36|More silence? Find him.

Amelia looked around but could not find Eris anywhere, it was even new year already and still there was no sign of him. Could it be that he refused to come for the party? She asked herself. She never thought she would not see him again. She had put an extra effort in the way she dressed all because of him and that was because she was certain he would not miss the end of the year party.

'Have you seen him yet?' She texted Megan who came to the party with her.

'No. I don't think he is here at all, let us just return home already' Megan replied.

Amelia was furious at Megan's response. She pressed her lips together in a thin line. If Megan would not help her, she will search for Eris herself. Having decided, she lifted the hem of her long dress and ventured further into the hall. She scowled as she scurry in between the big men talking business. She did not care as she pushed some of them, all that matters to her was to find Eris.

'If only I could find his mother' she thought. She had arrived at the party even before it started, there was no Eris in sight neither was his mother who invited her. All her efforts for the event seems to be in vain. Such a horrible way to start the year.

"Arggh" she groaned. She tugged at her dress, the tight fabric made it extremely difficult for her to move freely. Soon, she found her way out of the midst of the chatting business persons and entered a quieter part of the party room. Just then, sitting in an empty corner, she caught sight of two familiar people she would not like to meet.

"These despicable two!" She thought, her lips tugged downwards in a deep scowl.

Even if she wanted nothing to do with them, she had no choice right now but to meet them. The two were her last hope if she wanted to find Eris after all. With that, she walked towards Audrey and Taylor.

Since their boss did not attend the party, Audrey and Taylor stayed away from the others to avoid probing. Eris had only given a vague reason for being absent and this led to different questions and suggestions majorly from shareholders who had expected him to be present. It was obvious that the series of questions asked is not as an act of love for the CEO to be but just a way to find fault and drag Eris down. In order to avoid so much talks, his two friends stayed away.

While they chatted, Audrey turned and caught sight of Amelia coming towards them. She frowned knowing the upcoming scene might not be a good one since Amelia is involved. She tapped Taylor and gestured towards Amelia's approaching figure. He furrowed his brows before turning his gaze away from her and continued his discuss with Audrey. 'Better act like I did not see anyone' he thought. But only if he knew better.

"Hey!" Amelia said rudely as soon as she got to the table of the two.

Silence.

Neither of them paid her attention. They acted perfectly as if no one was there with them and continued their discussion.

"I am talking to you two!" She snapped again but was generously ignored.

"Don't you dare play dumb with me!" She continued.

More silence.

"HEY!" She yelled and knocked a chair over in fury. She gritted her teeth and imaginary flames puffed out of her nostrils and ears.

"What is it that you want!" Audrey who seems like she never like the idea of Amelia around snapped. She glared daggers at Amelia who nearly tripped at the sudden sharp tone.

"What right do you have to speak to me in that manner, you filthy little thing!" Amelia retorted after regaining her composture.

"Look who is speaking" Audrey scoffed and gave Amelia a mocking look over. Her nose flaring up in a disgusted sneer.

"You– you mere secretary, do you not have regard for your boss people? You dare speak to me so rudely" Amelia yelled. Audrey was obviously getting on her nerves and she hated it. She balled her palm in a fist and itched to hit Audrey's despicable face.

"For the record of it, you are not one of my boss's people and rude? That is so rich coming from you" Audrey answered.

"You dare say that again!" Amelia said.

"And? You will fight me if I do?" Audrey said, she stood up from her seat and took a threatening step closer to Amelia. The latter was forced to take a step back. she stepped on her dress unknowingly and the fabric ripped in the process.

"Look what you have done!" Amelia cried.

She leaped forward to grip Audrey but Taylor was faster. Although he had not spoken since, he watched along as the two women exchanged words. When he saw Amelia dangerous approach, he quickly pulled Audrey away. Amelia then fell into emptiness. She quickly pulled herself up.

"Where is your boss?" She asked. Despite being embarrassing, she did not forget the reason she met with the two in the first place.

After she voiced her question, Taylor and Audrey looked at each other and burst into laughter.

"What is so funny?" Amelia questioned in confusion. She had only asked a simple question after all.

Audrey and Taylor turned to her, they gave her a look of ridicule. This only made her irritated.

"Ain't you a persistent one after all. It is so hard to get it into your thick skull that Eris is not yours to have. To think you are still running after him..." Audrey said and shook her head.

"You don't know anything!" Amelia snapped. Seeing that having a discussion with the two was not doing her any good, she gathered her torn dress and walked away.

"So much for not being the handsome one" Taylor joked and Audrey glared at him.

Amelia returned to the party hall, she saw Eris mother heading out of the building. 'Finally!' She thought. She increased her pace and reached her just as she was about stepping out.

"Madam Dione" She called and the elderly woman stopped and turned around. The guards with her stepped forward and blocked Amelia from inching any further. Madam Dione held her hand up signaling to them to let Amelia.

"Madam Dione.." Amelia hurried forward, she was mindful of her closeness. It was obvious that this woman was in a higher class than herself.

Madam Dione raised a brow. She indicated that Amelia should speak, her time is not to be wasted.

"I did not find him, I wanted to ask if you ..." Amelia started but was cut off by Madam Dione.

"I simply asked you to get him yourself but you obviously can't. Tell me, of what use are you?" Madam Dione said subtly and walked away.

Amelia opened her mouth but no words came out. She watched as the Madam disappeared into her car and was driven off. Such an awful way to begin a new year for Amelia. She felt insulted and ridiculed. She thought Eris mother would help her but Alas, the woman did not even regard her. She turned around and left.

But little did she know, Madam Dione could not stand the probing of the shareholders much longer and was leaving when Amelia met her. At the absence of her husband and son, the shareholders openly suggested the father and son were in cohort to forcefully handover the company to Eris. Even though they knew that Eris was absent on his own accord and the father was on a business trip, they still purposely show their disbelief in her presence.

Irritated by the thoughts of the shareholders, she decided to leave the party. She pulled out her phone and dialled a number.

"What did you find" She said.

"Nothing, his location is very well hidden but I am sure he is still within the city. I tried to look into his latest messages and calls but still there is no lead to him" A voice replied on the other side.

"Do whatever you can and find him" With that, she ended the call. She leaned back into the seat and heaved a sigh. She mumbled some incoherent words that only her understand.

"... all these years .... Eris" She mumbled.

*

"Where have you been, did you find him?" Megan asked, the moment she bumped into Amelia.

Back in the party hall, Megan who was tired of searching for Eris switched to search for Amelia. She tried calling her but the latter would not pick up. After looking around for a few times, she found her sitting and deep in thoughts. She twirled a glass filled with wine in her hand.

Although Amelia heard Megan, she did not bother to give respondse to her. She just kept on twirling the glass and staring into empty space. All of a sudden, she let out a bark of laughter. She stopped and looked very serious.

"Let us leave" she said and drained the wine before standing. Not caring about her torn dress anymore, she found her way out of the hall. Megan who was behind her stared at her speechlessly and shook her head.

'What a person' she thought. Deep down, she could only hope the new year would made her lots better, but with the disastrous beginning... She doubt if she would have any good times in it.