ETHAN CARTER
The twelve pm meeting was short considering the fact that it was set up to discuss a possible alternative if Mr Buchan refused to sell us the piece of land.
It was around one pm and I didn't know why I felt my body so exhausted. Not that I had overworked myself but I just didn't feel right.
I could feel a migraine come in and I tried to ward it off by occupying myself with the paperwork I had missed for days while I was in the Philippines.
'Sir, can I come in?" Nina knocked on the door even though she was already inside.
'You are already in", I gestured. Realization hit her and her lips formed a small ‘ooh' before she opened her mouth to talk.
'I was wondering whether you are interested in taking lunch?" She asked and I darted my eyes on her.
'Not today but thanks", I dismissed going back to my work.
'Sir, I insist",she spoke and I huffed absent mindedly.
'I'm not hungry, Nina"
'Sir if you'll—"
And before I could lose my patience and tell her for a third time that I didn't want anything, a man appeared from behind her.
Blonde hair, five feet height, dressed in a casual tee and a pair of jeans, his smile as smug as usual.
'You tried, Nina now let me see if he will say no to me",he said as I watched Nina exit my office in a hurry.
Landon Jenkins. What was he doing here? Landon Jenkins was one of my childhood friends. Our mothers were friends so it only made sense for us to be friends.
Unfortunately last year, Landon got a job in Singapore and well that was that. We hadn't seen each other since except for texts here and there but it wouldn't compare to seeing him face to face.
He looked…a bit better than the last time I saw him. He shaved his beard which was new but he didn't look bad. Not as bad as I would have expected.
'Come on, man. No hugs? No hey?" He joked and I stood up going around my desk to give him an old bro hug.
'It's nice to see you, man", I gave him a pat on his shoulder.
'I can see nothing has changed since I left well except that you are look a little bit taller. Look at you",he joked and I quirked a brow.
'Me? Tall? Have you seen yourself? I should visit Singapore more often"
'You should but knowing you, that will never happen"
'So? What brings you here? The right question should be why are you here and not in Singapore?"
I asked going back to my desk and settling myself on my leather swivel chair.
'I missed all of you, is that reason enough?"
I chuckled. Landon was not the type to miss anyone. How could he, when he had girls at his beck and call? And when he hosted parties day in, day out.
'I don't buy it", I said honestly,"does Amber know you are back?"
Aah where to start about Amber? Amber Stone was Landon's girlfriend before he got a job in Singapore. They had a nasty break up after Landon cheated on her and let's just say their breakup made the news.
Breaking up with Amber was one of the half reasons Landon moved to Singapore. He went there trying to nurse his broken heart and by the looks of it, it seemed to have worked.
'Well am sure your darling girlfriend will tell Amber am back once she sees me",he said spitefully.
Landon and Crystal again, were like oil and water. Crystal didn't like Landon because he was wild and uncanny while Landon didn't like Crystal because he considered her a rather pampered snob.
'Crystal? Naah. She's changed, you two should meet", I joked.
'Am sure we will. I'm planning a small formal masquerade party and she is at the top of the guest list"
'Really? Then I'll gladly pass her invitation"
Later after a lot of persuasion from Landon, we were at a bar just a few miles away from the office.
'So you are telling me you and Crystal are still together?"
'Yeah. I'm thinking of proposing to her since it's what my mother wants?"
'Marriage? Dude, you don't even love her. I thought you were with her to repay your debt to her father?"
'I am and to repay that debt am forever going to be with Crystal. And yes, I'm talking about marriage", I said gulping another shot of tequila and telling the bartender to refill the glass.
'That's both messed up and brave. Spending an eternity with Crystal, sheesh that takes courage"
'She's not that bad you know", I defended her even though just this morning she had lied to me.
If I was going to make her my wife, I needed go know that she can trust me because I sure as hell trusted her whether I loved her or not.
'Are you convincing me or are you trying to convince yourself. I'm not an expert when it comes to marriage or relationships but I do think there must be love for it to work"
He was right though. He was not an expert in relationships if he managed to cheat on his girlfriend with another woman. Amber Stone genuinely loved him but leave it to him to mess things up.
'And I love Crystal"
'Oh please. You think of her as a sister, everyone with eyes can see that. I'm even surprised Aunt Lisa hasn't figured it out yet"
Yeah because I hid it so well, I wanted to add.
'I wish you nothing but the best, man. Cheers to that", and he raised his mug of beer dunking the liquid down his throat as if it was water.
I held the rim of the glass on my lips, wondering if proposing to Crystal really was the right choice.
Landon and I parted minutes later as I promised to attend his masquerade party the next Friday. I had taken a few glasses of whiskey but that didn't mean I was drunk.
Quite the contrary, I was sober for the two pm meeting and by the time ended I was sure something was definitely wrong with me.
It started with the migraine and now it was a raspy throat and two minute coughs that made my chest rumble.
'Are you okay, Sir?" Nina asked the minute she had me cough for a third time.
'Am not. I'll head home because I think am coming down with something"
Half an hour later, I was opening the main door feeling as if my nose would erupt due to how hot I felt. I hated being sick and most especially I hated having a running nose.
'Welcome home, Sir. Dinner is served", Aliya's voice met me at the door.
I raised my head to see her but my vision was blurry. Hell how hot was it in here?
'Sir? Sir are you okay?" I heard Aliya ask but I couldn't tell whether she was shocked or genuinely worried.
I leaned against the wall before I felt two hands entangle on my waist.
'Here, let me help. You don't look too good"
Aliya said and I blacked out.
