Chapter 4: It's Too Real To Be Just An Illusion

“Could it be an illusion?” before Dion leaves the store he was certain his eyes caught a glimpse of the burn mark on her collarbone before he paid for the book and it’s been bothering him ever since he arrived in his office.

“Hey Victor” a young charming man with wavy brown locks and tan complexion who seemed to be in his mid-20s reading a book while sitting on the black leather couch located on the left side of the room, “Hhmn? What is it?” it was almost feeble and soft when he spoke but his eyes never left the book.

Dion replied, “I met a girl in Jenna’s Libiria today before I got here, she had a burn mark on her left collarbone. After I left the store I thought that she looked similar to the girl in my memories.” 

Victor promptly stopped reading and lifted his chin to look at him, bemused by his description. “You also said something similar two weeks ago, do you even remember when you got punched with a bag because you thought it was her and it turns out that it was only a fake tattoo for a prank.” 

“But-“ 

Victor continued, “Dion, it’s probably your mind creating illusions again, you’ve been a mess recently after you regain a few of your repressed childhood memories.” Victor asserted.

“I guess....you’re right, I’ve been caught up by these thoughts I couldn’t even concentrate properly.” He buried his face in his palms and sighed heavily.

“Maybe, you should take a break, My Father has a newly opened resort in Altham, just call me and I’ll tell my father to make reservations for you.” He uncovered his face and rested his arms on his black desk and spoke, “I’ll think about it.” Victor nodded and proceeded to read. 

Even after Victor’s convincing words, he was still bothered by what he saw, “But, it looks too real to be just an illusion.” He was disturbed when his phone suddenly rang beside his left resting arm, Dion snatched his phone to see who was calling him, it was his mom. He taps the screen and pressed the device on his left ear. “Hello, Mom. is there something you need?”

“Hello, Sweetheart, I forgot to tell you about the boxes in the basement, it has your name on them Do you still need these boxes or should I throw them?” His Mother asked. 

Dion could hear shuffling noises and a few voices in the background before he uttered, “No, not yet, just put them in my room and I’ll decide which things I should throw away.” He advised.

“Alright, I’ll tell Jonathan to put it in your room.” She replied.

“Thank you, Mom.” Her mother ended the short call and Dion puts his phone back on the table, he leans on his swivel chair staring stolidly at the champagne-coloured ceiling.

“Hey Dion, I forgot to ask you, did you already receive an invitation for Nathan Rhyss’ birthday?” Victor asked, putting down his book on his lap.

He diverted his gaze at Victor and spoke, “Yeah, why? Did you not receive his invitation?”

Victor shrugged his shoulder before relaxing them, “I did, I just thought that Nathan’s Father wouldn’t allow him to send you one.” he stated.

Dion responded, “I also thought that he wouldn’t that’s why I was surprised that I got an invitation for his 21st birthday even though Nathan knows how his father hates me so much for taking his spot in the global rankings.”

Victor all of a sudden laughed when he reminisced a certain memory, “I remember him throwing a tantrum behind the stage after that, he was as red as a tomato.”

Dion tittered from what happened in the event two months ago, Charles Rhyss was his mother’s rival in business but after she retired he became his new opponent. Charles was a famous top leading businessman for twenty-eight consecutive years until he took the spot as the new Number one and Charles was demoted to the top two and that’s how Charles held a deep grudge against him.

A couple of hours passed, and Dion and Victor did nothing but chatter relentlessly in the office after a facile effort of finishing three mountains of paper works in just a short span of hours. It was a piece of cake for Dion to revise, sign, and correct them, he’s been doing this kind of work since he was in his early teens.

Dion took a glimpse at his wristwatch when he realized that his office is starting to get dimmer, it was already 5:49 pm in the evening, “I didn’t notice that office hours already ended a few minutes ago.” He stood up on his swivel chair and pushed it towards the desk, he took his phone and placed it inside his pocket blazer.

“Victor, it's already late I’m closing the office.” Dion commanded.

“Wait a second.” Victor hoisted three books in his arms before standing up.

The two of them exited the office before Dion locked the room, they ambled into the empty corridor in silence until they stopped in front of the elevator and Dion pressed the button that has a sign with an arrow pointing downward.

They both went inside after it opened, he then, pushed the letter G and the reflecting door closes.

“Are you going home after you leave the building?’ Victor asked, gandering at him.

“Yeah, I still have to open the boxes in my room, my mom is planning to renovate the basement of my house so she had to move them either into her house or into my room” Dion stated.

Victor nodded along with a patent sombre on his youthful face, “I guess I’m eating dinner alone today.” 

He turned his head to the left slightly tilted before putting his hands in his pockets and said, “You could eat dinner at my place.”

Victor’s eyes widen, “wait, really?’ Dion nodded, “Yeah, I could just ask my driver to send you back home after dinner.” 

“That’s okay with me, now I understand why you're known as the charming gentleman.”

His face was engulfed in confusion to what he remarked, “Charming gentlemen? Who gave me that nickname?” he inquired.

“You don’t know? your employees gave you that nickname, I just overheard it a few days ago.” 

“I’m not sure about the gentleman part, even my mother tells me that I’m a bit apathetic and harsh once I open my mouth.” Dion affirmed.

They both left the elevator after it opened and ambled towards the exit as they carry on with their conversation, “I told you, the second season of ‘The Last attempt’ was already announced yesterday.” Victor said, “Look, I was too busy yesterday so I didn’t know.” Dion answered, defending himself, “Mr. Nester!” their chat was interrupted by a voice from behind suddenly ceasing them from walking.

Dion and Victor turn around to see a petite woman jogging towards them, “what is it, Ms Hensley?” Dion asked the panting woman.

She finally regained her composure and instantly straightens her back and said, “Mr Nester, I….uhm….would you…. like to eat dinner with me tomorrow night.” she asked sheepishly.

Victor snickered at the scene when Dion suddenly nudge him on his side with his elbow which made him stop his snigger.

 Dion replied, “I apologize Ms Hensley but I have to decline.” 

She was disheartened by his rejection, “I-is that so? May I know why?” she clenched her fist, trying to conceal the disappointment on her face.

“I have an important event to attend tomorrow night, so I had to reject your invitation.”

A spark of hope rekindled her heart when she was given a second chance “does that mean I still have a chance?” she mustered her credence before querying him, “Then what about the day after the event?”

It was intense between Victor and Ms. Hensley as they both waited intently with anticipation for his response “Well….”