Marcus had been strained with work. His company was not making as much money as it used to and his father was on his neck; always criticizing every decision he made and silently judging him with his eyes.Marcus had never been a people pleaser but for his father, he would bend heaven and earth to receive a look of approval, it was that bad.A soft knock on the door interrupted his thoughts, he had been lost in them for a few days now, and it distracted him."Come in," Isabel walked into the large office. She had started dressing more suggestively ever since the coffee incident. That day she spotted a black camisole and a very short skirt, the suit jacket she had matched it with was long gone."Yes, Isabel?" Marcus raked his eyes down her very exposed body but immediately shifted them to his computer. Isabel smirked, a look of accomplishment on her face as she shut the door and strutted towards his table."Here are the files you requested earlier concerning the Singapore deal." She sai
"Somebody looks happy," Elena laughed and ignored her sister's comment, "It's good to see you too, sis.""I saw you a couple of days ago, you weren't that missed." Elena rolled her eyes and sat down at the edge of the hospital bed."How are you feeling?" She asked her sister."Tired; and I have been sleeping all day. Thanks for the flowers though," They both glanced towards the bouquet lying on the visitor's seat."Flowers? I didn't send any flowers, Em.""What? Yes, you did, with chocolates." Elena stood up and walked towards the bouquet. "Did you read the card?" "I didn't see any," Elena dug through the large bouquet of roses for the tiny card. "Here it is," "Read it out," Emily requested. "Yes, Your Highness." Elena mocked and Emily giggled. "It says, 'To Emily, I see you around the cafeteria and I think a girl like you deserves something beautiful for adding such beauty to the world, so here are some roses.' Oh my Wow." Elena turned to Emily, a wide smile on her face. "You ha
"What have you been up to today?" Elena noticed how tired and frustrated Marcus sounded over the phone. She had barely seen him for a week and he had only bothered to reach out a few times, She had tried on her part to call and text but whenever she called he barely picked up, and when he did he sounded like he was in a hurry to get off the phone and whenever she texted he would reply with a word or two or leave her on read. It started to make her wonder if it was because of the kiss he was behaving so distant and that possibility made her angry.Elena knew she was not in the right position to be angry at Marcus over anything, even ignoring her, because she had been having frequent meetings with Gavin over the past week that she had not seen Marcus. Gavin had been amazing, he was kind, and a good listener and he made Elena laugh every time they were together. She knew it was wrong, leading him on like that but with Marcus barely being present in her life except for aiding her financi
So far the hang out was not going great. Gavin had only grunted responses to her questions and barely attempted to make conversation. They were supposed to go to a restaurant first and then a little boat ride to watch the fireworks at night but they had just started their late lunch and Gavin was paying more attention to his phone than her.When they got to the restaurant he glanced at her for a moment and then excused himself to the restroom. Elena was annoyed by this, that was the most uncomfortable car ride she had been on but Gavin seemed unbothered; she at least expected him to say something apart from "I'm going to the bathroom, you can order without me or whatever." Before walking away.When he came back she had not ordered. He looked surprised at first before waving the waiter down to take their orders. After that it was just awkward silence and Gavin pressing his phone with a frustrated look on his face, and once in a while excusing himself to take a phone call. Elena did not
"Where are you going? Are you leaving? I said I was sorry—""This is not about you or us. Gavin, it's fine but I need to leave now.""Did something happen? Is it Emily?" Elena had to petty urge to snap "So now you know her name." But she kept quiet instead and shook her head, the responsible option.She racked her head for excuses, she could not exactly say "My boyfriend needs me," Thinking of the word 'need' made her blush uncontrollably not to talk of saying it."A friend needs my help," was her excuse, technically Marcus was a friend."Right now? The fireworks just started." Gavin said pointing at the colourful show going above them. "I know, but I have to leave now."The fireworks had already begun, a burst of colours in the dark sky, the perfect place to be with a loved one but it was hard to concentrate with the drama and tension around them.Gavin took a step towards her, "I don't want to doubt you but I want you to know that I'm sorry about today and I want a chance to make thi
"I'm coming to your place," Elena wanted to clear things up. Isabel was obviously after Marcus, and Gavin was after her, she could do the right thing here and make peace with everyone by breaking up with Marcus. She did not want to sound materialistic or as a gold digger but her mind wandered to her bills and Emily's surgery. Marcus had kept on giving her more than enough, Her rent wouldn't be due in the next six months and she had paid off more than sixty per cent of her student loans, so the only thing on the ground was Emily's surgery and because they had shifted it, she had more than enough time to take care of it. She just had to start picking up more shifts, her boss would be surprised; but not as surprised as he was when she started dropping shifts."There's no need, I'm good." Marcus sounded terrible, he kept wincing after every sentence."You're still wincing,""No, I'm — ah, no I'm not.""Get off the phone and get some rest I'll be there in a few,""Don't bother, I—" She di
Excuse me?" Marcus asked."I'm just saying, you have someone like Isabel around at your beck and call, why waste time on me? I don't even know where I'm going with my life, I am a liability to you." Elena ranted."Have I ever said that?""No, but look at the circumstances we met. It just doesn't look like the perfect meet to tell our kids.""You want kids?" He asked, his eyes widening."Not the point but I — why do you look so terrified?" Elena backtracked, she had never seen Marcus like that before."I— I'm not terrified," he shifted a bit away from her. "Is it what I said about the kids thing? I didn't mean that, I mean I want kids but not with you— that didn't sound better, forget I said that— where are you going?" While she was ranting, Marcus had stood up from the bed and was slowly backing out of the room."I need to clear my head," was his reply."You're not too strong to be walking about, if you want I can leave.""Don't worry about it, I'll go. You stay," he said shuffling hi
"Isabel," Marcus said, his eyes narrowing at her as he got up from the bed and put on his shirt. He did this without sparing a glance at a flushed Elena. "Why are you here?""Sorry to interrupt your… activities," She did not look sorry, she looked seething."I thought we covered everything you needed me for for the day," "We did.""But?" "I'm going to go," Elena said standing up from the bed, her cheeks red from embarrassment, she had been adjusting her dress the entire time.Marcus wanted to tell her to stay, he looked like he wanted to drive Isabel out of the building that instant just for Elena to not leave but he knew Isabel, she was going to stay and she was going to make Elena's life miserable the entire time."Okay," he could tell that Elena did not like that answer, she looked hurt, used and possibly pathetic. She hurriedly picked up her things and brushed past Isabel who managed to slide in a "see you later," in the most venomous voice known to man.Marcus sighed as he wat
“Emily, I'm home,” Elena said when she opened the door but she was greeted with a very odd sight. Marcus and Emily were seated on the floor, their backs resting on the sofa while devouring a tub of ice cream together, well Marcus was the one devouring the tub, and Emily had an amused look on her face while watching him. What was even more shocking was that Marcus was not in a full suit like he usually was. He had pulled off his jacket and tie, rolled up his sleeves, and with utmost concentration he was eating the ice cream.“What is going on here?” Elena asked, still a bit confused.“Oh, hi El,” Emily greeted, trying to hold her laugh her laugh.“Ow, ow, brain freeze,” Marcus groaned and dropped his spoon so he could cup the sides of his head with his palm.“New record, one minute and fifteen seconds,” Emily said looking down at her phone.“Yes!” “I'm still ahead of you by forty seconds,” Emily gloated causing Marcus to roll his eyes.“Um, can someone explain what is going on here?”
“You want what?!” Isabel screamed at Marcus.“A ring, and my Friday schedule to be cleared,”“You're going to propose? To who?!” “No, I'm going to get married on Friday,” Marcus clarified to a very livid Isabel.“I don't understand you, at all. You've gone crazy!” Isabel yelled at him.“Isabel,” “It's that Elena isn't it? What do you see in her?” She asked and moved closer to him, Marcus took a step back, a little scared of what she might do to him. He had never seen her that mad before.“Isabel—”“No, tell me. Is she prettier? What is it? Smarter? I have been here all this time looking after you and standing up for you, supporting you and what do I get in return?” She continued to yell.“Isabel, I have told you time and time again that nothing can ever happen between us, you are my employee and I can only see you as that. If you have a problem with my life choices you have two options: suck it up and keep it to yourself or resign,” Marcus told her.“Really? You're willing to throw
“What?” Elena asked and moved away from him.“Marry me, Elena. I want to be with you,” Marcus repeated but this only caused Elena to freak out even more.“Marry you?! We broke up after a very complicated relationship and the first thing you suggest is marriage, are you out of your—”“Yes, I am. And it's because of you. For heaven's sake, I can't eat. I can't think, I can't work properly. I can only think about you and how bad it screwed it up, so marry me,” “I— no,” she said. The words coming out quickly.“Well, think about it. I can offer you everything you need, everything you and your sister need.”“I don't need your money!” She yelled.“It's not just money, security, health insurance, a better life. Think about how much you'll be helping your sister here,” he insisted. “I know the bills are much on you, there's too much for you to handle. There's no guarantee you can get a stable life anytime soon and you need that stability,”“So you're offering me marriage just for the benefits
There was no way Elena could pay that fee and still be able to afford her house rent and her feeding for the next few months. She had also promised Emily to spare some money to cover up some of her expenses for the trip. So far things were not going as planned.Elena was snapped out of her thoughts by her ringing phone, she quickly answered it. It was Emily. "Hey, you texted me about a test?" "Yes, I did. I'm at the hospital and the doctor wants to get your cough checked out,""Oh," it was quiet at the other end of a while, "and how much would that cost?" "Emily, the cost doesn't matter. I told you not to worry about expenses," elena said, even though she had no idea where she would conjur up the money from."I know, but I'm still a bit worried. If you want we'll cancel the trip and I'll work and—""No," Elena said, cutting her off. "You have been sick for fat too long, you need to take a break and live out those experiences you couldn't have," "I know, but it should not have to co
"What?" Elena asked, trying to be sure she heard him correctly."I'm sorry, it's just...a lot is going on and I don't think this is right for me," "You're kidding, tell me you're kidding, Gavin." She said seriously, her voice void of emotion."I'm not, I can't keep going on like this with you," he said, not even bothering to look her in the eye while he talked."Like what?" She asked, trying to hold back tears. Gavin didn't reply, he just looked away. "Tell me, Gavin! Like what?!" "This! You have so much going on too, and your sister doesn't even like me—""Where is all of this coming from Gavin? You ghosted me for several days and now you're breaking up with me?!" She yelled, and a few people turned to look at them but she didn't care."Yes, I am. I know it may be hard for you to understand it properly but it's for the best, I mean you're still in love with someone else and I..." he trailed off again.Elena didn't say anything to him she just stared at him. She told him all of this
"Are you okay?" Emily asked Elena. Elena was seated in the living room, hunched over her phone like it was the most important thing in the world to her."Hm, yeah," Elena replied absent-mindedly and went back to her phone."Really? Because you've been in that exact position for the last half hour, what's going on?" Elena asked and sat down next to her on the couch."It's, nothing." "It sure feels like something," "Well, it's not. I was just expecting a call," "From who?" "Emily, drop it," Elena said and stood up."Is it Gavin? Did I scare him off?" Emily asked and followed her."What? No, why would you think that?" "Because you haven't mentioned him in days, are you two arguing?" "No," Elena replied, even if she wasn't sure whether or not they were fighting. Having had not picked up her calls in days. He was busying it and sending texts like 'I'm busy right now, talk later?" That was what he always said but he never made an attempt to talk to her afterwards. After the welcome d
Marcus walked to his car and drove off to the nearest bar that he saw. He ordered a few drinks and proceeded to drown himself in alcohol. He knew that it would not be a good look on his image if he was seen but at the moment he did not care, he kept filling his system with alcohol and proceeded to feel the weight on his shoulders being lifted.His world as he knew it was crumbling and there was nothing he could possibly do about it.He knew that this day would come when his lack of a consistent relationship would make him be judged in his workplace. His father had screamed in his ear several times that he should become responsible and get a wife. For a while, he thought he could do that with Elena. He showed no interest in her but made it clear that he could provide for her needs from the start. He never meant to fall for her, if he did then it would defeat his whole purpose of trying to start a platonic relationship with her just so they could get married.But along the line, his obj
So far the highlight of the last few weeks of Marcus's life was Elena calling to yell at him. It was the first time he had heard her voice since they ended things or since she ended things with him and he didn't bother to stop her.He was a mess now, he could barely sleep, and he stayed up all night thinking about Elena and what their life would have been like now if he had just confessed his feelings. This woman was shifting his entire focus and she didn't even have to do anything. He started questioning if it was the right choice and whether or not his career should come before her.Elena was messing him up, real bad."Mr. Blaine? Are you listening?" One of his employees asked him and his attention snapped to the people in the board room. He was sleep-deprived and missing the woman of his dreams and yet there he was in a meeting trying to figure out the next course of action to hold the Singaporean deal."Um, yes. Could you please just repeat what you said?" He asked.The man opened
The next few days felt like a dream. Emily had come back home to their tiny apartment and Elena planned a small welcome back party for her, it was supposed to be a little get-together where she would invite Gavin too and officially introduce him as her boyfriend.“So it's just going to be me, you and Derek right?” Emily asked as she set down plates on their small dining table. She had moved from using a wheelchair to crutches, and in a few days, and with more physical therapy she would be able to walk unaided, Elena could not wait.“Not exactly,” Elena said then set an extra plate, “We have another guest,” “Is it Marcus? I've always wondered what he looked like,” Elena felt her mood change almost immediately. She had not talked to Marcus ever since she called him to yell and he sounded sorry.“Are you okay, El?” “Yes, I'm fine. And no, it's not Marcus. It's Gavin,”“What? I thought you guys were done,” “We were, and it was complicated but Marcus is out of the picture now and Gavin