Bab 25: Futile Attempts
The episode with Skyla had Doran run away like a coward. He knew he had messed up big time. Venting his anger and frustration on her which had resulted from his failure at work. He realised he had gone too far this time. But he knew this wouldn't be the last time.
No matter how much he tried to rein in his emotions, the darkness inside of him always slipped through the cracks.
Sitting on his executive chair he was staring outside towards the skyline of the city. His best friend sat opposite him.
"You should go home? Your mom has called me several times. I can't keep lying to her," Caleb said with a slight wrinkle on his forehead. Recently he had been contemplating if he even knew Doran that well. His behaviour had been turning odd.
"That place stopped being a home a long time ago. I fought with Skyla. I don't want to hear the nagging," he completely skipped the part where he had mercilessly unleashed his anger on her, like literally.
"Why did you fight in the first place? Skyla doesn't look the nagging type." Even though Doran and Skyla had been married for more than seven years, he hardly let her meet Caleb and his family except when it was inevitable or they insisted that he brought her along.
"It's that weirdo Zyair who has me on the edge. I don't like him, Caleb. What chances do we have of making it through without his help?" He turned his head and faced his friend.
"Pretty slim. I think we should take his deal. From what I have learned so far, he has made similar deals with some other companies as well and till now he has helped them stand back on their feet instead of completely taking over. They get to keep their originality while paying him a part of the profits. He has offered us the same deal and we are in dire need of money," Caleb replied with a deep exhale.
This threw Doran off into deep thoughts. This was going to be disastrous if the word got out which always did, it would be a big blow to his reputation. For now, they had been doing damage control but with so many investors and top clients pulling out, they didn't have many options left.
"Can we survive a few more months? I want my company to remain independent, let's try and stay afloat for now," Doran instructed while folding his arms across his chest.
"If you insist but my vote is with the merger," Caleb declared.
"I see. Did you unearth anything about Zyair? Why he wears a mask and not shake hands with anyone?" Doran asked rather curiously.
"I wasn't able to collect any information about his mask-wearing but I spoke to a few people and they said he doesn't like physical contact, especially with women. He avoids them, none works in his proximity."
Caleb's explanation threw Doran into deep thought and he wondered if there was a way to use that information against Zyair.
"Hmm," he mumbled and leaned back in his seat.
Caleb dragged his chair back and got up. He wanted to get home to his family. Halting near the door he turned and stared at his grim-looking friend.
"Doran, go home," he requested in a strained voice. The misery on his face was upsetting Caleb.
"Will do now!" Doran grabbed his keys and got up too.
As much as he wanted to remain cooped up in his office and the secret places he had, it was time to face reality.
Both friends bid goodbye to each other in the parking lot. Getting in his car, Doran drove himself and reached his villa. It was late in the night and everything was quiet.
He stopped in the driveway, quietly left the car and entered his home. Every corner of this house was like a dark memory for him. The demons always stirred alive when he entered.
Taking a deep breath he made his way to his room. Dreading the moment he had to face his wife. Slowly the man with cold blue eyes opened the door and entered the vicinity they shared.
It was bathed in pale blue light which came from his night lamp.
He scanned the room and finally found his wife huddled up on the divan. It had been years and she still slept on it, irrespective of him occupying the bed or not.
He slowly walked over and sat down beside her. Her silken vermilion strands covered her beautiful face and he brushed them aside, revealing her sleeping face to him. There was this peace on her features which Doran lacked. The peace of being innocent.
The peace of not hurting someone.
His knuckles brushed her cheek and Skyla's eyes flew open. She almost shrieked and scuttled away from him as if he was a boogeyman.
"Stay away from me," she yelled, clutching the blanket to her chest and watching him with weary eyes. They depicted the resentment and hatred she harboured for him.
"I wasn't going to hurt you. Just wanted to make sure you were alright."
"I am alive if that's what you are worried about and keep your fake concerns to yourself. Don't touch me," Skyla was in fight or flight mode. The level of anxiety spiked in her whenever he was around for she never knew which Doran she was about to face.
He visibly scoffed at her words and got up. With long strides, he crossed the room and stood by the window with his back to Skyla. His arms crossed against his chest.
"Skyla! You know no one likes broken things. Everyone wants something whole or polished. But do people realise that nothing gets broken on its own?"
The forlorn look in his eyes and that deep voice tinged with a hint of sadness indicated he was talking more to himself than to Skyla. Physically he was in this room but mentally he had travelled to somewhere in his past.
Skyla shook her head, not understanding his words completely but getting a subtle hint that he had some dark past.
"Still doesn't give people the right to hurt others. It's shameful how you would defend your behaviour. I hope you get the help you clearly need because I would have picked up the shattered pieces if you had let me. Instead of breaking the one person who would have loved you with all of her heart."
Doran turned to watch her and she was still sitting huddled up with vacant eyes. The bruises he had given her were still fresh and she didn't want more of them.
He had checked her phone earlier and it was password-protected for some apps. Her messages and call logs were open though and he found nothing suspicious.
She only spoke to her friend and watched those anime, Doran found stupid. He didn't understand her obsession. She could watch those cartoons for all he cared, the men in them were not even real.
Taking her phone out of his pocket he walked over and extended it towards her and said.
"Here, don't talk about other men."
She lifted her eyes and all he saw was immense hate for himself. A little ache erupted in his heart.
"Keep it. I don't need your charity," she replied blatantly, making no effort to accept her phone back.
Doran quietly placed it beside her and left the room. He needed to stay away from her for a while more.
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