Never Say Never - The Fray

We're falling apart...

And we're coming together,.. Again and again...

We're crawling apart... But we're falling together,..

Falling together...Together again.

" Morning mom ." I say, tiredly. It was difficult to get any sleep last night.

" Morning ... I made this pancakes ." Mom tried to say it cheerfully.

" Thanks but let Mrs Evans cook . You don't have to wake up early to cook for me , Mom." Rubbing my eyes with the heel of my hand, until my vision became hazy.

"She helped me too." Mom said and Mrs Evans nodded her head . Why wouldn't she, She is mom's right hand . She'll agree to anything.

"Mom..." I pinch the bridge of my nose, trying to keep my tears at bay.

Mom removed my hand and patted it. I couldn't take it anymore ,I hugged her. Mrs. Evans rushed out of the kitchen. Mom soothed my back and said, "You are used to having breakfast . Arianna told me, she cooked a small portion for breakfast on her first day. I didn't tell her that it was a surprise to know that you were eating breakfast in the first place ." She chuckled.

" I just... I wanted to... you know." I stuttered. I just wanted to see Arianna.

She whispered,rocking me back and forth in her hold. "I understand that now and I am not going to break that habit. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day , EAT..." She said, pulling back and shoving a big portion of pancake in my mouth ".....and where are you going, Matthew . Sit . Now ." She scolded me.

" Aye Aye Captain ." Dad saluted her .

Since last week, after Arianna left for Italy. I have been crashing here. So what, If I am a grown up living with his parents. After everything that we have been through ,I am not ashamed of speaking about my feelings. The only thing left for to do is, knocking on their bedroom door in the middle of the night.

☆★☆★☆

In the office, I take the elevator like every other employees. On our ride up their ,some me of them told me things about, Liam. Regarding the time he had been rude to them ... And they are too many.

So on the elevator and during lunch break, I become their personal therapist. Urge to tell them ,that he has done something similar to me is always on edge but i maintain to keep it down.

As they say, whatever happens , happens for good. The saying is true in our regard because Knight Corp. was a brink away from mental harassment cases . Courtesy , Liam .

"....And then that girl snickered. So what ,if I was wearing neon crocs .It was our day off . I was doing grocery shopping When Liam called to watch those event workers remove banners . I mean seriously." Hugh snorted his nose loudly . Gross . And I'm watching him do that in our lunch table . Another employees nodded and I tensed ,has Liam done something similar to them ,as well.

"Who was that girl . I can talk to her ....not to make fun of your... neon crocs ." I ask. The four horsemen in Liam's crew, have been kicked out. On closer look, it turned out that they were planning to double Cross Liam. And some of the other bottom feeders ,who were ready switch sides and lick my boot are under careful scrutiny and will get fired the moment we find them do something wrong. But, If they have another of those moles inside, than I must be aware of them.

"No. They were hookers. One new all the time. They used to do it in the office..." he began to give me elaborated visual but I cut him off.

"Spare me the details, Hugh . I wanted to know if she were an employees. So ,I could help you better ."

Hugh's brow knitted together in confusion as though, why I refused to hear my brother's sexual shenanigans, "But he used to take them to your office . You have that big couch ..." and I left , not being able to digest the horrible information.

A Week Later

I am sitting in a board meeting, all the important investors and high ranking employees are present here.

" As we all know we have suffered a great loss due to the merger but it has been annulled. Brandon and Marion Bell have agreed to pay for the loss and the company's shares are back to where we were before the merger ..." Mr. Abraham announced .

"...We have now appointed, Mr Morreti and Miss Hart, for the position previously held by Mr Liam and Axel Knight ." He said introducing them.

Everyone congratulated the newest employees. Miss Lily Hart is in her 30s , who will be taking over my position and Mr Morreti is in his 40s, with a remarkable work experience, will be taking over Liam's position.

Dad called me to his office after the quick celebration .

"Are you okay with the new arrangement , Axel.?" Dad asked ,looking at me very closely,trying to gauge my real emotion

" Dad, I told you ..."

" Okay fine ..As a chairman, I took the right decision but as your father ,I need to know. They will shift to their offices tomorrow. Miss Hart will be working in your previous office. If you want me to give her another place. I can arrange that ."

"I am happy with your decision , And I'm not a kid anymore . So don't worry about it . Tell me , how did Bells pay you for the damages . I don't understand.... Marian was out for blood and Brandon was swamped with lawsuits ." I ask, our legal department didn't sleep a wink that night ,when Marion handed us the money. there are no catch, Bell corp. just paid us back the damages.

" I have no idea and the lawsuits Marion had against, Brandon . She has taken them back .But we are still suing Brandon for what did to Arianna ." dad's face hardened.

" What about Liam.?" I ask. Even if we dare trust him . The employees won't accept him , Specially after listening to the horror stories. Liam hasn't changed much, the nurses we have hired for his help have also quit their job and dad has let him be .

" His future is undecided .If he comes to us then we will definitely arrange something for him . But that's not why I called you here ...." I hate it when he takes a dramatic pauses .

"...You are my heir and no doubt you will be sitting in my chair taking over my position now . Liam has lost his chance , no one is going to trust him for any position in the company. It's going to be you. So from now on you will be training to become a part of the board of directors , Mrs. Bradford will retire from her position in 4 months , you will be taking over her place . You have to work hard , thrice the burden will be on your shoulder." He said.

" I am ready , dad." I smile ,standing up.

" I am proud of you ,Son. " dad hugged me.

" and dad."

"Yeah..."

" Get Miss hart a new couch."

☆★☆★☆

5 months , 2 weeks later

" Congratulations , Mr Knight." A nameless face said to me.

" Call me Axel , please . Mr Knight is for my father, at least until I take over his throne." I say and everyone chuckled at that . I excused myself from them and went to a corner,leaning against the window frame. I turn around to look at the circle I was standing in for half an hour , they have already moved on to another topic.

We are celebrating over my position at the board of directors and also my face is on the cover of Forbes magazine. It's been tough few months . Absence of Arianna and the workload made me feel like I am ready for retirement. But I kept going for her sake. I still manage to find time to stalk her Instagram , my posts have become less and less frequent . Posting a picture of energy bar, I had for lunch or the cold spaghetti that was left abandoned because I had to take an important business call , would be better than not posting at all.

A girl, wearing a glittery red outfit definitely not appropriate for this official celebrations ,walked towards me ,swaying her hips to look sexy. I gave her a not interested look ,waving her off. Her face paled, like I have struck her ,she swirled back. I scoffed and looked outside the window.

"Hey brother . You look killer . Why didn't you tell me you were going for a photoshoot . I would have tousled your hair, you would have looked like a carefree millennial taking over the world ." Ranveer chuckled ,patting my shoulder.

" I didn't go for the photoshoot . Mom selected a picture that was taken a year ago , before some product launch or something." I shrug.

" Don't tell me you haven't seen the picture." Ranveer cocked a brow.

"I haven't . I know what I said.They have not twisted my words from the interview otherwise I would have been notified. So whatever ...Are you going to Italy again.?" I ask the lover boy who has the liberty to meet Jennifer.

" Tomorrow . Maybe you should ..." He said carefully.

" I am not going to join you, Ranveer." I sighed ,dismissing him.

" I haven't seen her that much . She has breakfast with us sometimes and then leaves . They have made new friends there ." He said.

" Good to know . They are expanding their circle . We are too lazy to make new friends ." I joke.

" You won't find. Another friend like me , Axel." He jutted his shin.

" That's the plan." I chuckle.

" Whatever, rascal. I am leaving tomorrow.Call me in case you change your mind." He asked, like he always does.

I won't change my mind . I'll wait for Arianna ,after all, I did this for her , to be worthy for her . I can do this.

I look at the wedding band on my finger. Six months more...

🎀🎀🎀

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