Chocolate Cosmos

Chapter 3

Karl

My feet vibrated against my car floor uncontrollably. I tried to calm myself and prepare my ears for what to come.

When I decided that today was the day I let it all go, I didn't show up to a very important board meeting and instead went to the bridge. What I didn't know was that I'd meet my celebrity crush trying to off herself there as well.

I wasn't batshit crazy about her but I preferred her over the million others. She didn't give a damn about anyone's opinion. She wore what she liked, said what she thought and wrote what she felt. Her books were my all time favorite and I'm sure I wasn't the only one crazy about her works.

She excelled in psychological thrillers that never failed to keep you on your toes.

But that all went down the drain a year ago. After Nila Rossly's death, and with the release of that video, the whole nation turned against Charis. The amount of hatred was unbelievable.

I couldn't dwell on the matter much though, for I had my own battles to fight.

Daddy dear and his shenanigans.

My eyes trailed up to the tall establishment in front of me. Glass windows made up 80% of its exterior, illuminating as much light inside as possible. Now, however, the light from inside was doing the illumination instead of the dark night.

I sighed as I placed my head tiredly against the steering wheel, my hands gripping it tightly.

I don't wanna do this. I just wanna go home, spill my body on the couch and watch pointless TV while junking on snacks I never tasted before.

I just wanted a normal job, a place of my choice, a 9-5 where I didn't have to be kept under dad's radar and his constant control.

I sighed again as I raised my head. I might as well just get this over with.

I turned of my ignition, collected my phone and keys and unmounted the car heavily.

"Good evening Mr. Hawke." I was greeted by one of our security guards as I entered. I offered him a brief smile, my steps heavy. His smile to me was heavy though, he knew that I was in trouble. The whole company probably knew by now.

Getting into the elevator, I clicked the twentieth floor button and tried to prepare myself during the small amount of time I had left before facing the beast.

Missing that meeting was not something easy to pass. I could've missed out on all year's meetings but not this one. Yet here I was. Or wasn't to be exact.

'Sorry dad, I had an accident.' I thought up an excuse.

Naah.... I looked too clean.

'Sorry dad, I went to commit suicide instead.'

That one flew out the window the moment it crossed my mind.

'Sorry dad, I quit!'

He'll probably just kill me.

The elevator dinged way quicker than I'd wanted it. It was already night and most of the employees had head back home so there wasn't anyone to slow down the ride.

I stepped into the air-conditioned lobby and I saw Suzy, my father's secretary, hauled up on her desk.

Her eyes widened when she saw me approaching.

"Oh my, Mr. Hawke, where have you been? We were all worried about you, especially that you didn't pick up your phone as well." She ranted out as she stood to her feet.

I raised a suggestive eyebrow at her. "Worried Suzy? Really?"

"Well, Loki and I were." She shrugged. " Everyone else was flipped." She grinned for no apparent reason. "Your father vowed to kill you."

"On scale from one to ten?"

"Probably an eleven. But you know," she leaned closer and whispered, "Penelope is raising that."

I rolled my eyes in annoyance. Of course she'd be there to fuel it up more. After all, without me, she'll be getting daddy dear and his money all to herself.

That brazen gold digger. She didn't even hide it.

I nodded my head at Suzy as I stepped towards the large mahogany door, knocking twice. Upon hearing the gruff reply from the other side, I immediately made my move.

Penelope was just stepping away from my father as I made an appearance and my father's face changed from that of a content husband to an angry bull in a matter of seconds.

"You shameless piece of s**t!" He raged as he jumped from his seat. He was approaching me like a bull just as Loki ran into the room, too slow to stop my father's hand from slapping me across the face sending it to the side harshly.

I tasted the blood in my mouth as Loki's figure stood between my father and I.

"This is out of your concern Loki, get out of the way!"

"Mr. Hawke please." He pleaded, both his arms extended at either side of his body.

"Did you forget how important today's meeting was? It was going to determine the fate of our company for the next ten years! Why the hell did you miss it? What were you doing?" Dad hollered in anger.

"Did we lose the contract?" I asked without a single care in the world as I brought my gaze back up towards him. His slaps weren't news to me. Something I got used to. The slaps, the glass throwing, a kick once in a while and sometimes a wine bottle or two if i mess something at work up.

"We don't know about that yet since it was postponed." My father spat out. "I swear to God Karl, if we lose this deal, I'm cutting you out from this company and from the inheritance." He snarled out his threat.

I pulled out my faceless smile "Don't worry Dad, we won't lose it. When will it be?" I asked. I didn't really care about working here or even taking money from my father but I know how much this company means to him. He worked at it from scratch, building it up to what it is today and despite how much I hate his views on life, I still respect the immense effort and work he's put into his career.

"In two days time. Have your papers and yourself ready by then."

I watched Mr. Hawke senior sit back down. "And you," he turned towards Loki, "keep an eye on him. He's your responsibility."

"I don't need a babysitter." I ticked my tongue. This earned me a stapler flying its way towards me but I gladly dodged, my cheek still has a residual sting.

"Get him out of here!"

Loki nodded his head and pushed me out the door. I left the room and breathed out while Loki followed behind.

That went well I guess.

"Oh goody, you're still alive." Loki, my best friend and marketing manager mocked as he took me in a choke hold. "Where have you been huh? Fooling around while I take the blow?"

I held onto his arm, twisting it around awkwardly so I free my head from under his grip.

"Ow ow ow! Okay man just let go." He whined and I let go.

"But seriously man, where have you been? I was worried sick." Loki's tone turned serious.

I sighed, walking towards the elevator. I wanted to get out of here. Loki followed next to me.

"Hey Loki, when was the last time you did something for the first time?" I asked with complete seriousness as we entered the elevator.

"What?" He asked in confusion.

"Nevermind." I breathed out.

"Is it a girl?" I gave Loki a side look which returned with a suggestive grin.

"Is she cute?" He pressed on.

"Whole arm worthy." I smirked remembering my earlier a counter with Charis. He burnt brown hair that reached her mid back, her hazel eyes who's color could only be seen in the light. The single dimple she has on her left cheek and the petite body she carries around confidently.

Yup, a whole arm worthy.

"Ooooh." Loki teased. "What's her name? What does she look like?"

"I actually met my crush."

Loki narrows his eyes at me. He turned to look in front of him. "Liar. Charis Cardone hasn't been anywhere out of her house ever since that incident with Nila Rossly." He shrugged confidently.

"Okay, whatever you say."

Loki turned towards me. "I'll know eventually."

Charis and I would both probably be dead by then.

"Anyways, I'm a little tired. I'll see you tomorrow." I bid him a quick goodbye as I left the building.

"Call me up if you needed a drink." Loki called from behind me and I waved a hand at him.

Getting into my car, I drove back home. My phone pinged with the arrival of a new message just as I settled myself comfortably on the bed.

I was surprised to see that it was from Charis.

'Lets go buy ourselves some new sweatpants tomorrow. I'm getting them in all different colors! Come pick me up at 3, I don't wake up early.'

What? Not even a goodnight at the end?

'I don't work for you you know. It's not that kind of relationship. And where's my Hi and goodnight?' I replied back.

I waited for a couple of minutes before my phone buzzed again with her reply.

'What am I? Your mom?'

I was about to reply back with a witty answer but she had sent another message.

'Sorry. I don't do well with emotions and people. I'm a little too blunt and straightforward.'

I started typing but she beat me to it again.

'Come get me tomorrow please. I don't want to drive.'

The phone buzzed again. 'Oh and good night.'

She just doesn't wait for replies does she?

'Since you asked nicely...sure, I will. Send me your address.' I replied back. Thankfully uninterrupted this time.

'Oh and good night to you too.' I added.

I shook my head while my lips widened in a smile. I didn't expect her to try and fix her blunt answer to me. Hell I didn't even mind her way. But I guess she started feeling a little insecure and wary of her behavior ever since Nila's death. It was painfully obvious how it all affected Charis.

I couldn't withhold my smile as I placed my phone in its charger and going under the pillows.

I'm going to commit suicide with my celebrity crush.