Yours, Eternally

Twenty-Four

Another week has passed since that night. My mind has been plagued with the never-ending visions of Nathan, replaying in my head like a broken recorder. There were times where I was looking forward to seeing him, while there were other instances that I felt as if our time as lovers were over, and that the less we were seen together, the better.

Yet, there was a raving hunger that compelled me to touch him once more. Just once, that I felt would be sufficient to quell that thirst for him. However, the thought of this tempted me to give myself a smack across the face.

I sound like a pervert.

"Hey, Ava!" Timothy greeted. "How are you feeling?"

"I'm doing great!"

No, I wasn't.

I was drowning in work. Since I was a liaise for the Crimson Solitaire, Timothy thought that it would be ideal for me to be part of the planning team.

Thoughts drifted back to the day when I felt immensely perturbed and vexed on the possibility of me losing those exorbitant accessories while I was getting my head cracked open by a bunch of hooligans. It would take a lifetime of working to pay off a teeny tiny gem, probably even to my grandchildren's generation. 

Thankfully, my quiet and troubled mind was laid to rest when Timothy had explained that the jewelry was safely recovered, sitting securely and comfortably in the company's safe.

Nonetheless, the problem remains. A team of five for a huge event was surely, what you would deem as 'direly understaffed'. It has become a usual routine of mine to be the earliest bird in the office to an owl late at night.

And so here I was, possessing two plates that were unreasonably large for my hands to support. One, was to find myself immersed and overwhelmed in sorting the list of important guest names and VIPs, to make sure that each seat is carefully allocated based on past and present patronage to Estelle. Second, was the poor me, trying to fulfill the demands of my customers' orders.

I am definitely underpaid.

"So, how's the planning going?"

"It's going well. Just a few more names before I'll start sending out the personal invitations." I informed, basking in a hint of self-pride for accomplishing this enormous task within a short time frame.

"Good." Timothy gave me a warm smile, looking at me with appreciation in his eyes. "By the way, Mr. Crosby would like to see you. I was tasked to escort you to him for lunch. He should be done with his client."

"What for?" I inquired, feeling the nervousness and excitement mixed with the lingering sadness from our previous encounter.

I've come to tell you that I'm breaking up with you.

I got tired of you, that's all.

Those words of his did cut me deep, deeper than I thought it could be due to the lack of my memories. Nonetheless, work means work. And those personal feelings of mine are just something to be masked up and kept away. 

"He has something to discuss about the upcoming exhibition." He notified. "Shall we?"

***

"That'll be all." Nathan announced, prompting the guy in a tuxedo to stand and reach for a handshake. It did not take long before Nathan signaled me over, gesturing to the seat before him before calling the waiter, who came running with two menus in his arm. A heavy silence descended as we glanced through the lists of cuisines; the occupancy of an uncanny awkwardness.