Replay Of Shades

07

CHASE

The meeting with VERTEX COMPANY went quite well than I expected and by the time I arrived back at the company, all I wanted was to be back in my office, where I could get the chance to relax for a bit but then, I remembered.

Enid.

After what had transpired while I was in her office that morning, I wished I didn't have to, but I knew it was only proper for me to check on her to see how she was doing.

I still couldn't believe that I had stood there and allowed myself to stare at her strawberry lips longer than I was supposed to while she was sleeping. At that point in time, I had no idea what it was that had come over me, but I hoped it would never happen again.

I felt like a freak doing that to my own sister.

Checking for the time on my watch and seeing it was noontime already, I was certain she must have woken up by now.

I stopped by at her office like I'd intended to before I could leave for mine, but it turned out she wasn't there.

How long she had been up for, I couldn't tell.

That got me wondering if she had seen my text or not. If she has, I couldn't imagine how mad she must be right now for going to the meeting without her.

I hadn't been able to bring myself to wake her up when I had seen her lying there on the couch, looking so pale and frail. Also, I hadn't been able to get myself to feel comfortable around her just yet.

I was just about to reach the door of my office when my phone started buzzing. It was Sophie, my ex-girlfriend calling.

A month before I arrived in New York, I had ended things with her. Sophie had loved me with all of her heart, but I hadn't been able to do the same in return, just like how it had been with the other relationships I'd been in.

Breaking up with her wasn't the easiest thing to do because she was nice and easygoing compared to the others I'd dated before her, but I'd no choice. I felt like I was wasting her time.

After her, I was determined not to date anyone else if I wasn't so sure about how I felt about them.

Knowing she wasn't going to stop calling until I picked up, I thought it was best to answer it right away.

"Yeah," I pushed the door open to go inside, only I had halted as I had come face-to-face with Enid, who looked like she was just about leaving.

She was in my office. That explained the reason why I couldn't find her in hers.

"Really, brother!" She confronted me, and I knew instantly what she was talking about and also, that she was trying to get back at me for that morning when I had also called her sister without the slightest affection.

"Sophie, give me a minute, I'll call you back," I said and hung up.

I was grateful she stepped to the side just then to give me enough space to walk in. I walked inside and closed the door behind me.

"Why did you go to the meeting without me?" Her voice was calmer than I expected it to be.

Isn't she supposed to sound irked?

It was frustrating enough that she wasn't the annoying type because if she was, I would have a reason to dislike her and be a jerk as well.

"I tried waking you up, but you weren't responding. Also, you looked like you needed the sleep." I went ahead to sit at my desk, wanting to be as far away from her as possible.

"Are you sure you tried waking me up at all?"

I shrugged my jacket off, draping it onto the back of the chair that I was currently seated on, "Yeah." I loosened my tie as well and sat back.

She only needs to leave now, and I could get to close my eyes and maybe try figuring out whatever was going on with me.

"I'm sorry for going like that without you." I genuinely said after a little while.

"Apology accepted, but next time, if at all that happens again, maybe you should try harder... waking me up."

Not answering, I shut my eyes and relaxed my back.

"Your text says you're going to brief me about how the meeting went?" She reminded.

"Can we do that later, please." Saying that showed just how desperate I was for her to leave right now.

"Sure." She agreed. "But it went well, right?"

"Hm," I answered.

"That's good then."

"Um... Have you eaten?" She asked, and I was forced to open my eyes.

Why won't she just leave already?

Making no attempt to give a response, I sent her a death glare instead.

"I thought you might want... Never mind." She turned to leave without waiting for me to say anything to that.

Doing that was totally wrong of me, but not when she was trying to warm up to me, which was the last thing I wanted right now.

Relaxing wasn't even possible anymore, with a lot going on in my mind. Groaning in frustration, I was going to rise to my feet to go over to the floor-to-ceiling window when my phone started buzzing again, with the name Sophie displaying on the screen.

⚘

I haven't had the time to regret suggesting we checked on dad at his place together after work until now.

While I waited in the car for her, she had remained outside to phone her driver, who she must need to take her car to her place.

She initially wanted us to go in her own car but when I had told her I wanted to go in mine, she had raised no objection whatsoever which was again, not the reaction that I was expecting.

On our way there, she had me brief her about the meeting with VERTEX COMPANY, and that was all. She wouldn't say anything else to me after that.

She was definitely still mad at me about what happened this afternoon.

She didn't stop looking out the window watching the passing scenery and I had busied myself with going through the new e-mails my secretary sent me like an hour ago until a while later when I had heard someone sniffling.

I looked to the side and realized it was her.

"Are you crying?" I quickly locked my phone.

There was no response.

"Hey,"

She finally turned away from the window to look at me. However, the surprising thing was that there were no tears in her eyes. Aside from that, the corners of her mouth were lifted up.

Is she smiling right now?

📌

Do you guys think that Enid and Chase are ever going to get along?