Chapter 99


    Days had passed sincen, known for his coolposure, had lost his temper at a meeting with


    the senior staff. As the staff filed out of the conference room, a collective sigh of relief was


    palpable, like school kids streaming out at the final bell.


    In hushed tones, they wondered amongst themselves, “What’s gotten into Mr. Hayes.tely?


    Everything seems to rub him the wrong way. My proposal was praised justst week, and now it’s


    rubbish?”


    A knowing smirk from one of the group members cut through the murmurs, “Who was sitting next to


    Mr. Hayes during thest meeting?”


    “Ms. ra.”


    “Well, there you have it. The boss is heartbroken. As his underlings, we should show a little


    empathy.”


    As they chatted away, they were oblivious ton’s presence right behind them. He entered his office


    with a frosty expression just as Heidi, his new secretary, came in with a steaming cup of coffee.


    With a sweet smile, she said, n, I made you your coffee. Give it a try.”


    He grunted a nomittal ‘hmm‘ and took a sip. His eyebrows knitted together immediately. “Did


    you put sugar in this?”


    Heidi paused, taken aback. “Well, you’ve always disliked bitter coffee, so I made it with at touch of


    sweetness for you.”


    Setting the cup down with a thud,n’s voice was icy. “No need for you to make my coffee.


    anymore. You’re dismissed.”


    n, just tell me what I did wrong, and I’ll fix it. Please don’t send me away, okay?”


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    She had fought tooth and nail for the executive secretary position, ying the sympathy card with


    her tales of woe. It was her best shot at staying close ton, and she wasn’t about to give it up


    without a fight.


    His train of thought was interrupted by a call. He recognized the number and answered


    immediately.


    “Director, do you have news about her?”


    “Mr. Hayes, the sanatorium received a donation of two hundred and eighty million yesterday. I


    suspect it’s connected to patient number eleven from years ago.”


    The message left with the donation read, ‘A cycle of fate begins and ends here, hoping all Is well


    from now on since 9911 is no more.”


    The numbers echoed in his mind the fusion of him and number eleven.


    –


    What did ‘9911 is no more‘ mean? Did she no longer wish to see him? They had never reunited;


    why would she say that? Had she already seen him?


    The thought maden’s heart clench.


    He had left her a letter before going abroad for eye surgery, instructing her to find him once she was


    discharged. Why, then, after all these years, had she never appeared? Did she not receive his


    letter, or did she choose not to see him again?


    He pulled out a special phone designed for the visually impaired from his desk drawer. It would read


    out texts and calls. He scrolled through countless messages from her.


    [The maple we nted has grown tall with lots of green leaves.]


    [Come fall, I’ll make you a bookmark from its leaves.]


    That message maden’s eyes narrow slightly. ra loved using maple leaves ast bookmarks.


    Ever since ra had left,n’s spirits had never lifted. As a man who once shunned the nightlife, he


    found himself frequenting bars and asking his friend, Chase, to find some femalepany to keep


    him upied.


    It was the weekend again, andn sat with a young starlet by his side.