All Chapters of The Tale Not Old As Time: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

Twenty-TwoAlmost a year had passed since their contractual marriage, Florence and Heath continued to reside under the same roof, yet their lives remained largely separate. Florence occupied her own bedroom which was downstairs in his flat, while Heath slept in his private quarters which was on the second floor. Despite their shared living space, their relationship was far from intimate. Their relationship is devoid of intimacy and affection. Heath would leave for work each day, returning home without acknowledging Florence’s presence. Their living arrangement was purely transactional, lacking any genuine emotional connection. They barely even talk with each other. While Heath was focused on his career and social standing, Florence was dedicated to her studies and maintaining their household. Their lives intersected only in the most basic and superficial ways, as they share a living space but rarely engage in meaningful conversation or interaction.Their coexistence was a purely prac

Twenty-FourThe whole space was filled with custom-made furniture, each piece a work of art in itself and expensive as it had been there since his father’s time as previous CEO of this entire company. A massive mahogany desk dominated the center of the room, its surface littered with stacks of documents and high-end electronic gadgets. Behind the desk, a floor-to-ceiling window offered a stunning panoramic view of the city. The blinds were often drawn, shrouding the office in a sense of privacy and exclusivity whenever he needed to.The office was also filled with personal touches that reflected Chaos’ interests and personality. Furnished bookshelves lined the walls, filled with a diverse collection of literature which he loved reading. A large, ornate clock adorned the wall, ticking away the hours with a sense of timeless elegance. A few pieces of modern art were scattered throughout the room, adding a touch of contemporary flair to the traditional decor. Overall, his office was a re

Twenty-SixFlorence pulled out her earphones and her faulty ancient mini iPod shuffle that got from a bargain after it was on sale due to it being a bit defective, trying to calm herself as she was still sitting in the waiting area of the whole glorious and grandeur global corporation. Even though she was partially deaf on her right ear, she made sure she maintained a low volume to ease the pain and discomfort from the loud volume. Though she was deaf on her left ear, she was still putting the earphones on to let herself feel the beat from the bass of the music.Clara Schumann, her favorite, most favorite pianist. Clara had been totally renowned for her absolute brilliance, a wide range of emotions from passionate and fiery to introspective and melancholic, and Romantic expressiveness on the pieces she made to perfection. She was absolutely a virtuoso pianist in her own right, and her compositions reflect her completely exceptional skill and understanding of the instrument that she lo

Twenty-EightChaos stood in front of his wondrous desk, trying to cover his wooden desk plaque which had his name Zacchaeus Spencer Batternkurt with gold font color in cursive font as if he was embarrassed if she would find out his real name and his real status, even if it was obvious who he was since they were on the top floor of the whole building and in this lavish and grand looking office.Florence muttered curses under her breath, the truth of her lie finally laid bare. Chaos had known all along that she could not speak since the first time they had met with each other from that drunken night when she was in the rainy street crying on her knees, but what truly bewildered her was his unexpected proficiency in sign language.She blinked at him, “I know I have some explaining to do since I could speak, but… You… You can sign?”Chaos calmly answered, “I studied.”Florence blinked her eyes at him as she was about to say something more, he politely added, “We can talk about those thing

Thirty “After graduating from college,” Chaos explained in his very calm manner, “I worked my way up, and then eventually joined the Empire of Spencer & Battenkurt as a junior executive. Over the years, I worked my way further up through the ranks, taking on increasingly challenging roles and responsibilities.”“That is fascinating, sir.” Florence commented warmly, “Can you tell me more about some of the challenges you faced as you were climbing the corporate ladder despite being this wealthy?”Chaos subtly nodded his head and answered, “Well, I was fortunate to have the support and mentorship of many talented individuals within the company, who helped me develop the skills and knowledge I needed in order to succeed. Eventually, I was appointed CEO of the Empire of Spencer & Battenkurt. I am truly honored and humbled to lead such a prestigious company, and I am committed to continuing its legacy of innovation, excellence, and social responsibility.”Florence hesitated and paused for