Chapter 82

POV - (Point of View) Tristan Callahan

Three years later...

I woke up in a hotel room to the insistent ringing of my cellphone. Slowly, I got out of bed, wearing only underwear, and reached for the phone in the pocket of the pants scattered on the floor.

"Damn," I grumbled as I realized it was Xavier calling. "Hello?"

"Where are you???"

"I'm on my way," I lied, hurriedly putting on the pants while holding the phone with my shoulder.

"You're leaving already?"

My eyes wandered to the bed, where a blonde woman was already awake, wrapped in a comforter that concealed her nudity.

"Yeah..."

"Tristan Callahan, don't tell me you're in a brothel?"

"I'll be a little late," I ignored the previous question and slid a white shirt over me, struggling with the buttons.

"What am I supposed to do in the meantime?" Xavier's anxiety was evident in his voice.

"Just stall them."

"How?"

"Figure it out. They're young; it shouldn't be too difficult."

"Chloe! Help me!" he shouted before ending the call.

Finally dressed, I took my wallet from the pants pocket and pulled out some cash.

"Here you go," I tried to remember the name of the blonde in the bed. She didn't seem offended. "Elizabeth." I left the bills on the dresser. "The room is reserved until late afternoon. Enjoy."

"Fantastic!" She smiled, took the money, and even examined it. "Until next time, handsome!"

I left the room and hurried to the elevator. Alone, I took the opportunity to look at my reflection in the mirror, removing lipstick marks from my neck and attempting to fix my grayish hair with limited success.

About an hour later, I arrived at Callahan's. Chloe was already waiting for me, holding a blazer.

"Where's Xavier?" I asked.

"Stalling," she helped me put on the blazer, and we quickly headed for the auditorium.

We positioned ourselves by the side of the stage, out of sight from the audience. Xavier was in the center, just below the spotlights, cracking jokes to distract the new interns.

"Why don't scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!"

I tried not to cringe at Xavier's jokes.

"Why did the scarecrow win an award? Because he was outstanding in his field!"

"Someone please end me," I muttered.

"Xavier!" Chloe called. He looked in my direction and sighed in relief.

"I think that's enough stand-up for today... And now, let's welcome the CEO, Tristan Callahan."

I walked to the center of the stage to applause from the young individuals who would become the new interns at the company. As was tradition, I delivered a motivational speech to encourage them not to give up and make the most of the opportunity and experience. In the end, they stood up to applaud me before I exited.

"You are very irresponsible!" Xavier scolded me when we entered my office.

"Don't overreact, Xavier. I was just a bit late today."

"I agree with him," a female voice said.

We looked towards the brunette by the door, holding a folder.

"Genevieve! You should be on my side; you're my secretary," Xavier protested.

"I'm on the side of truth," she shrugged. "Mr. Tristan has put in a lot of effort over the past three years and was only late today."

"Hmph! Brownnoser," Xavier crossed his arms, shaking his head.

Genevieve laughed and approached, handing the folder to Xavier.

"Here are the charts you requested. If you don't need anything else, I'll take my leave."

"No, you may go," I granted. When Genevieve left, Xavier sat in front of me with a pleading expression. "What do you want?"

"Are you going to Ken's birthday party tonight?"

"I was thinking about dropping by."

"Is it okay if Christian goes with you?" He was referring to his own son, who had a close relationship with Luna's son despite the age difference. I still found that name funny, but Xavier insisted that 'Christian' was a rich person's name.

"Why don't you take him?"

"I'll be here at the company later, keeping an eye on the new interns and mentoring them."

"What about Genevieve? After all, she's the mother."

"Her sister, Violet, moved in yesterday, and Genevieve is visiting her tonight."

"Then ask the nanny."

"I fired her."

"You fired an elderly woman?" I raised an eyebrow, surprised. This was the fourth nanny he had dismissed in a week.

"Don't be fooled by her age! That lady was stealing my stuff, even my underwear!" He defended himself. "Please, do this for me. He really wants to go to that party..."

"Alright, I'll take the kid," I finally conceded. I knew that if I refused, he would pester me all day.

***

Christian was remarkably clever for a three-year-old. His incessant chatter often bordered on irritation. Since Xavier had placed him in the backseat of my car, his tongue hadn't rested.

"Uncle Tristan."

"What is it?" I asked for the thousandth time, watching him through the rearview mirror.

"I want to go to Brazil!"

"Then go."

"You have to take me. My daddy said you're rich and need to do charity."

"Cheeky," I muttered. "What else did your dad say?"

"He says a lot of things... He told me yesterday that sometimes you're a grump who just complains and orders people around."

"Is that so?" The little big-eared one nodded affirmatively.

"So, are you going to take me to Brazil?"

"No."

"Please, Uncle Tristan! I want to go to Brazil!"

"Quiet, kid."

"Brazil! Brazil! Brazil!"

I turned my head to look at the boy behind me, who didn't seem intimidated by my furious gaze.

"Brat, shut your..." I stopped talking due to the impact between my car and another parked in front of Luna's house. I was wearing my seatbelt, so I didn't get hurt. The boy was fine too, and my car didn't suffer much damage, unlike the vehicle I collided with.

"Are you insane?" I could hear the woman in the other car yelling.

"Shit..." was my instinctive reaction.

"What's 'shit'?" Christian asked.

"It's... a candy." I unbuckled my seatbelt.

"I've never had it."

"Damn! Look what you did to my little car!" The woman continued to scream.

"I'll deduct the cost of this repair from your father's salary," I warned Christian before getting out of the car. I approached the woman, who had her back to me, inspecting the significant damage to the rear of her vehicle. "I'll cover the repair costs..."

She turned around, and I lost my breath. My heart raced as she blushed.

"Aurora." Her essence remained the same, except for the clothes. She was wearing a black dress that reached her knees and accentuated her curves prominently.

"Of course, it had to be you," she whispered in an ironic tone, more to herself than to me.

I took my eyes off her body and turned my attention to her face. I noticed that her lipstick was slightly smudged, suggesting that she had probably been applying makeup in the car before entering the party.

"Uncle Tristan!" The boy leaped out of the car in our direction before I could do anything. Even if he had obeyed my order to stay in the car, I suspect little would have changed. I was surprised, unable to believe it. Of all the ways we could reunite, this certainly wasn't on my list. I never imagined I'd crash into her car... darn, she had a car. When did she buy that? And when did she learn to drive? "Geez... don't worry, lady. Uncle Tristan will buy you a new car. He's rich!" The woman was clearly confused, and I could see the question in her eyes: who is this kid clinging to my leg?

"What's going on here?" Luna rushed through her backyard, with a worried expression on her face. But when her eyes met Aurora's, a huge smile lit up her face. "Oh my God! You came!" She engulfed Aurora in a tight hug.

"I said I was coming to the party, didn't I?" Aurora's response was light and relaxed, and I couldn't take my eyes off her. A few seconds later, Alex also joined the hug, and at that moment, Luna seemed to notice my presence and understand what was happening.

"Is everyone okay?" Alex asked, and Aurora's embarrassed response followed.

"Yes, it was nothing much." Her awkward glance made my heart ache.

"Come on, let's go inside." Luna draped her arm over the younger woman's shoulders, and they headed indoors.

Alex turned to me. "I'm sorry we didn't inform you. We weren't sure if she would come."

"My certainty at this moment is just one thing: I need a drink."

"We're at a kids' party. The strongest drink you'll find here is soda." Alex crouched down to talk to the little big-eared boy. "Shall we go inside? There are lots of sweets in there."

And then, the boy's unexpected question: "Is there poop?" Alex widened his eyes, but I didn't pay much attention and headed inside the house.

About two years ago, Luna and Alex had decided not to divorce. Their fake relationship had turned into something genuine, and now they were a real couple. They lived in a small but cozy house with a spacious garden where their son Ken played. I had bumped into toys and educational books thousands of times since I arrived here. The house was filled with these things, but I doubted there wasn't a single drink in it. I needed to find it quickly because my sanity was on the verge of collapse. After all, why had she returned? Why now?

I also had to keep an eye on the little big-eared boy, which was not an easy task. The kids were running everywhere, all friends of Ken's. They were older and slightly taller than young Christian. Finding him was like looking for a needle in a haystack.

When I finally found him, he was with Aurora. She knelt down to his height, smiling. "What's your name?" Her voice was sweet and welcoming.

"Christian." Aurora smiled, as if she already knew the answer. "Where is your dad?" "Do you know my daddy?" "I do. You're just like him, only cuter." She gently touched the boy's ears. "My name is Aurora." "Aurora... I've heard that name before... weren't you the one who dumped Uncle Tristan?" The boy's question visibly caught her off guard, but before she could respond, a model came running up to her. "Girlfriend!" The model enthusiastically hugged her, pushing anyone in the way. "Look at you! You're looking fabulous!" It was evident that Aurora was Klaus and Frederick's wedding godmother. Everything made sense now.

Christian tugged at my pants, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Are you okay, Uncle Tristan?" I looked down, smiling slightly. "Remind me to kill your dad later." My voice came out as a mix of jest and seriousness.

I impatiently waited until the "Happy Birthday" song to finally head to the kitchen in search of a drink. I rummaged through the fridge and all the cabinets, but found nothing.

A chill ran down my spine, and I noticed that the back door was open, letting in the cold air. Through the window, I saw Aurora outside, leaning on the fence and holding a bottle of beer.

"It's cold out here." My voice broke the silence, and our gazes met again. I felt my body shiver, but it wasn't because of the cold.

"I needed some fresh air. It's crowded in there." She seemed sincere.

"Hmm." I leaned against the fence, keeping a safe distance between us. Her breathing was quicker. "Is everything alright?" My voice came out softer than I intended, carrying the concern I couldn't contain.

"Yes." She replied quickly, but something in her expression told me she was hiding something. "My car, on the other hand..." She looked down, forming a small pout.

"I can take it to the repair shop tomorrow morning if you want. Or I can buy you a new car..." My offer slipped out of me before I could reconsider.

"No, no. I prefer the repair shop." She was firm in her response.

"Sure? I won't ask again." My insistence wasn't just about the car. It was a strange way of asking if she was sure she wanted this, if she wanted to get involved with us again.

"You're unbelievable." She laughed. "This car has sentimental value to me, no Ferrari is going to change my mind." She crossed her arms, a determined expression on her face. I couldn't help but smile at her stubbornness.

"Where did you find that?" My curiosity led me to point at the bottle in her hand.

"In Luna's room. I grabbed it before I get drunk. I'm driving." Her response was straightforward and somewhat surprising.

"One thing I never expected to hear from you." I took the bottle, but I didn't take a sip. My focus was on her, not the drink.

She had learned to drive, just as she had learned to navigate her own life. Our separation had shaped her in ways I couldn't ignore. It hurt to admit that maybe if she had listened to me and stayed with me, she wouldn't have achieved all the accomplishments she had today.

"Can we meet tomorrow?" Her question caught me off guard, and I stuttered in response.

"T-tomorrow?" She took a step toward me, and the fact that she was taking the initiative was a clear sign of the changes that had occurred.

"It's just that you're already going to pay for my car repairs, and I wanted... to talk." She bit her lip, a shy expression that hit me directly. "I want to talk to you. I feel like there are still many blank spaces between us."

"I feel the same." I confessed, my voice coming out a bit more intense than I intended. "Lunch?" I suggested, hoping the opportunity wouldn't slip away.

Her smile, warm and genuine, illuminated the darkness of the night.

"Perfect." Her response echoed in my heart, bringing a sense of hope I hadn't felt in a long time.

***

The compliment came naturally, my gaze focused on the project Lucca had presented. "Your project is very good." His expression of gratitude filled his face as we left the meeting room.

"Thank you, thank you very much! It's an honor to hear that from you!" he smiled several times and thanked profusely, brimming with enthusiasm.

"No need to thank so much." My response was direct, trying to dispel the atmosphere of formality.

"Oh, sorry... So, give me a week at most to make all the adjustments we discussed." He hurried to continue.

"Alright. Chloe will call to schedule another meeting." I confirmed, knowing the process would stay on track.

"Goodbye, Mr. Tristan!" He bid farewell, once again with an exaggerated smile on his face.

Back in the company's reality, Xavier materialized in front of me with a radiant smile. "Good news!" He exclaimed. "I hired a new nanny."

I raised an eyebrow with interest. "Checked if she has a criminal record?" My voice held a touch of skepticism.

"She's just a college student. She's new, but not that new, a bit quirky, but she gets along with Christian, and she has this strange habit of calling me 'uncle'." He shared the details.

A quick glance at my wristwatch revealed that it was almost lunchtime. "I have an important commitment now."

"You're not coming back today?" His concern was visible.

"Probably not." I shrugged, noticing the mischievous smile he was trying to hide. "Call me if you have any problems."

"Only if I can't solve them." He replied confidently.

"I'm not asking, I'm telling. Besides, I'm a grumpy guy who just knows how to give orders, right?" My provocation was direct, and I didn't give him room for rebuttal.

"Oh! Who said such nonsense?" He seemed taken aback.

"Christian talks a lot." My explanation was simple, and I walked away before he could formulate a response.

***

The restaurant was quiet, yet my nerves seemed to be on edge as I sat across from her. Her features were familiar, her smile still triggered something within me.

"So, I'm in front of the Emotion marketing team leader?" I joked, lightening the mood.

She nodded, a proud smile lighting up her face. "But of course, I didn't give up photography, and I hope I never will." Her determination was evident.

The waiter approached to take our orders, and once we were alone again, she let out a long sigh, as if preparing to broach a delicate subject.

"I wanted to apologize. For everything." Her voice was soft, carrying a tone of regret.

"Aurora..." My intention was to interrupt her, but she continued.

"Please, let me finish." Her plea made me fall silent. "I didn't know how long this would last, if I would live the rest of my life in London or another country. I didn't know anything... only that I was selfish. I should have talked to you before. I didn't want to drag you into all my web of indecision, didn't want to keep you tied to me. And I understand if you don't want to forgive me..."

"It's alright, Aurora." My voice came out softer, almost a whisper.

"What?" She seemed surprised.

"I said it's alright. I forgave you a long time ago." My confession came out with sincerity.

"I thought you wouldn't even want to look at my face, that you hated me..." She seemed incredulous.

"I don't hate you. I was angry with you for a while, but above all, I care about you. If you were happy in London, I wouldn't take that away from you." My voice grew weaker as I spoke. "But are you happy now?"

"What?" She was clearly confused.

"Are you sure about what you want?" My question was direct, laden with uncertainty.

"One thing I am sure of. This is my place. I came back here, definitively. And I don't want any awkwardness between us." Her response came with conviction.

"Can we start over, as... friends?" My suggestion sounded strange even to me, but it seemed necessary.

"Yes, yes, I agree. I think it's time to let our hearts go wherever they want. But we could confess some things to each other first." Her suggestion brought a smile to my lips.

"Like?" I inquired, curious.

"Like you snored too loudly when you went to sleep drunk." She laughed, reminiscing about past moments.

"You didn't come out unscathed either." My retaliation was immediate.

"I didn't snore." She seemed indignant.

"But you were stubborn. You still are." My accusation was accompanied by a challenging look.

"I'm not at all." She raised an eyebrow. "Okay, just a little..., but you are too."

"You never listened to me." My tone was teasing.

"That's not true." She retorted. "You may not believe it, but you were the only person I listened to." Her confession came as a revelation.

Memories of sunny days and rainfalls in the past flashed through my mind. "Remember when I disappeared all day?"

"Yes, it was on the day of the parade." She responded with vivacity.

"After that, you made me promise to listen to your voicemail messages." My tone became more reflective.

"You listened?" She seemed surprised.

"Everything." I confirmed, recalling that specific day. "Aurora..." My voice sounded restrained, my memories still vivid.

Aurora held her glass with a serious look before raising it in a shy toast. "A new beginning?"

I raised my glass in response, a smile forming on my lips. "A new beginning."