THE GILDED HOUR

“Knock knock” - The sound of a knock on the door. “Are you still not done with your work?” - The girl who had been Alex’s assistant for many years. The sky gradually changed to dusk, and the workday was coming to an end. Rita quietly stepped into Alex’s office, her gaze carrying a different kind of care. It seemed like she had been watching Alex for a long time. People say that it’s hard to hide a secret affection for someone. A glance or a simple action can reveal it. She always looked at Alex in a very seductive way, even though he never paid attention. That girl is named Rita, with incredibly alluring long black hair. Her figure, especially her backside, seemed even more tempting the longer you looked at it. But no matter who she was, Alex always prioritized his career. He was known for his incredibly strict self-discipline. He was always on time, and that was a basic quality everyone should have. Alex never allowed himself to make mistakes, not even the smallest ones. That’s why he was so admired for his skills. In his work, Alex was highly focused and serious. Sweet words in his ears were rarely answered. He only focused on communication in meetings and topics related to business. Although a bit cold and rigid, Alex always put employees’ rights first. That’s why, as a leader, Alex was highly respected by everyone. Today, the weather was neither sunny nor rainy. The atmosphere was incredibly pleasant, transitioning from day to night in an instant! Alex stayed at the office to finish his work. It was 2 a.m., but he was still buried in piles of paperwork. Perhaps the international shipping orders had given him a headache. The multinational shipping company, ACCO, that Alex managed had been running for five years. Everything had been difficult and challenging, but Alex had managed to overcome it until now. That was the capability that earned him great respect in the industry. The clock struck exactly 3:13 a.m., and Alex froze. His eyes were tightly closed, but his fingers continued to press the computer keys like someone else’s hands. It was pitiful to see a man striving so hard without caring for his health in this era. Then, he collapsed. After a few minutes, sweat dripped onto the desk, likely to soak more if Alex remained in that position for much longer. But fortunately, he was awakened by a notification sound from his email inbox. Alex struggled to turn his body and regain his senses before driving back to his apartment. The life Alex chose, independent from his family, was dark and lonely enough, and had been for a long time. It was true, those at the highest positions always endure the most loneliness and difficulties! … Birds chirped from tree to tree, singing cheerfully, announcing the arrival of dawn, just three hours ago. I had never seen a scene so nearly perfect. The apartment, said to belong to the upper class, had three-quarters of the room made of glass, facing the desolate sea. It was both lonely and somewhat poetic. The experience of all the emotions through the seasons – from storms, sunny days, to the romantic chill of the year’s end. This was the place that had been connected to Alex for the past ten years. The wooden chair stretched back in harmony with Alex’s body, one leg curled up, while the right leg hung loosely on the wooden floor. His eyes were closed, enjoying the sound of Whisky Blue, a music genre Alex could never skip when holding a brush and painting each stroke. It helped Alex relax, gathering all his ideas and channeling them into the painting. From the sea breeze gently moving the paper to the voile curtains fluttering by the window frame, everything moved slowly and poetically. Even Alex’s healthy body was hard to take your eyes off. From an outsider’s view, this was a perfect day off for an artist like Alex. As usual, Alex spent most of his free time at home, painting and enjoying the scenery in front of him. But today was strange. Even though it was already evening, he hadn’t painted a single meaningful stroke. His hand trembled every time he picked up the brush, and his posture seemed to lack rhythm as he dipped it in the paint. “Damn it!” Alex, though angry, still kept his face relatively calm. He was, after all, a successful man, so everything didn’t easily show on his face. He tried to paint a few more strokes, looking out at the sea, which stirred up many emotions, as intense as the waves crashing. Suddenly, Alex slammed the palette in his hand onto the easel. The sound was loud and clear in the stillness of the room, breaking the silence of everything around. The paint visibly spilled down, pouring quickly onto the wooden floor, too fast to stop. I still couldn’t understand why Alex was so indifferent to everything now, especially since he hadn’t acted like this before. His anger was growing stronger by the minute, his face flushed and his eyes full of rage. Was this when Alex lost his temper, at the most beautiful moment of sunset? The room was messy, everything in disarray, just like a gust of wind. The easel fell to the floor, the paintbrush dripping bright red like blood, and in Alex’s hand was a bottle of unfinished wine from previous days. He began to gulp it down, as though it were the floodwaters flowing rapidly. Alex sighed, staring at the chaos in the room and the weekend that seemed like it should have been a perfect rest day. He didn’t think too much, as his mind was now completely blank. With nearly half a bottle of wine left, Alex decided to finish it immediately. ‘Gulp gulp,’ the liquid flowed down his throat, and his throat tightened along with the rhythm of his heartbeat. The sunset over the sea was still beautiful, as it always had been. Beauty, after all, always comes with indifference. Whisky Blue, which Alex liked to listen to, gently flowed with the wind at six in the evening. The scent of nature lingered, full of romance. Alex’s breathing grew heavier, the white curtain fluttering violently as if calling out to a soul somewhere. The waves crashed forcefully against the shore, even though Alex was on the 30th floor. Then, across from Alex’s apartment, there was a slender figure. The apartment across the street had its lights on, and there was a person, gracefully moving in a silk dress glowing with light. The wine in the bottle had run out long ago, yet Alex still thought he was savoring the taste. The sunset had soothed Alex’s soul with its poetic, yet indifferent beauty!