Prologue
Third person's pov
The sky looks warm, a buzz of traffic, busy streets, a complete contrast from the place he grew up. But strangely, he's happy about the change.
He worked so hard for this CHANGE.
The streets were busy and everyone was minding their own business. He liked it that way. He felt independent. It feels like a new beginning and it IS. His new beginning. A new chapter of his life.
Somewhere nearby, someone was grilling—barbecue smoke hanging thick and tempting in the air. It made him crave for some and he'll surely reward himself tonight if things go well.
TEXAS.
Asher’s dream place. He worked day and night to reach there. Had to beg his parents to allow him to pursue his career here. The path was full of struggles for him but now that he breathes the warm smoky air of Texas, it all seems worth it.
A month ago, he got his selection letter from the renowned fashion company ‘Orchid & Co.’ His dream job. For five years all Asher focused was to achieve a nice position in this company and now that he finally achieved it, he feels like the luckiest person alive.
As if all his hard work paid off.
He's sure that his time here would be great.
At least he THOUGHT so.
“Mom, don't worry. I reached my office safely. I'll call you later. Bye.” He ended his call. His parents are still a bit paranoid, especially his mother but he tried his best to reassure them and would do continue to do the same.
Asher’s mother is suffering from stage two breast cancer and is undergoing treatment for two months. Doctors assured that it would be recovered fully but of course it would cost them money and Asher is not that rich to be able to afford such hospital expenses so this job wasn't only his dream but a NEED too.
He is determined to survive an expensive state like Texas in bare minimum and transfer his remaining salary to his parents.
“Hey Asher!” The receptionist’s chirpy voice greets him, breaking him off from his thoughts. He tends to zone out a lot since he lost the ONLY person he shared everything going on in his mind without any filter. Precisely, after leaving THAT person Asher started overthinking A LOt. Almost in an unhealthy way.
The memory still makes him feel depressed. His heart clenches by the thought of THAT person. At times, he wonders how HE must be surviving. Was he missing him a lot? Because Asher still misses him a lot. But he can't blame if the person hates him now and moves on by their once beautiful friendship because Asher CHOSE this. He chose to LEAVE.
He shakes the thoughts away before his eyes glisten. He doesn't want a gloomy aura around him right at the first day of his job.
“Hi Jules. Good morning. I hope I'm not late?” He asks, in a slight panicked voice, checking on his wrist watch. “Oh no, you're five minutes early actually. How's Texas with you so far?” Jules asks, they met a week ago when Asher came here for the final interview and they instantly clicked together. He's so glad to have a nice friend like Jules in this foreign place.
“It's fine. It'll get great when I'll adjust with my work though,” Asher chimes and Jules laughs, waving her hands. “Oh don't let your work define your opinion about the place. I bet it would turn out just fine. See, I've been working here for three years.” She exclaims and Asher finds the nervousness in him fade away.
“I feel better now, honestly. Thank you Jules.” He thanks, genuinely feeling grateful. “Oh that's nothing, boy. Now get going before you get late for real. Sir is in his office right now, probably waiting for you.” She says with a smile.
Asher widens his eyes, he didn't realise that he might get late. “Okay Jules. I'll see you later.” He walks off, smiles when Jules yells a ‘all the best’ behind his back. He turns, walking backwards and shows a thumb to her with a toothy grin before jogging to the elevator.
It may sound weird but Asher hasn't seen his supposed boss yet. The company still runs under Thomas Harrington who's a man in fifties but his son would soon take over the company. The face of the future CEO is still hidden and so is his identity as the current Ceo never wanted his son to have a troubled youth because of the unnecessary fame.
So the name and face would be revealed a month later.
And Asher would be working under the heir of ‘Orchid & Co.’ He was auditioned by the previous secretary of the CEO and was finalised by the CEO himself. That's when he was told about his boss. So officially this is his first meeting with his boss and that's the reason he was nervous a while ago but talking to Jules helped a lot. Maybe his boss isn't that ruthless like he sees in dramas generally.
He didn't realise when his feet automatically took him in front of his boss's cabin. Looks like he zoned out again.
He rubs his sweaty palms on his black slacks. What if the man wants to shake hands and his hands are sweaty? He shifts his weight on one foot to the other trying to muster up enough confidence.
“You can do this!” He cheers himself by raising his fists in the air before gently knocking the door. He hears a faint ‘Come in’ from inside. He takes a deep breath and then exhales. His lips curl up, trying to put on the best smile he could offer.
He turned the doorknob and pushed it open.
Only to cause the ground beneath him to swipe off.
His eyes instantly met with a certain pair of eyes, he once saw happiness in.
His hands fell to his sides and his eyes already started glistening because he just saw the face of the SAME person he thought of every night before sleeping, hoping to see a glimpse of that face in his dreams.
The sight of that face hit him like a rock. Memories of them laughing, walking, eating, crying, cuddling flashes in front of his eyes as if the movie of his past is being screened right now.
His heart started beating the same way it used to before. The same way that SCARED him. That caused him to LEAVE. Urging him to question many things.
His teary eyes fell on the name badge on the table, ‘Drake Orion Harrington’.
That was the final stroke of the dam of his thoughts.
This is real. All real.
Not a beautiful dream
Not a scary nightmare.
That's when he noticed the expression his former best friend is carrying and it makes him feel like the shittiest living person alive. How funny, a while ago he was feeling like the luckiest person alive.
The eyes that carried love and fondness for him are now full of hatred and anger.
“We meet again, Asher Parker.”
“That's so mean, Oreo!”
“Oreo?”
“Hmm, Drake Orion Harrington… so Oreo out of Orion,”
“That sounds like a puppy's name.”
“You're one though. MY puppy.”
“You know I can sit in a room full of hundreds people and can still feel lonely,”
“Really? It's hard to relate,”
“Yeah. And I can sit beside you forever and would still never get bored for a single moment,”
“Stop! You know I cry easily!”
“And I hate seeing you cry. You look good when you shine. Being the sunflower you are. MY SUNFLOWER.”
So here's the prologue. I'm so excited for this story. Like the trope is common yet interesting so I wanted to give it a try.
'It's not common unless YOU write it'. Heard this quote a long ago. Anyways, I hope the tags are enough as a warning and only proceed if comfortable.
I hope to make this story emotional and a angsty. That's the actual plan.
So happy reading!
