Alicia's POV
I was speechless. My mouth opened to speak, but no words came out. I turned my gaze round
the table and my colleagues had different expressions on their faces.
"Alicia, please it's me, Rowen. Please come home Alicia." He repeated himself.
I slowly stood up from my chair. My past memories hit me vaguely.
I had struggled to make our marriage a happy one. I had loved him all those years and I thought
he loved me. Only to treat me with betrayal, used me and discarded me for another woman.
His betrayal still burned me in my heart. And here he was, after all those years, begging me to
return home with him.
My face twisted in anger and I locked eyes with his figure. "Please, leave this office."
"No, please, Alicia." He grabbed my hand slightly. "Please, I was blinded by someone. It's you
Alicia, I've been searching for you all these years Alicia." He pleaded.
I raised my gaze to the people around me. They all waited for what I had to say. I returned my
gaze back to Rowen.
"Rowen, I do not want to bring the securities into this, but If you do not leave now, you will leave
me no choice." I spoke with a sharp voice.
My warnings fell on deaf ears. "Please Alicia, come home with me, please."
The anger within me boiled. "Rowen, there's nothing between us anymore. You made it clear,
you didn't want to see me anywhere close to you and Rowen, I don't not want to see you, please
leave." I said to him, my voice sharp and firm.
Before he could say anything else. The hospital supervisor came in with two securities beside
him.
"What's going on here?" the hospital supervisor asked with an authoritative voice.
He didn't receive an answer from me, as I was too shocked and angry to reply.
He turned towards Rowen. "Young man this room isn't for everyone, I'll ask that you leave."
Rowen Ignores him and turns back to me, "please Alicia, now I've found you , I can't let you go."
I remained silent.
"Sir, if you do not leave, the securities would be forced to throw you out." The hospital
supervisor warns Rowen.
"I'm not leaving until Alicia comes with me!" Rowen snapped at the supervisor.
The supervisor was taken aback. He turns towards the securities and nods. Both securities
stepped forward and picked Rowen, throwing him out.
I exhaled and fell back into my chair.
"Alicia." The supervisor's voice brought me back.
"Yes sir?" I quickly stood up from the chair.
"Things like this would not be tolerated ever again." I nodded to his words. "I'm sure you do not
want your reputation to be tarnished, now you're rising. So please keep your house issues at
home." And with that he turned and left.
I sat back down and after a few minutes, the meeting continued.
That night, I drove through the empty streets, I didn't need the headlights, the city lights lit up the
way. I tightened the grip on my steering unconsciously. I could still hear Rowen's voice in my
head.
I can't believe he came back.
He hadn't changed. When he wanted to get something, he would go through any means to get
it, even if it means throwing away his pride.
I exhaled slowly, pressing down on the gas as the light turned green.
I was tired. Tired of everything. Tired of how I was treated in the past, the betrayal, the
deceiving. All of it.
And then, almost like my mind wanted me to stop thinking about Rowen, I thought of Bryan.
The picture of his face filled my mind and I didn't refuse it. Especially now. He looked different,
harder to read, quieter.
He had helped me when I was at my lowest. He didn't have any expectations, just kindness
towards me and I never got the chance to thank him properly . Life pulled us apart from each
other for so long.
But maybe I owe him that 'thank you now".
I quickly made a sharp turn, hitting the gas. Changing my direction to his bar.
I needed to thank him for saving my life, five years ago.
Bryan stood behind the bar, drying a glass with a towel, talking to a customer with that familiar,
When Bryan saw me entering the bar his eyes lit up in excitement
"Ah, Alicia." He called out excited.
"Bryan." I called out softly.
"Alicia," he said, dropping the towel down. "Wow… I didn't expect….."
"I know," I cut in, smiling nervously. "This wasn't exactly planned."
He rounded the bar and gave me a hug.
"Come on," he said, motioning to a free chair in the corner. "You've got to tell me everything."
Two drinks later. We were already laughing loud enough to be disturbing others. He had
different funny stories and I had more to make the conversation lovely and to keep it going. We
enjoyed each other's company. I slowly felt my worries leaving me one by one.
But then Bryan's expression changed. He shifted his gaze to the drink in his hands.
"There's something weird I've been meaning to tell someone," he said, with a low voice. "I don't
know why I'm telling you, of all people, I haven't really told anyone."
I leaned in a little. "What is it? You can tell me anything."
He hesitates, locks eyes with me and then exhales. "Lately, I've been…. occasionally losing part
of my memory."
My brows pulled together. "your memory?"
"Moments," he replied immediately. "Conversations. It's not all the time, but when it happens…"
He shook his head, frustration on his face. "It's like I blacked out. But I haven't been drinking or
doing anything I shouldn't. It's just…gone."
A chill crept up my spine.
"That sounds serious, Bryan. Have you talked to anyone about it?"
He scoffed. "Alicia, I can barely believe myself. Not everyone would believe it."
I stretched my hand and grabbed his hands lightly. "It's going to be fine."
"Well as long as you don't forget how to make a proper whiskey, we will survive this." I said,
trying to lighten the moment.
He scoffed. Almost immediately he went pale, like he had lost his ability to breathe. He fell
forward.