Having been amazed by my grandfather was a maddening process for my own. I'm glad that not everybody has that kind of weird old man who is hardly handsome as their grandfather. I certainly don't want to ruin my mood about something that happened a week ago. The given task I have in my hand is Island Elysian. It feels so mysterious that this island can't be found on the internet so easily, but it actually exists. There was a meeting on this Island which was held right after the funeral day, and it wasn't that pleasant of a meeting as it should've been. Many people are inexperienced about this Island but due to its matchless beauty, I'm certain that most people would love to visit the Island. Launching the first branch of the company would be the greatest accomplishment that would ever happen in the tourism industry because people love to explore places so, as far as I'm informed, this Island is welcoming. If we get to kick off our first branch and If it's Island Elysian where we'd be initiating our first branch, then it'd be the utmost fortune we'd be having. So, it undoubtedly is one of the most mandatory targets for us to get the greatest achievement. It is more pivotal than a colossal whale to catch.
I, now, am in my office checking all the documents that I've not tried to look at after their death. Some of the documents are about the properties and useless stuff which are connected with them. I'm not even surprised that they didn't even talk about me having the properties or even a single piece of anything that would at least make me a member of the house. Their will is empty which means there is no written proof that the property would be given to me. I was in talk with their adviser, and he told me that they avoided the talk about making a will whenever he brought it up. It's not the fact that I can't get the property. I can get it by the inheritance law but the thing which I can't understand is why they didn't write any will where they indeed know what inheritance law is. It is impossible for me to fathom what made them scorn me so much that they didn't even bother to write a will. Is it how parents should be? Of course, we made memories together but most of them were worse than worst. I got a message a few minutes ago where my lawyer told me about the property stuff. I have to clear this mess within a few days since it is assumed that I'll leave for Island Elysian this week. To be specific, I have 6 days in my hands to sort out all the documents I have left. I'll handle the property stuff in 3 days but for some dry documents, I have to check first. After immaculate documents and some work, I will get ready for Island Elysian.
While I was checking some information Alena came to me with a parcel. She didn't even knock or ask permission to come inside. I caught sight of the package, and it looks like an old package. Not old but ancient with dust and a bit ruined from sides which made Alena gloomy. Something must've happened because Alena is such a cheerful girl with dark brown hair which is the color of an oak tree. I sometimes call her oaky instead of okay to annoy. She has hazel eyes that people want to have. I like her eyes a lot because it talks more than her mouth which is why I can catch when she is lying or not. She can make anyone's day better with that because her eyes smile when she smiles. But that's not what is happening at the moment. I'm scanning her from head to toe including her outfit. She is wearing olive color jeans with a white shirt and a jacket, exactly the color of grass. Oak trees and grass would create a good landscape. I'll suggest it to an artist if I meet any. I noticed now that she is holding a tissue so that if she cries then she can immediately wipe her tears. Something is really off. Out of concern, I asked, "what's up?" My voice is full of doubt.
"You have a parcel.", that's all she said and tightened her lips together.
"And from whom it is for me?", I'm worried but not how Alena seems to be.
"Your dead parents", she says when at the same time a tear drops down from her eyes, "it's their gift for your 25th birthday."
Now this is what shocking news is called. I can't comprehend how to give a reaction towards it. The parents who never accepted me as their daughter or else if they did, they never conveyed it, sent me a gift before their death and they thought of me to their last breath. That's too unbelievable to believe. The terrible thing is I can't move on because of them and I know they know it too. I surmise that's what they wanted, me not being able to continue. But why does Alena have to find that gift or package or whatever? She is an emotional girl, and she always sees my problems as her problems. She knows I despise it, but she told me she couldn't help it as we've been together for more than 13 years which is why I'm on her priority list. "Why are you crying?" I asked Alena even though I know why she is crying. "Because it's really pathetic how you can't get over it. It is said that peace is brought by happiness. How can you bring peace if you can't figure out the happiness you need?", she said wiping her tears with the tissue she was holding, "You can't either love them or hate them or resent them. I hate to spot how you're suffering, and I hate it more when you suffer alone without letting me spot it." And the room fell in silence. Her tongue is honestly too sharp when she is emotional. "I should be the one crying like a toddler, but it seems like you're the one, snatched my role and I'm totally fine." I lied. I'm not fine. Not after getting the parcel.
Totally not.
"And for the benefit of your statement, I figured out my feelings about them which are bitterness and mostly bitterness.", abhorrence also but it would be too unfair to say I abhor them just after a week of their death.
She faked a smile. I know it's a forced smile as I can identify what smile people put on their face to deceive others. A smile can tell you they are fine so they fake it a lot and it's a heartache to them where I advise it should be a headache instead.
She gave me the parcel and left my office. She mumbled something and sighed that I couldn't hear it, which is a fortune because I don't want to hear it anyway. I'm, in my office, all alone with the package. That's not how I imagined to immaculate the stuff. My parents really know how to make me glum without giving any effort on thinking hard. Why did I have parents that didn't even know the primary rules of parenting? They were supposed to protect me, not ruin me. Did they put dead insects inside the package? Or any misfortune? I looked at it for a long time and deepened the thoughts that were running inside my head without realizing it. I snap into reality when I realize I zoned out in thoughts. I opened the box after a host of hesitation. I don't want to open it now but there's a saying which is 'the sooner the better.' I already have a lot on my plate, and I can't take it anymore. If I don't open it, then I can't move on to launch the first branch of the company. The package is not actually old. I notice it acridly and it's actually a normal package which got ruined. This wasn't in the mansion otherwise I would've found it long ago. Then it must've been in the wreck. That means they had been with this thing before the wreck happened.
I open the package carefully and there is a locket of my father and a pocket mirror of my mother that made me taken aback. I would've been happy if it had been their least favorite items that wouldn't even count on the list but it's their favorite things that are ranked on the top 5 items on the list. Why are they giving me this as a birthday gift? I picked it up and something unpredictable happened.
Did The office collapse? Nah.
Were Items broken? I wished so.
My reaction? Bingo!
I'm crying. It feels strange but I'm taking all of my sorrows out that were stuck on that funeral day. It's not the I miss them cry but rather the I wish I could miss them cry. We could've been a happy family, we could've been normal. All I wanted from them was to be satisfied with having me and cherish the moment. But they didn't want it. All they did was to run after fame and popularity. They ruined the whole family, which might have pleased them properly. I opened the locket, and it was my picture in there. Is the world playing pranks with me? I wished it was true. It's sickening knowing they were thinking of me but never cared about me. It's the picture of my 17th birthday with my parents when we had a fancy dinner at the newly opened seafood restaurant. Of course, I remembered the day because that was one of those few moments where we acted like a real family in reality. The food sucks there but one dish I'm fond of is a thing they make with shrimp and BBQ sauce. I don't know how they roast it or cook it but it's actually my most favorite dish if I visit that restaurant. I don't even know that dish's name because I don't go often. Special dates like that are celebrated by going on a nice dinner which is why I went to that restaurant with my parents. And that day, we ordered shrimp because I was itching to have it and surprisingly, they also liked the dish. I thought they were acting at first but when they ordered another plate of the same dish, they proved my doubts wrong. I know he loved the locket, but I didn't know it was about that day. Why does he have a locket of that day? Why did Loris make a locket of that day?
The pocket mirror was nothing but a mirror that my mother and I bought together when I was around 10. It was something I gifted her on Mother's Day although the only reply I got was "thank you" without any reaction. I was obviously hurt at that time because I was 10. Not giving a reaction to a 10-year-old is a huge crime. I should've cried or thrown a tantrum instead I was quiet and accepted the reality. I didn't realize I was that mature at the age of 10 until now. Why did she keep it with her all the time? Why had Evelyn had it before the wreck? I looked again at the box and there's an envelope. It's kind of old but not ancient. I don't think I can read it now. I can't do it. I need courage and time which I don't know for what. I put that letter in my bag with the locket and pocket mirror. They are the worst. They are messing up with me even after death, making me doubt that they are resting in heaven. Should I be glad that they thought of my 25th birthday or should I be displeased that they only thought of my 25th birthday, not how I wanted to be loved every day? Either way contains sadness, but I need it.
The sadness, the cry, the tension and the relief.
I know what I should do for a new start. I can't keep up with my life if I hold on to these things. I can't change my career or life or identity because why should I? That would make me a chicken-hearted person running away from reality because her parents damaged the upcoming peace. But I can make changes in my life. The renovation of the mansion and changing the name of the company would be the opening move. The company name would be Trouvaille instead of Fika because I like how it is pronounced. Now I'm more than ready to go to the Island Elysian. I'm grateful that they at least raised me well. I have to work on the name for a few days so I think the time of going to Island Elysian would change to a day or 2 later than the actual date but I will pack my luggage just after the main date of setting the new name because the work would make me forget to pack the luggage. I have to do some paperwork to change the company name for which I should go home. I leave the office and at that moment, I am on my way to the mansion. I got inside my car and started driving immediately but I was meticulous while driving as I didn't want to hit anyone and ended up going to court instead of Island Elysian.
That'd be a great loss.
And then the small luggage... Perfect! I've done all the packing stuff and now I can finally breathe. Just when I sit on the sofa, my phone starts to ring.
1, 2, 3...
I picked it up and it's Alena who's calling me. Such a bad timing Alena, such a bad timing to call me.
"Yeah?" Is there again any trouble in the company? Maybe not. She always checks on me despite knowing the fact that an assistant can also have a life of her own.
"Just done with packing. What about you?" She sounds better than before when I last saw her in the office. So, it is proven that time heals everyone.
"Almost done." Did I just yawn? Of course, because I'm exhausted.
"Did you not sleep well last night?"
"I couldn't. I was just lost in some thoughts."
"We are going to step on a new stage of our life. Can you at least take good care of yourself? Or else I'll become your roommate soon."
"You're giving me nightmares where I can barely sleep. Thanks for that." Although Her voice was polite while giving the suggestion, I knew she was serious.
"How long are you planning to stay there?", she asked me.
"Until I get the satisfactory result I want." The consequences matter a lot in the business industry than the suffering since none gives a damn care about others suffering. It's now my second yawn.
"You know it's hard to get your satisfaction." she said and it's the truth. I can't comprehend why I'm so tough when I judge. I have to notice every single detail to get the perfection I want, "Therefore, pack for more than a year as I'm not coming back until I get the aftermath I expect."
"I'll take it as a command and..." She stopped, hesitating to ask me about something she doesn't want to ask. I know her too well that every move of her is a clear statement that speaks aloud to me, "stop beating around. I know you want to talk about my parents." That's a few reasons why she'd hesitate to ask me.
"How are you feeling about them?"
"I can't discern it. I haven't read the letter yet."
"When are you planning to read it?"
"I'm not clear either if I can or not."
"What do you think they wrote in that letter?" That's pretty much a question in a good 2 minutes to have. She should've been an investigator instead of my secretary as she would do great in that field.
"Probably something like I wasn't a good daughter, or they are full of regret having me or they are feeling guilty leaving me alone after ruining my childhood."
"Why is it all so negative?" Because that's how they treated me my whole life.
"It's better and more comfortable than having a last-sweet-goodbye letter from them saying they weren't good enough and They are sorry about that." I think I yawn again after letting the statement out.
"Don't think about it anymore and get a nice rest." She noticed my third yawn for why she was gentle with her voice after getting the exhaustion I have right now.
"Yeah. Goodnight." I ended the call.
The company is officially named Trouvaille which took 2 more days as expected so my journey to Island Elysian will start tomorrow. The main point which is bothering me a bit is grandfather knows nothing about this which means he will figure out that I've changed the company name through rumors. It looks like I have to be ready to hear some naggings. But that's not compulsory at all than Island Elysian.
Island Elysian...So mysterious it's making me curious about it. Why is it so underrated yet the most beautiful island ever existed?