Haven (Paul Lahote Fanfiction)

Strain

I felt cold from the inside. I hated it.

My original plan was to watch romantic movies, eat ice cream directly from the tub and cry. That is what every other sad girl did after a break up. But as i moved further into the day i realised i was not that girl. I couldn't afford to waste my time in bed crying over just another stupid boy. I had to get work done. I had to pay people their monthly salaries and intern college kids older than me in my company. I had to contact people all around the world, keeping track on my shipments and their payments. There was trade to be done and money to be made.

I got the rest of the work done around the house and it was now as amazing as it could be. Getting painters and carpenters was a smart decision. I shouldn't be painting and fixing cabinets. I should be buying Netflix shares. So i did that.

"What?" Richard literally screeched when i told him i was flying out to Los Angeles to take part in the auction. "Are you thinking?"

"Yes. And that too very clearly." I explained to him why it was the right thing to do and how it would prove beneficial. I heard him sigh. "How much is the starting bid?" I bit my lip. "They are starting with 300 dollars, but of course it can go upto any rate." He spoke after a while. "When do you leave?" He asked. "I have a flight for 12:30 a.m tonight." I told him. "Do you want me to come, they might not take you seriously." I sucked in a breath. He was right. Many people refused to take a little girl talking big business deals seriously, but that had to change, starting this trip. "No. I got this."

"What's up? Why are you getting so riled up?" He asked and I paused, stoic for a second, but for just a second. "I don't follow." I said.

"Don't get me wrong, I don't mean to offend you in any way, love. I'm just saying that the people who get close to you manage to get a glimpse of how you work and this is what they see; when you're upset, you do not let yourself feel upset. Instead you distract yourself and bury yourself deep in what is fairly important to you. You tell yourself that the other thing does not matter, but maybe it does, in ways you cannot imagine."

I released a breath. "Thank you, Rick. I'll try to decompress."

"Yes. You do that, sweetheart." He hung up.

Okay, I had to admit that i was sad. But Paul was just another boy. Just another boy. Just another boy.

I got up and rushed to my bedroom from my office and began packing my clothes and other requirements in a small suitcase. My phone rang. It was Will. William James.

"Hello." I answered on the fourth ring. "Good afternoon, It's Will." I smiled.

"Yes, Will. How are you?"

"Perfectly well, thank you. How are you?" He asked in his polite heavy voice.

"Good, thank you."

"I called regarding the instalment. As you know the shipment arrived three days back and the manufacturing of the harvesting plants had begun. They will be ready in three days.

"That is great news. " I commented. Despite the late shipment, everything else was fine. It took some load off my shoulders.

"So, when can we meet, my father and i, with you before the final meeting with the Mayor and others.

"Can we meet day after tomorrow?"

Sure, but that leaves only two days for the final meeting."

"I'm aware, Will but i have to travel tonight and will be back tomorrow night."

"Oh, alright. Day after tomorrow it is. I'll send you the address for the meeting soon. Let me know if you need any assistance."

"Thank you, Will."

"My pleasure."

It was around one in the afternoon and i cooked my lunch, fighting to keep my thoughts off Paul. Yesterday had been a mess. I kept wanting to turn back, to tell him i loved him with my life instead. I wanted to stab myself when i saw the broken look on his face. His shattered visage. "Ça va aller." Its going to be okay. I repeated over and over in my head. When I could not take his beautiful broken apppearence no longer I turned and walked back to my house as quickly as possible before I could change my mind.

But now, sitting here at the table, alone, I became surer of my decision. God, I did it for his sake! To keep him safe. My biggest fears always got the best me. My fear bullied my hope and courage into hiding in the deepest depths of my soul. I knew I shouldn't let it suppress me, but was three times really a coincidence? I shook my head violently, trying to shove the accumulated thoughts out. I wouldn't go there again, I wouldn't fall, I wouldn't be buried. The chair screeched against the floor as I pushed it back and walked to the sink.

I would try to not grant myself another opportunity to fall into that deep pit.

I resumed my work until I could look at the screen no more, answer any calls or hold any frail sheets of paper.

I had some time before I should start getting ready for the airport so I decided to drive to the bookstore in Forks. It was a nice one and newly opened. I had googled it.

I reached the bookstore and strolled between the shelves, looking around for a good book to read on the flight. I reached the classics shelf and I was back in Strasbourg, with Valentin right behind me. His breath had been a warm blow on the back of my neck. Both of his hands were on my shoulders and most of his weight was on me, leaning against me. "I have to get this." I had picked a copy of Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen and held it out. Its not that i didn't already have a copy, it was just that this one was so stunning and its hardcover had a delicately detailed oil painting. I just had to. "You already have one." He had commented, "And its expensive." he added when i flipped it over to admire it. "You cannot put a price on a thing so extraordinarily beautiful." I had whispered to Val in a daze.

"Pride and Prejudice?" A boy next to me whispered. I had not seen him approach nor had i heard him. I felt as if he read my mind before i realised i was tracing the book with my fingertips, my arm raised to reach its height on the shelf. "Yes, I quite like it. Do you?" I asked. He turned to me, his bronze hair like fine silk. The boy's flushed lips stretched into an amused smile as he spoke, "It's one of my favourites." He was quite handsome, with pretty eyes and pale skin, but not my type, I decided. "Yeah, mine too." He nodded his head. "I'm Edward, by the way." Edward. Old name. I thought. He let out a small breath, humour on his face, and looked down, as if he had heard me. I was sure i hadn't said anything. "Alexandra." I said, "Nice to have met you." I acknowledged him again, then left.