CHAPTER TWENTY TWO;
7 years later
--
[Mom-]
[Althea- Run!]
[Hello-]
[Bang!]
[Father...]
---
7 Years Later
In a small town of a certain country, a lush of greenery feild streched out like infinity. The green grasses
unintentionally hid the slowly blooming little flowers from the random spectators like a child in their
care.
The cold and somewhat dry wind passed throught the bushes, tress, plants and flowers, letting them
sway gently along the breeze of early spring.
"Good morning ma'am." One of the workers in her shop greeted with a smile.
The manager of the shop stopped for a bit in front of her and crouched to smell the flowers in the vase.
After smelling the sweet and fresh scent of the flowers, she smiled in satisfaction.
She greeted her worked back. "Good morning, how's the shop doing?"
The staff laughed. "Still striving, yes. The sale shoot up this february, well, as always."
The manager laughed. "Many shits are still in love, aey?"
The staff laughed and nodded. "Yes, so it seems. Oh, by the way,where are you going?"
"To the main shop," she said. "There's something I need to check."
"Really? How about your kid?"
"She can handle it. I'm handing my kid to her just for a little while." She said then picked her suitcase
from the floor. She showed her a polite smile before opening her mouth. "I'm going then, I just stopped
for a bit to see what's the situation here..."
"Okay! Have a nice day!"
"Have a nice day too." She exited the shop and stepped down the three step stairs with her blond hair
in a high pony bouncing up and down.
She walked straight to her car when a local stopped her with baskets of fruits.
"Althea?" the old woman asked then greeted her with a smile. "Good morning!"
Althea showed a smile that was as rare as Middlemist Red 7 years ago (A flower that is close to
extinction that you can only find it in two places in the world).
"Good morning Mrs. Brown. Good to see you again."
"It's good to see you too! You haven't visited this town for a while, the old people already misses you
and your kid." Mrs. Brown said. She looked down and saw the fruits she have in hand. Her eyes
sparkled as she streched her hands to give it to her. "Here, fresh fruits. You should have this and feed
your child."
"Oh no," she laughed. "I can't take this away from you."
Mrs. Brown let out a hearty laugh. "No, I insist. This is just a small compensation from all of the things
you gave to us."
Althea didn't refused any further and accepted the gift in delight. She smiled at her and thanked her
once again.
"Oh right, when's that brat coming here? I miss your kid."
"I don't know yet." She said truthfully. "I've been busy these days. But I will surely visit this town again
with that stubborn kid."
"Adorable kid, you say. Oh, I think I have clogged you for so long. I'm sorry about that. You're free to go
now."
"Okay, thanks for the fruits again!"
"Sure! Visit us anytime!"
After bidding goodbye, Althea drove off to the city.
The drive was silent until her phone rang. She glanced at it and when she read a familiar name, she
puts the call on bluetooth.
"Hey." She said.
"Hey, hey!" The girl on the other line said. "I'm in charge of Kite because you're going out right?"
Althea rolled her eyes after hearing her excited voice. And she can't help but laugh helplessly because
she never changed. "It's Kai, and yes, please take care of that kid and don't pass out from stress."
"Oh, no no no no." She said with a laugh. "I won't, I enjoy taking care of Kite. If I can't, I'll visit your shop
in the city. What was it called again?"
My kid's name is Kai, thank you. "It's Narcissus."
To imprint it in her mind more, she spelled the word for many times and told her to write it down. After
she satisfied herself, she smiled and ended up the call.
She focused on the road and drove off with a small smile on her lips.
Let's hope that this day will end up well.
--
There was meeting that was currently held inside a spacious conference room. There was almost 10
people in black and suits inside seating leisurely on their sits.
As the meeting was on progress, the guy, who was looking stoic and cold, devoid of emotion, with his
green eyes, he looked out of the window and saw the other buildin next to theirs.
His mind wandered around, he wasn't even listening to the presider of the meeting.
On his hand was a founting pen that was rolling aroung his fingers. He absentmindedly rolled it and
created a tapping sounds that distrupt the person who was talking in front.
The sound was distracting and unpleasant but no one dared to tell him off. They minded their own
business.
The room they were in was 50 floors above the floor. You can see small formation of clouds just by
looking out from the floor to ceiling window.
The man sitting on the head of the table was following the movements of the clouds with his eyes. It
was unknown what he was thinking.
"Mr. Barns," there was a call from the distance. The voice only entered his left ear then exited on the
other side. "Mr. Barns? Mr. Barns?"
This time, the voice was raised. "Mr. Barns?!"
The man was pulled out from his reverie. He looked back to the table only to see the people there
looking at him. Some was looking at him without any emotions but some was looking at him with
dissatisfaction but they didn't dare to say it.
He snorted inside his mind.
Cowards.
"Mr. Barns, the meeting has ended. We want your final say."
"Oh." He just said. He picked up the file that was prepared for them and gave the guy some revisions
he wanted and some specific details to be added. The guy thoughtfully noted it down and everyone
listened thoroughly.
After that, the meeting was adjourned.
Everyone started to disperse from the room until he and his secretary was left.
"Sir." His secretary said. "You're appointment is all clear for today."
The man furrowed his eyebrows as if he can't understand why he had a free schedule. "Why? Did they
cancel the appointments or something?"
The secretary shook her head. "No sir, Ms. Sheryl said that I have to clear your schedule for today."
His eyebrows met even more.
When did he gave her the authority to just say anything she wants in my company?
He sighed. "What was it about?"
"She said it's your anniversary."
"... Oh." He stood up. "Is that so."
"Just buy something for her-" He walked right to the door when his phone rang. He fished it out from his
pocket and answered the call after reading the caller's ID.
"Sheryl."
"Tyler?" A familiar voice sounded. "Don't be mean hun," she laughed.
"What do you mean?"
"Don't make your secretary buy presents for me for our anniversary,"
Tyler pinched the bridge of his nose and tried to remain calm. How did she even know about that?
"Then what do you want?"
"I want a present that you picked for me!" She said, laughter and excitement lacing her voice.
"... What kind?"
"Hmmm, a ring?"
He sighed. "We're fiancee."
She laughed. "Then a wedding ring." He didn't respond. "Okay, just kidding. Then how about sweets?
Or maybe flowers? Or maybe just your time? Accompany me please?"
"..." There was silence before he answered. "I can't accompany you, I'm busy."
"Oh please!" She exclaimed. "I know your schedules!"
"Fine."
"Great!" She said in delight. "Then I'll be waiting in the house. Goodbye! Love you!"
"Goodbye." He ended up the call and, by habit, tightened his tie around his neck.
He glanced at his watched and told his secretary that they'll going down.
"Oh right." He said after remembering something. "Search some random flower shop. I'm buying her
flowers."
The secretary nodded in understanding and as they were walking down towards the parking lot, she
tapped the search engine and choose the very famous one around the area.
"I have found it, sir."
"Good." He sat down om the backsit, his secretary sitting down in front and his driver. "Let's go."
The driver looked at the secretary for instructions.
"Let's go to the flower shop called Narcissus. We'll use GPS along the way."
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