The tapping of his fingers onto the desk must have gone on for quiet a while. It was close to lunch time and Leo didn't seem to notice the time.
A knock came at the door, and Leo didn't seem to hear it at first, til it became louder. He jerked in his seat and sat up like he had just woken up from a dream.
"Hello, Mr. McDonell?" came a female voice behind the door. "Are you in there?"
"Damn it," Leo muttered quietly to himself. "You can come in, Grace."
The door flew open and a young short lady with blonde hair, tied in a bun and glasses over her blue eyes, came into the room. She wore a white blouse with a black skirt and matching black high heeled shoes that made her look a bit taller. She had a blue file in her hand.
"Yes, Grace, how may I help you?" Leo asked as he rubbed his eyes.
"Were you asleep, sir?" Grace asked as she slowly approached his desk.
"No, not really." Leo looked around his desk as though he was looking for something, then he went on to look at Grace.
"I was just asking because you weren't answering the door and your secretary assured me that you were still in your office."
"Is she still at her desk?"
"I saw her heading out for lunch." Grace looked carefully at Leo. "You do know what time it is, right?"
Leo tried not to look surprised as he stared at the silver round clock seated on his desk beside his computer. He completely lost track of time that he felt like muttering to himself of how much of an idiot he was.
"I simply lost track of time," he humbly admitted as he looked back at Grace, trying to keep his cool. He sometimes lost his temper in front of his colleagues. But today, he felt like it wasn't necessary.
"You look tired. Are you okay?"
"I'm fine. Just had a few things on my mind, that's all."
"You should go out for fresh air. It looks like you need it."
Leo wanted to smile at the kind suggestion, but the thought of Angel working with him made his mind go dark and gloomy again.
He soon stood up from his seat and Grace took a step back, thinking that she might have struck a nerve.
"I'll try," Leo said as he picked up his phone on the table. "Though going out for fresh air really isn't my cup of tea."
Grace smiled at him as she relaxed. "You will enjoy it, sir. Before you go, your father isn't back yet and I needed him to sign this document."
"Huh?" Leo raised his eyebrow. "My father isn't back yet?"
"No." Grace shook her head. "So, I called him and he told me to give it to you to sign it."
Leo stretched out his hand and Grace, likewise, gave him the file. He quickly opened the file and skimmed through the document. After familiarising himself with it, he put the file on the table, took the pen and signed it. He straightened up and gave the file back to Grace.
"Thank you, sir," said Grace as she quickly walked out of the office, closing the door behind her.
Leo couldn't help but wonder how he's father had not yet returned to the office. It was so unlike him.
With the phone in his other hand, Leo decided to call him. But before he could do so, the door flew open and Eric came into his office.
"You should be knocking when you're coming here, Eric," said Leo as he looked up at his cousin.
"Sorry," said Eric apologetically. "I always knock on your door, it's just today is kind of-"
"-different?" Leo finished his sentence.
"Yep. So are you coming with me for lunch?" Eric asked.
"Nah, I think I'll skip lunch today."
Eric raised an eyebrow at his cousin. "Are you sure?" he asked. "You seem to need it more than I do."
"Why do you say that?"
"Because you look famished. I just passed Grace in the hall and she said you looked sick or something."
Leo rubbed his forehead with his free hand. "I've been thinking a lot, that's why."
Eric's eyes lit up. "Wait..., is it because of Angel? You're still worried about her working here?"
Leo shrugged his shoulders. "Well, what do you expect when you came here talking about her in the first place?"
Eric shook his head as he pinched his eyes with his index finger and thumb. "This is why I said you should go to a therapist. You can't hate someone who hasn't offended you."
"What are you saying? Of course she has."
Eric folded his arms. "Okay, apart from the time when she attacked you at the club because you were making love to her sister, mention any other time when she did you wrong."
Leo looked at Eric with a murderous look. He didn't have to think of anything because he knew he had none. Eric always had a way of getting to him when he wanted to.
Leo ended up shaking his head admitting defeat and said, "fine. You win this time. But that doesn't mean she plots behind my back."
"You don't even have proof of that," said Eric as he started to chuckle. "You're just being paranoid."
Leo shook his head as he walked round his table. "I'm so done with you. Let's go. Arguing with you makes me hungry."
Leo started to walk out of his office with Eric right behind him. When the two stepped out, Leo locked the door.
"Since you really need to eat something," said Eric, "you can suggest where we can go for lunch."
"First let me make a call to my dad. Can you imagine that he hasn't shown up to the office?"
"Maybe he is still helping Carly out with her college transfer. You know how these things take time sometimes."
"Ya, but it's lunch time and he should have called me first if he was going to arrive late."
"He probably just forgot. You can give him a call as we head out of here. I'm starving."
Leo would've said something over Eric's appetite, but he was too worried about his father to even care. The two made their way towards the elevator while Leo dialed his father's number on his phone and called. He put the phone to his ear as Eric reached the elevator first and pressed the button to summon it.
Mr. McDonell answered the call upon the first ring and Leo was relieved.
"Leo, hey," came his father's voice. "Is anything wrong at the office?"
"No, nothing's wrong," Leo replied. The elevator doors in front of him flew open and Eric stepped in first with Leo following slowly behind him. "Grace told me that you weren't around and I thought of checking up on you."
"Oh, I'm fine, son. There is no need to worry."
"Where are you anyway?" Eric pressed the button to the ground floor and the doors closed. They soon felt the elevator start to move.
"Oh..., me?" Mr. McDonell seemed surprised by the question. "I decided to go for a walk in Central park, that's all."
"I was worried when Grace told me you hadn't shown up to the office." Leo looked over at Eric who was staring at his own two feet.
"You don't need to worry, son, I'm fine. Walking is good for me and I really need it today. I'll be back in the office as soon as lunch hour is over."
"Okay, see you later, then." Leo cut the call.
The elevator came to a stop and the doors slid open. Eric turned to look at Leo.
"So, where is he?" Eric asked Leo as they both walked out of the elevator.
"He's taking a walk in Central park," Leo asked as they passed a few people down in the lobby.
"Ah, you see. There was nothing to worry about."
"Ya, there wasn't."
The two cousins stepped out through the large glass doors of the building, passing the doorman that stood guard.
"That reminds me," said Eric as they turned down the street on the sidewalk, "which restaurant are we going to?"
"Can't we have junk food for a change?" Leo asked as he put his phone in the pocket and left his hand in it.
Eric looked at his cousin as they walked, careful enough not to bump into anyone coming in from the opposite direction and those in front of him who walked too slow. He looked surprised.
"Did you just say you want to eat junk food?" Eric asked. "Minutes ago, you said you weren't hungry."
"I've changed my mind. Am I on a diet so as not to eat junk?" Leo asked.
"Not that I know of." They were soon near the traffic lights with many other civilians at the zebra crossing, waiting for the walk traffic light to turn on.
"What's wrong with eating junk food, then?"
Eric thought about it for a second but he had to cross the road with Leo and the other pedestrians as soon as the traffic lights turned red for the cars to stop and the green walk sign turned on for the pedestrians. As soon as they reached the other side of the crossing and the cars that stopped were finally on the move behind them, Eric gave his reply:
"There's nothing wrong with it. I'm just worried that you might grow fat. Besides, the only reason why I'm concerned is because you like going to fancy restaurants and eating salads all the time."
"I know," said Leo as they passed by a coffee shop and the strong smell of coffee flew onto the street when a lady, opened the door to enter the cafe. "I don't know how to explain it, but I'm really in a mood for it right now."
"Okay, if you say so. But if you gain a pound after this, don't blame me."
Leo turned to look at Eric, walking beside him. "Admit it, you want to eat junk food way more than I do."
"Mind you, I love junk. I'm just surprised you want to join in on the fun. And I know exactly where to go. There's this amazing place where they sell the best burgers."
"Great, let's go."
***
"Comfortable?" Mark asked after Angel sat on the chair he had just pulled out for her.
"Yes, thank you," Angel replied as she smiled up at him.
"Good." Mark gave her a smile and he went to sit on the other side of the table.
Angel went on ahead to look at her surrounding a little more. They were at an outdoor restaurant. As much as it was outdoors, the place was luxurious with the open roof above them filled with green creepers and tiny bulbs above them to make the scene around them look beautiful and a little intimate. The wooden tables were covered with white table cloths and above them were little bulbs in shape of candles with little green creepers and white flowers. Angel liked the way the restaurant made her feel. She felt like she was in a fairytale.
"I see you like the place," Mark said, bringing her attention back to him.
"Yes, it's really lovely," said Angel.
"We should order." Mark lifted the navy blue menu in front of him and opened it. "What would you like to have?"
Angel also took hold of the menu and looked at it. It had been a long time since she had visited a fancy restaurant that she forgot about some delicate cuisines that most exquisite restaurants liked to serve. She smiled to herself when she noticed one of the meals she enjoyed on the menu.
"What is it?" Mark asked as he looked up from his menu and noticed Angel smiling.
"Nothing," Angel replied, still smiling. "I realised I haven't had a ratatouille in like.., forever."
"Looks like you know your french cuisines." Mark smiled charmingly at her.
"There was a time when I was on a date and my boyfriend made me try it out. Goodness, it was magnificent."
"You dated?" Mark looked surprised.
"Ya, but he wasn't the best of boyfriends," said Angel as she went back to looking at the menu. "The ratatouille can be a good starter. Just saying."
Mark continued to look at Angel and she didn't seem to notice. It was only moments later when she looked at him and caught him staring.
"What is it?" Angel asked.
"Nothing," he said as he dropped his menu. "I wonder what the guy thought of letting you go."
Angel raised an eyebrow at him as she put the menu back down on the table. "That was three years ago. I caught him cheating on me and so..., just like everything that stays in the past..., it's history."
"Well, I think he's a fool letting you go."
Angel looked up at the green creepers over her and the tiny bright lights. "He made a choice," she said. "Can't blame him. The girl he cheated on me with was very beautiful. I guess that's why."
Mark drew out his hand and placed it above Angel's that was on the table. Angel looked at him.
"He was too blind to notice how beautiful you are," he said. "You look heavenly, like an angel."
Angel smiled. "Stop it," she said, her cheeks starting to heat up. "I know you're only saying that to try and make me feel better."
"Maybe. But I'm speaking the truth and you know it. I bet am not the first man to ever tell you that."
Angel shook her head. "No, you aren't."
Mark withdrew his hand. "Let's not talk about him." He lifted his hand to catch the attention of a waiter nearby. A lean blonde young man came to the table all dressed in a black shirt, a black pair of trousers, with matching black shoes and a black half apron round his waist.
"Ready to take your order, sir?" the man asked politely with a gentle smile on his face.
"Yes, please," said Mark as he looked up at the waiter and then he went on to look at Angel. "For a starter, we would like the ratatouille, please."
"Coming right up, and would you like a drink while you wait?"
"Yes, a bottle of your finest wine."
"Of course," said the waiter as he smiled at both Mark and Angel before leaving them.
"We're having wine?" Angel asked with a questioning look on her face.
"What is it?" Mark asked, this time his face grew a little worried. "Don't you take alcohol?"
"Well...," Angel playfully rolled her eyes up. "I can't say I take alcohol when I drink wine on special occasions." Her eyes flew back to Mark's face.
"Oh," Mark let out a little laugh as he leaned back on his chair. "For a minute there, I thought you didn't take alcohol at all."
"I like wine. I don't drink beer or whiskey.., those type of drinks."
"Even scotch?"
"Even scotch." Angel said as she smiled.
"Women like you love wine."
"Well, there are other women who love beers, scotch and whiskey...., champagne, maybe a little," Angel shrugged her shoulders.
"True. I'm glad I guessed that you're a wine drinker."
"Ha. Just now you thought I didn't even take wine."
"Because you caught me off guard with that question."
Angel let out a laugh but one that didn't attract people's attention in the restaurant.
"Ya, I'm sorry about that," said Angel after she gathered her composure. "I just wanted to see your reaction."
Mark had an amused look on his face and he didn't notice how charmingly he smiled at Angel until the waiter came back pushing a serving tray. On it was a black champagne bucket with a bottle of wine in it with ice all around. Alongside the bucket were two wine glasses.
The waiter placed the two glasses in front of Mark and Angel, opened the bottle of wine and poured into the glasses. Afterwards, he placed the bottle back in the bucket, kindly excused himself and walked away.
"Shall we have a toast?" Mark suggested as he held his glass.
"A toast to what?" Angel asked, her fingers around the stem of her glass.
"A toast for your health, that's one. And also, for you just being you."
Angel smiled. "I will toast to the first one most of all, and the other reason is quite reasonable...., so cheers."
Their glasses clinked when they touched and they both drank.
"This is really good," said Angel after she withdrew the brim of the glass from her lips.
"That's why I ordered the best of the best," said Mark as he put his glass on the table.
"I might end up drinking the whole bottle. But that won't be so ladylike of me."
"I should be worried." Mark raised his eyebrow at her. "Do you easily get drunk, Angel Barclay?"
Angel took another sip of her wine. "If I have too much, then yes. I can get a little tipsy."
"Then we can take it a little slow, shall we?"
"Slow is good."
It didn't take long for their to starter arrive. And as they had their meal, they continued to chat unaware of how much they enjoyed each other's company. But they had more matters to discuss, and they both knew it.
***
The white tulips in his hands smelled fresh and divine as he walked, his eyes focused ahead. The place around him was quiet except for a few words he heard aloud at a distance. As he walked, he turned to the voice and saw a group of people, almost all of them dressed in black, gathered together surrounding a white casket. The person speaking before them was a priest, all dressed in white and purple robes with the Holy Bible in his hands. Those closer to the casket, crying silently and holding tissues to their noses were obviously the family to the deceased.
Death was a sad thing, especially if it happens to take a loved one away from you. But such was life. Death itself was inevitable and it was up to those alive and in the present to move on. Though it's hard for many others to do so.
As he continued to walk away from the funeral procession and through the neatly arranged tombstones in the graveyard, he approached her grave. There stood a white marble tombstone that he had set up just a day after her burial. He was glad that his wife hadn't visited the graveyard with him. She would have been pissed to see such a magnificent tombstone and would have blamed him for wasting so much money on a dead person.
As he got closer, he stood there for a minute as he read her name in big black capital letters. He bended over to put the white tulips on the ground, next to the tombstone. After straightening up, he took a few steps back.
He sighed as he smiled at the white tulips. If she were here, she would have smiled back at him, taken a sniff out of them and said thank you.
"God, how I've missed you," he muttered to the wind.