Back to you

Chapter 2

ARTHUR

Since the morning I was in my office, surrounded by glass windows that let in an endless amount of light. White walls and modern-style furniture created a sense of spaciousness and minimalism.

A sudden knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I looked up from the computer screen and said "Come in." Mila, my secretary, opened the door and carefully closed it behind her. She was dressed in a stylish office suit and her shining red hair was neatly arranged in a hairstyle.

I glanced at her briefly, then focused back on the documents on the computer screen. Mila interrupted my immersion in work by saying "Mr. Medson, Mr. Zilon's personal secretary called. He insists on meeting."

I slowly turned my head in her direction, but did not look up, sinking deeper into my thoughts. I decided that I didn't want to dig into the past anymore, so I decided to cancel this meeting. "Tell him I can't," - I said with some irritation in my voice.

Mila added a little hesitantly "But he insists..."

"I'm not interested, so just come up with something," - I replied, feeling a growing anxiety inside me. Mila only nodded slightly in understanding and left the room, leaving me alone with my thoughts. Continuing to search the documents, I tried to concentrate, but everything was in vain.

...

It's been a whole week, the intense work has completely consumed me. Sitting at my desk in my office, I was engrossed in my thoughts about a project that required my full attention when suddenly Mila came into the office, without warning, disrupting me.

"You have a visitor," - she said, breaking into my thoughts. I looked at my watch and asked: "At this time? I have an appointment in 30 minutes."

"She insists," - Mila replied sheepishly, apparently not knowing what to do in such a situation. However, despite the surprise and lack of time, I had already thrown my jacket over my shoulders, preparing to leave the office. I walked briskly to the door, determined to ask someone to come next time.

With a sharp movement, I opened the door, but the spontaneity of my actions was suddenly interrupted. Kornelia was standing in front of me. As in our last meeting, she was refined and sophisticated. Her presence exuded grace and elegance, as if she herself had been carved out of a classical painting.

"Do you have a minute?" - she asked in a low and melodious voice. I just nodded in response. With a wave of my hand, I invited her to enter the office, and she obediently do it, like a dominant, motionless and unshakable.

"Have a seat,"- I pointed to the upholstered chair opposite mine as I closed the door behind me. Kornelia walked slowly to the chair, her movements were as graceful as the rest of her. She did as I said. I just sat down on the edge of the table.

"You canceled the meeting," - Kornelia began.

"I never agreed to this meeting," - I replied, starting to feel some anxiety.

"Why?" - she asked without any hesitation.

"Like you said, I don't want to complicate things. I think it's better this way," - I said after a pause. However, deep down I knew that this was not the real reason for my refusal.

"Listen, Arthur," - Kornelia said, a slightly exhausted look in her voice, ignoring my last words. "I've been working on this project for the last eight months."

I felt that something was disturbing her, something was penetrating deep into her soul. The look in her big eyes was filled with a certain dislike, and a piercing silence filled the room.

"I really don't see any logic here," - I interrupted, trying to understand her mood. "Your fiance is the owner of the largest conglomerate in America, whose activities are focused on everything related to art to one degree or another. It is unlikely that my small foundation, will be able to help you." My words contained a tone of cloying, and maybe even snobbery.

Kornelia continued to look at me, her eyes full of uncertainty and rage. Suddenly, she got up from the seat and, with a quick step, headed towards the door.

"If I had known that this fund belonged to you, I would never have agreed to this," - she cried out irritably. But I managed to grab her hand and gently stopped her, pulling her to me.

"How did you not know?" - I said with a note of suspicion in my voice.

I took her hand, feeling tenderness and warmth spread across my skin. A small gesture that sent a shiver through my heart, like touching a forbidden flame.

She glanced furtively at our joined hands, clearly surprised by this. An unseen spark gleamed in her eyes, shifting smoothly from surprise to a kind of bewilderment.

And then she looked up at me, and in that brief moment, time stood still. I saw a flicker of warmth and sympathy in her dark eyes, like stars in the night sky. She looked up at me in surprise. The distance between us was minimal. It was only a few seconds, but it seemed like an eternity to me.

But then, as if coming to her senses, she abruptly yanked her hand and said, "Obviously, you've changed your last name."

She was right. After my father left, I decided that I didn't want to use his last name anymore. He betrayed our family, so I tried to get rid of everything that reminded me of him. When I came of age, I took my mother's last name. But that was after Kornelia.

"Yeah, you're right," - I said calmly, looking down a little. Kornelia was silent, but her presence felt like a magnet, drawing tension between us. The air became thicker, like an electric charge ready to strike with lightning.

"If it's that important, then I'll do it for you," - I interrupted the silence. Relief and gratitude flashed across her face as she nodded her head slightly. But there was something else in her eyes, a kind of anxiety mixed with hope.

"I don't want to get your approval just because you feel... obliged," - she hesitated a little, as if searching for the right word. I felt an unpleasant concussion inside me.

The silence dragged on, filling the room with a heavy emotional burden. I looked down again, not having time to say anything in response. The folder of documents placed by Kornelia on the table was a testament to my promise.

She just walked out of the office as if this dramatic scene meant nothing. But I still had an unspeakable feeling of annoyance, as if I was going back to the time when I felt the most terrible. At a time when I completely disappointed the person I once loved so much.

The office was filled with silence again, surrounded by the subtle scent of her expensive perfume, which was barely noticeable. And I was left alone again, with a difficult decision and hard thoughts, where the future was mixed with the past.

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Thank you so much for finishing this chapter. I really hope you like it.
I'm looking forward to see you in the next one!

~ NALI

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