XXXV
“Good day, Mr. Kale.”
“Good day, Armani. To what do I owe the pleasure of your call?”
“Nothing at all, sir. I just wanted to inform you of our progress on the project. My teammates and I are done with the blue prints and have forwarded them all to your email. All we need now is your affirmation or. . .” the voice trailed off nervously, “. . .repudiation, sir.”
Jordan sighed, hearing the uncertainty in Armani's voice. He had decided to render a land of his to her and her teammates for their university project and so far, he hadn't regretted it one bit. Working with her and her teammates had been so easy and stress-free.
“Rest assured, Armani, judging by how well you, your teammates and I have gotten along, repudiation would be the last thing on my mind,” he encouraged her.
“Thank you very much, Mr. Kale. I really appreciate your help, sir.” he could hear her voice brimming with happiness. “Regarding your affirmation, sir, all you need to do is look through the blue prints. . .”
Armani went further to explain Jordan's part to him but his mind had zoned out her explanations, wandering towards another direction completely as he stepped into his room to find an untouched phone box on his bed.
He let out a sigh as he recognised the phone box as the new iPhone he had just purchased for Emerald after cleaning up her smashed old phone. She had returned it to him again after dropping it off in her room for the umpteenth time with an infinite amount of apology letters. He had no idea what else to do.
“Sir? Sir? Mr. Kale?” Armani's voice suddenly snapped him back to reality.
“Hmm, Armani? I'm really sorry I wasn't paying any attention to what you were saying. Mind coming again?” he muttered absentmindedly as he plopped down onto his bed, still staring at the phone box with different thoughts running through his head.
“Are you alright, sir? You sound distracted and dare I say, sad? Is anything the matter at all, sir?” her concerned voice asked.
‘Your sister is,’ Jordan was close to spurting but that would only lead to more questions, questions he wasn't ready to answer. So instead, he muttered, “it's all good, Armani. I've just been a bit stressed out lately is all.”
“Alright, sir. If that's the case, then take really good care of yourself, ok? I'm most certain my sister wouldn't like it if something were to happen to you,” she teased, only adding salt to Jordan's deep wounds.
‘Your sister could currently be plotting my murder for all we know,’ Jordan thought with a sigh.
“I will. Thank you, Armani. Regarding the other thing you were talking about, how about you send that to my email as well. Sorry for any inconveniences.”
“Not at all, sir and I will certainly do.”
“And Armani?” he called out.
“Yes, sir?”
“Call me Jordan.” And with a goodbye, he hung up the phone before picking up the new phone box and walking towards Emerald's room. He knocked for a bit but receiving no response, he cracked the door open to find an empty room on the other side.
Hearing a bit of a noise coming from downstairs, Jordan headed for the stairs and arrived at the kitchen to find the pale and fragile looking woman mindlessly scrubbing a plate. Her back was ramrod straight as she stared off at the wall in front of her, disregarding every other thing in the room.
Jordan sighed, watching her from the kitchen entrance. For days now, she had refused to speak to him or anyone else. She had become aloof and had shut him out of her life completely, not mattering Jordan's attempts to appease her.
Tentatively, he took steady steps towards her before hugging her from behind, his face buried in her neck as his arms wound round her dainty and full hips. Jordan's heart ached when he noticed how tense she became when he held her. Her hand, which had been moving in a circular motion, came to an abrupt standstill and they both stood there, doing nothing.
“What do you think you're doing?” her cold and monotonous voice suddenly cut through the silence, ruining the little feeling close to peace, which Jordan had felt in her presence after so long.
Clearing his throat, he maintained his position but gently lifted his occupied hand to her line of vision, showing her the phone box. “You keep returning this to me. Why?” his voice was tender and raw with emotion as he spoke.
“Have you still not forgiven me?” he whispered into the uncomfortable silence that cloaked the both of them as Emerald remained quiet. In mere seconds, she freed herself from his hold before turning around to look at him.
Jordan took a step back almost immediately at the look in her eyes, or rather, because of the lack of one thereof. Her formerly vibrant and grassy green eyes now looked lifeless and empty. Looking into them, Jordan felt like they were pulling him tirelessly into the bottomless pit of doom that resided in their depths.
“What is there to forgive? Did you offend me in any way?” she asked, stunning Jordan into silence.
“I–I. . . Emerald,” he stuttered, not knowing how to respond. Her being cold and distant to him was much worse and more hurtful than her anger and hatred for him.
He could handle the hateful words she spew at him, he could handle her murderous glare, he could handle all of that, but what he couldn't bear to face was her indifference. She was clearly treating him like a stranger. To him, her acts showed that he wasn't even worth her hatred and that thought shattered Jordan. She was only about a foot away from him yet she felt so far, so distant, like she was miles and miles away from him.
He took an almost non-existent step closer to her, his hands reluctantly holding onto both her arms. “Emerald, please. I'm sorry, I really am. I have absolutely no excuse for my previous behavior but please, don't treat me like this. Don't treat me like some stranger,” he whispered, his voice thick with unfamiliar emotions.
Emerald did not so much as blink as she continued to stare into his eyes, pinning him with her standoffish gaze. “Don't you think it's time for you to leave?” Jordan felt like he had been stabbed in the guts at her next words.
“W–what?” his hold on her arms loosened as he dropped his arms to his sides. “What do you mean?”
“Shouldn't your enemies have been defeated by now? You are the greatest Mafia leader in America, aren't you, J.K?”
“Wha—”
“Besides, you've overstayed your welcome here. I think it would be best for us all if you returned to your mansion, Mr. Kale.” Her indifferent tone left no room for discussion but Jordan was particularly adamant as he groveled for her forgiveness.
“Stop it! Stop saying that, Gem. I'm not leaving you alone like this. Please, don't shut me out like this. Please,” he pleaded.
Emerald's aloof expression faltered when she heard the evident crack in his voice. Hurriedly, she schooled her expression and turned her back to him, not wanting him to decipher the pain in her eyes. She reiterated, clutching her aching chest as her eyes brimmed with tears. “Leave, Jordan. I don't want to see you.”
“But Gem—”
“Why don't you just listen to me?!” she shouted as she whipped around to face him. “I don't want to see you right now!” A sob racked through her, making Jordan take a step towards her in worry.
“Gem—” he called out but was interrupted by Emerald who continued yelling at him with tears racing down her pale cheeks.
“You're not making this any easier for me. I want to hate you, I want to hurt you like you did to me, I want to break you like you did me but I can't. I just can't do it. I don't know what sort of hold you have on me but I hate it. I hate it so much! I tell myself to never depend on anyone, especially you but now, I am! I'm dependent on you, Jordan and I detest it!” she sobbed profusely, her every walls tumbling down as she confessed.
“Gem,” Jordan quickly pulled her weak body into a comforting hug. She looked completely and utterly drained out like she could collapse any minute, like she had given up on the world and everything in it. Jordan was relieved that she had let it all out. She had let out all her pent-up anger and hatred rather than bottling them up. Such negative emotions weren't meant to be kept to one's self. It could destroy a person.
“I'm really sorry, Emerald. I'm sorry for everything I've made you feel. I'm so sorry for simply crushing the hope I had ignited in you without a second thought. I regret ever choosing to stay away from you rather than talking things out with you, Gem, but I don't regret starting that little flame of hope in you at all.
I'm happy I did, actually. If it got me a chance with you before, then I would love to rekindle that flame of hope in you over and over again. I would continue to revitalize that hope until it burns so brightly within you and consumes you wholly, love,” his deep and husky voice filled her ears as his warm breath tickled the sweet spot below her earlobe.
He pulled away slightly, his eyes meeting hers as he muttered with every word of his dripping with resolution. “Even if it's the last thing I do.”
Emerald shivered.
▬▬▬▬▬
Completely engrossed in her troubled thoughts, Emerald couldn't help but feel like she went round and round a maze in her head, only stumbling upon dead ends as she tried to decipher the thoughts of a certain someone, who had occupied her mind and head since the day he had left the house.
Today marked the third day since Jordan had left the house upon Emerald's insistence on having full control of her own life and independence again, yet as she sat all alone in her quiet office, only seldom disturbed by traversing vehicles, Emerald couldn't help but chew on her bottom lip as her mind and head worked together to come up with a valid reason as to why Jordan hadn't bothered to reach out to her since he had left.
This same man had been so resolute about ‘rekindling the flame of hope’ he had ignited in her and for some reason, she had been shamelessly counting on his every word to fill her to the brim with the spark of hope she used to feel around him. It had always been an exhilarating experience that never failed to leave her breathless and against her better judgement, Emerald hoped against hope that Jordan wouldn't give up on her, regardless of her harsh words and her attempts at pushing him away.
She hoped that he would see right through the lies her mouth spoke and just look into her green eyes which was a clear mirror to her aching soul. She hoped he would've seen her bleeding heart which constantly yearned for him, rather than her prevaricated words. But perhaps, all of that was just wishful thinking.
Letting her head hang in order to shield her tearful eyes from the world, Emerald laughed loudly at herself. Who was the hypocrite now? Saying one thing but wishing for the other.
She had, of her own volition, chased Jordan out of her house, out of her life and for once, the guy who never listened to her, was finally doing her bidding. So why was she still overwhelmed by guilt and sadness instead of being immensely relieved?
‘The heart wants what the heart wants.’ A voice called out to her, making Emerald's eyes close as she rested her head against the backrest of her seat.
Finally able to get a break from her thoughts but still unable to quench the aching in her chest, Emerald heard a knock on her office door. “Come in,” she called out, barely opening her eyes to see the intruder.
“Miss Pearce?” Claire, her receptionist called.
“Yes, Claire?” she peeled open one of her eyes to show the blonde woman that she had her attention.
“Are you okay, Miss Pearce? You've been quite out of it since yesterday and you look sickly pale and emaciated. Don't you need to visit the hospital?” Claire enumerated, concern evident in her voice.
“I know I've not been myself lately, Claire and I apologise for that and for making you worry,” Emerald gave a gentle smile, “but I'm good. I just need a bit of rest and I'll be back to normal soon enough. Don't worry about me.”
“Are you sure, Miss Pearce?” Claire asked uncertainly, “I could always close up the building while you retire for the day?” she volunteered, worriedly eyeing her boss's frail body. She had never seen her like this since she began working here and it scared her to no end.
“How about we do that then, Claire. Would it finally put you at rest?” her blonde receptionist hurriedly nodded her head, making Emerald release a small laughter. “Okay. I'll stay for one more hour and then, we can call it a day.”
“Only for one hour, Miss Pearce,” Claire repeated to which Emerald nodded before shutting her eyes again as Claire's footsteps faded. “Oh! I can't believe I almost forgot,” she opened her eyes again to see Claire walking back into her office but this time, with both her hands fully occupied.
With furrowed eyebrows, Emerald eyed the huge bouquet of different varieties of flowers, ranging from purple and pink hyacinths to white gardenias to scarlet red roses in her receptionist's arms. “What is all this?” she asked.
“Someone asked me to give this to you, ma'am. Looks like Miss Pearce has a secret admirer,” Claire said in a sing–song tone as Emerald's eyes darted back and forth, taking in the humongous size of the colourful bouquet.
As if that was not enough surprise, Claire's already filled arms manufactured a food flask and a card, the same colour as the flowers. “I was asked to give these to you as well,” she passed over the items to Emerald who received them with trembling hands.
With unfamiliar anticipation coursing through her veins, Emerald opened the beautifully scented rainbow card to find a neat and well calligraphed handwriting smiling beautifully at her.
“I wasn't kidding when I said I would never give up on you, Gem. No matter how hard or how much you push me away, I'll always be back for you, a hundred times more resolute than before.
P.S: I didn't know what variety of flowers you liked, so I got one of each. Hope you like them.
Forever yours,
J.”
Her hands shaking vehemently as she gripped onto the card for dear life, she looked up to meet Claire's happy expression which soon morphed into a concerned and questioning gaze. “Is something wrong, Miss Pearce?”
“Who brought this? Did you see?”
Claire shook her head, “I don't know who sent them. I was only asked to relay the gifts to you. Is something wrong?” she asked again.
“When was this delivered?”
“About a few minutes ago.”
At Claire's words, Emerald immediately sprang up and rushed to her floor to ceiling windows which overlooked the streets below. Just as she looked down, she saw a sleek black car driving away from the sidewalk directly in front of her building.
With her heart leaping happily in her chest, she remembered the words he had written in the card.
He would never give up on her.
▬▬▬▬▬●●▬▬▬▬▬
Who knew Jordan could be so romantic? Do you think Emerald should forgive him or not?
