"Boss, the files have been sent to Mr. Giovanni, in response, he'll start working on them soon."

"And these are the details of the projects, Mrs. Lorenzo has been working on for the past three months, but are not availing much."

"These are the projects we have finalized that also include domestic export plans, and have been finalized by all the investors. So, should I tell Mr. Enzo to start working on this soon?"

As we were busy concluding the work for the day, without moving my eyes from the file in front of me, I heard Nayla and Ali's words, and at his last question nodded my head. With that he excused himself to go to Mr. Enzo's office, which was originally this where I'm seated. But for the few days, while I'm here, I told him quite a lot to prepare a momentary office for me, but he insistently gave me his and himself transferred to a little one next door.

"...Boss?"

"Yes."

"Um...I think it's getting quite late, and everyone's now quite eager to leave."

At Nayla's hesitant words, my gaze immediately moved toward the time, showing eight and a half in the evening. At work, I didn't realize how time passed. Seeing the exhaustion on Nayla's face, the guilt rose inside me, so without much delay, I agreed, "Yes, let's gather the rest of the files, I'll take them with me to the hotel."

For the past five days, excluding the first day, we have been so lost in all these files and work, that along with me, barely anyone in the company got any chance to heave a sigh of relief. I can only finish work as much as I can with what time I have, so, others had no objection to overtime and co-operating with me and I know myself when to stop. Still, with so many things still left to balance out, I'm finding myself more and more engrossed in them, much less caring about me or the world around me.

Walking out of the office, I coincidentally met the executive, as Mr. Enzo was too walking out of his office with Ali beside him, at his formal greeting, I too returned with a nod. I noticed how his smile widened when I proceeded to inform him that I was leaving, but soon a thought came over and I halted in my advancing steps to state, "Mr. Enzo, push forward the meeting we have with investors to tomorrow noon," hearing my words, dubiety appeared on his face, which eased a little as I continued, "I want to discuss a few points, which I'm thinking of changing, I'll send you the file."

Receiving his positive response, I walked out of the building along with Nayla and Ali.

The moment the car's door opened, I halted in my movements, the subtle cold wind of late spring touching my face ever so lightly compelled me to change my mind. Even though I'm tired, but a part of me doesn't feel like directly going to the hotel --from one closed room(office) to another.

Moving toward my assistants, who were waiting for me to enter the car, I lightly indicated, "Later."

Without asking, Nayla understandingly nodded, with that, I turned away from the car and saw her approaching the guards, probably to tell them to follow me, I don't have to intervene because I know she'll recount them to maintain their distance. Wearing the jacket I was holding in my hand, I advanced in the opposite direction.

My light steps carried me further into the bustling city, the industry building lies in the southwest of the city, and from about a twenty-five-minute walk lies Navigli (a system of interconnected canals in and around Milan). It's not my first time going there, I have been there on my other visits and despite the hustle, I find it exceptionally peaceful.

On my walk there, the wind continued to touch my face, which made me want to loosen up my tied-up hair a little. As I strolled, I continued to take in beautiful sights of the city shining in the lights but the shadow darkness was casting over the traditionally sculptured buildings lightened up their placidness. As I reached another turn, halting my steps, I pulled out my iPhone and opened the map of Milan to confirm and not take the wrong turn, after that, I continued on my way.

When I was going to put the iPhone back, my focus moved toward the unchecked message from Kai. Thinking of him, I haven't been able to call him properly, because of the time difference, we could hardly catch up as I can barely find any time since I arrived, between all the work and all. Seeing his texts asking about my health and work, the same thing he's asking in every single text, my lips curved in a smile as I replied.

Soon the picturesque sight of Navigli came in sight, lined with the shops, restaurants, and bars. As I proceeded to advance, the people around me continued to increase, with carefulness not to be touched or bumped by anyone, I made my way through the crowd. I just don't like the touch of strangers but I don't hate crowds, nor do I hate the noise of people, unexpectedly, I like being surrounded by them. With both the crowd and their voices, there's so much to look at and feel.

As I look around me, every person seems to be lost in a world of their own, along with the smiles on their faces there are a diversity of emotions and words. They make me feel that the world around me is alive, it's breathing, and I don't need to be a part of it to feel that, I can simply stand aside and let it surround me --let the joyful voices and emotions fill my silence and bring me tranquility.

It's strange, instead of silence, I like to find peace being surrounded by voices.

Why, I ask myself, and my mind drifts to an Allea, who once was a part of these voices, yelling and reaching out aloud, unknowingly finding for that one voice who would call back. And maybe that's why, somewhere deep inside I want this Allea to become her silence, her answer, her voice that called back.

With these voices around me but with my own silence, I try to reach out to her, in hope of one day...embracing her.

One day.

Finding a spot where the crowd was less, I paused my steps and took a deep breath, not intending to reflect further I let my thoughts halt. My hands reached for the railing and the cold touch seeped through my skin. Leaning against it lightly, I looked down at the water where my vague shadow appeared from the all surrounding light that was being reflected partially, leaving the rest of the water in depths of darkness.

After a minute or two, taking out my iPhone once again, I clicked a picture of the sight in front of me and then sent my location to Nayla, so, she could send the ride. I don't intend to spend time here much longer, I only felt like walking around a little, letting the radiance of the bustling city freshen my mind and body. Therefore, letting this light feeling weigh on me, I continued to bask in it for a further few minutes and then resolved to leave, I still have a lot of documents that I have to go over before resting.

"Leaving so soon?"

Before I could take my hands off the railing, a voice chimed in from my right. With all the voices in the background, it too would have drowned in it if not for the words spoken in familiar language. As I raised my gaze toward it, narrowing my eyes I focused on the face standing about ten steps away.

It took me a second to recognize it, and when I did, impassively I ignored him and moved my gaze away. It should have taken longer for Nayla to sent the car, how's he here just after few minutes.

"Your thoughtful assistant has made me follow you from the very beginning, along with the guards."

He answered my unasked queries. Not minding to utter any words, I turned away from him and was about to walk past toward where the car would have been parked, when he once again spoke, and I noticed his action of not continuing his steps.

"Treating me like air, won't turn me into one."'

I truly don't care what he has to say, as if his words didn't reach me I continued walking indifferently and treated him like the air just similar to the past days. Although his presence was at the back of my mind, mostly I forgot as I treated him like nothing in the past days, and today would be the same if not for him making his attempt to directly talk to me.

"Aren't you afraid I'll do something?"

My face hardened the moment his acrimonious words reached my ears and my steps involuntarily halted.

My face would have probably the coldest expressions and voice sharpest yet with edgy aloofness, as I lightly turned to face him and spoke, "With one word, I can throw you away from my sight."

Forwardly holding the gaze of amber-eyed man, I demeaned haughtily, "But why should I, Allea Ciarve, bother myself with a mere driver."

For the first time, his face had no smirk and was staring at me, seeing him straightly after days, I noticed how his scraggly beard turned stubble and he looked more organized, but still kept his features vague with long hair and an uneven darker make-up look.

Staring directly at me, his mouth twitched as he asserted, "You know who I'm."

He reflected the arrogancy in his words but I could still notice the underlining rancor and restlessness in his voice that he failed to hide, and that curved my lips in a slight smile.

Fully turning to face him, tilting my head to a side, I elucidated, "I do, but the world doesn't."

The way his face sharply hardened, I knew he got what I was insinuating. Only a few people know about the existence of this man, that a man with the name of Zyair Ahlstrom, an heir of Ahlstrom Empire, is present in the world --except those no one knows about him anything. So, If someday a person who in the first place has no existence gets vanish, who would find him, with what name, what identity.

That's why he's so bothered; how I know how about him. His whole life, pride, and existence depend on the fact that no one knows about him, and if someone could find him, everything will be nameless —just like his existence.

Past-Allea couldn't do it but it wouldn't take me long to expose his name to the world. He knows I can easily do this, to expose the thing he so arduously has been protecting, and I'm sure, he doesn't even want to take any chance regarding this.

Widening my smile a little, I repeated his priorly asked question blasély, "Aren't you afraid I'll do something?"

Hearing my words, his amber eyes narrowed, but I continued with a look of pretended innocent realization and taunted further, intending to push him to his limits, "Or perhaps, that's why you're here."

With a smile, putting my hands casually inside my pants pockets, I held his gaze obstinately.

I expected the anger to return on his face and fiercely storm toward me, but instead of the repetition of his behavior same as the night of club, his blazing eyes turned placid, and gleamed in their golden tint, soon a cheeky smile bloomed on his face as he pushed his hair back away from his face with an exclamation of unexpected words.

"You know what, I never thought I would ever meet someone who would shut me up."

My smile faltered and my brows lightly drew together as I'm not exactly getting his sudden reaction.

Noticing the subtle change in my expressions, he waved his hand dismissively and completely shoved his hair back and letting me have a clear look on his face, he smiled more widely. When I thought it would not get more absurd, he continued.

"You're right, that's why I was here," he paused, his smile faded as with a look of seriousness he stared at me and admitted, "because I was afraid."

I knew I was right, but I didn't think his arrogant self will ever admit it. For a second, I only looked at him with the same impassive look, intending to look past the game he's trying to play. He leisurely stepped toward me, letting more light fall on his face, and giving me a comparably vivid look of his eyes and face.

Not minding my prying silence, he continued smiling and bashfully announced with his impudent smile;

"But I think the reason changed just now."

His words only made me think that I was right; this man has once again settled to playing his ambiguous games.

Even though his words were nothing but a bluff to me, and I wanted to roll my eyes but I refrained. I can feel the cold breeze touching my face and disrupting the few stray hairs around my face, instead of pushing them away, straightly, I held his gaze. Not a ripple should be seen in my movements when I'm facing him.

I don't intend to say, but he's sharp enough to understand that; I'll never fall into any of his obscure games he weaves with his words.