A Burning Impulse

Chapter 6

Thankfully, I spent the past few days in peace without bumping into Warren and Erebus, for which I was grateful. The last thing I need is to make one wrong move and get wounded again. I would be a fool to repeat past mistakes. Making the same mistakes with someone related to a past mistake is a sure recipe for disaster, and I want to avoid it. I love my current peaceful life better.

Sure, it gets boring, but it is under my control, and I intend to keep it that way for as long as possible. Thinking I wouldn’t meet them again, I went on with days like usual until I stumbled upon an email from their company. It was Erebus asking for my service for their planned event. My heart skipped a beat as I read the content.

Because of my guilty conscience, I feared the mention of the night of the club, which didn’t happen, and I sighed in relief. After re-reading the content with a clear head, I accepted their request to meet Erebus to discuss the details. I mailed him to schedule an appointment, and he instantly replied, requesting to meet today.

I didn’t have anything planned, so I agreed to meet them today. After confirming our appointment, I headed to Zeon Co.

Calm down, Eclipse. I’m only meeting him for business. I’m sure this is nothing more than to keep up with amicable appearances to avoid rumors. I talked to myself. After all, we must keep up the appearance to prevent unsavory rumors. After the divorce, we are already the talk of the town, and if they suddenly hire a new event planner when I have been doing business with them for ages, it would fuel the bystanders to gossip about us even more.

“Do you have an appointment?” The lady at the front desk asked professionally. I told her about Erebus's appointment with me, and she led me inside after cross-checking with Erebus.

“Take this elevator to the last floor; Mr. Brooks’ office is third on the right. You will meet the secretary outside the elevator, so if you get confused, ask one of the secretaries to lead you to their office,” she instructed me in detail. I thanked her for explaining everything, omitting that I was all too familiar with this company. I was a regular visitor when I was married to Mason. We usually ate our lunch together in either his or my office, so I was familiar with every nook and cranny of this building. Maybe it was because the building held so many memories of me and Mason that it was uncomfortable standing within it.

I shrugged off the unpleasant feeling, giving myself a pep talk about how it was for the business that I was back to this company and should be professional about it. It worked like magic, and I returned to my usual self.

“Well, then, have a good day,” She greeted me politely and left while I waited for the elevator. The elevator door opened and revealed the person I least wanted to bump into: Ava, Mason’s secretary and his affair partner. I resisted the urge to coil away and stepped into the elevator. It was an excruciating ride, and our deafening silence rocked my nerves even more. I had complex feelings burning inside me. Meeting her brought forth my resentment towards her. My wounds were still fresh, and I held her accountable for my broken marriage as much as I resent Mason for it. On the other hand, I wanted to forget it all and move forward with my life.

“How have you been?” Ava asked me. Baffled, I turned to her and noticed the sadness in her eyes. That triggered me, and I felt the elevator walls closing on me. I felt a burning anger inside me, and before I got consumed by the hatred, I threw aside her approaching hand and escaped from the elevator as if it were on fire. After I was away from the elevator, I stopped to collect myself before knocking on Erebus’ office door. He opened the door and invited me into his office, where Warren was also present. I forgot all about the elevator incident the second I entered the office in their presence.

“Hello,” I awkwardly said, lost for words. This meeting was my first time being this close to them and exchanging words with them in the past few years. Even when I married Mason, I didn’t bump into them that often. It was only during family meetings and dinners that I came across them, and each time, I was in the presence of others, so being alone with them in the office tugged at my nerves and made me all nervous.

“How have you been?” Warren asked, offering me a seat.

“Thank you, and I have been well,” I said, nervously looking around the office. Erebus poured us a drink and suddenly leaned into me from the back as he placed the drink in front of me. My breathing hitched as I felt his chest press into my back. His scent tingled my senses, and in a daze, I took a deep whiff of his cologne.

“Relax. You are fidgeting as if we will eat you up,” Erebus whispered in my ears. I sprung from the chair, exclaiming, “We should discuss the theme of your event.”

As I brushed past Erebus to fetch my tablet from the desk nearby, I caught a smirk on Erebus from the corner of my eyes.

He is doing this on purpose, I thought to myself. Lord, please, let me get through this meeting without any incident.

“Sure,” Waren said, and in an instant, they turned into businessman mode. “It’s Grandpa’s birthday next month, and we are thinking of holding our company's annual event that day so everyone can bid him farewell. His health is not good, and he wishes to meet all the company staff one last time.”

“What happened to him?” I asked them. Grandpa Ozzy, short for Orson, is the sweetest human to ever exist on the earth. He loved me dearly, but I hadn’t met him for years. I was too afraid to face anyone from Mason’s house, even though it wasn’t me who threw away our marriage.

“He is not doing well. He took your and Mason’s separation rather severely. His health went downhill after he learned what Mason did to you. He wishes to meet you, but he cries even at the mention of your name, saying how sorry he was not to have the gut to face you again,” Erebus said. By the time he finished his sentence, I was on the verge of breaking down. It hit me hard how my one decision affected so many people. Indirectly, I caused harm to the people I care about. When Erebus sensed my emotions, he added, “It wasn’t your fault. You had all the right to protect yourself from the future hurt. Grandpa is old, so his health is bound to spiral down. It was just a matter of time.”

“Can I request something from you?” I asked Erebus.

“Anything you wish,” he replied.

“Can I meet Grandpa once before the event?” I asked them. I had so much to apologize for and converse with him. He deserves to have his closeup and get out of the guilt he feels towards me, and so do I. I don’t want to continue to be guilty when I did nothing wrong, and Grandpa doesn’t deserve to bear the guilt of his grandson.

“We can arrange that for you,” Warren said.

“Thank you,” I thanked them. We talked business after that. I asked about the theme they wanted, and they said I have the freedom to find a right, which was both an opportunity and a curse. It will either end well or be a disaster. After reviewing it for hours and considering their opinions, we decided on a masquerade ball-themed event. I got so engrossed in it that I didn’t notice the sun settling until I felt my eyes getting tired. When I stretched my neck to lose the muscle, Erebus and Wareen slammed all the documents shut.

“Let’s discuss our business over a meal,” Erebus suggested. I instantly thanked the heavens. I was famished, and the mention of a warm meal was enough to make my stomach growl.

“Sure,” I smiled at them and walked to my doom on my own two legs.

~.~