Arcane

Chapter 8: Hurt

ROWAN

"Don't get so worked up because of me, Rowan. You've got work to do. I just fell unconscious. It was not a cardiac arrest or anything. Go back to work. Your mom is here to take care of me." My stubborn oldie grumped. I stood at the side of his bed. My hands were folded against my chest. Rolling my eyes, I let out a sigh of defeat. He was arguing with me for about fifteen minutes, it felt like eternity. He was angry at me for rushing here, leaving my work. Who does not gets worried and when their father collapse? This man and his tantrums. "You made Zyran come here too, he had to delay his work because of me. Do you know how much-" Zyran spoke up, "Rowan did not call me here, uncle. I called him to ask about his whereabouts when he told me about you. You should stop scolding him. He was worried about you." That's my bro.
"Yes honey, don't you see his face? He lost all colours when he heard about you. He loves you so much. My precious baby!" My mother consoled. My sweet momma. I grinned. Not gonna lie, I almost had an heart attack after hearing about my father, this morning. I wanted to meet Alora right away and give her a tour around the company myself. But, here we are. "I know how much you care about me, Rowan. Don't worry, I still have many days left till I-" I interrupted my father, angered. "Dad." I warned him. "Uncle, you should take rest. I will instruct the medical staff to come around and monitor you every once in a while. i will take Rowan back with me." Zyran stated. He stood on the other side of the bed. He own this hospital, by the way. "Oh Zyran, thank you so much for visiting me. I already feel better because of you. Take him back, he still needs to learn properly" My father replied in a softer tone. Am I really his son? He clearly loves Zyran more than me. I rolled my eyes. Zyran nodded, smiling slightly. He reassured him.

"So, did you meet the employees?" I asked Zyran. We were currently in his car. I left mine behind. The car he was driving right now was my favourite. Bentley Mulsanne. This bish has a total of twenty six cars, the same number as his age. He buys a new one, every year on his birthday. The best part is, he lets me drive all of them.
"Max's brother caused nuisance in the morning, injured a newbie, traumatised a child, it had to be canceled." Zyran spoke calmly. His hands were casually placed on the steering wheel. I was seated on the passenger's seat, beside him. What the fuck? Max's brother? Max, that worm? "Max, the one who gave Harold's( one of the employees) presentations and strategies to Cranes Cooperation for some crappy money?" I inquired? How dare he? "His brother doesn't know the truth, Max must've lied to him. He thinks that I am responsible for his downfall. He wants justice for his brother. I called one of my men to find out about him. Max's apparently hospitalised, in coma due to excessive drinking." Zyran proceeded, taking a left turn. "That fucker. He stole all of his fellow workmate's ideas and gave it to a shitty company and now his brother wants justice?" I bellowed. I crossed my hands and scoffed. "Max was fired and it was made sure that he was to stay at home for the rest of his life, unemployed and Cranes Cooperation was reduced to dust anyway" I continued. "Team X had to step in, workers of DZ holdings went on a strike. It will face downfall, now. I pulled out all investments."
"Wow, all of this happened in my absence?
Why do I always miss the interesting stuff? Jeez." I huffed. My eyebrows furrowed as I was reminded of something. "Who got hurt thought?" I asked. Zyran smirked. His orbs changed their intensity. Okay. This was new.
His face held a mocking yet 'I-am-interested' kind of expression. Zyran Allison, interested in something? Or, is it 'someone'?
"She's a different one. A bold one, likes to sprinkle humanity everywhere" He disclosed. SHE?! Utter shock enveloped my expression. Zyran Allison, talking about a 'she'?! No freaking way. "You can't be the Zyran that I know. Not one in a million years, is MY best friend gonna talk about a girl." I said in disbelief. Zyran's face morphed into an 'annoyed' and 'shut the fuck up' one. "WHO IS SHE?!" I exclaimed. "Her name's Alora Laurence" Zyran spoke up after a break. My world stopped. Alora? Hurt? "Zyran, I need you to swap seats with me, right.now." I deadpanned. I wanted nothing else but to reach the company as soon as possible. I ignored the slight jealousy that I felt because of Zyran taking interest in her. Zyran frowned. He was about to question but "Hurry up, Zyran. Alora's my friend" I said in a hurried voice. Zyran raised one of his eyebrow. "I will tell you everything from the beginning, later." I hollered. I felt hostile and angered. I felt pained. "That's your call." Zyran jested, shrugging his shoulders. I can sense some questions, wandering around his head. Hell, I will do the explanation part later.

I leaped inside the elevator to get to the twelfth floor, where the Strategy Department is. Zyran had to attend a meeting. I impatiently waited for the doors of the lift to open, tapping my shoed feet on the floor rapidly. I felt my heartbeat throbbing, Alora's sweet smiling face flashed in front of my eyes. The elevator opened as I quickly entered and pressed the button to get to the twelfth floor. The elevator closed with a ping.

After what felt like years, the gates of the elevator opened and I leaped towards the working place. People looked at me as if they had seen a dinosaur shaving his legs.
I gave no heed. I ran past so fast that even their greetings faded with the air. Huffing and gasping for air, I reached there. Everyone stilled. My eyes were searching for one particular person. People seemed to panic, realising my presence. They seemed....guilty? It was odd, They never treated me like Zyran. Yes, they did respected me but never feared me.I was friendly af, opposite of Zyran. My actions stopped for a minute. My eyes fell on her. Alora. Troubled. Fainting. Becoming unconscious. Tears. Weak. Helpless. My brain was having a hard time processing everything. "ALORA!" My voice echoed. I thundered towards her, to catch her before she falls down from the chair. I caught her petite figure in my arms. What happened to her? How did she end up like this? My heart shrank. The Flowering Plum scent of hers hit my nostrils. It's weird, I know. I met her only few days ago but there's some kind of friendship I feel between us. I don't know if it is her aura that is so inviting and magnetic or some fate. Whatever it is, I am not letting it go. "WHAT HAPPENED TO HER?" I growled, looking at the people standing around. I continuously tapped her cheek. Some of them were looking around, avoiding eye contact, some looked down. They did something, didn't they? I sickened. "I will deal with you later, I will make sure you'll pay for whatever you've done." I declared in a warning tone. I stood up with Alora in my arms. "Hello everyone! I am your-" Someone came in, coffee in one hand and a blazer in other. She paused, sensing the dead silence that engulfed us. "Who are you?" I inquired in a harsh voice, my sweet, friendly personality long gone. She eyes Alora shockingly. "I-I a-am th-the team l-leader of S-Strategy Department, M-Mr. K-Kester" She stuttered, sweating and looking down. "And you decided to show up twenty minutes late? This is your punctuality?" I criticised her, my voice was calm and deadly at the same time. "S-sir, I sp-illed co-coffee on m-my s-shirt an-and-" I stopped her. "Excuses will not be entertained, you will be taken care of. Later." I rasped, walking away.