"Sir! Your uncle left already. You can take off the uniform now," A guard called out, breathless as he ran toward Xavier.
Xavier didn't offer a word in response. His face had a cold indifference expression as he pulled off the grease -stained Janitor's jacket. He shoved the garment into the guard's startled hands, his mind already miles away. He still remembers the encounter at the market, the sting on his cheek from that psycho girl still felt fresh. What was she doing here? He wondered, his jaw tightening.
He turned on his heel and strode toward the private Vip elevator. The brushed metal doors reflecting his grim expression until he pressed the button for the penthouse floor.
"Xavier!"
The calm voice sounded familiar. Xavier paused, his hand hovering over the control panel. He turned slowly to find his sister, Jennie, standing in the lobby.
She was the picture of corporate elegance. A sharp black blazer over a short skirt, her legs encased in sheer black hose that vanished into high heels. Her hair fell in soft, curls, occasionally revealing the shimmer of pearl earrings. Xavier's eyes drifted to her wrist, she was wearing his very own wrist watch "XAVIS"
"What is it, Jennie?" Xavier asked, his voice flat. The elevator doors hissed open behind him, and he stepped into the mirrored car.
"What is it?" Jennie echoed, her eyes widening in disbelief. She rushed inside before the doors could close, her heels clicking sharply against the marble floor. "Xavier, we've been worried sick! Mom, Dad, even Grandma. They've been out of their minds, they just want to see you."
"Oh, really? Now they're worried?" He leaned back against the railing, crossing his arms. "They literally folded their hands while Uncle partnerd with the"Whites" the same people that tried to kill me."
"They had no choice!" Jennie cried, her voice cracking. She reached out as if to touch his arms but pulled back at the last second. "We all thought something terrible had happened...and I ...I couldn't do anything! If they found out why you really left, I was scared, Xavier."
"It's enough, Jennie," Xavier said, his tone softening just a fraction as he saw the tears welling in her eyes. "I'm back now. Stop crying, you know I can't hug you."
He spoke the truth with a clinical coldness. Despite his anger at his family, seeing his sister crumble was a weight he didn't want to carry.
Jennie wiped her eyes with the back of her hand, trying to regain her composure. "I heard from Theon that you were slapped at the market. Is that true?"
"So," Xavier said as he to rolled his eyes toward the ceiling. "Theon just can't keep his mouth shut,huh?"
Ding. The elevator doors chimed and slid open. Xavier walked out into the quiet, carpeted hallway of the executive suite. Jennie hurried after him, the constant tap tap tap of her heels echoing off the walls.
"Xavier, if it's true, you have to keep her close," Jennie urged, her voice hushed. "You know what they're whispering about your... condition."
Xavier stopped at his office door and turned, his hand on the handle. "Jennie, I know you're worried, but let me decide for myself. I don't need my head filled with more talk right now."
He pushed the door open and stepped inside, leaving her in the hallway.
The silence of his office usually brought him peace, but today, his mind was a mess. Since he was ten years old, a woman's touch was a death sentence for him. His skin would itch, his breath would hitch, and painful, thick sores would break out across his body. They had seen every specialist, tried every cure, but nothing happened.
Until her.
He looked down at his hand. He had waited for the reaction after she slapped him, the trembling and the pain, but they never came.
"Jennie," Xavier called out, his voice sharp. He looked at his sister, who had lingered at the threshold, his eyes narrowing like a predator sizing up it's prey.
"What is it?" Jennie asked, hovering by the door frame. She saw the predatory look in his eyes and instinctively stepped back. "No...no, no, Xavier. Don't you dare get me in trouble."
"Just do it," Xavier commanded.
Before she could protest, he reached out and brushed his fingers against her hand. He retreated immediately, his heart hammering against his ribs. They both stood frozen, eyes locked on his skin, waiting for the inevitable breakout.
One minute passed. Tow. Xavier looked at his hand, it was clear. A triumphant smile began to spread across his face, but it vanished as quickly as it appeared. A sudden, searing heat began to boil in his chest. His body was reacting. He lunged for his desk drawer, pulled out a small plastic container, and popped a pill into his mouth, swallowing it dry. He slumped into his leather chair, groaning as the medicine began to fight the fire in his veins.
How the hell did that psycho woman do it! He thought, clutching the armrest. Why didn't he react to her? Or was she... something else?
Miles away, in a world far removed from glass skyscrapers, a different life was happening.
"I'm back, mama! Papa!" Emily's voice rang out, bright and clear, as she pushed open the door to their small house.
"Oh! Emily, welcome home, dear!" Mrs Danica, her mother called from the kitchen. She set aside a shirt she had been mending and wiped her hands on her apron, smiling as her daughter walked in. "And you brought groceries!"
"I stopped by the market at the City Mall," Emily said, setting the heavy bags on the counter. She moved to the sink, pouring a glass of water and drinking it in one long gulp. "Where's papa?"
"In the back gardening," her mother said, beginning to unpack the bags. "How was the job hunting? Any luck?"
"Not yet," Emily admitted, leaning against the counter. "But they told me to come back tomorrow for a cooking contest. If I win, the job is mine, I guess."
"A cooking contest! They didn't ask for your background or your age or anything?" Mrs Danica asked.
"No mama, I didn't really thought about that since the form I submitted contained those information. All I'm worried about is winning that cooking contest tomorrow" Emily said.
"You'll win, my dear," her mother encouraged, her eyes shining with pride. "Your cooking is the best in the province."
Their laugh was cut short by the shrill ring of a phone. Emily's mother reached into Emily's purse and pulled out the device. The color drained from her face the moment she looked at the screen.
"It's...Mia" She said.
Emily froze. She never expected a call from Mia. She set her cup down with a dull clack and took the phone. Without a word, she walked out onto the porch to face the ghost of her past.
"Hello?" Emily said, her voice trying to be calm.
"Hi, my bestie best! How are you doing today!"
The voice on the other end was Mia, sugary, high pitched, and utterly fake. Emily felt like throwing up. This was the person who had talked bad about her, the person who had watched Emily's marriage crumble while secretly fanning the flames.
"What do you want, Mia?"
"Are we fighting, bestie?" Mia's voice switched to a pathetic, wounded tone. "I know you're angry. Mike has been calling me, crying. He says you left him! His family is devastated. Please, Emily, come back for me? I promise I'll stay by your side this time."
"Is that all?" Emily asked,her voice sounded icy.
"I...I just can't stand seeing him beg anymore," Mia said. "Just come back so we can fix this."
"You knew everything,Mia!" Emily finally exploded, her grip tightening on the phone until her knuckles turned white. "We grew up together! We were sisters! And you had the guts to have an affair with my husband! How do you sleep at night? You talked trash about me! About my parents!"
Silence met her from the other end.
"I don't care what you have to say," Emily spat, wiping a stray tear from her cheek. "Tell your boyfriend I'm not coming back. I'm ready to fight, tell him to be ready."
She slammed the end button, her chest heaving.
In a luxury apartment across town, Mia stood stunned. How did she find out? "How the hell did she find out!" Mike roared, grabbing Mia's wrist and twisting it.
"Let go! You're hurting me!" Mia shrieked, struggling against his grip.
"Answer me!" Mike bellowed, shoving her back toward the bed. "If this mess ruins my plan to get her back, you'll be the one to pay the price!"
He stormed out, slamming the door so hard the frames rattled. He needed this deal to work out. He needed the sponsorship.
He straightened his tie and walked into a private meeting room. He felt like a king again. The people who laughed at his bankruptcy would soon be bowing to him.
"Sir Xavier couldn't make it," a representative said, sliding a thick folder across the table. "But I have the authority to sign for the Enterprise."
"I have one question," the representative continued, peering over his glasses. "How sure are you that these people will sell their land for this project?"
Mike leaned back, a dark, predatory smirk spreading across his face. "Don't worry about that. I've already convinced half of them. The rest will fold soon enough."
Below the paper page was a land illustration. It was none other than the province where Emily lived with her parents.