Ch.8
955 Words
Eros Pov
Althea had a great sense of humor. She had a strong fondness for pancakes but was trying hard to resist the urge to indulge. I could see her eyes frequently darting towards her plate, clearly indicating her shyness.
After the incident at the cafe, it became evident that she adored pancakes topped with strawberry syrup and cream, just like Althea did.
I had to feign that I was heading to my bedroom to retrieve something. Once inside, I took a moment to glance at my 84-inch internet TV, which was linked to the CCTV system covering the entire building.
I observed her eating with great enthusiasm. It was a pleasure to watch her enjoy her meal. She ate in a natural and laid-back manner—completely without any pretense. Before I knew it, my pear-phone vibrated, interrupting the moment. I picked it up and held it to my ear.
"Men don’t discard me, Eros. I discard them. I’ll be the one to put a stop to this, not you," Rebecca shouted through the phone.
She continued to rant angrily on the other end, but my focus was not on her annoyance; instead, I was captivated by Althea.
I watched her expressions and habits as she ate, and my mind unexpectedly wandered back to the past.
No. She couldn’t possibly be her.
Eventually, I ended the call and began trying to fix my necktie as I walked into the living room with it loose. I found myself in the living room with Rose, attempting to get it sorted out.
"Let me help you, sir." I was taken aback by Rose's offer; it was something I hadn’t anticipated.
"Alright," I responded.
In one swift motion, Althea tied it perfectly. I was impressed by how deftly she secured the tie in place.
"How did you come to know how to do this?"
"A friend taught me. I used to knit his tie every morning before heading to school." Her eyes suddenly filled with tears. I couldn't understand why.
I simply nodded at her. I didn't want her to cry or get too emotional. Honestly, I wouldn't know how to cope with that; it's something I've never grasped about women.
Sensitive, emotional, and often hysterical. These were aspects I tried to steer clear of. As I matured, I learned to manage my emotions and held back from revealing my true feelings.
I needed to be resilient, brave, and emotionally robust. I manage a global corporation, and thousands of employees depend on me, including my family. Any hint of vulnerability could be exploited by our rivals, the business sharks, as a weapon against me and my company.
I cleared my throat and shifted her focus.
“Althea, I want you to keep this pear-pad with you at all times." I handed the pear-pad to her.
"Yes sir." She grasped the pear-pad with both hands, as if she feared it might slip from her grasp.
"I’ve already stored my number along with essential business contacts on it."
"Let’s go, we’re going to be late for work." I walk confidently towards the door.
"Alright, thanks for the pear-pad, Mr. Valenti." She kept up with my pace as she followed behind me.
I simply nodded and held the door open for her.
"So, what are your thoughts? She resembles Eve perfectly, doesn't she?" I was in my office with my best friend, Michael, enjoying a cup of coffee.
Michael laughed. "I hate to tell you this, but Eve was a nerd, and Althea here is definitely a sophisticated woman."
"I also hate to say this, but I think I need to find a new best friend because you just insulted the love of my life."
I felt like I could knock him out in under three seconds. But no... that's not who I am. I'm a businessman, not a killer.
I take a quick look at Althea in her office.
"I’ve known Eve for a brief period, and I can sense my feelings when she’s nearby. I experience the same sensation when Althea is close to me..”
"Then there’s an issue with your skin cells," Michael chuckled. "Or perhaps you’ve been enchanted."
"You mean by Eve," I replied, feeling uneasy about Michael’s implication. The term 'bewitched' doesn’t sit well with me when referring to Althea.
"Yes, you’ve brought her up at least ten times."
"That’s because she holds a special place in my heart."
"So how is the search progressing? Have you located her yet?"
I let out a deep sigh. "Not yet. It feels as if she has completely disappeared from existence."
"What about her friend?"
"I was so eager to see Eve that we didn’t swap contact information when we bumped into each other." I rub the back of my neck.
"You know your mother won’t approve of you two being together."
"I don’t care. I just hope I’m not too late to mend things with Althea when we finally meet again."
For eight years, I let myself be my mom’s punching bag. I allowed her to dominate every aspect of my life. Because of her, Eve must truly despise me now, but I did it for her own benefit.
I turned into a monster—selfish, indifferent, and a heartless devil to the girl I loved. How I wish I could rewind time and take back everything I said to her that night.
Apologizing isn’t something I usually do, but I genuinely owe Eve an apology. She was the one who captured my heart, and she meant everything to me.
I can’t tell if she still harbors any resentment towards me, and that’s my greatest frustration.
Until I locate her, the question lingers: "Will she forgive me?"
- Writer
