Red Rhythm: His Sweet Obsession

26

● AUTHOR'S POV

Silence was all that surrounded Xanthos, as he sat in his office, staring at the door, hoping; a certain someone would walk in, or perhaps burst in. This was all he did for the past five days, this was all he could do for the past five days.

A knock to the door and a familiar face slid in from behind it. "Boss?" Otis said as he entered in.

Xanthos straightened himself, and shook away his rushing thoughts to get back to his work, or atleast he pretended to.

---

"Come in." came the words and entered in Ava, stopping Xanthos in his tracks; who was getting ready to leave for an errand.

It had been seven days, seven days of nothing but patient 'waiting'; which was not something Xanthos had done a lot of, in the recent years.

The forest eyes kept hold of the figure infront of them, moving when it moved, stopping when it stopped.

It went on for a couple of seconds, and finally, what he had been craving for days, happened; 'She spoke'.

"I appreciate you talking to Ilaria for my days off--" Ava said and within a heartbeat Xanthos replied, "Not a problem."

It was as if he was dying to have a conversation with her, it did not matter of what sorts, he just wanted to talk, and listen, and talk, and listen.

Ava nodded in response, and clutched onto her plain black sling-bag; that Xanthos saw her carrying often.

Xanthos offered Ava to take a seat infront of him, and got seated himself as well.

Hesitation filled the air, Xanthos stared at her, trying to figure out what could be going on in her mind. He had a faint idea, but then again, slowly Ava was becoming this enigma for him, that he felt he fully understood at times.

Xanthos decided to break the ice and started, but was cut off almost immediately.

"Thankyou." Ava said, holding eye contact with him.

Xanthos went silent and tried to comprehend what was she thanking him for, this time.

"I believe you already know of the entire matter involving me and Liliana Adler; my mother." Ava said as she moved her eyes to Xanthos' hands, and then back to his eyes.

"I--" Xanthos tried speaking only to get cut off again. "Don't... don't try explaining, please. I shouldn't be the one asking for you to justify yourself, for the things I found out about. I accept that initially I was.. I was kind of mad, I mean, it was a lot to take in one day. It was strange, it was heartbreaking, it was sweet too at one point, most of all, it was complicated." Ava said and continued, "You did nothing wrong, what you did was show me kindness, when no one else did. I do not care if it was because somebody had asked of you to, what I do care about, is that; you offered me a place to live, an opportunity to earn and feed myself, above all, you were generous enough to protect my life."

"Thankyou, I'm extremely grateful for all the things you have done for me, I can never repay you, even if I tried t--" Ava's gratitude got interrupted as an urgency rose in Xanthos.

"It was my choice." Xanthos said, his eyes sharp and steady.

"I chose to do all that I did." he stated and continued. "I know you do not want me explaining anything, you've made that quite clear. But, I want to. It is true that I was asked of certain things; regarding you, not directly by your mother, but a third person. I considered the request since I had made a pleasant acquaintance with that man before, once or twice."