LONDON-
White Francis abruptly diverted his gaze on the intercom when it noisily buzzed like an irritating thing in the middle of his peaceful atmosphere early in that morning. He was in his executive office of his very own company, the A.G. Empire, sitting in front of his office table then, silently reviewing those significant document papers for their ongoing negotiations on high-rise buildings and unbelievable state-of-the-art infrastructures worth billions of euros. That's the reason why he badly didn't want to be disturbed that time. But he guessed luck was never on his side since time immemorial. And so upon expelling a deep frustrated sigh, he pressed the answer button.
"Yes, Blaire?" He answered while flipping the next page and scanned what's drawn also.
"Sir White, your lawyer is here," his secretary answered and so he smiled.
"Let him in."
--
"Mr. Al Gala, I've already sourced out a good and legal employment agency in Sydney Austria the other day. So here are the list of those hired engineers from that prestigious agency together with those other senior positions for our upcoming construction in Riyadh," said Kyle Anderson, his long-time personal lawyer and was one of those smart-aleck lawyers in history. Then Kyle handed him two-thick folders. He took those. "And also here," Kyle handed another one folder to him. "That's for those heavy equipment technicians and mining engineers we need for us to finally open Northern territory mines for next month."
"Excellent, Kyle," White Francis said upon reading those and faced the latter. "And the mining prospect I told you two weeks ago?"
Kyle smiled proudly. "Of course. There's no way in the world I'd forget that, sir."
He smiled formally. "Good."
"Yes, uhh, luckily I have found one in the Philippines, Sir. Especifically in CDO."
And by that, his smile faded. And in just a blink of an eye, his good mood swiftly changed. "No, Kyle. Cancel it." White Francis firmly said, masking his irritated aura by his expressionless face even if what he really wanted to do that time was to grab his lawyer's collar and yell at his lawyer rudely or rather send him out of his office that very moment effectively. 'Freaking Kyle Anderson. Tsk.'
Kyle frowned. "What? Are you sure you want to cancel that, sir? You know that is a big shot to your company and to the entire A.G. Empire and your entire mining industry as well, not just here in London but also to your other branches too."
Now he's pissed. He pinched the bridge of his nose and said, "Is it enough to say that you're just my lawyer and I'm your big time client, Attorney Kyle Anderson? So please to avoid any mess, do not meddle with my decision because I can always replace you with the follower ones. Do you catch my drift?" White Francis sternly said and really emphasized the word "replace" in a low and commanding tone. He always uses that tone of his every time he's already pissed off to anyone. Then Kyle probably got what he was really driving at especially that moment when he called the latter's surname so Kyle promptly lowered down its head. He doesn't want to be rude because that's not the real him, he's strict, yes, he's formal and he always speaks his mind. But he's not rude. But that time he had to act like that so Kyle won't piss him even more and for Kyle to just follow his decision.
"Y-Yes, Mr. Al Gala. I'm.. I'm sorry, Sir."
He sighed. "It's okay. But next time, better know your limitations already. Are we crystal clear here, Kyle?"
Kyle nodded. "Y-Yes, sir."
"Good. So now, you have to find another better mining prospect tomorrow in Saudi Arabia or India maybe. My client was already searching for a nickel ore from Norway that should be processed in China so you better deal with that instantly. And also, scan for the requirements and legal process for us to get license to operate there if ever. Do you understand me, Kyle?"
Finally, Kyle looked at him and nodded. "Yes, Mr. Al Gala."
"Excellent. So now I guess this ends here. And again, I need to have a report from you on that case by the end of this month. Can you do that, Kyle?"
His lawyer smiled. "Yes, Sir. Consider it done."
He smiled back formally. "Good. Very well then. You can leave now." And so his lawyer left. Shaking his head slowly, he began reviewing again the documents and other papers Kyle gave him. But not a minute longer, he stopped and rubbed his forehead with his right hand's fingers and frustratingly brushed his palms on his face furiously. Good thing the media and other famous talk shows didn't disturb his privacy anymore for an interview because he's already been busy these past few days on his mining projects.
Those talk shows and media started to interview him when he held the top one rank of one of the most sought-after multi-billionaire bachelor in the entire world, and his younger brother Grey Christopher, held the top two rank. And now he was silently thankful that the attentions of the citizens was on his aloof brother already after he politely accepted those invites from the media and the other talk show to have an interview with him. He did that so he won't be disturb anymore when he will start his mining projects already. And so they didn't disturb him anymore indeed. Because if ever he's gonna have an interview again that day, he'd be totally lose his temper already due to his conversation with Kyle. And so when he remembered which country and the specific place of Kyle's mining prospect for him, White Francis then frustratingly leaned his back on his recliner and turned it around. Then he stared on the view outside of his giant glass window blankly and sighed.
'Tsk, Kyle. I really want to curse you.' Because damn! Those words of Kyle about the mining prospect kept on bugging his entire mind like an irritating pests. 'Philippines huh? And CDO? Really?' Again, he filled his chest with air. Because he suddenly felt a tinge of pain in there again. But.. Yes. It's been a long time since that painful time happened. Hundreds of different things happened after that day. Worse to worsen. Anger to hatred. Everything changed. And so as him. Gone was the smiling and mischievous White Francis. And the formal one was left. But he's still strict though. The difference was.. He became more strict every time that passed by. But he's still the soft-hearted White Francis at times though. He just preferred covering his soft side with numbness, so he won't get hurt ever again in any circumstances. He has changed. But his feelings for her remains. It was just covered with wrath and despair. He smiled bitterly as he felt that painful tugged inside his chest. After six long years, no one dared to make him remember that fateful part of his past. No one. Even his own family. Even his father. But that moment.. Someone just hit it. He sighed deeply again.
And as that familiar pain slowly creeped down inside his chest.. Those bitter, painful memories of his past that he tried so hard to bury.. Teasingly.. Flashed in the deepest part of his mind again..
Venz? I'm here now!"
Francis was smiling widely as he reached his condo unit that afternoon. There's a sweet smile that was plastered on Francis' lips while heading his way to his room that immediately vanished when he saw the messiness of the surroundings in every corner of his room and his broken guitar. His heart was pounding so fast inside his chest while scanning the place. Then he was stunned after.
"Dammit. What the hell happened here?"