Bittersweet Alignment

L U C A S

I sat in my spacious office, dressed impeccably in a tailored suit. The desk was littered with papers, file folders, and various documents that I was rifling through. The light from the floor-to-ceiling windows illuminated the room, casting shadows on my sharp jawline and chiseled features.

I glanced at my watch and sighed, my eyebrows furrowing in annoyance. I had a private jet waiting for me at the airport, but I still had not finished all the paperwork that needed my signature. I toggled the pen between the knuckles of my fingers, my mind racing through all the tasks that I needed to complete before I could leave.

Nona had specifically made it clear to me that I had to come home after almost a year of being away on countless of business trips.

I knew better than to go against her this time, the last thing I want is having her guards bring me instead, not that they stand a chance but for the sake of my reputation.

After Mum and Dad died, she played both roles for me and my siblings.

They died when I was nineteen, Hudson was eleven and Emma was nine.

It was a rough phase for all of us. Having to step in and take responsibility at such an age was challenging but nothing I couldn't handle.

I leaned back in the chair, rubbing my eyes with my fingers, trying to stave off the exhaustion that threatened to engulf me. I had hardly slept the last two days, my mind consumed with thoughts of the impending marriage to Alice.

I had never wanted to be attached to anyone, let alone get married. But with Alice, it was something different.

I shook his head, trying to clear my thoughts, and refocused on the pile of documents in front of me. I scribbled my signature on one after the other, each document inching me closer to freedom.

A call came through, I groan taking a glance at the caller ID; Alice.

A mild smile stole its way to my lips, keeping the pen aside and attending to my fiancée.

"Hey, babe." The noise bustling from the background had my ear stinging lifting the phone slightly away.

"Hello Lucas, are you there?" She asks if her pants are audible to my hearing.

Alice Jones, my soon-to-be bride.

The Moore and Jones have been business acquaintances for years or more like a family as they'd like to be referred to.

One thing led to the other; they decided on merging their companies a year before the death of Mr and Mrs Moore. Mr Jones suggested that if they would converge their business then so should their ties.

I, Alice, Evelyn, and Hudson have always been childhood buddies. The bond between Alice and I was a special type of connection. We've always gotten along.

We had grown so fond of each other and had only stopped to notice our feelings back in college where they made things official.

He hums in response.

"I can't make it to the gala event next week"

I tighten my grip on the phone and take a calming breath. "Alice, you promised me we'd go together. This is the second time this month you're canceling on me at the very last second. Couldn't you at least have given me some adequate notice?"

The phone rustles and Alice sighs. "I'm sorry, Lucas, I really wanted to be there, you know that. I wanted to support Emma and be there with you, but I just can't get away. I need to retake some shots, and it just hasn't been going too well."