The first wave

“You came, Killian”, a little girl said, coming to hug him. She looked about eight years old.

“I told you I was coming Kaeli”, he replied, hugging her tightly.

“Shaila, look who came by,” she said to a girl who looked just a bit older than her—her sister.

“It's been a long time Killian, where have you been?” Shaila asked.

“I went to Italy with my mom and dad for a two-month vacation”.

“That sounds so cool. Why didn't you take me?” Kaeli asked.

“I wanted to Kaeli, but my mom said you couldn't come”.

“I missed you so much Killian, don't you ever leave me again”.

“I won't Kaeli, I promise”.

“Why do you call her Kaeli? Her name is Mayeli”, Shaila said.

“Her name is Kaeli too, and I prefer it to Mayeli”.

“Just say Mayeli”, Sophia said, laughing.

“It's time to go, Mr Killian, you're running late for your piano lesson”, a tall man, who looked like his bodyguard said.

“I don't want to go, I want to stay with Kaeli”, little Killian protested.

“I'm sorry young master, but we have to leave now”, his bodyguard said.

Shaila and Kaeli walked him to his car.

“When would I see you again Killian?” Mayeli asked with a teary voice.

“I'd come back for you Mayeli, I promise!”

“Mayeli!” Killian mumbled. His eyes flickered open. He had been dreaming again. It came every night.

Most times he forgot the events that took place in his dreams, along with the people and their names, but today he remembered a name. Mayeli.

He had lost his memories after a fatal car accident that had almost taken his life when he was seventeen. It was the major reason his parents had sent him to Harvard. They felt England would be too traumatizing for him. They had suggested a clean break.

His memories had started returning in tiny fractions, but he still had a long way to go. They mostly came in his dreams, and he rarely remembered them when he woke up. He was still asking himself if the Mayeli from his dream was still the same Mayeli he knew now when he caught a pair of angry eyes staring at him.

“Mayeli?” Laura asked angrily.

He had forgotten she was in his bed. She had come over last night to spend it with him.

“Forget about it”, he mumbled, pushing her off his body, and getting up. It was just 3 am, he noticed.

“Do you have another mistress?” Laura's high-pitched voice asked.

“You were never the only one, that was made clear”.

“I know, but did you have to take on a new one? Mayeli or whatever you call her. You even called her name in your sleep”.

“Don't you dare call Mayeli a mistress”, he glared. Anger was surging through him now.

Laura looked at him in disbelief.

“What are you trying to say Killian?”

“Take it however you want!” 

“Fine, I'm sorry babe, I overacted”, she said, coming to rub his chest.

“It's Killian”, he said, taking off her hands, and heading out of the room. She just had a way of always being annoying.

“I'm sorry, Killian”, she called after him.

“I want you out of here first thing in the morning”.

Hours later, he sat in his office going through some important files he was in a very foul mood.

He was reading a single document over and over again when his office door flew open. Laura walked in, dressed in a black, short, body hug dress that exposed her cleavages and thighs to a great deal. His secretary ran after her, giving him an apologetic smile.

He dismissed his secretary, and went back to reading through the documents, ignoring Laura.

She walked to his back, placing a kiss on his cheek. 

“I'm sorry Killian”.

“It's fine”.

“Do you forgive me?”

“Yes. Now leave me the fuck alone”. 

“I will soon”. She bent down to place a kiss on his lips, her bright red lipstick left a stain.

He tried to push her away, but she sat down on his lap, kissing deeper.

“Don't you want me?” She mumbled, pulling him closer.

***

Mayeli stood in front of Soter's group, taking in a deep breath. She had been here only the day before, but the large, skyscraper still managed to intimidate her.

As much as she wanted to avoid coming here, she had no choice. She got a letter this morning from the court, informing her that the first hearing had been moved to the next day instead of the next week, as earlier agreed. They had given an apology and a vague explanation. 

So here she was. She had come to collect some important documents, concerning the case. She always liked being super prepared.

She was wearing a well-tailored, light blue, Everlane, oversizing suit with a white non-button blouse inside. On her feet was a pair of blue Zara heels, and her ears and neck were adorned with matching silver jewellery. She had let her blonde hair fall in wavy coils down her waist and applied little make-up. She looked gorgeous.

She smoothed her trousers and walked into the building.

As usual, the reception was crowded with people making calls, walking around, and attending to clients. The interior design made it obvious that you had walked into a billion-dollar company. A sophisticated one at that.

“When she reached Killian's office on the twenty-fourth floor, she was already fidgeting. She wondered why he still had this effect on her.

“Good Ms Mayeli, good to see you again”, Gina, his pretty secretary said, when she saw her.

“Good to see you too, is he in?” 

“Yes, but I think his a little busy”.

“It's quite urgent, and I won't take much of his time”. Mayeli gave the other woman a pleading smile.

“Give me a sec”.

Gina took the phone, and after one ring, muttered a few, swift low words to Killian.

“You can go in”, Gina said.

Mayeli gave the door a small knock, before pushing it open.

Killian was standing awkwardly in the middle of the office, wearing a Navy blue Brioni suit that perfectly outlined his features. His hair was in a rough mess, falling slightly on his face. He looked sexy and handsome of course.

Mayeli was about to mumble a greeting when she saw the woman by his side. The lady was quite tall and pretty, with shoulder-length, raven black hair. Her amber eyes scanned Mayeli intently.

Mayeli took in the scene. Killian was standing awkwardly, moving his weight from one foot to another while the lady was standing very close to him, her face looking flushed and her hair a bit dishevelled. Heidi concluded something had been going on before she came in.

“I can leave if you're busy”, Mayeli said to Killian”, in a strained voice. She tried to conceal the hurt she felt building in her chest, but her shaky voice betrayed her.

“You said it was urgent”, Killian's calm voice said, holding no hint of emotion.

“I can wait outside for a while”.

A dark look crossed his eyes before he answered her in his normal, calm, cold voice.

“You can stay Mayeli. We'll finish up another time. Get out Laura”.

Mayeli gasped at how rude he was to the lady. The lady ignored Killian and turned to her.

“So she's Mayeli, the one you called in your sleep. She's much better than I expected”, she said to Killian.

Killian gave her a bored look, like was used to her drama, then his eyes fixed on Mayeli, raking her body in a way that made her heart go shoot!

“Why do you look like you've seen a ghost?” He asked in a placid voice.

“Why were you calling my name my name in your sleep?”

“Fuck! Killian muttered glaring at Laura.