The champagne flute slipped from his fingers. It hit the edge of the desk before shattering on the floor. Caius barely flinched. He stared blankly at the mountain of paperwork in front of him. The silence of the room screamed loudly. For someone who had spent a lifetime controlling narratives, he hated how out of control everything felt. His phone buzzed on the desk. Distracted him from his thoughts.
The text read: "Where are you? It's Asher's birthday. I don't want to have to leave you out of it."
He exhaled deeply, rubbing the tip of his nose. He didn't need the reminder. Actually, he did. He'd forgotten entirely.
His eyes shifted to the champagne splattered across the floor, pooling in the pieces of glass. For a moment, he considered leaving it there. He didn't have time to deal with broken things, not the glass, not his company, not even himself. But the buzzing in his pocket reminded him there were other priorities now.
He checked his phone again. Rereading Lauren's message. Asher's birthday. Caius sighed heavily, running a hand over his jaw. Of course she would remind him. Of course she would turn it into something about her. "I don't want to have to leave you out of it." What a joke. She didn't care if he showed up. She cared if anyone noticed that he didn't. She must be fooling herself thinking she's doing him a favour. If he wanted custody of the child, she wouldn't see him again.
He shaked his head while he stood up from his chair. The day wasn't going to fix itself. And his absence would only add fuel to the fire already burning under his name. He walked into his room. His movements were slower than usual. His crisp white shirt lay neatly on the bed. Likely placed there by the maid.
He picked it up and brought it to his nose without thinking. It wasn't right. It wasn't... hers. Heather. She used to wash his clothes, adding some kind of detergent or softener he could never replicate. His shirts had always carried that faint, clean, and slightly floral scent.
This one? This one smelled industrial, generic, like someone had done the bare minimum. He dropped the shirt and stared at it for a moment longer than he intended. He wouldn't admit that he missed the way things used to be, or her.
Fuck it, he did.
He put on the shirt anyway, buttoning it up while he adjusted his tie in the mirror. His phone rang. Lauren's name flashed on the screen. He let it ring twice before answering.
"On your way here," Lauren started, she didn't bother exchanging pleasantries, "can you wear a mask? I don't want paparazzi bothering Asher because of your... situation."
"Lauren," he said flatly, "it's just a rumor. Not the end of the world."
"Right," she said dryly, "but I'd prefer to avoid the mess altogether. Don't forget to pick up a gift."
He didn't respond. Which cut the call short. And he tossed the phone onto the bed.
...
"Welcome, sir," the maid said softly, stepping aside to let him in.
He pulled his mask higher on his face and adjusted his glasses before stepping inside. He wasn't in the mood for smiles or small talk.
The house was quite...colourful. Not even the decorations. Lauren didn't have the best taste for house interiors. He heard the sound of children's laughter coming from the backyard. He followed the maid to the backyard. Balloons and decorations filled the place.
He spotted Lauren immediately. She was laughing at something one of the guests said.
"Caius, just the man I wanted to see," Mr. Lionel approached him, extending a hand. Caius accepted it, nodding politely as they exchanged pleasantries.
"Daddy!" Asher ran toward him. Caius crouched to catch him, lifting the boy into his arms.
"Happy birthday, Ash," he said, handing over a neatly wrapped present.
Asher grinned. He held onto the gift tightly. He hugged Caius quickly before running back toward Lauren. She stayed at a distance. Focusing on the other guests. Caius didn't bother walking over to her.
"I heard about everything," Mr. Lionel said. He lowered his voice while they walked toward a quieter corner. "Is it true?"
"That doesn't matter, does it?" Caius's tone was calm.
Mr. Lionel shrugged. He smiled a knowing smile.
"Maybe not. But you know how people are. They love a villain just as much as they love a hero. Use that. People will believe what you show them."
Caius didn't respond. His gaze was fixed on the crowd as the party continued.
The party eventually ended. Asher was put to bed, the guests left. While the house grew quiet. Caius stood in the living room with a glass of champagne in his hand. The television murmured in the background, barely audible.
"Miss H will be attending the upcoming charity fundraising event,".
Caius set his glass down on the table. The name caught his attention. He's been hearing about Miss H. Who was she?
His hands reached for the remote and turned up the volume.
"Though her identity remains unknown, Miss H has quickly risen to worldwide fame over the past five years. The actress, known for her incredible talent and complete anonymity, rarely makes public appearances. Her involvement in this event has already sparked the attention of the media."
The broadcast switched to an old clip of Miss H being interviewed. Though her face was never shown, just silhouettes, back of her head, and short clips of her hands and voice.
"What inspires you to give back like this?"
"I believe it's important to use whatever influence you have to make a difference," she said. "It's never about being seen, it's about what you leave behind and how you impact those who truly need it."
Caius leaned forward. Her voice carried a quiet power. He was curious about her.
The anchorwoman's voice returned. She talked about the event and how Miss H's participation alone had drawn massive attention. Caius stared at the screen for a long moment. He couldn't pinpoint why, but there was something about this mysterious actress. It was as if her voice was familiar.