Love, Lust & Cupid

"It was love at first sight, at last sight,  at ever and ever sight." - Vladimir Nabokov   Grace Roberts' PoV: The handset at my table began to ring. I hurriedly erased the few droplets of tears that had escaped with the back of my hand and ran a hand through my jet black hair before walking towards my desk. "Yes?" I said as I picked up the phone, somehow managing a professional tone after my little breakout. "Cupid, shall I send our next client in? Her name is Melanie." my assistant's voice came through the other end of the phone. "Send her in 5 minutes, Caleb," I hung up the phone. I rushed from my desk towards "The Meeting Chamber". It was located just next to my office with a connecting door; I had it built especially for the meetings with my client. As the infamous Cupid and the CEO of The Cupid & Co, it was hard to keep my real identity hidden, especially when the whole of America was hell-bent on seeing my face but this particular Chamber had exactly what I needed. I opened the door to reveal the interior of the room. When Remi, my best friend told me how a  blue themed room could make people feel comfortable, I wasted no time in customizing my meeting chamber. Walking inside, I examined the blue walls and light blue rugs followed by white chairs and a table.  It was just an average room for meeting strangers, but what made it any different? That was where the masks came in. I was watching the series of aligned masks, until picking one to put on. Perched in a corner of the room were the stacks of masks similar to those worn in a masquerade but with more coverage.  A knock at the door echoed just as I tied the mask on my face. "Come in, please." and a young lady walked in. "Hello, Melanie. You may know me as Cupid, here take a seat." my voice turned more gentle, quite different from my actual tone. The basic changes I had made 3 years back when I first introduced myself as The Cupid were one of the reasons that helped to conceal my identity. That doesn't make it any less exhausting to do so.  "Hello, it's so great to meet you. Getting this appointment was hard, but not any harder than the problems I have been facing." Her excitement went downhill in just a matter of seconds. "I am glad you chose us. Now, how may I help you?" I had my usual comforting tone on. After a long pause, she replied, "Where should I begin?" she seemed wrecked and my heart went out for her. "I don't even know where I went wrong, everything was amazing until-" she continued to explain and 15 minutes later she finally came to a stop. "So, your husband whom you got married to only 2 months ago is acting strange and you doubt that there's another woman in his life?" I sighed, contemplating the possibilities crossing my mind.  3 years ago, I started this company from scratch and completely relying on my skills of mending people's relationship. I remember the energy and time I had invested in helping many damsels in distress through their love lives even when it seemed impossible. "Has he been open to you lately? Does he shares what goes on in his life, the work and stress that could gradually build from it?" she slowly took in my words and began to ponder over it. "No, he has been distant and now that I think of it he seems stressed out too." I clasped my hands together. "Then, that could be your answer. Maybe it's not a woman, maybe it's the work that's making him grumpy and distant." she sighed and I knew the expression on her face, more doubts.  "But-" "Look, I know you have your doubts but if you have trusted him for so long then maybe give it a day or two more. Show him that you care for him, put in more efforts and try to be the one who understands him instead of fighting over something that will only drive you apart."  After what seemed like an eternity, Melanie left the room with a smile on her face and new determination in her eyes. I got up and made my way back to my office. It was already 8 and I had promised Remi a ride to the mall, making it the time to leave before she decides to show up here herself. "Is there anyone else left?' I said calling to my secretary's desk. "Actually yes,-" "Is it an appointment?" I shot back not waiting to hear him. When it came to men except with love lives' issues, it would take just a word to piss me off. Guess, I was never a big fan of them and being single all this time was good proof of that. "Uh, no but-" "Then turn them back, or give them the first appointment tomorrow," I stated authoritatively. "Okay, If you say so." He hung up as if I would eat him alive if he didn't obey me.  Packing my stuff, I glanced around one last time then threw my coat on. Time to leave. Covered in black from head to toe in my black coat and the mask, I made my way to the hidden door in my office wall leading outside. The only place where nobody could track or follow me. As I approached the exit after passing through a corridor that led straight outside, I found a car waiting for me on my usual spot. My driver Rowan got out of the door and opened the car door for me.  "Hello Miss Roberts, how was your day?" Rowan greeted me as usual in his calm tone. He was a man in his late forties and always reminded me of my father. "You know, it is okay to call me Grace," I said rolling my eyes. He never listens to me. I may be cupid to others but I remain, Grace Bryn Roberts, to every close friend and family.  I was midway, getting inside the car when I heard a deep, husky voice call out to me.  "A good escape way you've got here... Cupid." I froze and so did Rowan beside me. The voice sending chills down my spine, no one is supposed to know about this place then how... Ever so slowly, I turned around only to find my breath hitch in my throat. My jaw slightly dropped open as I stared at the devilishly handsome stranger standing in front of me.