Whispers in Maplewood

Chapter 11: CEO

The city roared with its usual cacophony as the sun rose, casting long shadows between the tall steel and glass buildings. In one of those impressive structures was Mike's office. Behind the floor-to-ceiling windows, he sat in his sleek leather chair, the weight of his thoughts far more significant than the view of the sprawling metropolis outside.

Months had passed since he broke up with Emily, a decision he found himself second-guessing with each passing day. Julia, his new fiancee, was a constant presence in his life, her energy and constant demands overwhelming him. What was supposed to be a new chapter in his life felt more like a storm he couldn't escape from.

With each passing day, Mike found himself missing Emily more. Her calm demeanor, her intellect, the way she would listen before responding — qualities he had underestimated and underappreciated.

That morning had started on a sour note. The sun had barely made its appearance over the horizon when Julia started the conversation about setting a wedding date. Again.

"Mike," Julia had said, her tone one of insistence and barely concealed frustration, "we really need to finalize a date. My parents are asking about it, and the sooner we book a venue, the better."

Mike had rubbed his temples, trying to stave off the early morning headache. "Julia, we've been over this. It's too soon to make a decision like this. We need more time."

But Julia was relentless. "Time for what, Mike? We're engaged. We need to get married. People expect it."

The discussion had quickly escalated into a full-blown argument. The trivialities of flower arrangements and invitation fonts became battlefields. Each had their ideas of what the wedding should look like, and neither was ready to back down.

Mike did not want to fully admit it, but it wasn't the details of the wedding that bothered him. It was the lack of connection, the stark contrast between these moments and his times with Emily. With Emily, even disagreements had felt like they brought them closer, each discussion a moment of shared understanding and compromise.

Now, standing in the cold light of the city, a gnawing emptiness was growing inside him. It wasn't just Emily's companionship he missed, but also the warmth and understanding they had shared. The realization was bitter, a stark reminder of the choices he had made. The tension of the morning argument still hung heavy in the air, emphasizing the increasing distance between him and Julia. The emptiness echoed in the silent expanse of his office, the city outside indifferent to his turmoil.

Mike reached for his phone, scrolling through his contacts to find Emily's number. He had tried calling her multiple times over the past weeks, but she never answered. He had assumed she was still hurting from the breakup and needed time, so he tried to accept it. However, after an awful morning, he felt an instant urge to hear her voice, hoping it would calm the storm that was his emotions lately.

But this time, something was different. As soon as he dialed Emily's number, the call got disconnected. Confused, he tried again, only to receive the same result. His brow furrowed in concern and frustration. He anxiously switched to messaging, typing out a simple 'Hello', but to his surprise, the message could not be delivered.

It was then that the truth hit him like a punch — Emily had blocked him. A chill ran through him as the realization sank in. Mike was a man used to getting what he wanted, but Emily was making it clear that she was closing this chapter of her life.

He leaned back in his chair, staring blankly at the unyielding cityscape. His fingers brushed the cool surface of his phone, the recent call attempt leaving him feeling hollow. He missed Emily, and the irony of his situation was not lost on him.

The CEO who had everything, yet he found himself longing for the warmth of his small-town love, a love he had traded away for a mirage of a perfect life. For the first time in a long while, Mike felt truly alone, trapped in a city of millions with no one to turn to. No, he would not accept a defeat. That is not how he got this successful in the first place.

Mike's mind was racing as he stared at his reflection in the cold, gleaming glass of his office window. Whenever he was conducting business negotiations, he was thinking about what motivates the person. At the moment, the only thing that would motivate Emily to face him, would be the royalty payments that his company had been paying her. So finally, an idea, a plan, was starting to form.

Mike sat up from his chair swiftly, reaching for his phone. He called the finance department right away. He had to talk about this matter to the head of department, since he wanted the matter to be done urgently and to show that it was very important.

After he was done with a call, Mike’s mind was spinning. He sat behind his office desk, the sharp edges of his thoughts making his eyes dart back and forth across the office. He was sure that Emily would stand in this office very soon, if not even today. Withholding payments was a calculated move, and he knew it. He had designed it with one purpose in mind: Emily would need the money, and she would have to come back to him.

But he knew Emily would not contact him directly. He had to play a little game to lure the bird back into his office. He picked up the phone on his desk, his fingers dialing the familiar number of his assistant, Lisa. He didn't allow himself a second thought.

"Lisa," he began, his voice firm, a tone that Lisa knew meant business. "Emily's payments, we will be withholding them this month."

"Sir," Lisa started, her tone cautious, "this could lead to legal complications..."

"I’m aware of the consequences," Mike cut her off abruptly. He needed to tread carefully, ensuring Emily did not find out his real motives. "Just tell her it's a technical glitch if she calls again, and, Lisa..."

"Yes, Mike?"

"I want Emily here, in my office, as soon as possible. Tell her...tell her it's a business proposition. A new project we're developing that we need her expertise for." His voice was authoritative, leaving no room for refusal or questions.

He hung up before Lisa could say anything more. He knew he could trust her. Lisa had always been dependable, someone he could rely on to handle things effectively. He also knew that this order could potentially put Lisa in an awkward situation, but he knew she would do it if she did not want to see his rage.

Little did he know, Emily had moved away, far from the glittering high-rises and sprawling cityscapes. She had returned to Maplewood, the town she had grown up in, seeking solace and a fresh start. She was not only geographically distanced from Mike, but emotionally, she had erected a barricade he was not aware of.

Mike sat back in his chair, his heart pounding against his chest. His gaze wandered over the city that stretched out beneath his office. A city that he ruled, yet felt increasingly alienated from. In his heart, a storm was brewing. Unknownst to him, the eye of it was far away, in the tranquility of a small town called Maplewood.

It was not even an hour later when the sound of the intercom buzzing interrupted Mike’s deep contemplation. The soft but firm voice of Lisa resounded from the other end.

“Mike, Emily...she’s refusing to come,” she said, her voice steady despite the news she was delivering.

Mike’s hand tightened on the receiver. His fingers turned white from the force of his grip. He was silent, processing the information.

“She... what?” Mike managed to choke out, his voice coming out harsher than he intended.

“She says she won’t come. She’s adamant about it. And she threatened to take legal action if the royalties aren’t paid soon,” Lisa's voice wavered slightly, and he could sense her apprehension through the intercom.

“Is that so...?” Mike’s voice was calm, but the fury in his eyes was palpable. His mind was already formulating plans, options, and countermeasures. “I'll just have to go to her myself, then.”

He was about to disconnect the call when Lisa’s voice came through again, trembling but determined. "Mike, there's something else... Emily's moved."

Mike's fingers froze on the disconnect button. "Moved?" he echoed, the word falling from his lips like a lead weight.

"Yes," Lisa responded quietly. "She's moved across the country."

There was a pause, a brief moment of stunned silence. The high-powered CEO, the man who could make a company rise or fall with a single decision, sat in utter disbelief. The weight of the news sank in, and his pent-up anger began to subside. He was left with a strange mixture of frustration, confusion, and a painful realization that he was losing his grip on the situation and, more importantly, on Emily.

'"Across the country?" he asked in disbelief.

"Yes, sir. However, she did not disclose where exactly." But Mike did not need anyone to tell where Emily had moved. He recalled countless stories about a small city of Maplewood, Emily's hometown, that, coincidentally, was located on another side of the vast country.

"Well, isn't that just perfect," he said, his voice bitter with the irony of the situation. He disconnected the call, leaving him alone with his thoughts in the vast expanse of his office, feeling more isolated than ever. The city that sprawled out beneath his office seemed even more foreign, more alien than before, as he grappled with this startling revelation. Emily, it seemed, was moving on without him.

In the deafening silence that had befallen his office, Mike couldn't help but feel the absence of Emily. The empty echo of Lisa's words kept repeating in his mind. "Moved to Maplewood."

He picked up the phone once again, his fingers pressing the intercom button with newfound determination.

“Lisa?” His voice was calmer now, his resolve steeling.

“Yes, Mike?”

“I need you to arrange a trip for me.”

“A trip, sir? To where?”

“Maplewood.”

There was a brief pause from the other end of the line, and he could almost picture Lisa’s surprise. "Is Mike planning on visiting Emily's parents?" she wondered, but woke up from her thoughts quickly. Mike heard the click-clack of her typing on the keyboard seconds later, and he knew she was already working on his request.

"Understood, sir. When would you like to leave?" Lisa’s professional tone was back, her surprise evidently buried under her work ethic.

“As soon as possible, Lisa. And book me a place to stay. Something inconspicuous. I don’t want Emily to know I’m there until I decide so.”

“Understood, sir. I'll get on it right away,” Lisa confirmed, her voice steady and reliable.

Mike ended the call and looked out at the skyline once again. But this time, instead of the bustling cityscape, he saw the quaint image of a small town called Maplewood, a town he never thought he would step foot in.

His heart pounded in his chest at the thought of seeing Emily again, not in the steel and glass confines of their shared past, but in the calm serenity of her new life. He couldn't help but wonder, would she be different? Or would she be the same Emily he had once loved, the same Emily he had left?

One thing was certain though, he was about to find out. And he knew deep down, his journey to Maplewood wasn't just about setting things straight. It was about seeking a sense of clarity he himself did not understand fully. He was about to step into a part of Emily's life he had never been a part of, and he couldn't shake off the strange mix of anticipation and dread that settled in his heart. But one thing was clear - he was going to see Emily, and he was going to make things right.