Beyond the nights

Chapter Two: Unexpected Reunion

My heart raced as Marcus stepped into the room, his presence unexpected and unsettling. A wave of emotions I hadn't expected rushed through my thoughts as memories of our past resurfaced. My gaze fixed on his, and for a few seconds, everything appeared to stop.

"Jasmine," Marcus began, his voice a mix of surprise and something I couldn't quite make out. He was composed. "I didn't anticipate seeing you here."

I swallowed hard; my throat suddenly dry. "I- I didn't expect to be here."

“So, what are you doing here?” he said.

Ethan walked out of the room almost immediately, interrupting our conversation. With a little smile, he said

"How are you doing, brother? And why is your old man trying to blow up my cell phone?" They both laughed.

He headed to get a glass of wine from his wine cellar, walking with elegance and poise as though he owned the entire city.

I, trying to get away from the scene, heard Ethan’s voice again. "Do you two know each other?" Ethan's gaze shifted between Marcus and me, his expression hardening.

Marcus and I exchanged a brief, almost imperceptible glance, a silent conversation passing between us. "Yes," Marcus finally answered, his tone measured. "We have a history."

Ethan's brows furrowed, a hint of suspicion in his eyes. "What kind of history?"

I felt a wave of vulnerability wash over me, but I squared my shoulders, determined not to let this situation unravel me.

"We were… close, once. A long time ago." I said to Ethan

Marcus added, "We were more than close. We were together."

Not wanting to let the conversation go any further, I hurriedly said, “I have to get to work, see you some other time, Marcus.”

Marcus nodded, but before he did, he cast a lingering glance at me. "We should catch up sometime."

I nodded, my heart pounding in my chest. "Yeah, maybe."

And I zoomed out.

Ethan's gaze flicked between them, a mix of confusion and realization dawning in his eyes. "Together? You mean you were... involved?" he asked Marcus.

“You never told me about any girl,” he chuckled while gulping his glass of wine.

Marcus took a deep breath, his gaze never leaving Ethan's. "Our father, Mr. Richard, wanted to discuss some matters with you. He's been trying to reach you."

Ethan's tension seemed to ebb slightly as he processed Marcus's words. "Fine, I'll call him."

Ethan walked into the corner of the room, where a little desk contained his smartphone, with a dismissive sweep of his hand. He called his father's number, his face serious as he waited for the call to connect.

Ethan's voice rose in frustration from across the room. "Father, I have a lot I’m doing now; I told you I will handle it." Ethan's tone held a mixture of irritation and frustration.

Ethan then ended the call after some minutes and let out a frustrated sigh, his gaze fixed on the floor as if lost in thought. “It seems like my father had intentions for me,” he said to himself.

Ethan shot Marcus a wry look before his expression shifted, his eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "He mentioned something about a new direction for the company. Something big."

Marcus’s curiosity deepened, his mind racing to decipher the implications of Ethan's words. A shift in a powerful business empire could have far-reaching consequences, affecting not only Ethan but everyone connected to him.

As if sensing their intrigue, Ethan's gaze flicked to Marcus. "I feel something is about to change but I haven’t figured it out, and I’m not ready to talk about it.”

Ethan's lips quirked into a faint smile, his guarded exterior momentarily melting away. "I need to get ready for work; I will see you at the office,” he said to Marcus.

A commanding presence was revealed when the room's beautiful double doors slid open just as the tension between them appeared to be dissipating. Mr. Richard, a powerful and influential man, stood at the doorway, his presence casting a shadow over the space.

"Ethan," Mr. Richard's voice was authoritative, his gaze unwavering. "We need to talk."

Ethan's jaw tightened, a flicker of tension passing between father and son. "Not now, Father. I said I will see you in your office."

Mr. Richard's gaze remained fixed on Ethan, a mixture of disappointment and expectation in his eyes. "Very well. But remember, Ethan, time waits for no one."

As Mr. Richard turned to leave, his presence lingering like a storm cloud, couldn't help but feel the weight of the impending changes that Ethan had alluded to. The dynamics between father and son, the success of the business empire—it was all part of a world that was both alluring and intimidating.

Ethan's gaze followed his father's retreating figure, his expression a mixture of determination and not willing to obey him. Once the room fell silent, he turned back to Marcus, his demeanor shifting back to one of guarded composure.

“Why did he still come to my apartment?” Ethan murmured.

“See you soon, Marcus.” He said to Marcus while heading to his room.

In the space of not really understanding what just happened and not wanting to ask too many questions, Marcus replied, “Alright.” And Marcus turned and headed out.

Leaving Ethan’s apartment, Marcus was trying to replay all the events that, just happened, from seeing his first love Jasmine, whom he never stopped having feelings for, to his father coming to Ethan’s apartment.

While he thought loudly, he said, “Should I call Jasmine and still profess my feelings for her all over again?”

He pondered seriously to himself because he really loved jasmine and he did not want to let her go again for the second time. He also wondered why he saw her in his brother’s apartment. His thoughts were all over the place.