MORNING OF QUESTIONS 2
1082 Words
Few minutes later
Alexander remained standing in the dining room long after Elara disappeared. Something wasn't right. He had noticed it the moment she walked into the dining room.
She avoided looking at him. Her hands trembled. She answered every question nervously.
And when he asked if he had done something...She looked as though she'd seen a ghost..
"What happened?" he muttered. He couldn't shake the feeling that he was missing an important piece of the puzzle. Shaking the thought away, he grabbed his car keys and headed for Kingsley Group Headquarters.
Kingsley Group
The company buzzed with activity as employees hurried through the lobby.
"Good morning, Mr. Kingsley."
"Morning, sir."
Alexander acknowledged them with a slight nod before stepping into the elevator. Minutes later, he entered his office.His secretary followed behind.
"Good morning, Mr. Kingsley."
"Morning."
"You have a board meeting at eleven, lunch with the investors at one, and the construction proposal is waiting for your approval."
Alexander nodded absentmindedly."Leave the files."
"Yes, sir."
The secretary quietly left.
Alexander sat down behind his desk and opened the first file.He read the first paragraph. Then the second.
Then...Nothing.
He had no idea what he had just read. He sighed in frustration.
"This is hopeless."
His mind wandered back to Elara."Did I do something?
"
Her frightened expression replayed in his mind.Then...A flash.A soft floral scent.
Someone standing very close to him.Warm fingers brushing against his hand.
His eyes widened. "What..."
The memory vanished as quickly as it came.
"Damn it!"
He rubbed his temples. The harder he tried to remember...The more his head hurt.His phone suddenly rang. The screen displayed one name.
Ryan Carter.Alexander answered immediately.
"Finally awake? "Ryan laughed from the other end.
"Barely."
"I figured."
"My head feels like it's splitting open."
Ryan burst into laughter."I warned you not to finish that last bottle."
"You encouraged me."
"I encouraged you to drink."
"I didn't encourage you to compete with me."
Alexander sighed. "Fair point."
Ryan laughed again."So...How's the hangover?"
"Terrible."
"Told you."
A brief silence followed.
Alexander leaned back in his chair."Ryan."
"Hmm?"
"I need to ask you something."
Ryan immediately became curious. "You sound serious."
"I am."
"What happened after we left the club?"
Ryan chuckled "I was wondering when you'd ask."
Alexander frowned "So?"
Ryan began counting on his fingers, even though Alexander couldn't see him "We left the club around one in the morning...You could barely walk."
"You almost hugged a security guard because you thought he was me."
Alexander groaned"Please stop."
Ryan laughed loudly "I'm serious, You kept saying...Ryan, you're a good-looking guy.'"
Alexander covered his face I hate you."
"I know." Ryan was still laughing. "Anyway...I drove you home."
Alexander nodded.
"I remember bits of that."
"You were so drunk that I practically carried you inside."
Alexander frowned. "Then what?" Ryan's laughter faded. "Well...We ran into Elara."
Alexander immediately straightened. "Elara?"
"Yeah...I asked her to help me get you upstairs."
Alexander's heartbeat quickened. "She helped?"
"Of course...She was surprisingly strong."
Alexander rubbed his forehead. "I don't remember seeing her."
"You probably don't."
"You couldn't even remember your own room."
Alexander sighed deeply.
"Then what happened?"
Ryan hesitated.
"I placed you on your bed."
"And?"
"I had to leave."
Alexander frowned "You left?"
Ryan sounded confused.
"Yeah...I had an early morning flight I asked Elara to stay with you until you fell asleep."
Alexander slowly sat upright "You left me alone with her?"
"Relax."
"You could barely keep your eyes open."
Alexander went quiet. Ryan noticed. "Alex?"
"What?"
"You sound worried."
Alexander stared blankly through the office window. "I don't know."
Ryan laughed "You think you embarrassed yourself?"
Alexander answered honestly. "I think I might have."
Ryan became thoughtful "You know...There was something strange."
Alexander's attention snapped back. "What?"
"When I came downstairs...I realized you stopped making noise...So I looked upstairs."
Alexander held his breath.
Ryan continued. "The bedroom door was closed.I figured both of you were fine."
"But before I left...I think I heard your voice."
Alexander frowned. "What was I saying?"
Ryan laughed. "I couldn't hear clearly but only caught one sentence."
Alexander's heart pounded. "What sentence?"
Ryan smiled to himself. "You called someone.....beautiful."
Silence.Alexander froze. His grip on the phone tightened. "What?"
Ryan chuckled. "You heard me." Alexander swallowed hard. "I said that?"
"You definitely did but I don't know if you were dreaming....or talking to Elara."
Alexander's pulse quickened.Fragments of the previous night suddenly flashed through his mind.A familiar perfume.A pair of beautiful hazel eyes.Soft skin beneath his fingertips.His own voice...
"You're... so beautiful..." His breathing became uneven.
Another memory.
"Don't go..."
Then...
Darkness. Everything disappeared again.
Alexander squeezed his eyes shut. "Damn it!"
"Alex?"
"I..."
Alexander shook his head.
"I almost remembered."
Ryan became serious "What exactly do you remember?"
"Nothing clear.
"Just..."
"A perfume scent."
"A face."
"And me saying..."
"'Don't go."
Ryan whistled softly.
"Well...If you really said that to Elara You've got some explaining to do."
Alexander looked out of the window again. His chest tightened.
"What if I crossed a line?"
Ryan's playful tone disappeared completely. "I honestly don't think you would."
"You've liked that girl for years. If anything...you probably confessed."
Alexander let out a bitter laugh. "Confessed while drunk?"
Ryan shrugged, even though Alexander couldn't see him.
"Wouldn't be the worst thing you've done."
Alexander ended the call a few minutes later. The office suddenly felt too quiet.He leaned back in his chair.His eyes drifted toward the city skyline. He whispered to himself
"What did I say to you, Elara?"
Kingsley Mansion
That evening...Elara walked quietly through the mansion's rose garden, hoping the fresh air would calm her restless heart.
She paused beside a fountain, watching the water ripple. She still couldn't forget the previous night.
His voice.
His apology. The tenderness she'd never seen from him before.
"Why did you have to say those things...?
A deep voice answered from behind her.
"What things?"
Elara gasped. She spun around.Alexander stood a few feet away, hands tucked into his trouser pockets.
Her heart skipped a beat "I...".She instinctively took a step back.
Alexander noticed "You're doing it again."
She looked confused.
"What?"
"Avoiding me."
Silence stretched between them.Finally, Alexander spoke softly.
"Elara..."
His voice was calmer than she'd ever heard "Did..... I do something last night?"
Elara's eyes widened.She stared at him in shock.Had he remembered?
Or...
Was he asking because he remembered nothing at all?Unable to answer, she lowered her gaze.
Alexander took one careful step closer "I'm asking because...I honestly can't remember...
- Writer
