He likes to think it started when she stood up in front of a group of thirty-so people, sopping wet and eyeliner running down her eyes, declaring to the masses that she was the best thing that ever happened to him. But she, ever the optimist and eternal daydreamer, likes to think it happened long before they ever met.
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He was twenty-two and running a multi-million dollar company that he inherited from his late father.
Everyday consisted of business calls with high dollar investors, corporate meetings with big shot moneybags that felt the need to look down on him for his age (even though he had the intelligence to stump them all stupid), and large amounts of coffee that would send a physician into cardiac arrest. He never cared to immerse himself in the social buzz outside his office doors nor did he partake in anything beyond crunching numbers and signing off contracts. If any of the staff were asked to describe the young businessman, they'd say things along the lines of 'reclusive' and 'strict'.
And, boy, was he strict. He had a very high standard for the company and he wanted everyone to follow through accordingly, no matter the excuse. Those that didn't abide by the rules were simply let go. "Why waste a single breath of air to explain to them why they were unfit for the job when a box filled with their possessions on their desk can do the same?", he'd often said on more than one occasion, earning looks of fright and disapproval from those who happened to witness the unfortunate situations. And even after hiring many people whom he deemed "worthy enough" to work in his company, he'd always managed to find some kind of flaw with each and everyone one of them. It wasn't uncommon for him to have to fire a handful of workers a month, due to their imperfections (and inability to follow the rules laid out). But the only thing that kept the flow of applications coming in was the enormous pay offered. Double the minimum wage was what it paid to work for him. Suckers, he thought.
Each day was the "same old, same old" routine—never different, never new. He sometimes took a break from signing documents, looked out the large picture window overseeing the stretch of city below, and wistfully wondered what it would have been like if he'd once took up an offer to join the staff for some drinks, mingling with his fellow workers and having what many called a "fun time". But then all it took was taking in the sound of bustling workers inside the building to shake him from his thoughts. He'd come to his senses and remember that hard work built the company from the ground up, not socializing with strangers.
But sometimes…sometimes the thoughts still crept up on him.
And sometimes those thoughts gave birth to new ones: would he remain successful for the rest of his life and have no one to share it with? Did he want a family? Sure, he had his brother and mother. But would he desire for more in the next two, five years? He needed a child to entrust his company to. His brother had his own life, his own business to run. He wouldn't drop everything to run their father's. This left him with the only other option: a child of his own. But there was no one who he trusted. He'd dated a few girls in earlier years, but each one proved that their focus was more on maintaining a claim on his assets than an actual relationship with him.
He sighed.
He had long since lost hope in the idea of love, or falling into it. It was too risky; there was no guarantee, no factual proof to ensure its success. In other words, love was a lost cause to him.
There wasn't anyone in the world that he trusted more than his family. No one was dependable, he all too soon learned. Even the slightest bit of weakness was used against him. So he learned to close up his heart. It was the only way to survive in a world full of liars and betrayers.
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She was twenty-one and working in her family's proud and reputable restaurant.
Everyday consisted of serving food to various people, cleaning up after the many slobs that didn't know a thing or two about table manners, and dealing with the occasional grope here and there (which, being the fierce woman that she was, made sure they got JUST what they deserved). She made sure to blend in with her many co-workers and engage in friendly conversation with them, even on days when she wasn't feeling up for human interaction. If any of the staff were to describe the young woman, they'd say things along the lines of 'friendly' and 'carefree'.
And by all means was she carefree. She went by her family's high standard of making sure that the working environment was a fun one to work in, no matter the excuse. Those that didn't feel like they fit in or had the means to be laid-back were taught to. Her father worked in an equally reputable restaurant back in his youthful years, so he knew firsthand what dealing with strict people was like; it didn't make for happy workers or friendly customers. So he made sure to instill his own business with all the carefree, liberating attitude he and his staff could muster. He wanted it to feel like home. And that's what she strived to live by everyday of every year, ever since she first heard her father talk about it. She made sure that the people that were hired into the business were very friendly and hard-workers whom she felt had the potential to exhibit the necessary requirements expected of her father. It was what attracted many people to come work for them. And she was glad for that.
But each day was the same for her. Nothing ever seemed to change in her little world. Sometimes, when she got ready to close up for the day and it was just her, she'd look out of one of the quaint little windows overlooking the busy streets ahead and wished for the hole in her life to be filled; to finally find someone she could get along great with, to share her inner most secret thoughts and dreams with, without the fear of being betrayed or used. But then she'd look around her and remember the promise she made to her father years ago– to help him run the business he considered his pride and joy, and to make it a place people could always feel welcomed in. He had no other children or family members to pass his legacy onto, and she didn't want him running a strenuous business in his old age. And she most certainly didn't want some hotshot, moneybags to buy it off them. So she made the sacrifice to give up her own dreams in lieu of supporting her dad's.
But every once in a while…she had to wonder.
And she wondered: would she ever get the chance to pursue a career outside of the one she worked in? And what about love? She had a mother and father to aid, both in business and for the coming years. But would there be time for more in the next year, or so? She wanted what her parents had– a special someone in her life whom she could confide in and share many experiences with. But she had no one to help keep the business running for her to pursue any of these desires. Sure, the workers were (more or less) dependable. But none of them ever lasted more than a year– leaving in order to pursue other opportunities, instead. And family? She felt sorrow to always be reminded that family from both sides abandoned her and her parents, simply because no one cared for them. She was, in short words, stuck and alone.
She closed her eyes.
Despite the gnawing feeling of hopelessness buried deep within her heart, she wanted, desperately, to hope against hope that she'd attain personal freedom for herself and get her chance meeting with 'prince charming'. But it was all too unrealistic; she had no time to dedicate to another or the means to ensure her small family was taken cared for. In small words, she was a lost cause.
Her whole world always centered around her family. To leave her family would be like forsaking them, she was all too afraid to admit. Even the smallest bit of selfishness would lead to trouble. So she learned to keep herself closed off. It was the only way to survive in a world that left you cornered and alone.
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