Let's Keep It That Way

Emery Hayes found herself standing before her fiance in the shadow provided by a huge tree inside the campus; the result of her being unable to say 'no' to him.

"Why don't you sit down?" Marcus Pierre said, briefly glancing at the bench next to them. "Your leg -"

"I'm fine," Emery interjected. "My friends are waiting. You should make it quick."

She noticed how Marcus's expression slowly changed from a hopeful one to a downhearted one. However, she didn't do anything about it.

"Are you still angry at me?" Marcus Pierre asked her in a low voice. "I was flustered yesterday and even now, I still am. That kind of talk never takes place between us."

"Though I don't remember anything, I know that," Emery responded. "And I'm sorry for asking you and pressuring you to answer me. Please forget everything I said yesterday."

Marcus Pierre raised his brows. "Emery, that's -"

"Marcus."

He fell silent when he heard her calmly muttering his name.

"I know that we were never close and we never really acknowledge each other before I lost my memory," Emery Hayes started. "So, I suggest we should go back to being that way. You don't have to look after me anymore and... there won't be this kind of misunderstanding again."

Her words rendered him tight-lipped and he felt as if he was stabbed in the heart. He wanted to protest but... he had his own reason for not doing that.

Fear.

Emery had her own reason for suddenly drawing the line between them all over again but... her reason was very similar to his.

She was scared of getting hurt and the level was so intense that it even surprised her. It was as if she had been hurt before... no... she felt like she was totally broken before.

Was that possible? Why were her feelings so strange these days?

"My friends told me that we rarely talked to each other in the university," she continued as Marcus didn't say anything. It wasn't easy for her to act fine too yet she still forced a little smile when she continued, "Let's keep it that way."

With that said, she walked away from him, and just like yesterday, all Marcus Pierre could do was stare at her disappearing form.

He felt even more lost than he did yesterday.

* * *

Catherine Sage was alone in her office, nervously holding onto her phone when her assistant, Jayce Wright walked inside and approached her.

"I have a meeting after 15 minutes, right?" The CEO promptly asked when Jayce halted before her desk.

"Yes."

"Then push it back. Let's start it after 30 minutes."

His boss who always prioritize her work was telling him to push back a meeting and Jayce Wright was flustered once again. Even yesterday, the CEO was out for half a day and that's not like her at all!

Nevertheless, he promptly checked the schedule and nodded. "I understand. Is there anything else, ma'am?"

Catherine Sage nodded and looked up at him. "Vice-Chairman Jason Hayes of Hayes Group is in the lobby. Go and escort him to my office."

The bewilderment that Jayce felt just a while ago was nothing compared to the one he was feeling now! His mouth opened and closed again as if he was about to say something but changed his mind.

She pushed back the important meeting to meet the Vice-Chairman of Hayes Group? There was no appointment beforehand and that meant the Vice-Chairman wasn't even here for an official purpose!

"Mr. Hayes is waiting, Jayce." The CEO reminded Jayce Wright and that snapped him out of his thoughts.

"Yes, ma'am. I apologize." With a perplexed face, he slightly bowed and then walked out of the office to get the Vice-Chairman.

The same nervous expression appeared on Catherine's face while she was waiting for Jason Hayes. She didn't know why she felt this way.

Was it because of yesterday? She found him a bit strange at that time but... she didn't say anything.

The CEO heard the sound of knocking on her door and when she responded, her assistant escorted Jason Hayes inside as she told him to. At the sight of the Vice-Chairman, Catherine rose from her seat with a little smile while her assistant left the office and closed the door after him.

"Mr. Hayes, it's great to see you again." She was standing right next to Jason when she added, "Please have a seat."

Jason Hayes took a seat on the couch opposite Catherine Sage and just like yesterday, he didn't take his eyes off her. He even forgot the fact that he didn't exchange Catherine's greeting.

"What brings you here?" Catherine spoke up again in a calm and friendly tone, snapping him out of his stupor.

"I hope I don't interrupt you, Miss Sage. You must be busy," Jason Hayes promptly said the moment he was back to his sense. Hearing this, Catherine showed him a little smile. She didn't appear that nervous anymore.

Maybe her smile covered that.

"It's fine, Mr. Hayes. I'm not busy." She had no intention of mentioning how she pushed back her schedule to accommodate him. It's not like she didn't wish to see him. After yesterday, she was glad that he showed up soon.

"I come because of yesterday," Jason finally said. "You brought Emery home and took care of her for the whole evening. I don't even get to thank you properly as I was too focused on knowing what happened."

"I'm really fond of Emery, Mr. Hayes. As I said yesterday, I'm glad that I was able to do something for her," Catherine responded in her usual friendly tone. "You must be busier than me yet you come all the way here for that."

Jason Hayes simply smiled. "I know you care for Emery but as her brother, I still want to thank you for what you did." He paused and thought twice before he asked, "If you are free, would you care for a dinner with me tonight?"

He carefully observed her reaction and he was flustered by how calm she appeared. She didn't look surprised at all!

Little did he know Catherine too was confused by how his invitation didn't have her surprised. It was as if she saw this coming or... maybe she was even expecting it.

"Fine," she responded with a nod. "I'm free tonight."