Love Was Not The Plan

Sneaking affectionate glances…. You could trap the convenient distraction in the air. In the silence, their gazes tangled, the tension as fragile as a promise. George Anderson’s fist hit the polished mahogany. "Are you even listening to me, Karen?!” The deep bellowing coupled with the loud thud, shook Karen out of her reverie and causing her head to snap towards his direction. Everyone seated across the Cibus Inc. boardroom table flinched. Junior analysts froze mid-sip of tepid coffee. The air conditioner hummed like a trapped wasp. Tracing the source of the distraction, disgust filled his eyeballs when his gaze landed unwavering on Kelly Lawson, the director of sales. Kelly stood framed in the doorway, sunlight catching the wheat-gold strands in his hair as he murmured instructions to the HR manager. Oh, how he hated the childhood nonsense those two shared. It was so deep that he always felt like throwing up, each time he watched them together, trying individually to suppress their feelings, under the umbrella of “childhood friends”. "You were saying?” Karen's voice cut through his thoughts, and again, his gaze returned to hers that pierced boldly and seemingly unflinched, into his. It shook him for a second, like it always did, before he cleared his throat. "The report!”,he began. “There will be losses if we don’t outsource storage to Delta Logistics! Or has inheriting your father’s name made you immune to basic economics?" With a cold smile suddenly litting her face, Karen's gaze pierced even more into his. Wondering why her uncle was always angry for the position she held as the Acting CEO, Karen kept the stern gaze, creating an awkward silence in the room. Then she leaned forward, resting her elbows on the cold table, her stare pinning him. "Delta Logistics?” she questioned with a flat tone, "filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection yesterday morning! Their last three grain shipments were condemned by EU inspectors. Forty percent mold contamination. Ashes, Uncle. You’re proposing we hand our harvest over to ashes?" She queried , flicking a dismissive finger at his proposal. "Next idea? Preferably one that doesn’t involve incinerating our reputation?" She said emphatically, giving him one last gaze, before tuning her eyes to the others. George’s knuckles were bone-white where he gripped the chair back. A vein throbbed at his temple. He forced a sound, a strangled attempt at a chuckle. "My… oversight. Must have missed that update." He snatched his papers, the edges crumpling in his grip. "We’ll… revisit." He said, standing up from his chair, before turning to take his leave. The rest of the board members followed, leaving Karen alone who just watched them leave quietly. And then, her eyes fell on him again. And this time, he had been secretly watching her too. Locking eyes with each other, Karen's cold smile suddenly metamorphosed to a real one. Equally wearing a smile, Kelly gave her a wink, as he walked away, leaving her in a blushing mess. With red hot cheeks, Karen gathered her own notes, reminiscing the shenanigans that just occurred, as she also took her leave. The wind on the Cibus Tower rooftop garden felt like a welcome slap. Karen braced her hands on the cold steel railing. The scent of rosemary and damp earth from the raised planters fought with the city’s exhaust fumes. Soo, she began to hear footsteps. But she didn’t need to turn. She knew the rhythm of his walk. "He looked ready to throttle you," Kelly said, and she could bet he wore that sly smile, that reeked of sarcasm. And not until he stopped beside her, did she turn her face to meet his, to confirm that she was right. "Throttling requires guts," Karen replied, plucking a sprig of lavender, and crushing it between her fingers. The sharp, clean scent filled the air. "George only has ambition. And a surprisingly fragile ego." She turned, leaning her hip against the railing, facing him. "He hates that Dad made me his shadow. And I will never understand why." “He's your Father's brother, Karen. I think you should just give him his due respect. Maybe that's what he's asking for.” Kelly said, causing a chuckle to escape Karen's lips. “Respect is earned, Kelly. I respect my uncle. But I believe he should also know his place. He's the logistics manager and I am the Acting CEO. And he shouldn't think for a second that he can run that for me. He should stick to his job, while I stick to mine. How hard can that be?” With her eyeballs bulging like that, Kelly knew it would only amount to foolishness, talking about this subject. “How long again did you say Dad would be gone for? We are missing him already.” Of course he knew. “Two weeks!” Karen replied, rolling her eyes. “He and Mum should return, next week. But something feels off about this trip and I don't know why.” Karen says, her smile dropping, replaced with a worrisome look. Mirroring her look, Kelly takes her hand and pulls her closer. “Is anything the matter?” “Not that I know of. But I can feel it. Something just doesn't feel right. I just can't place it.” “Do you communicate with them?” “At least twice a day. Mom never ceases to buzz my phone with pictures and they seem so cool. But…” “But nothing, okay. You just miss them.” “I do. But this isn't their first trip. Yet this is the only one I feel like….” “Shh” Kelly says, shutting her as he pulled her to his chest, patting her head. “They'll come back," Kelly murmured, his voice dropping, intimate. "And Dad will have you up and about, demanding his coffee black and his profit margins blacker before 8 AM." He said, causing Karen to giggle, while he smiled. "Just like always." The knot in Karen’s stomach loosened, warmed by the embrace, and the deep timbre of his voice. Oh how badly she wanted to tell him. How much she wanted to express her love for this man she had known all her life. How much she wanted to express the feelings that had their way up, since she was sixteen. But for fear. That cold, familiar gut feeling, clamped her down. What if he says 'Karen, you’re like a sister…'? The rejection would shatter her. Her phone buzzed in her blazer pocket. She fumbled through, pulling out her phone, and wore a smile when she saw the notification. "Mom sent another one." Her thumb swiped, bringing up the photo. Her parents on the Beach, arms slung around each other and surfboards planted in the sand. Her dad wore fluorescent orange board shorts that defied good taste. Mr. Anderson did have a poor taste regarding fashion. Her mom’s head was thrown back, caught mid-laugh, her hair a wild, sun-bleached halo. "Dad’s fashion choices remain… bold." Kelly leaned in to see, his shoulder brushing hers. A jolt of electricity shot through her. And then his laugh rolled out, causing hers too. "He looks ridiculous. And completely happy." “You can say that again!” Karen said, amidst the laugh. "You miss them." "Like oxygen," she replied and sighed, snuggling herself deeper in the embrace. And just in that quiet moment, while they enjoyed each other's warmth, her phone buzzed again. BRRRRING! BRRRRING! BRRRRING! The harsh ringing of Karen’s phone shattered the moment. The screen flashed, UNKNOWN CALLER - INDONESIA. Squinting her eyes, Karen looked up to meet Kelly's confused gaze. "Answer it," he said, his voice low, urgent. Without another word, she swiped accept, and raised the phone to her ear. "Karen Anderson," she managed, her voice steady. "Ms. Anderson? This is Inspector Wayan Rios, Bali Police Department." Was the response that came from the other end of the line, heightening the confusion. “O…kay. How may I help you please?” *"There has been… a severe incident. At Villa Seminyak. Where your parents were staying."* Her eyes bulged as the knots in her stomach tightened. "The outbreak originated from a suspected gas leak from a faulty valve connection in the propane tank's piping system”. Every part of her body suddenly began to feel weak. Her legs lost strength to carry her and would have tumbled but for the quick grabbing hands of Kelly. Kelly grabbed her, pulling her against him as her knees buckled. But this time, she didn’t feel his arms around her. She couldn't even feel the cold wind. She could feel nothing but the howling void where her world had just been. “How are they and where are they now? You are draining me with too many explanations, could you please go straight to the point sir”. As she managed to put words together.