After spending a hellish few hours with her enemies, Elena felt like more than half of her life span had been taken from her.
She needed to refuel, unfortunately, there was no room for a break. She could only wait till the store closed before getting off work.
It was at this point that the thought of Mark came into her head.
Elena sighed deeply while gently pounding her thighs with her fists. She had to make an excuse to use the restroom just so she could relieve some tension in her legs.
A few hours later, Deluxe Store closed. Elena picked up her bag and set out for home. While on her way, the thought to seek Mark's help plunged deep into the pit of her stomach.
She knew she couldn't delay it any further as there was no time to waste. The three Musketeers that visited her today hadn't known she was in town and now worked in Deluxe Store.
Now that they have found out, they would come prepared next time to finish off her remaining life span. Elena would hate for that day to come without being ready.
"I wish he would just reach out to me," she mumbled to herself as she walked to the bus station. Right now, she couldn't afford a cab hence the reason she was taking the subway.
Thank God for a means like this to cater to the poor masses like her.
Six minutes later, Elena found a seat at the back of the bus and settled down with her eyes hovering over the screen of her phone, her fingers hesitating to click away on a particular contact.
No matter how she thought about it or said a silent prayer in her heart, she already knew what the answer to her question was. This time around, it was her turn to take the first step.
It was likely that if she continued waiting for Mark to reach out to her first, it might be too late hence, she swallowed the lump in her throat and mustered courage before optioning to send a text instead of calling.
The Subway was not particularly known to be quiet and peaceful, but most importantly, her courage did not fill up the bar so she could not speak directly on the phone with Mark.
'I know it's late, but thank you for the other day.' She typed.
To think she would not find rest even after sending the text. Elena felt her heart beating erratically against her chest while waiting for a response with so many thoughts going through her mind.
'Is this his private number? Is my message worthy of a response? What is he going to think with such a lame excuse to get in touch with him? Is he busy at the moment? Is he still at work?'
Elena was almost going crazy with the random thoughts making their way into her head. It's been a long time since she lost her cool because of a man.
The feeling was sickening.
But right as she was having a battle with her mind, a soft chime went off from her phone. Instantly, the rest of the thoughts flew away as her gaze went back to her phone screen.
Mark had replied.
'Any day.' His message read.
Mark's response had been simple and short but carried a lengthier meaning.
He meant he was ready to help out at any time she wanted. And although the meaning was clear to Elena, she was gravely disappointed.
She expected her message to be a means to connect with Mark and get him to open the floor so she could seek his help but unfortunately, he didn't get the idea.
The conversation had ended before it even started by yours truly.
---
~Mark's Secret Penthouse~
In one of the rooms Mark had converted into a study and workshop, he sat behind the imposing office desk made from oak wood, his posture upright and commanding as his eyes stared at the sketchbook before him with a firm grip on his pencil.
His gaze lingered on the unfinished sketch, his brows furrowed with dissatisfaction. His disappointment was palpable.
The graceful curves and intricate details of what seemed to be the sketch of a ring eluded him. The details were incomplete and lacking in the essence he desired, leaving him feeling unfulfilled.
With a frustrated sigh, he tore off the sketch and crumbled the paper before casting it into the bin basket on his right side.
Undeterred by his third failure in a roll, Mark proceeded to try again with each stroke of his pencil falling short of capturing the elegance he envisioned yet again from thinking about Elena after he replied to her text.
His brows were arched in a slight frown as frustration tinged his expression. He stared silently at the unfinished scribbles he drew before crumbling the paper and throwing it into the black bin basket.
Slamming the pencil on his desk, he rose to his feet and made his way out of the study. He needed something stronger than black coffee.
Mark walked through the short hallway, but just as he was about to step out, he saw Eric coming in with a lot of things in his hands. Instantly, the frown on his face tugged further down his lips.
Maybe it was time to change the password to his door otherwise, his younger brother would totally forget the courtesy of ringing the doorbell first.
"Hey, brother!" A smile lit up on Eric's face as soon as he saw him. "I knew you would clock off work on time today. Thank goodness I didn't waste my time going over to Luxumoon."
"Tell me you came with some goodies otherwise I'm throwing you out of my house. I can't deal with your noisemaking right now," Mark said with a tinge of irritation in his tone while walking past him.
Being quick-witted, Eric was able to detect the tinge of frustration in his tone and asked, "Did anybody piss you off?"
Mark suddenly stopped on his steps and turned to ask while pointing in the direction of the entrance, "Do you want to get out?" Eric hurriedly made the motion of zipping his lips.
He followed his older brother in silence and took out the takeouts in the bags while watching him pour a glass of scotch for himself.
Together, they walked along the hallway before stepping into the study, the magnificent space that served as a home office and a workshop for the incredible jewellery designer, Mark Wang.
"I brought you dinner," Eric announced having found the liberty as Mark sat behind the oakwood desk.
"Thanks," Mark replied without looking up. He put his sketchbook away while taking a sip from the light golden-brown liquid in his glass.
From where Eric was standing, he was able to see a few things including the wastebin basket next to the desk. Instantly, surprise contoured his face when he caught sight of the crumbled papers inside it.
Without a word, he matched forward to pick one of the discarded sketches. Next, he unfolded it and let his gaze glance through it in sheer surprise.
"You are drawing again?"
Hearing that, Mark's gaze quickly snapped back to him. "Who said you could touch my thrash?" he asked the second his right hand was flying over and snatching the paper from his hands.
Eric took no offence to his actions as it was a very big miracle to see him trying to design a jewellery piece after embarking on an indefinite hiatus. This was the first attempt in five years.
A smile that reached the eyes contoured his face. "Brother, I am really proud of you."
Mark snorted as he pulled the black bin basket under his desk where his hands could not reach without being snapped in twos. "You better keep your lips sealed about it and tell me the real reason you ran over to my Place."
He refused to buy that excuse about bringing him dinner when he could easily make an order from the comfort of his home.