HALLUCINATED

PAST

The rich classic notes struck by the orchestra could be heard for a mile away from the hall. The melody of the music and the clicking of my heels on the pavement were in a perfect sync. My black long dress trailed behind me.

Today was supposed to be a ‘big’ day. The employees of Bergon Corp who had joined the company this year were going to see the CEO of the company. I had heard people talking about him being a handsome man, loyal son of his family and a very hardworking man. I know that the girls in my department refer him as a Greek god just so that I would not know who they’re talking of because they are aware of my lack of interest in the topic.

People would say that at this age it is normal to look for a partner for you. Well, I say its bullshit. There could be two reasons to explain this. First is that I am too busy to waste my time looking for a guy. Second, that my past experience with love makes me think that there might not be any achievable thing as ‘love’.

My only illusion to love was in high school and after that I didn’t dare to think of it again. At that time I thought I was in love and I could never fall in love with anything else other than him. Well, maybe the first part is true. For a fact I dared not to fall in love again after that. Actually, it never came.

As I neared the entrance I could hear light chatters over the melodious tunes and clinking sounds of the crockery. Walking in the hall I saw many familiar faces. Many that were stopping and turning heads to look at me. I smiled at a few, made my small talks to a selected faces and ignored the rest as I walked past the crowd, scanning the room for my best friend.

“Looking for someone?” an all too familiar voice called out. Knowing whom it belonged to, my lips curled up into a smile. I turned around and without a word pulled Mandy into a hug.

I had met her at the first day of college. I was actually broke back then. She was the only one who wouldn’t mind my secretive self. I had changed a lot during my college days. I had stopped talking to people, didn’t like crowded places, never made boyfriends let alone fall in love with them, I used to smile but hardly used to laugh. Only two things that remained same for me were – one, that I loved shopping; two, that I loved luxury.

For the second one, I may not live in utter luxury and wealth but I certainly have achieved enough to lead a very comfortable life. I am not extraordinarily rich but I am rich. Rich as in, I own a big house, three pretty cars and a house keeper.

I used to live in London but I always wanted to come to the states. When I graduated I was taken in by an American group as the head of the IT department of the head company of the group – Bergon Corp.

I wouldn’t say that I was taken in by them because of my very extraordinary skills. I’d rather say that the company still had less experience because as of its origin……well, quite surprisingly the company had started just two years ago.

Today was the annual celebration of the company that takes place at the end of the year to celebrate the success of last year and hope for a successful next year. Today the CEO gives his speech and meets all his employees. It is known that there are a very few people who actually get a chance to work with the CEO. The rumor has it that his father had founded this group of companies 12 years ago and had set up this company for his son 2 years ago and had passed away just a year ago.

I might not say I was excited to see who the CEO is, but I certainly was a teensy bit curious. Mandy could be all over this guy. She has been talking of him since last week. It seems she is way into him.

After a few minutes of talking and laughing and faking smiles, I made my way to the bar. The bar tender looked at me and raised his eyebrow. “What's your drink tonight, gorgeous?” he asked.

“A simple martini, please”

“Coming right up!”

As I was about to grab my drink the sharp sound of clinking of glass caught my attention. I looked around and only when my gaze fell upon the crowd gathered at the center of the hall did I know what was going on. The CEO was about to deliver his speech. Suddenly I felt uninterested so I turned back to my drink, not bothering to join the crowd.

My back was towards the platform so I could hear him give his speech but I wasn’t paying attention to his words. The CEO’s voice was oddly familiar. The facts made me want to turn around and see who our CEO was but I resisted the temptation. After a blur of me enjoying my drink, I noticed that the speech had ended and the crowd had exploded into a clatter of applause and cheer. For some wicked reason I felt a smirk forming on my lips.

“I see you were not interested in the speech neither in seeing me, huh?” the oddly familiar voice spoke. At first I thought it was for someone else but then realization dawned on me.

I was the only one who didn’t join the crowd.

I turned around abruptly standing up from my seat and looked down. I don’t know why but I felt too weak to meet his gaze. After that there was a wicked silence that fell between us before he spoke again to which I froze.

“Ivory Hale!” he said.

And the moment he said my name and the way he said it, the memories from the past came rushing to me. The feel of his touch could be felt again, the feel of him calling my name could be felt again. It was like I was taken back seven years in time to meet this one person.

I turned my head up and my eyes met his and mine widened. The same emerald eyes, searching my eyes for something he’d lost years ago. The same rose pink, soft lips parted as sign of his confusion. The same soft, brown hair framing his face.

He looked just as he did seven years ago. The only difference is that his body held a lot of maturity today. His shoulders were square showing off his aura; sense of responsibility laced his words.

“Hi Ivy!” he said in a soft tone, his words like a gentle caress.

My eyes automatically shut, hoping that when I open them I would realize that this was just a dream. Everything was black. And at the moment anything I was praying for was this to be just a dream.