The Glossy Eyes

Chapter 23: Another Knight

Nathaniel stepped into the apartment, his weariness momentarily forgotten as he crossed the threshold. He found Alannah standing a few feet away, her arms crossed and her expression guarded. Her blindfold loosely tied around her eyes.

Alannah stormed into the room, her frustration evident on her face. She couldn't understand why Nathaniel had been so distant during his trip and why he had failed to keep in touch with her. She needed answers, and she needed them now.

"What did you do on your trip?" she demanded, her voice filled with both anger and hurt. "Why couldn't you spare a few minutes to talk to me? Did you go to the Sahara desert or something?"

Nathaniel couldn't help but laugh at her assumption, though his laughter was tinged with uneasiness. He knew he had messed up by not keeping in touch, but he also couldn't reveal the dangerous and secretive nature of his activities. "No, it wasn't anything like that," he replied, trying to downplay the situation. "It was just... uh, very busy."

Alannah's eyes narrowed, her frustration growing. "Busy? I don't know if being in a toy business can have such a busy schedule," she retorted, her tone laced with sarcasm. "Or maybe you just conveniently forgot about me?"

Nathaniel shifted uncomfortably, realizing he couldn't provide a satisfactory explanation without revealing the truth. "Well, you see... it's not like that," he stammered, searching for the right words. "I might have, um, forgotten. It was just a little slip-up, that's all."

Alannah's anger reached its peak, and she couldn't contain herself any longer. "Forgot to talk to me?" she yelled, her voice echoing through the room. "How could you forget? Is our-is this thing between us so insignificant to you?"

Without waiting for a response, Alannah turned and stormed out of the room, leaving Nathaniel sitting, feeling a mix of regret and frustration. He knew he had hurt her, and he realized the gravity of his mistake. He had taken her for granted and neglected their connection in his pursuit of justice.

Nathaniel hurriedly followed Alannah, realizing he needed to address the situation and apologize for his actions. He caught up to her, gently grabbing her arm to get her attention.

"Alannah, please," he pleaded, his voice filled with sincerity. "Don't be a baby. I had my reasons, and yes, I was busy, but that doesn't excuse my behavior. I'm sorry."

Alannah's anger was still fresh, and she pulled her arm away from his grasp, her eyes blazing with frustration. "You think an apology is enough?" she snapped, her voice tinged with anger. "You can't just disregard our relationship and expect me to accept a half-hearted apology. I deserved better than that."

Nathaniel sighed, realizing that his words hadn't helped the situation. He needed to choose his words carefully and show Alannah that he understood the gravity of his mistake. "You're right," he admitted, his voice filled with remorse. "An apology alone is not enough, and I shouldn't have treated you like that. You deserve my time, my attention, and my respect."

Alannah crossed her arms, her expression still guarded. "So, what now?" she asked, her tone challenging.

Nathaniel took a deep breath, meeting her gaze with sincerity. "Now, I'm going to make it up to you," he said, his voice filled with determination. "I'll make sure you know how important you are to me, and I'll work on rebuilding your trust. I won't let my mistakes define us."

Alannah's anger began to soften, and she looked at him. "You better mean it," she warned, her voice softer now.

Nathaniel nodded, his eyes unwavering. "I do mean it," he assured her. "I'll do whatever it takes to make things right between us. Just give me a chance to show you."