Again, I Loved the End.

Episode 5: Merger Rumours

Esme let herself blend into the stream of students, heading out of campus. She headed towards the train station. She liked to live life like an ordinary person herself, most times. Her responsibilities and duties couldn't catch up with her that way. She knew she couldn't run forever but she thought it was worth a try to try to find herself first before committing to anything. She's ever glad for Zina and her dedication to the family company. Esme knows that if Zina wasn't as dedicated as she is, their father would have been harder on her. She also thinks he's the way that he is towards her because he may feel guilty, but that's just a theory she has for now.

She got onto an approaching train. The ride smelled like burnt coffee and wet concrete. She picked a window seat, earbuds in, with a different playlist playing. The world blurred past. Same old buildings, same slumped people. Nobody cared who she was.

A notification from one of her social media apps popped up.

Esme locked the screen. Somewhere on a wall outside, the Stormvein Industries logo glared down. She flipped it off and slumped back into her seat. A guy nearby was watching videos on his phone without headphones, the tinny voices grating. Someone else was eating something that smelled like reheated fish. Classic commute.

She spent the rest of the ride thinking about school. Three degrees before she turned twenty-one. Materials Science and Engineering. A Masters in Metallurgical Engineering. PhD in Applied Geochemistry. Just because she could. Then a double Masters in Business Administration and Finance, because her father said she should. Now, a year-long degree in Psychology, because she got drunk watching some docuseries about criminal profiling and signed up for it on a whim. She was three months from graduating. Another check on a list she knows doesn't even exist, not even in her head.

By the time the train hit her stop, she was already mentally steeling herself for the day ahead of her.

The lobby at Velgrave was all marble and glass. Esme passed security without a glance. She took the elevator to the right floor. Upstairs, the air felt colder, like always. Vera barely looked up.

"You're late," Vera said, glancing at the clock.

"Morning to you too," Esme replied, setting her bag down.

"I thought you were aiming for punctual this week."

Esme smirked. "I aim. Doesn't mean I hit the target."

Vera sighed, a weary, amused sound. "Riven's meeting's been moved up. His father will be here. His mother and siblings, too. So we need to be sharp today."

"Sounds like a party."

Vera gave her a dry look. "Less party, more executive throat-cutting session. I need you to grab these printouts from the third floor. Kevin's behind. As usual."

"On it."

"And Esme?"

She paused. "Yeah?"

"Don't disappear. I'm going to need you. Especially if things run over."

"I'll be around."

"Good. Thank you."

Esme gave her a quick nod and headed for the elevator.

Esme stepped into the elevator wondering what the agenda for the meeting later today was. The entire family in the same room? She was sure some s**t was about to go down. Well, they weren't her family so she had no reason to care. Except of course, if it's a decision that would impact Velgrave Industries.

Esme took the elevator down to the third-floor print room. The space was cramped and smelled like toner and dust. A pile of papers sat on the counter, unattended. Esme grabbed the print request slip Vera had given her and started sorting through the stack.

"Esme!" a voice chirped from the doorway.

She glanced up. Mia from admin services, a petite woman with a mop of dark curls and an endless supply of wide-eyed enthusiasm. Esme barely had time to respond before Mia barreled in.

"Have you heard?" Mia whispered, even though no one else was around.

Esme sighed. "Mia, I just came into work. Whatever it is, I've obviously not heard it."

Mia bounced on her heels. "There's a rumor Riven's siblings are showing up today. And the Matriarch. Like, all of them. Full Velgrave lineup. It's practically a boardroom bloodbath waiting to happen."

Esme raised a brow, pretending to be disinterested as she kept sorting the papers. "Fascinating."

"I swear, it's true. Marc from tech said the big conference room's being set up for them right now. Vera's probably losing it."

Esme smirked despite herself. "Can't imagine why."

"And," Mia leaned in closer, voice dropping conspiratorially, "word is there's tension between the Matriarch and Riven's sister. Big family blowout a few months ago. Nobody knows the details, but apparently it was ugly. People are hoping for a rematch." Esme wondered how these people even knew all this. As reluctant as she is to admit to herself, she actually likes a good gossip session.

She glanced around and added, "Oh, and some guests from another company are coming in for this one too. Merger rumors. Marc thinks it might finally happen. You didn't hear it from me." Oh, now that was the juicy bit. Merger rumors? With who?

Esme shook her head. "Mia, you need to start a podcast."

Mia grinned. "You'd listen."

"Wouldn't miss it." Esme gathered the stack of reports. "Gotta run. Try not to get fired for gossiping." Esme doubted she would though. Even HR gets their gossip from Mia. She's a valued employee and surely doing the Lord's work.

"Never been caught yet," Mia said brightly, disappearing back down the hall.

Esme made her way back upstairs, dropping the papers off with Vera, who didn't bother looking up from her screen.

"The conference room needs setting up. Water, notepads, those custom folders from marketing. Make it neat. Riven's siblings are due any minute, and the Matriarch's arriving too."

"Sounds charming. But what are they going to need notepads for? I doubt anything's going to be written in them. We should set up the tablets instead."

Vera looked caught off guard for a bit before replying. "Oh, that's a good idea. Especially since we're a Tech company."

Esme headed to the conference room and started laying out the materials. Vera arrived a minute later with the room tablet, checking the tech setup.

"I need you to make a run to Brew & Crumb," Vera said without preamble. "The siblings and Matriarch only drink their stuff, and you know how they get if it's not exactly right. Plus, we need to pick up a couple of refreshments for the other guests as well. We should have had that done but you know the Velgrave's must have their refreshments hot or warm."

Esme groaned. "That's twenty minutes out."

"Then you'd better move fast."

"I better get some time off." Esme muttered to herself.

"I heard that. You should be glad coffee runs isn't all I make you do here"

Esme grabbed the order slip Vera handed her and headed out, already dreading the line.