Flower on the ash

We arrived at the company and took the elevator to our cabin. Today Alex arrived two hours early as we both came together. I went to prepare a cup of coffee for him. I didn't know when my father would come to see Alex. I brought the coffee into his cabin and kept it on the table. I headed to my cabin and started doing my work on the computer.

Hours passed by. It was 12 noon now. I was still working on computer when my phone rang and I picked it up.

" Come to my office." Alex said and ended the call. He always orders in one line and cuts the call before I can say anything to him. I sighed and stood up from my chair and walked into his cabin. The moment I entered my eyes went wide as I saw my father sitting on the chair in front of Alex.The moment for which my heart was feeling restless had came at last. But I composed myself as I walked and stood beside the table.

" Good afternoon, Mr.Evans." I greeted my father.

" I am here to talk to you about something personal Mr.Wilson." my father said to Alex ignoring my greeting.

" Yeah. Feel free to speak. Anna, bring coffee for Mr. Evans." Alex said and I nodded my head and left the office. I don't know why my hands were cold and sweaty. I prepared two cups of coffee and put them on a tray to bring it to the persons sitting inside.

When I entered the cabin, Dad and Alex both were sitting in silence. I put the cup from the tray onto the table, in front of each of them. I was about to go back to my cabin when Alex called my name again.

" Anna. There are some papers which are needed to be sorted." he said pointing at the side table in front of the couch. I nodded my head and walked towards it. It was good that Alex stopped me as I really wanted to hear their conversation.

I sat on the couch and started sorting the paper but I wasn't paying attention to my work. I was concentrating on Dad's and Alex's words.

" It's about marriage." my father said in his most appealing smile.

" Marriage? Whose marriage?" Alex asked.

" Sophia." my father replied.

" And who is she?" Alex asked innocently but in truth he knows Sophia very well.

" My elder daughter." my father said.

" Oh. I'm sorry. I think my memory is getting weak." Alex said with a fake laugh.

" It's okay. I wanted to ask what's your opinion about her?" my father asked.

" She is your daughter and wealthy. Who ever is going to marry her will be very fortunate." Alex replied with a straight face. He surely knew what my father meant by 'opinion' but he was being coy.

" Ha-ha. I meant what's your opinion about marrying her?" my father said with an awkward laugh. I held my breath to listen to his answer.

" I would be glad to marry her." Alex replied and my heart sank. What did he meant by 'glad'? What about me. I felt a painful lump in my throat.

" Thank you, Mr.Wilson." my father said smiling ear to ear and shook hands with Alex due to joy. I exhaled air from my mouth to calm myself down and controlled my tears by biting my lower lip. I felt the lump in my throat getting bigger and bigger.

" So we should finalise this marrige." my father said, his voice ringing because of happiness. But what Alex said next made my and my father's eyes to go wide looking.

" No." he said with a straight face.

" W-What do you mean by that?" my father asked him confused whereas a hope of light emerged in the darkness of my sorrow.

" I can't marry her." he said.

" But why? Didn't you just said that you will be glad to marry her?" my father asked him, his tone completely changed. I could imagine how he was feeling. Just a moment ago his dreams were going to come true but now all of it shattered.

" Yeah. I said that I'll be glad to marry her but I can't because I have someone else in my heart and I will marry her only." he said.

" Who?" my father asked desperately.

" I'm sorry but I can't tell you her name. I'm still pursuing her." he said with a smile.

" Ok then. I should take my leave Mr.Wilson." my father said in a voice which was filled with disappointment. He stood up from his chair and so did Alex and me.

" Wish to see you again Mr.Wilson." my father said.

" Yeah, and most probably we will." Alex replied making my father confused but he let it go and didn't dwell on it much. Father shook his hands with Alex and he bid him farewell. I bowed my head when he was leaving the cabin. After he left, I stood straight and released a deep breath which I didn't know I was holding.