CARRIED FROM THE PAST

CHAPTER 3 – MEETINGS

=AGATHA=

                The merger was approved on both sides but eventually, Dylan does not “have the time” to deal with it and brushed off some scheduled meetings for some “important” ones. It is annoying since I know he is doing it on purpose as childish as it sounds but there are still a lot of things that we have to on our part without bothering him so I guess I’ll just let him do his antics for now. I will get everything ready before he moves on from annoying to demanding. However, of course, it doesn’t mean I will tolerate his actions all the time.

“Hello?” I mumbled when I finally have the energy to answer.

“Why the hell are you not picking up your phone!”

“I’m sorry Mr. Reginald, I did not expect you to call since you haven’t called for a long time. I thought the phone was ringing for an advertisement.”

“Are you mocking me right now?”

“Not at all Mr. Reginald. I was just stating the truth.” I said and rolled my eyes. “What can I do for you Mr. Reginald?”

“Come to my office tomorrow, there are things that I want to discuss with you.” He said and hanged up. I sighed and pressed the intercom.

“Tanya, reschedule my meetings tomorrow. I need to meet Mr. Reginald.”

“Yes, ma’am.”

                The next day, I got to his office on time only to find out that he just entered a meeting a few minutes ago. I did not let it get to me and took the documents I had in the car and brought it to his office to work on. There are a lot of things that I need to go through before they are released to Dylan’s employees but the horror is going off to different branches of the company to wrap things up. So I need to settle some things with Dylan before I start flying off to one place to another. When I heard the door open, I did not look up since who would enter his office other than him or his secretary at this time. However, I was startled to hear another voice after some footsteps.

“You can’t do this to me! We love each other!” I heard someone screech and that voice belongs to someone I never wanted to meet.

“Love? How can you be sure that he is not a gold-digging bastard?” Dylan answered his sister. Dylan glanced at me before continuing. “Remember when you said that you always had a bad feeling about Agatha? Well, I’m feeling that right now. He is not the right guy for you.”

“How is that related to this?” Veronica countered but I think I saw something flash in her eyes. I cannot help but feel mischievously happy.

“Sir, Mr. Rogen is here.” The secretary said out loud and Veronica closed her mouth.

“Take him to the conference room. I will talk to you later.” He said, referring to me. I did not bother answering as he already turned to his sister. “And you, if you really want to be with that guy then consider our relationship over. I have warned you many times already.”

                Dylan left with all his coldness and arrogance. Veronica, on the other hand, is standing there a bit shocked before being startled into attention when she realized I was there.

“What the hell are you doing here?!” She screeched and I went back to my papers.

“That is none of your business.” I said but looked up and smiled. “Karma is a b***h isn’t it?”

“What?”

“How did it feel when you heard those words from your brother’s mouth? Does it remind you of one particular night?”

“Shut up! Shut up!” She shouted but I could see it, the guilt and regret that filled her eyes. Poor girl, she must really love that boy.

“Don’t worry, you do not need to worry about me ever again. I’m only here for business with your brother. You can deal with your own life without worry.” I said sweetly and dived back to the papers.

“Shut up…” She said but weakly this time. The next moment that I looked up, she had already disappeared.

 =DYLAN=

                My sister was gone when I went back to the office but Agatha was still where I left her. She did not acknowledge me when I came in but I know she noticed. Her attention was on a paper that she is writing on while three folders were opened on the table in front of her. This reminded me of the time that I went to visit her at the library after meeting her at the club.

                I just signed a million-dollar worth contract and had promised that I’d get a drink afterwards for a break. The club was packed when I got there but they easily found me a secluded area since I was like a VIP there with my cousin running the club. I had the drink I wanted and was looking through my mails on my phone when someone approached me. I did not have time to see who it was as the person placed their hands on either side of my face and kissed me when I looked up. The kiss was quick or more of like a peck and I was released immediately. I was stunned for a moment before I had the mind to find the criminal but before I could curse out loud, I saw a woman in a simple, grey dress and red cardigan sitting in front of me with her hands together in an attempt to ask for forgiveness. Her eyes were also closed.

“Sorry! Sorry! Sorry!” She said before opening her eyes to look at me. “It was a dare. I’ll pay for your drinks. I’m really sorry.”

“Do you kiss strangers just like that on a dare? Have you no shame?” I said as I held back the curses that were in my mind. She looks innocent enough to be believable.

“I’m really sorry. I just wanted to change my colleague’s opinion on me. It was a mistake. I’m really sorry.” Suddenly she looked up with eyes that are ready to sprout tears. “You do not have a wife or girlfriend do you?”

“Ummm…” I just managed to utter out because her eyes took me by surprise.

“Oh no!” She exclaimed and started crying. I really do not know what to do and just stared at her. I got startled again when she calmed down and giggled. “I’m sorry, I’m drunk.”

“You’re weird.”

“I will apologize to your girlfriend or…” She paused. “…wife. I will explain what happened.”

“No need. Even if I have a girlfriend or wife, I would not let them near you.”

“You’re right, I need to sober up.” She said as she stood up and walked away.

                I brushed off what just happened and continued on my drinks and email. The right decision would have been to leave but it was too late for me to think about that. A moment later, she came back and sat with me.

“Okay, I think I’m sober enough to apologize sincerely.” She brought her hands together and even bowed. “I am really sorry.”

“…” I just stared at her before sighing. “I think you’re just mocking me.”

“I’m not.” She said and laughed. “I’m Agatha. What’s your name?”

“Shouldn’t you be getting back to your friends?”

“I would if they were there but they’re all in the dance floor. That’s too intense for me.”

“I take it you were just forced to come here.” She shrugged.

“I had turned them down on several occasions. I ran out of excuses.” She said and cradled her chins on her hands as she leaned on her knee, an indication that she’s not leaving anytime soon. “I thought I’d just sit with you, you look alone.”

“That’s because I am alone.”

“That’s bad. You’re handsome, girls would not leave you alone.”

“Yes eventually, you’re sitting here.” I said and she laughed.

“Oh right.” She did not say anything anymore as she watched the people dancing. The silence surprisingly did not go well with me and I cleared my throat.

“You mentioned you were here with your colleagues, what do you guys do?”

“We work together at the city library. I’m a librarian.” She said and I could already tell why she doesn’t like it here. “What about you? What do you do?”

“I manage people and stuff at a company.” I said after finding this amusing. It is not for bragging but I think a lot of people could recognize me as a CEO of a famous company.

“Hmmm…I guess that’s fun.”

“That doesn’t sound like a sincere compliment.”

“I’m ignorant to those kind of things. Management means business and believe me when I say that I don’t do good with numbers so I just tend to ignore it.” She shrugged and I’m just going to assume that she is ignorant to many things.

“Well, it was nice meeting you but I have to go.” I said as I got up. She rose with me.

“I’m really sorry about earlier. Please let me pay for your drink.” She insisted.

“Dylan.”

“What?”

“The name is Dylan and thank you for the drink.”

                The next day, the car happened to pass by the city library after a lunch meeting nearby and I remembered her. To my utter surprise, I told the driver to stop and I sat there for a time before sucking it up and stepping out of the car. I saw her by the counter in just a short while and I stopped to watch her while she wrote something on the chart she was holding. My mind came back to the present and I saw Agatha writing in a different setting.