“Here is the report of the inspections in the restaurants in Brooklyn last week.” Mason placed the document before me.

When I was satisfied, I glanced through them, closed them, and put them aside.

“We should have a drink one of these days,” I offered.

“Why do you say so, sir?” He asked, deadpan.

“You look more terrible than ever. Did you have a meeting with Cherie recently?”

He grimaced.

“Ah, you did.” I could clearly figure it out.

Mason and Cherie were divorced seven years after their separation. I had known Mason for that long as well, and I had never known him to be free-spirited or happy.

Occasionally, he met with Cherie because their twin daughters, Kaitlin and Kimberly, who were in their mother’s custody.

From what I knew, Cherie had moved on with another man, and that was primarily the bane of Mason’s existence.

He had been fine all along when Cherie had not yet ventured into dating again.

“Do you plan to sulk all day?” I stood up to fetch us soda drinks.

“You see what you choose to see, Mr. Christian Carr.” He grumpily said.

“So, you mean you are not actually sulking, and I’m only seeing you in that light?” I gave him one of the drinks.

“Apparently.” He opened the can and almost gulped down the entire content at once.

“You are going out of your mind,” I returned to my seat. No doubt, he was still madly in love with Cherie even after seven years of separation.

He sighed.

“Does Cherie know about this? She will probably feel pathetic for bringing out this almost irreversible side of you.”

“She doesn’t care, and it’s not actually about her.”

“What’s going on?”

“It’s Kimberly, she hates that man…as it should be,” he gruffly said. “She wants me to seek custody again.”

“Isn’t that what you want?”

“If that’s what I wanted, she would have been with me from the very onset.” He finished his drink. “I do not want to separate my girls.”

“Oh,” I realized he was just being careful about the relationships in his family. I could understand, to an extent, how important it was to him.

“What do you want to do now?” I asked, glancing at my wristwatch. It was a few minutes to three.

“I am at a crossroads.” He concluded.

Fiona had left her desk and soon a knock came on the door.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, sir, but you have a business call at three.” She didn’t pass the threshold and I still summed everything up to be due to some peculiar feelings towards Mason.

“Yes, thank you.”

When her head had disappeared from the door, Mason also took his leave.

I promised we would continue the conversation over a drink afterward, as it appeared to be more serious than I had thought.

At the end of the international call, it turned out that I would have to have a face-to-face meeting with the client.

Since it was Robust Technology’s first deal with the Yukimura Group, the President thought it best for both of the companies to physically meet and strengthen the budding relationship.

It was not a bad idea, but I didn’t like impromptu. However, I didn’t actually have a choice, so I informed Fiona and asked her to book me a flight for the following morning.

*****

The sun had set over the bluff before we arrived at home.

As Liam swerved inside the driveway, it crossed my mind to invite Fiona over for a drink or two.

It had been a long day for both of us, so I thought it would be time for a respite.

“Perhaps we could play a game as well,” I added.

The darkness must have concealed her initial reluctance, but I could sense it in her voice.

However, she agreed at last.

“Just one game.” She repeated, and we made our way in.

Her presence in the large living room added more verve to the wide furniture space and masses of draping curtains.

It felt nice to have her around, though I wasn’t sure it was appropriate.

However, the appropriateness of the situation was clouded by my desire to have her around me.

She just had this blissful aura around her, and I didn’t think I was the only one who couldn’t completely resist it.

“What are we playing tonight?” She asked, slowly taking off her jacket.

Then she neatly folded it and kept it next to her. I thought she looked more relaxed than a few minutes ago.

“Super Smash Bros.”

“Hm.” From her minimal reaction, I could deduce she knew nothing about games.