Satellite Souls

Paying Attention

Aiden’s POV

Back to reality, I thought to myself finally arriving back in Australia. I grabbed my luggage and waited at the lounge until my car arrived for pick up.

“Welcome back, Boss” Jared replied. Since I became CEO of Greyson Co., Jared has been my right-hand man. He has an introverted side at times, a strange sense of humour, he’ll call anyone out for their attitude, and every now and then, if it's too quiet in the car, he'd crack incredibly awful jokes.

“Good to see you Jared, how’s it been?” I asked.

“Oh you know, Rebecca calls me ten times every single day to ask if I’ve heard anything from you, so, I get to hear an earful from my wife, but other than that, pretty dandy” he replied.

“I’m sorry, I know I’ve been MIA but I really needed this” I tried to reason. I couldn’t tell anyone about Fiona. Not yet. Not until I'd spoken with Rebecca and sorted everything out.

“Mr. Greyson, you have been MIA for more than a month now, but with all due respect, at least inform one of us about where you’re headed or if you’re alive. People were worried sick”

“People?” I managed a smile.

“I was worried for your safety, sir”, Jared cleared his throat and replied.

“Well, you needn’t worry any more. I’m alright. I just needed some time for myself” I answered.

“Is everything alright between you both?” Jared asked, looking in the rear-view mirror.

“I’m not really sure.”

"Rebecca continued, claiming that she wasn't listening to you. I'm sorry for intruding, but I felt compelled to let you know how she's feeling before any conversation took place. It's as though she intended me to tell you first."

“I get how she is. Thank you for the heads up Jar”

Given the traffic at the time, the journey home took roughly 45 minutes. I rummaged through my phone, wanting to text Fiona to let her know I'd arrived safely home, but I knew I couldn't. She and I agreed not to text each other until we'd had a chance to speak with our partners.

Finally reaching home, I walked into the living room to see my father watching the TV.

“Aiden! Finally! You’re back” he exclaimed.

“In the flesh”, I leapt open my arms and hugged him, recalling Fiona's warnings about the stroke. Despite all of my hasty decisions, finding Fiona was the greatest gift I could have ever gotten. By tampering with the timeline, I was able to save my father's life and rescue Fiona before she married that jerk.

“What . . are you doing here though? Shouldn’t you be at your house?” My father asked.

“If you don’t mind, I’ll crash here in my old room for the night” I replied. I wasn’t ready to face Rebecca yet. It had been physically and mentally exhausting journey. I couldn't get Fiona out of my head, which, in retrospect, wasn't helping me deal with my current situation.

“Well, I’m not complaining. Do you want to watch the game with me?” Without another word, I grabbed a six pack from the refrigerator and sat on the couch. It was just like old times, me and pops. I guess in a way the trip really opened my eyes to what was important in life.

Time.

Moments can feel like a lifetime at times, but they can also pass you by without you ever realizing it. I checked my phone once again, unsure what Fiona was up to. If she was okay, because being apart from her was starting to wear on me, and I had only just arrived home.

After a few hours of drinking with my father, I returned to my old room. Normally, my father has the maid clean the room once in a while for maintenance. Upon entering, I find that the room has been left in its original state. I looked down at my bed, remembering the first time I saw Fiona in my dreams.

The fact that no one in my life knew about Fiona did bother me to an extent. As crazy as it sounded, right now I wanted to scream to the world about her and me. But I had pressing matters to handle tomorrow. The realization hits me out of the blue as the reality kicks in. I have to talk to Rebecca.

- - - - - --

The next morning arrived and I opened my eyes to no one sleeping aside from me. I take my time to prepare my mentality for today. I knew I was going to end things with Rebecca. But I also knew Rebecca would press me for answers, even if it harmed her pride. I couldn't really tell her the truth. She'd think that I'd gone insane based on my responses.

Jared was dispatched to fetch me up. He started talking as soon as I got in the car.

“She knows you slept here. And she’s . . . livid. I just thought you should know”

“I figured,” I replied.

I recalled the day I met Rebecca for the very first time. I was attempting to block Vision Fiona from my memory throughout my senior year of college. She followed me around everywhere, attempting to console me. But I was too numb and closed off to let her in. Dreams allowed me to escape reality, but Vision Fiona is sensible and saw me for who I was when all I wanted to be was someone else. I was in need of doing something completely impulsive.

Rebecca was the calm before the storm. She approached me herself, and needlessly to say we got to talking. She pitched me a campaign idea for my father’s business, knowing I was her ticket in to the business. I knew she was ambitious and at the time, I admired her forthcoming.

My father was eager for me to join his business as soon as I was done with college, so I told him that the only reason I would agree to take over is under the condition that Rebecca becomes my business partner. I chuckle at the thought now, clearly aware of my naivety. My father is many things, but gullible, he is not. He did agree to it but we never signed any documents. Nevertheless, Rebecca now is the Director of PR at Greyson Co. A job she earned and deserves rightfully so.

But what we had was barely a relationship in itself. We were both business partners at work and business partners at home. She was so consumed by her ambitions she often forgets I was her boyfriend and I was so consumed by the dreams, that I often forget what love should feel like.

That is, at least, my side of the story; I'm not sure where hers begins. All I knew was where it would end. Which was right about now. The car came to a halt in front of our house. I took a deep breath.

“Good luck Mr. Greyson” Jared said it almost as if he was offering his condolences.

I turned in my keys and walked inside. Rebecca stood in front of me wearing a robe. My gaze moved to the ring I had forgotten about in the closet, which was now gleaming brightly on her ring finger.

“What are you doing?” I blurt out, watching her take off her robe and reveal her naked body.

“Paying attention”