Chapitre 31: Katia
The next day came and Finland did not feel any better. Finally, Jean came to LTX International to inform the company that Finland was sick and unable to get to work. He also met with the Marketing Director and Bartz's Brand Manager to sign his new contract with them.
"I will be in Singapore for a month because my best friend needs me. For contract matters, you can talk to my manager in Paris. I will resume working again next month," Jean said at the meeting.
The clients could only follow his request because they knew it was very difficult to get a contract with Jean and their competitors had tried to lobby Jean for the same product line last month.
When Jean came out of the meeting room, dozens of excited LTX International female employees gathered around him and asked for a photo together.
"Jean, are you really Finland's friend?" Lily asked excitedly, "How do you know each other?"
"We have been friends since I studied at NTU," Jean replied kindly, "Finland has been living a very hard life ever since she was a child. She is the toughest and kindest person I have ever known. Please treat her well. I will be very grateful... "
The girls looked at each other. They realized that none of them had actually tried being friends with Finland. They instantly believed all the bad rumors about her that circulated around them. They never took the time to see if those rumors were actually true.
One gossip was about her being the mistress of the Continental Hotel owner who is old and ugly. However, they had seen with their own eyes that Heinrich Schneider was a very young and handsome man, and if their relationship were true, Finland never showed off her relationship with such an important person.
Also, she was apparently good friends with one of the most famous supermodels today, Jean, and she never mentioned it. She could brag if she wanted. But as usual, the girl focused only on her work and tried her best not to bother other people. She never acted arrogantly even though she knew important people like Mr. Schneider and Jean.
They now realized that Finland was a sincere and hard-working girl, and slowly they regretted the way they treated her.
"We will be nice to her," Tran said.
Jean smiled happily. "Good."
He then took leave.
Finland felt better after three days. She forced herself to go back to her own home despite Jean's suggestion for her to stay longer in his apartment.
"I have to work. I have been on sick leave for three days now. I'm sure my work is piling up. My probation period is almost over. After that, I need to apply for a new job," Finland said just before she left Jean's apartment.
***
The next day Finland returned to work and Tony commissioned her to make a proposal for an artwork exhibition for one of their clients, Katia Sorrenson, whom he had met last month. Money was not a problem.
Apparently, this Katia was a noblewoman from Sweden who just inherited a large sum of money. Her life was dedicated to art, and as an artist, she wanted to open a place that could serve as her legacy.
They met in a luxurious apartment Katia rented and discussed the design proposed by Finland. Katia seemed very fond of the girl's ideas.
"You are a talented designer," she said. "I like your ideas."
They both talked a lot about design and art, and they quickly became friends. When Katia heard that Finland was an orphan, she was very sympathetic.
"I'm sorry. I understand the feeling because I also have no one left in this world. All my family members have died." Katia smiled sadly, "I made the decision to leave them for the sake of a man, and now I can't go back because they are all gone. Life happens."
Katia pointed at several paintings hanging on the wall of her living room. "That's my father... and that's my mother. I'm an only child, so when I left they were really devastated."
Finland thought of her own situation. Katia had experienced what she was experiencing now, and the girl finally lost the people she loved.
"Did your relationship not work with that man?" Finland asked carefully, she did not want to put salt over an old wound, but she wanted to know what had happened to Katia.
"Unrequited love," Katia answered softly. "He was the perfect man and I fell deeply in love. I waited for him to return my love... for so long; I finally gave up."
Finland was stunned to hear that. This was really similar to her own experience.
The thought hit her hard. She had heard this name before from various people, hadn't she? Caspar's fiancée's name was also Katia...
Was this the same girl?
What were the odds?
Chapitre 32: Caspar's Decision
Finland wanted to ask whether Katia was Caspar's former fiancée, but she felt it was not in her place to interfere with other people's personal affairs, but she wanted to know what caused the failure in their relationship.
Katia said that Caspar did not return her love. But, how would that be possible considering that they were engaged for decades...?
"If he didn't love you, why did you leave your family for him?" Finland asked softly. "Isn't it obvious that it is tantamount to hurting yourself?"
"Uhmm... the situation was quite complicated at the time and we had to decide quickly," Katia answered. "I couldn't stay young forever, so I had to make a quick decision on whether to follow him or not."
Katia sipped her tea slowly and closed her eyes. She remembered the events of decades ago just like it was yesterday. The most memorable was when Caspar told her that he was an Alchemist, able to live forever.
At first, she thought Caspar was joking. But all the evidence he presented convinced Katia that the man was telling the truth.
"Why... why did you tell me all this?" Katia asked at the time. She could still hear his words in her head, word for word:
"Because... I think... I love you." Caspar fixed his gaze on Katia's eyes. "After my parents died, you're the one I feel most comfortable with. I don't know yet if I want to spend my whole life with you, but if I don't make a quick decision, in a few years you will age and die... and I can't take that risk. I wish to give you my family's secret potion, so you can stay young like this, for as long as you want. You will not age, just like us. And as we go along, we can asses our feelings for each other..."
This happened 50 years ago when Katia chose Caspar and left her family. Katia became forever young to be with the man she loved, but finally, bitterly, she realized that after half a century, Caspar was still unsure about his feelings for her. It hurt her so much that she didn't want to wait any longer and decided to leave.
Katia opened her sad eyes and found Finland looking at her questioningly.
She then smiled faintly, "Don't make the same mistakes as I did. Now I don't have anyone anymore. Never completely surrender your heart and life to a man. You never know what the future brings."
Finland nodded.
Her head was full of questions when she returned home. She felt sorry for Katia. When she entered the pavilion, Finland remembered that Ms. Law told her that the pavilion she occupied used to be Katia's place to paint.
That meant that Katia used to live in this mansion with Caspar...
If Caspar hadn't kept their relationship hanging for decades, maybe Katia would have become his wife now.
Finland suddenly felt very guilty about living in such a beautiful place over the suffering of another woman. She did not see the black Maybach parked in the front yard because her mind was frantic and she went straight to her pavilion.
"Finland..."
Finland raised her face toward the voice and was surprised to see Caspar on the terrace of her pavilion. His face looked calm and serene.
"What are you doing here?"
"This is my house..." Caspar answered calmly.
"Oh... do you want to move back in?"
"Right."
"Then I have to move out ..."
"Why do you have to move out?"
"Because..." Finland couldn't find the right answer. "I thought you want me to get out of here..."
Caspar shook his head. He approached Finland and unexpectedly hugged the girl very tightly, and then softly he loosened his embrace so that Finland could breathe.
"I don't want you to get out of here. I want to move in here so I can see you every day. So we can spend more time together. So you can see that you don't need to fear me... I'm in no hurry, and I want to wait until you believe me and you are ready to accept me."
Cadeaux
-- Cadeau
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