No Strings Attached

Chapter 99

Days had passed since lan, known for his cool composure, had lost his temper at a meeting with the senior staff. As the staff filed out of the conference room, a collective sigh of relief was palpable, like school kids streaming out at the final bell.

In hushed tones, they wondered amongst themselves, “What’s gotten into Mr. Hayes. lately? Everything seems to rub him the wrong way. My proposal was praised just last week, and now it’s rubbish?”

A knowing smirk from one of the group members cut through the murmurs, “Who was sitting next to Mr. Hayes during the last meeting?”

“Ms. Clara.”

“Well, there you have it. The boss is heartbroken. As his underlings, we should show a little empathy.”

As they chatted away, they were oblivious to lan’s presence right behind them. He entered his office with a frosty expression just as Heidi, his new secretary, came in with a steaming cup of coffee.

With a sweet smile, she said, “lan, I made you your coffee. Give it a try.”

He grunted a noncommittal ‘hmm‘ and took a sip. His eyebrows knitted together immediately. “Did you put sugar in this?”

Heidi paused, taken aback. “Well, you’ve always disliked bitter coffee, so I made it with at touch of sweetness for you.”

Setting the cup down with a thud, lan’s voice was icy. “No need for you to make my coffee. anymore. You’re dismissed.”

“lan, just tell me what I did wrong, and I’ll fix it. Please don’t send me away, okay?”

She had fought tooth and nail for the executive secretary position, playing the sympathy card with her tales of woe. It was her best shot at staying close to lan, and she wasn’t about to give it up without a fight.

lan, growing impatient with her teary–eyed act, said, “Leave now. I’ll switch to tea.” He couldn’t enjoy anyone else’s coffee anymore. It’s just not the same as Clara’s. Secretly, he wondered if Clara had spiked his coffee because his longing for it was unshakeable.

His train of thought was interrupted by a call. He recognized the number and answered immediately.

“Director, do you have news about her?”

“Mr. Hayes, the sanatorium received a donation of two hundred and eighty million yesterday. I suspect it’s connected to patient number eleven from years ago.”

lan’s gaze sharpened. “What makes you say that?”

The message left with the donation read, ‘A cycle of fate begins and ends here, hoping all Is well from now on since 9911 is no more.”

The numbers echoed in his mind the fusion of him and number eleven.

–

What did ‘9911 is no more‘ mean? Did she no longer wish to see him? They had never reunited; why would she say that? Had she already seen him?

The thought made lan’s heart clench. This text is property of Nô/velD/rama.Org.

He had left her a letter before going abroad for eye surgery, instructing her to find him once she was discharged. Why, then, after all these years, had she never appeared? Did she not receive his letter, or did she choose not to see him again?

He pulled out a special phone designed for the visually impaired from his desk drawer. It would read out texts and calls. He scrolled through countless messages from her.

[The maple we planted has grown tall with lots of green leaves.]

[Come fall, I’ll make you a bookmark from its leaves.]

That message made lan’s eyes narrow slightly. Clara loved using maple leaves ast bookmarks.

Ever since Clara had left, lan’s spirits had never lifted. As a man who once shunned the nightlife, he found himself frequenting bars and asking his friend, Chase, to find some female company to keep him occupied.

It was the weekend again, and lan sat with a young starlet by his side.