When Lucian, looking at himself in the mirror, finished getting ready, he headed to the kitchen to prepare breakfast.
Something simple, as always: the cheapest cereal with a little milk and coffee. Just what he needed.
Since he had woken up early, he spent the remaining time reading a bit. It was almost always just magazines or, if he felt like it, sometimes the news online from his phone that he read.
Once on the main page, he realized it didn't take long for articles about Nathan's accident to start appearing.
"All eyes are on the Hilman family. They sure don't waste their time to write gossips about it. Don't they have a life of their own?" he sighed as an uncomfortable smile formed on his face.
"Living with so much attention has never been something one can truly boast about."
Lucian decided to turn off his phone and head straight to work, as walking took him some time. He couldn't bother someone to always drive him, and if he could save himself the bus fare, all the better.
Lucian's job consisted of assisting customers and trying to sell different types of perfumes or products to people who entered the store.
Since he was little, he had always been attracted to scents after visiting a beautiful rose garden for the first time with his grandmother.
Little Lucian, amazed by their fragrance, asked her if it was possible to smell like one. His grandmother, with a warm smile, replied that it was indeed possible, and that he could not only smell like a rose but like as many flowers as he wished.
This made his curiosity grow even more, and that's how he began to develop a fondness for the study of fragrances.
The perfume shop where he worked, however, was not limited to selling fragrances. It also expanded its market by introducing cosmetics and beauty products. This is how Lucian occasionally got a product or two, and if he was lucky, he could even take home a perfume that hadn't been sold.
Once inside, Lucian went straight to the counter to greet the owner with a big smile.
"Good morning, Mrs. Manon!~"
Mrs. Manon, noticing Lucian, turned to return his greeting in the same way. "Good morning, Luci!" she exclaimed with a faint smile that carried her 70 years of age.
"Please, Mrs. Manon, don't call me that..." he murmured, blushing slightly. After all, 'Luci' sounded very feminine and he didn't like it when people decided that it was the best surname for him.
Mrs. Manon was in excellent health despite her age, which was why she was able to keep her small business going.
The profits weren't huge, but at least for Lucian, the environment was pleasant and not very demanding. That was enough for him.
"Okay, okay. No more Luci. Understood. Come give me a hand with these heavy packages," Mrs. Manon asked, trying to carry a few on her own.
"This time they brought your favorite fragrance! Look!" she said, enthusiastically opening one of the boxes and grabbing one of the perfume bottles inside.
"Which one is it? Roses?" Lucian leaned in to see.
"Didn't you like the one that smelled like cherry blossoms?" With her right hand, she shook the perfume in its baby pink container.
"Ah! Right..." Lucian replied with a less-than-enthusiastic expression, as if a realization had just dawned on him.
"It's a good scent, indeed..." His eyes were disinterested. "But I only used it because they told me it smelled good on me," he concluded with a smile.
Mrs. Manon, sensing his discomfort, decided to change the subject.
"W-Well... help me put them in the display case."
"Coming right up!" Lucian started helping to load and arrange the products.
...
It was still very early in the morning at the hospital. The sun began to reflect through the window, and the glowing light started to warm the surroundings of the room where Nathan was.
This caused a pleasant and comforting effect on him. He liked being able to feel summer approaching.
While he was observing his room's window, sitting on his bed, on the other side, his mother was explaining his work with his secretary. After all, if possible, Mrs. Hillman wanted her son to start working as soon as possible, whether with or without his memories.
"That's why it's necessary for you to be careful to everyth— Are you paying attention, Nathan?" Mrs. Hillman reproached her son, who was intently gazing outside.
"Ha... Look, son, it's important that you pay attention. If people were to find out about your condition, they would take advantage to make our lives impossible. That's why I need you back at the office for the next general meeting..." she remarked, handing some papers to the secretary.
Nathan, ill-humored from not being able to rest well even for a day, decided to give her only a cold stare while gesturing with his hand for them to let him see the documents.
"I'll read what you asked me to read. You don't have to worry. You can go rest peacefully. I'll see to the rest with Secretary Chen."
The secretary, who was listening attentively from the side, raised an eyebrow upon hearing his name and returned Nathan a polite smile, assuring Mrs. Hillman that she had nothing to worry about. He would take care of those matters with him.
Mrs. Hillman, unable to refute, after greeting the two gentlemen, left the hospital.
The room was silent for a moment, as the two waited for Nathan's mother to completely leave. And it was only when they could be sure she was no longer nearby that they breathed a sigh of relief, Nathan even of disappointment.
"It's your mother," commented Secretary Chen as he finished handing him some documents. "Now it might seem like she's only interested in work, but she does it because she knows very well that it's important for you."
"Important for the old Nathan," he murmured to himself, mocking the situation. "They expect me to work right after I had an accident, justifying it as being for my own good. That's more like expecting me to die from stress sooner."
"You know very well that's not how it is," Secretary Chen returned Nathan's gaze. "I'm sure you understand how complicated the situation is. Not only is your job particular, but the position you hold in the company is more than fundamental. You are the only thing keeping it afloat right now."
Nathan, after hearing his justification, annoyed but composed said, " You say that as my secretary..." Secretary Chen turned around.
"But as a friend? What would you suggest?" Nathan finished with curiosity.
Since he woke up after his accident, Secretary Chen was one of the first people who was already at the hospital, impatiently waiting to see Nathan.
Once talking to him, Nathan discovered that before he was found by the seashore, Secretary Chen already had an idea that his boss was certainly in danger.
Talking privately while his mother was not around, he revealed that he himself had given him sudden instructions about the company and that he would probably be missing for a few days.
That strange declaration with a large number of documents and plans had been left to him before he could refuse.
Realizing that something was wrong with Nathan, he did not hesitate for an instant to start looking for him. Urgently but discreetly, to at least poorly respect his decision.
While conversing, Nathan also realized that Secretary Chen was the same age as him and that, as he suspected, they had been good friends for a few years already. At least enough to entrust him with his most important matters.
That's why he was surprised to hear Nathan's sincere question.
"Mmm..."
"As your friend, I would tell you not to listen to anyone and to take a break," he replied with a sincere smile.
"See. In the end, we were thinking the same thing."
Although both knew very well that this was nothing more than a wish. The weight of reality deprived them of any kind of rest for the moment. And both the secretary and Nathan had to get to work.
Secretary Chen, who had returned to his employee demeanor, was preparing to leave after offering Nathan a small bowing greeting when the latter stopped him by grabbing his sleeve.
"Wait a moment." Nathan's expression at that moment was serious and sober. Chen stopped to listen.
"In the 5 years you've been working with me, have you heard of someone named Lucian?"
Secretary Chen began to reflect, holding his chin with one hand. "I have certainly heard of Lucian..." he commented with a doubtful tone.
"Then do you know how he was related to me and my family?" Nathan asked without thinking.
"I'm sorry, boss, but you never wanted me to know that much about him," he replied apologetically.
"Even though I entrusted you with handling all my personal matters?" his gaze slightly cold.
"That's right. You were always stubborn and cynical when it came to him. You never wanted to tell anyone anything."
"..."
"It's fine," Nathan complained, disappointed. "You can go."
"Yes, boss." With a forced and mocking smile, secretary Chen left.
Nathan remained alone in the room.
From the short conversation he had with Lucian the day before, he had realized from the beginning that Lucian was lying about their relationship.
It was more than obvious. He was a terrible actor.
Even so, it was clear that they knew each other. If not, how could he explain the fact that Lucian's name and face were the only things he could recognize?
'I guess I'll have to find out on my own,'
Nathan thought as he turned on his phone and prepared to call someone.
'We'll have to continue our conversation.'