Night was the worst.
During the day, he could at least feign going about business as usual.
He went to his meetings, did his paperwork, made and kept social arrangements and attended to all the duties expected of the heir to the Luo fortune.
During the day, he could stop thinking about Gene. At least while he had other things to do. But when he was sitting in the back of expensive cars in transit to any number of places, or sitting in expensive restaurants waiting for wealthy clients, his mind inevitably strayed. It was never as bad as it was at night, but when his mind was left unchecked...
So Fred threw himself into his duties as he never had before. He became so serious about his work, lost so much of his joviality, that his employees had begun to whisper amongst themselves about the change that had come over their employer. Never had he taken such intense interest in the affairs of the company. Submersing himself in the company was a way to keep his thoughts in order.
At work, he was cool, distant. He didn't smile anymore, even in bitterness. He didn't laugh. He didn't get angry.
When he had first gotten the news of Gene's demise, he simply locked himself in his room. For three days, no one knew what had become of him. He didn't request meals. No saw him leave or even heard any sound from inside the room. Rumor amongst those who knew of his affection for the redheaded outlaw was that Fred Luo had killed himself, and even now the corpse of the family's only heir was rotting away in the fancy marble bathtub he'd loved so much. Loved, and had hoped to one day share with someone special.
But Fred emerged again on the morning of the fourth day, polished as ever, though there were dark circles under his eyes and his skin was paler than usual. He went calmly down into the breakfast nook, took a banana from the wire fruit basket and sat, holding the yellow fruit in his hands for nearly an hour, staring at the reflective varnish of the large round table. Finally he peeled the banana, ate it, and got up, leaving the peel on the table and walking out to the car that was waiting to whisk him away to the office.
Fred hated bananas.
