Heal my heart.

4

Alastair
I pace about my apartment and look if everything is packed. I'll have to rent this apartment too if I settle in California. Mom passed away two years back and I officially don't have anyone in this world. She wasn't actually there for me, but the feeling of loss of a parent still hit me. It's better this way. I have no one to lose now.

Paige comes out of the bathroom in a tiny bathrobe. I continue doing what I'm doing.
"Baby I'll miss you." She says hugging me from behind.

I slither out of her embrace and push my socks in the bag pocket. She's so clingy. I fear someday I might turn around and slap her.

"Can I come to California too?" She asks.
I whirr my head to look at her. "No, I'll probably be back in a day or two. You don't really need to visit me."
"I sometimes feel that you love someone else." She says, looking at me with such a bitchy look that she'll probably jump on the girl who even tries to talk to me.

"That's not true." I say. I want to avoid this conversation at any cost to avoid saying anything which I might regret later.

"You're leaving right now?" She asks, stroking my back.
"Two days later. Your dad has already reached there. I'll join them." I say.
"Okay. Call me when you reach there."
"Yeah. It's two days away. Why are we talking about it like I'm leaving now?"
"You're too rude to me."
"No I'm not. I'm just straightforward."
"No, you talk to me like you're just doing this for a formality."

I sigh and run a hand through my hair. "Why will I do this for a formality? I want to talk to you." Such a liar I've become.
She smiles broadly. "Do you know for when our marriage date is fixed?"
"It hasn't been fixed yet I think."
"You don't know anything about us! It's next year, around 15 months later. Aren't you excited?"

I guess she's the only one who gets excited about something that is going to happen more than a year away.

"Yeah I am." I fake smile at her.
She smiles again. "Oh I love you Alastair."
But I love someone else.

Gracie
I adjust my formals and check my hair one last time in the mirror. Mr. Roberts is here. He's just got into the elevator and will be here any second. I take a few deep breathes and stand near the door.

The elevator doors slide open and the man of honour steps out. He is of medium built and sports a moustache and glasses. He is dressed impecabbly in formals and walks towards me. I feel a bit intimidated but I smile my best. He shakes my hand which I respond to firmly.

"Good evening Ms. Hyde." He says firmly.
"Good evening to you too, Mr. Roberts." I say, mustering up every bit of confidence. Yes I'm still the same nervous, blabbering idiot.

I usher him in my office. He sits opposite me and I sit on my chair. He looks around the room, concentrating especially on the picture kept on the table of my family and me.

"You have a creative office Ms. Hyde." He says.
"Thank you. And please do call me Gracie."
He smiles. "Gracie."
"That's more like it."

I soon grew more at ease with him and we discussed all the matters with him.
"Two days later, after attending the merging celebratory party, I will leave California and go back to Washington. My CEO will take over. He will meet you first at the party and you'll know him." He says.

"Sure, what is the company CEO's name by the way?" I ask, waiting for a response.
"His name is A-" Mr. Robert's phone starts ringing violently and he excuses himself. After talking for about 5 minutes, he enters the room again and says,"I'm sorry Gracie but I have to go to the hotel for some urgent work. I hope you don't have any doubts now. If you still want to ask something, feel free to contact me." He mutters a sorry and I walk with him to the elevators. I just idly wonder who he might be.

Alastair
I relax in the luxury of first class in the flight. I'm so glad I achieved success. I like expensive stuff and taste. I'm having a sip of wine right now. How will California be? Travelling to places all over the world, my thirst for new places has still not been quenched.

Mostly, I'm glad I'm away from Paige. I really don't know why I'm marrying her if I hate her so much. She's good. But she's also stupid and can be really mean and bitchy. I watch a movie and doze off after that.

I wake up when the flight is about to land. The airhostess smiles at me. So many pretty faces, but none attract me. I smile back at her however and she blushes hard. I wear my jacket and walk down. A car is waiting for me outside the airport.

The Californian weather is sunny and pleasant. This place makes me feel like something interesting is going to happen here which will make my life take a full circle. I ignore the feeling and sit in the car which Mr. Roberts has already booked for me. I have to go to the hotel, take some rest, change and then attend the party. Some lady is leading the Californian Tribute, I don't even know her name and I'll have to work with her. I hope I connect with her at the party today.

The driver drives me towards the York hotel. I get down as we reach and look at the impressive builiding in front of me. It's all marble and has a nice Scottish touch to it. I love it almost immediately. The bellboy comes to me,"Mr. Kerr?"

I nod. "Mr. York has alloted a room to you already. He said he'll visit you in the evening and attend the party with you."

So all the arrangements have been done. My room is a deluxe suite. I thank Stuart in my head and lie down on the bed. Unpacking can wait. I have a party to attend and some sleep waiting.

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