Shadows of Regret

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Ryujin Matsumoto

The room fell into a quiet lull after our toast, the echoes of clinking glasses fading into the background.

I took another sip of whiskey, letting the burn of it distract me from the turmoil in my mind.

But as I glanced across the desk, I noticed Vincent had gone quiet, his eyes unfocused as he stared off into the distance.

He was zoning out, lost in thoughts far from the conversation we were having.

“Vincent,” I called out, breaking the silence. “You alright?”

He blinked, snapping back to the present. There was an odd look in his eyes, one I hadn’t seen before. “Yeah, I’m fine. Just… thinking.”

“About what?”

Vincent hesitated for a moment, then leaned back in his chair, a slight smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. “Met someone last night. At the club. She was… different. Beautiful, confident, just… amazing. I can’t stop thinking about her.”

It wasn’t like Vincent to get caught up in this sort of thing. He was usually all business, focused on the task at hand. But there was something in his voice that told me this was different.

“Do you know her name?” I asked, curious.

He let out a small chuckle, almost embarrassed. “I didn’t ask. Can you believe that? Me, Vincent Castillo, didn’t even get her name. But I couldn’t get her out of my head, so I hired a private investigator to find out. Turns out her name’s Amara Thompson. She and her mom run a salon in Beverly Hills.”

I raised an eyebrow, surprised. “You spent an amazing night with her, and you didn’t think to ask for her name? Why don’t you visit her at the salon, see where things go?”

Vincent’s smile faltered, replaced by a more serious expression. “I would, but when I woke up, she was gone. No note, nothing. It’s like she just vanished. I figured she wasn’t that interested. Besides, I don’t need any distractions right now.”

I could sense the conflict in his voice, the way he was trying to rationalize his hesitation. And in that moment, I saw a reflection of my own struggles, my own regrets. I took a deep breath, choosing my words carefully.

“Vincent,” I began, my voice steady, “I get that you’re worried about distractions, about staying focused on what’s in front of you.

But if there’s one thing I’ve learned from everything that happened with Imani and Kai, it’s that when something or someone matters to you, you can’t let fear or uncertainty hold you back.

I made the mistake of walking away, thinking I was doing the right thing. But all I did was create more pain, for myself and for them.”

Vincent was listening intently now, his usual bravado replaced with genuine interest. I continued, hoping my words would resonate.

“You’re at a crossroads, just like I was. But unlike me, you still have a chance to go after what you want. If this girl, Amara, is someone who made you feel something real, then don’t let her slip away because of doubt. If you like something, you’ve got to go for it, no matter the risk. It’s better to face whatever comes head-on than to live with the regret of what could have been.”

Vincent stared into his glass, his expression thoughtful. I could see the gears turning in his head as he processed what I’d said.

Finally, he looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of determination and uncertainty.