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Ivan made his way towards the conference room the next morning, as he rubbed his right hand into his palm and adjusted his tie, which suddenly seemed as if it was starting to tighten around his neck. He didn't have a good night's sleep as usual, and spent the entire night working till dawn. The first meeting, which was a board meeting with the directors and executives of HAVAN construction, seemed to drag on as he began to get increasingly grouchy before the endless presentations ended, and he found himself fumbling with notes that Skylar would have seamlessly provided and marked out. The site visits he made around the city to HAVAN subsidiaries were extremely tiring, and he was so stressed out having to do every single thing himself. He struggled to find important statistical figures for each company because he had personally not done it in a long time, which Skylar would have effortlessly supplied as a report if she had been there, while informing him of the next thing to do. Fin
Early the next morning, Ivan sat behind his office desk, his eyes heavy, and his mood subduedly wistful, barely rested from his long trip after arriving hours ago. The meetings and negotiations he had gone for had all resulted in success, but he was left with piles of paperwork on his desk and emails which he had begun to check out and review endlessly since he arrived. Knowing Skylar would not have had the idea that he had arrived already because he arrived a day earlier than planned, he picked up the phone on his desk, and dialed the table phone of his substitute secretary, Taylor. ‘He had better start getting other people's help,’ he reminded himself.As soon as the call went through, he spoke authoritatively, “This is Mr. Hamilton. I need you to resume working for me immediately this morning,” Upon hearing what she had been told on the phone by Ivan, Taylor freaked out in shock, her jaws dropping in shock. As soon as she dropped the call, she stood on her feet instantly still
“The way you come here in the morning these days, makes me want to believe the rumours. Everything really okay with you and Ivan?” Kali's gaze weighed on Skylar's face, who stood in front of her to order a cup of orange drink and cakes. “Yeah,” a modest smile curved Skylar's lips, her eyes twitching with the apprehension that danced in them, “I guess things change after all,” there was a lack of enthusiasm in her voice. “You sure?” Kali’s questioning eyes finally darted away from hers as she began to prepare her order. “To be, Kal, I have no idea of what is going on with me now. I… I… just feel… numb,” Skylar confessed tiredly, almost slouching against the counter of the café. Ever since Ivan and Taylor had left, she had been so restless and uneasy about whatever could be going on in his mind. Not to talk of the strange message that she received the day before, which was devoid of the triflingness the message of a usual random unknown sender would send. ‘Someone knew what happe
‘I am setting you up on a blind date, Sky. Get ready,’ Amelia's words rang in Skylar's mind again as she casually made her way into the company, ready for the day's work even if she wasn't sure of her place in the company anymore. It had been three days since Ivan suddenly announced that Taylor would be working with him, and she couldn't even tell anymore if things were not working perfectly, as she thought it would be between the two, since Taylor had no experience, and Ivan liked things done perfectly. She had barely talked to him in those three days except for the usual pleasantries when he sauntered into the office to meet her sitting there already, and it felt like she had lost her significance at every indifference from him. It seared pain in her heart.It had also changed her thoughts and perspective that she could never be replaced, as she had heard other workers subconsciously program into her mind. She could definitely be. On a whim at that. Skylar didn't know she could
Skylar made her way into Ivan's office towards the afternoon during his few minutes' break after the first half of the day, when Taylor had also left the office to take a break, to be free from the suffocating walls of remaining in a secretary's office without having anyone to talk to. She missed sharing an office with others. But, as usual, Skylar could not leave her office to eat lunch because she was not used to having that kind of food routine, even if she barely ate breakfast. Most of the food she ate was either dinner or late lunches in the evening. “Mr. Hamilton,” she called as she approached his desk, her smooth loafers gliding over the polished floor of his office. “Yes, Ms. Bailey,” Ivan's voice came as a casual response without looking up, and Skylar almost froze on that spot, her breath eluding her when she heard what he had called her. ‘Ms. Bailey?! And not Skylar?!’ she wanted to scream. It took her so much willpower and strength not to break down at that m
“So who is this guy that wants to meet me?” Skylar was sitting in front of the dresser in her room after she got home that day, and staring at her reflection through the mirror while speaking with Amelia on the phone. “He is someone you know,” came Amelia's answer from the other side of the phone. “Someone I know?” The line of Skylar's brow jumped in surprise to hear that, as she tried to do a quick thinking, about how many people Amelia knew that she also knew. “Yes. He is from our college,” Amelia dropped another hint. “You say he is from our college and wants to meet me? How?” She blinked with incredulity, unable to comprehend how someone from their college suddenly wanted to meet her when it had been more than three years since they left. “Yes. It is Carlos Gibson,” Amelia disclosed. “Carlos Gibson?” Skylar's voice laid an incredulous emphasis, as her eyes grew impossibly wide, her forehead wrinkling in an overwhelming surprise. “Yeah,” Amelia's voice came casually. “Wh.
It was morning in HAVAN, the ambiance abuzz with anticipation of what the day was to hold, and at exactly 8:00 AM, the elevator doors slid open, as Skylar stepped out onto the last floor with elegance and poise, looking more gorgeous than ever. Dressed in a white three-piece tailored suit that accentuated her shape perfectly, she exuded sophistication as she walked down the hallway, her stunning heels clicking against the polished floor of the company. Her voluminous hair was no longer in its usual loose waves, but had been swept back up in a high ponytail, revealing the elegant curve of her neck, and her earrings which complemented her ears glinted beautifully whenever they caught the rays of light. To her, it was a mechanism to improve her confidence and be able to stand unfazed before Ivan, regardless of what he had to say about the uncomfortable situation they both had almost been placed in. She had also made up her mind to stop being so down, and being affected by his atti
Skylar had arrived minutes earlier than the time she and Carlos agreed to meet, and she sat comfortably at the spot in the classy restaurant that he had suggested via a friendly call earlier that morning before she left the house. Subconsciously, she adjusted the hem of her suit jacket nervously, smoothing out nonexistent wrinkles on her pants, as her eyes darted nonstop to the entrance which was miles away every few seconds. Her fingers tapped rhythmically on the table before, betraying her impatience and anxiety about the guy she was meeting, her mind trying to think of what to expect or how it would go. Earlier that day, Skylar had informed Ivan that she would like to leave as early as possible since she had nothing to do with Taylor around, but she was not sure that he was truly allowed to leave because he gave her a conflicting answer.“You can do as you please,” his response was curt, and she didn't know if he gave her permission or not. She had known Ivan long enough to kno
“The surgery had just ended and was successful,” the surgeon, who had just come out of the theatre room still dressed in her blue scrub, and had a nose mask hanging below her chin, told Skylar with a reassuring smile that didn't brighten her face.Instantly, the world around her paused for a millisecond as the tension that had been hanging in her body crumbled instantly, and dissipated into the air. Her legs gave way below her body, and before she knew it, she had fallen on her knees, as she felt the hard, cold floor press against her palms that rested against the floor, the weight of the news sinking into her mind. Her right hand which was trembling covered her mouth, as a stifling gasp that felt like it had been locked in her chest for hours escaped her, alongside the tears that trickled down her cheeks. ‘She was alive. Her mother was alive,’ she heaved a sigh of relief, unable to handle the excitement. “Thank you, doctor. Thank you so much,” were the few words her voice could u
“I am sorry, we cannot be together,” those heavy words hung heavily between the two standing across from one another, and the receiver, Leo, blinked hard as he stared at Kali, who had broken the news to him.“What.. What is wrong, Kali?” His lips barely found the right words to utter because his brain was barely functioning coherently. That was the last news he expected her to bring to him, just when he was planning that they would go hiking together since she liked doing that. ‘Things had been going fine between them for the past few days. What went wrong?’ His eyes took a haunted look as if awaiting an explanation from her. “Nothing is,” she looked away from him while resting her back on the railings of the rooftop recreation spot they were standing, because she said she wanted to go there when he asked what she wanted to do. “Kali, meet my eyes,” Leo stared at her, his heart wanting to reach out to her in the most intentional way, as his right hand stretched and caught hers in
Skylar made her way into the five-star restaurant, her eyes glancing briefly through the few people that were seated in the room, until they landed on Grayson, who was seated by the window, his face brightening with a warm, sweet smile the moment he raised his head. She instantly flashed a warm smile at him from where she was standing, and he rose to his feet, as a gesture to welcome her which almost melted away her initial nervousness instantly. It made Skylar's eyes almost roll in shock because she never thought she could see him smile considering their first and second encounter. “Hi, Sky,” he greeted her with a sweet smile, and politely offered her a seat across from him, “You look absolutely gorgeous,” his eyes lingered as he took in her dress, and her smile.“Hi, Gray,” she responded with a nervous smile, “You don't look bad yourself,” she finally settled into her seat. “How have you been these days?” He initiated the conversation, his eyes peering at her. “Been great,” Skyl
The evening breeze brushed gently over the terrace of Ivan's home, and the beautiful scents of marigolds and lavender from the garden which was situated not far from where the two friends sat, permeated the cool evening breeze with a nice fragrance that was soothing. Sitting across from Ivan, was Leo, who was dressed in a finely pressed summer shirt and slacks, as he slouched comfortably against the chair he was sitting on, with a light grin sitting on his lips. Gently, he swirled the glass of whiskey that was nestled between his fingers, as he stared at Ivan, who had been gazing hard at him for the past few seconds, as if thinking of what to say first. And then, he finally spoke. “So, you are telling me it has taken you two days since you landed to get a drink with me all because of a lady?” Ivan cocked a brow at him. “You know I have not seen or spoken to her since that …….” “Says the man who shows up on my doorstep after disappearing for half a year, and felt like he had to
It was late at night already, but the skies were still as bright as evening, which gave a physical misrepresentation of what time truly was, and had tricked Amelia into believing that the night was still young. She had quickly dressed up for work and sat in front of the dresser for a quick makeup touch, as she used the curling iron to press her hair while trying to gloss a shining red lipstick across her lips at the same time. However, while in haste to leave for her shift that night, her eyes caught sight of Skylar's restlessness through the mirror, whose body was sprawled lazily on the bed, with one hand tucked under her head, the other holding her phone close as she stared at the screen with an unreadable expression. “You never told me what happened last night,” Amelia began, trying to sound casual as she fluffed her hair over one shoulder, “You came home so gloomy and sad,” she glanced at the mirror again, while observing her closely.Meanwhile, Skylar was so engrossed in wha
Ivan stepped into his office after the meeting had ended, and was so surprised to see Skylar sitting at her desk, as calm and composed as ever. It was as if she had not refused to pick up his call all day, or failed to inform him as usual that she would not be around in the morning. She had him so worried. Regardless, a sense of relief washed over him in the most exhilarating manner, before he walked across to the front of her table, a little worried that she seemed bothered by his palpable presence, “Where were you, Sky? Your phone has been off since yesterday,” he gazed at her so intently when he questioned, as if beckoning her to look up at him. Without meeting his eyes, Skylar continued to type fast on her computer as if she had a deadline to meet, and murmured a sincere apology, “I am so sorry for missing the meeting, Mr. Hamilton. It won’t happen again,” she spoke calmly and eloquently. Ivan was taken aback by her very professional tone, as if to shut him out and install
With a weary and bothered heart, Ivan made his way to the office the next day, bothered that Skylar's phone had been off since the previous night. He was a little later to work than usual because a minor collision occurred with his car that morning on his way to work from a rough driver, and it distorted his plans to come early by a few minutes because he had the car towed and another brought to him.Quickly, he stalked out of his elevator as soon as it chimed open on the last floor with large strides in the most elegant way, and instantly made his way to the front of his office, as he opened the door to the office instantly, hoping to see her. However, disappointment clouded his face as soon his eyes fell on the empty desk where Skylar was supposed to be sitting behind. The chair was pushed in, and her papers were still untouched from the previous day. ‘Where was she?’ He wondered, his eyes raising in concern as he hesitated for a few seconds before entering inside, and made his w
The morning sun which Skylar had always loved suddenly felt unkind as it cast its harsh light on her weary face as she trudged into the main doors of the huge company, because it seemed as if it amplified the ache in her heart and the anger she felt from deep within. She made her way into the CEO's VIP elevator with its access card because she gracefully wanted to avoid bumping into any of the company workers, not minding the talks they might make again as to reasons why she got to ride the elevator when Ivan was not even with her. She could barely look at herself in the elevator mirror that she was surrounded by when she got in, and each glance she took at her reflection revealed her tired, hollow eyes and puffy cheeks, which she had spent half an hour trying to conceal. Despite the makeup, traces of last night’s turmoil clung to her like an embarrassment that she couldn’t wash away. It was obvious that she had cried so much. Skylar just wished that she was so open and cared less
Skylar stepped into her apartment with deep weariness engraved deep into her bones, as the weight of what she had just witnessed sat heavily on her chest, crushed her with each breath she took, and blurred her eyes with suffocating tears. The image of Ivan and Gwen kissing replayed in her head like a broken record over and over again, and it was as if a knife had been thrust into her gut. It was almost too hard to bear in mere sight, and the thoughts it brought to her mind severed her heart mercilessly. It suddenly felt as if all the moments that existed between her and Ivan meant nothing. Like she didn't even exist, enough for him to respect what happened between them. Like she didn't matter. Nothing hurt her more than the fact that the sight confirmed her fears and made her feel smaller than ever. It was even more terrifying because she didn't have the right to get angry at him. After all, they were just flings anyway. They didn't even have a name for what they were doing, so she