The Personal Assistant

He looked out the window at the heavy downpour. The floor length windows did justice to the view below. A busy city drowning in the rain. A small sigh escaped his lips as he thought about the nightmare that had plagued his nights for the last three years.

“Why would they leave him to die all alone?” He thought. “If it was revenge they wanted, they would have thrown his body at my face, made it known, a phone call maybe. I don't know but letting his body rot alone in that dark alleyway is certainly not something that sounds like a revenge plan.”

But that’s not what had happened that night.

“Are you alright?” asked a young man sitting on the office chair behind a large desk. “Mark, what’s on your mind?” He asked again.

Marcus turned around to look at the face of his friend Peter, his features etched with worry.

Marcus Woods was a man in his late twenties. At an early age of 23, he had inherited his father’s company, Woods Industries, and taken it to new heights. He was one of the most successful bachelors of the time. He used to be very cheerful too. But after the incident three years ago, he had forgotten how to smile. He had drowned himself in work and had become very strict. The company’s stocks had skyrocketed and with the latest investments made by the Woods Industries in military technology, he had taken the company to an altogether new level. In the business industry, every company was doing to work with the Woods on some or of the other project and those who did not, steered clear of the company.

“You know what I am thinking about.” He replied and returned to his seat. The desk in front of him was filled with files and papers.

“Mark, it was not your fault,” Peter explained for the thousandth time now. He was worried about his friend. He knew Marcus blamed himself for his brother’s death.

“He was my responsibility, Peter. He was my little brother. I should have kept him safe. If only I had not convinced him to come to the office that day. ” Mark’s words hung in the air in and a heavy silence followed.

One wrong decision had has changed Marcus’ life completely. His father and he were devastated at the loss.

It haunted him even today. He could not forget the pained look on his brother's face as he held him in his arms in the pouring rain. Multiple bullet wounds were on his chest. Peter and his team of police officers had just made it to the site but it was too late. The murderers had escaped and Tim was dead. That was the night Marcus had promised to take revenge for his brother’s death.

Timothy Woods had been the kindest man to walk the planet. A kindergarten teacher with a smile adorning his handsome features. He was not interested in taking the family business and so all the workload was shouldered by Marcus alone.

Peter and Marcus had been friends since high school. Peter Hemsworth was with the FBI in the white-collar department. And Tim was like a younger brother to him as well.

“We’ll get them, Mark. Don’t worry.” He assured him one last time. Just then his cell phone beeped once again. It was a text from his wife Liana, asking him to come home soon.

“It’s Lia, isn’t it? ” he asked, smiling slightly.

“Yeah...” Peter answered, rubbing his neck, embarrassed at being caught. It was no secret how much Peter and Liana loved each other.

Marcus stood amused at his friend. They still behaved like a newlywed couple even though they had been married three years now.

He chuckled softly and sat on the chair. “Go home Peter. Liana misses you a lot.”

“You know how it is... Now, that we are expecting, she's even more emotional." Peter chuckled as he remembered how his wife had broken down in tears when she had accidentally burnt the pie last weekend. "Remember last week's dinner?" He added.

"Oh yes! How can I forget? With her crying like that, even I was scared." Marcus chuckled as he remembered how horrified he had been to see Liana cry.

"I know. You never really did handle crying women well. Anyway, I’ll see you later buddy,” Peter replied and hugged Marcus before leaving the room.

Silence followed after his leaving. One in which Marcus was left to his own devices. His thoughts. His memories.

The lightning struck outside once again, illuminating the otherwise dark room once, followed by the deafening roar of the thunder soon after. Marcus got up to pour himself a drink.

“This was going to be a long night.” He thought.