Indifference
1211 Words
~Zayn's Pov~
"Please... make me yours."
Her voice brushed against my ear like a secret, soft enough to send a shiver through me. My hands reached for her, to hold onto her, and finally see her face.
But just like every other time… Darkness swallowed her whole.
"Wake up, Zayn! You're going to be late!"
My mother's voice broke through the dream, followed by a loud knock on my bedroom door.
I shot upright, my chest rising and falling as sweat clung to my skin. For a moment, I simply stared ahead.
"Damn."
I grabbed my phone from the bedside table.
7:50 a.m.
"The meeting."
I threw my sheets aside and rushed into the bathroom, cold water from the shower hitting my face, but it did little to clear my mind.
The lady from that night. Months had passed, yet she kept finding her way back into my dreams.
The strange part? I couldn't remember her face.
The clock was already working against me, ticking from minutes, close to an hour. I slipped into my charcoal suit, straightened my tie, grabbed my briefcase, and hurried downstairs.
"Young man."
Mom stepped out of the kitchen with a small paper bag in her hand.
"I know you're in a hurry," she said with a smile, "but you're not leaving this house on an empty stomach."
She pressed the bag into my hand before I could argue.
I chuckled, leaning down to kiss her cheek.
"Thanks, Mom."
"Drive safely."
"I always do."
The morning air greeted me as I stepped outside our glass house overlooking Tribeca.
A few minutes later, I was weaving through Manhattan traffic, my hands steady on the wheel while my thoughts wandered somewhere they shouldn't.
Her…
All I remembered was the sadness in her eyes that night... and somehow, that alone had stayed with me.
It irritated me more than I cared to admit.
People called me cold, focused, impossible to read.
But somehow, one woman I'd only met once had managed to linger in my mind far longer than she ever should have.
The towering glass building of Zee Techs came into view.
I barely stepped out of my car before Victor came jogging toward me.
"There you are," he said, slightly out of breath. "The editorial team has been waiting."
"How long?"
"About ten minutes."
I muttered a curse under my breath and headed straight for my office.
I dropped my briefcase on the desk and reached for the photocopies of my blueprints.
I searched the desk and found nothing but other files.
My jaw tightened.
"Where are the copies I asked Elena to prepare?"
Victor's expression shifted.
"They're... not on your desk?"
I looked at him without saying a word.
That was enough to answer.
I turned on my heel and strode out of the office, already heading toward Elena's office.
I didn't bother knocking, and the moment I pushed Elena's office door open, I wished I hadn't.
Elena sprang away from Marco, while kissing. Her hair was a mess, the top buttons of her blouse hung open, and Marco's tie was half undone.
Both of them stared, neither knew what to say.
"Good... good morning, Sir" Elena stammered, hurriedly buttoning her blouse.
I didn't return the greeting.
"The photocopies," I said, my voice flat. "Where are they?"
Her face lost what little color it had left.
She looked around the room as if they'd magically appear in front of her. Then realization hit.
"Oh my God..."
She rushed to her desk, yanked open a drawer, and pulled out the neatly arranged documents.
"I'm so sorry Sir, I….."
“One word!” I cut in sharply, and she went mute.
I snatched the files from her hand.
"You forgot because you were too busy entertaining yourself during office hours?"
Her lips trembled.
"I... it wasn't like that..."
“Then explain what I just walked into." I asked coldly.
She lowered her head.
Marco remained silent beside her, unable to meet my eyes.
Victor appeared at the doorway.
"Zayn," he said carefully, "the editorial team is waiting."
I took a slow breath, forcing my anger back under control.
I looked at Elena.
"You're for three weeks. Your salary for this month will be heavily deducted."
Her eyes widened. "Please, sir... it won't happen again."
"I certainly hope not." Then I turned to Marco.
"I warned you before about your conduct on duty"
He swallowed hard.
"Sir, please... just one more chance."
"You've had enough chances."
The words came out without hesitation.
"You're fired."
His eyes widened in disbelief.
"Sir, you can't be serious."
I stepped closer until there was barely any space between us.
"Then try me."
Without another word, I walked out.
Their silence followed me all the way to the conference room.
****************
Fortunately, the meeting went far better than the morning had started.
Two hours later, contracts had been signed, hands had been shaken, and the editorial team left with satisfied smiles.
Only then did I finally allow myself to breathe.
The moment I stepped into my office, I loosened my tie and dropped into my chair.
Every muscle in my body begged for a break.
Victor walked in carrying two cups of coffee, placing one in front of me before taking the seat opposite my desk.
"I'll admit it," he said with a grin. "You really went hard on those two."
I picked up the coffee, taking a slow sip.
The warmth did little to settle my thoughts.
Victor watched me over the rim of his cup.
"Something's bothering you."
I leaned back in my chair and stared at the ceiling.
For a long moment, neither of us spoke.
"I've been having the same dream," I finally said.
"What dream?"
"The woman."
His eyebrows shot up.
"The one-night-stand woman?"
I nodded.
A grin spread across his face.
"Well, now you've got my attention."
I ignored him.
"She keeps showing up."
"That's normal."
"No, it isn't."
He frowned.
"What do you mean?"
"I can't remember her face."
Victor blinked.
"What?"
"I remember how broken she looked that night. I wanted to help but she disappeared the next day."
I rubbed my forehead.
"And every time I try to remember her face..."
"You can't."
I shook my head.
"It's like my mind erased it."
Victor let out a short laugh.
"You've officially lost it."
I shot him a look.
"I'm serious."
He raised both hands.
"Fine. I believe you."
Before either of us could say anything else, my phone vibrated across the desk.
An unknown number. I answered.
"Hello?"
The voice on the other end was hurried.
"Mr. Maurice? This is Ann from the General Hospital. Your mother was brought into the emergency unit and we need you to come over."
The room spun.
"What?"
My voice came out barely above a whisper.
Victor was already on his feet.
"What happened?"
I slowly lowered the phone, my fingers tightening around it.
"My mom..."
The words caught in my throat.
"She was admitted to the hospital."
Victor's expression changed instantly.
"Let's go."
I grabbed my car keys and rushed out of the office with him close behind.
The elevator couldn't move fast enough.
For the first time in years, I felt fear, that refused to leave me.
- Writer
