?""She is doing well. Her surgery is in two weeks so we're just hopeful.""Hopeful?" Marcus asked with confusion all over his face."This is going to be her third one this year. It's all the same I guess, we're just hoping that she's lucky and gets back on her feet after this one." "I'm sorry to hear that," Elena nodded. She didn't have anything to say, she was just trying desperately to get out of her headspace and the voices that were taunting her."Are you okay?" Marcus asked, his blank stare scanning her face.That question was the final straw, it almost broke her. At that moment she could have started shedding tears but she didn't."I think I should go, Marcus.""Oh." She stood up abruptly and almost bumped down the table. "I'm sorry,""Do you need a ride?""I'll manage." She murmured and made her w

Marcus had been strained with work. His company was not making as much money as it used to and his father was on his neck; always criticizing every decision he made and silently judging him with his eyes.Marcus had never been a people pleaser but for his father, he would bend heaven and earth to receive a look of approval, it was that bad.A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, he had been lost in them for a few days now, and it distracted him."Come in," Isabel walked into the large office. She had started dressing more suggestively ever since the coffee incident. That day she spotted a black camisole and a very short skirt, the suit jacket she had matched it with was long gone."Yes, Isabel?" Marcus raked his eyes down her very exposed body but immediately shifted them to his computer. Isabel smirked, a look of accomplishment on her face as she shut the door and strutted towards his table."Here are the files you requested earlier concerning the Singapore deal." She sai

"What have you been up to today?" Elena noticed how tired and frustrated Marcus sounded over the phone. She had barely seen him for a week and he had only bothered to reach out a few times, She had tried on her part to call and text but whenever she called he barely picked up, and when he did he sounded like he was in a hurry to get off the phone and whenever she texted he would reply with a word or two or leave her on read. It started to make her wonder if it was because of the kiss he was behaving so distant and that possibility made her angry.Elena knew she was not in the right position to be angry at Marcus over anything, even ignoring her, because she had been having frequent meetings with Gavin over the past week that she had not seen Marcus. Gavin had been amazing, he was kind, and a good listener and he made Elena laugh every time they were together. She knew it was wrong, leading him on like that but with Marcus barely being present in her life except for aiding her financi

"Where are you going? Are you leaving? I said I was sorry—""This is not about you or us. Gavin, it's fine but I need to leave now.""Did something happen? Is it Emily?" Elena had to petty urge to snap "So now you know her name." But she kept quiet instead and shook her head, the responsible option.She racked her head for excuses, she could not exactly say "My boyfriend needs me," Thinking of the word 'need' made her blush uncontrollably not to talk of saying it."A friend needs my help," was her excuse, technically Marcus was a friend."Right now? The fireworks just started." Gavin said pointing at the colourful show going above them. "I know, but I have to leave now."The fireworks had already begun, a burst of colours in the dark sky, the perfect place to be with a loved one but it was hard to concentrate with the drama and tension around them.Gavin took a step towards her, "I don't want to doubt you but I want you to know that I'm sorry about today and I want a chance to make thi

Excuse me?" Marcus asked."I'm just saying, you have someone like Isabel around at your beck and call, why waste time on me? I don't even know where I'm going with my life, I am a liability to you." Elena ranted."Have I ever said that?""No, but look at the circumstances we met. It just doesn't look like the perfect meet to tell our kids.""You want kids?" He asked, his eyes widening."Not the point but I — why do you look so terrified?" Elena backtracked, she had never seen Marcus like that before."I— I'm not terrified," he shifted a bit away from her. "Is it what I said about the kids thing? I didn't mean that, I mean I want kids but not with you— that didn't sound better, forget I said that— where are you going?" While she was ranting, Marcus had stood up from the bed and was slowly backing out of the room."I need to clear my head," was his reply."You're not too strong to be walking about, if you want I can leave.""Don't worry about it, I'll go. You stay," he said shuffling hi