Fortunately, those tedious family gatherings had finally come to an end. I could get back to work.
I should have been relieved, as after all, I'd finally returned to what I wanted to do. But it wasn't all that great, especially when a pesky creature is practically breathing down the back of your neck.
Michael had attached himself to me, refusing to leave my side for even a moment.
We had never been close, and we rarely visited one another. Our meetings took place at those social events. Occasionally, he appeared at our house as part of the circle around my family, though it would be generous to describe us as friends.
And suddenly, he started following me everywhere.
Part of me thought it would be sensible to throw him out. Another part warned that he might take offence. And until I understood why he had planted himself here, I could not decide whether removing him would be wise.
Today, as usual, he was here again.
He sat by the window with a cup of tea my assistant had just brought him. They had even found the time to discuss a new variety she had purchased especially for him since he visited so often.
Someone might think this was his office.
"Are you planning to go home at any point?" I asked, irritation slipping into my voice. "Why do you trail after me everywhere?"
Michael smiled. "You're far more entertaining than anyone else, so why would I leave?" He leaned comfortably in his chair. "I shall remain here and observe you. You are a fascinating man."
Tapping the rim of the cup with that damned spoon, he opened his mouth, clearly about to say something else.
"Oh, for God's sake, just stop," I cut him off. "Stop making all that noise. It's getting on my nerves."
Michael gave a sly laugh. "Well, that's the point."
He set the cup down on the table, stretched, and placed his hands behind his head.
"Does my presence really annoy you that much? From where I sit, I am quietly in the corner and making no noise at all. Are you truly so eager to get rid of me?"
I sighed, turning another page among the papers on my desk.
"Michael, I have an enormous amount of work. I cannot afford distractions, and you know that perfectly well. So at the moment I would very much prefer to be alone and focus on my work."
"Good heavens, are such small things enough to distract you?" he said lightly. "Very well. I shall give you a chance to be rid of me, but only if you answer one question."
That caught me off guard. "A question? If that is the price of my peace, then ask it."
"Before I do," Michael continued, "I should say that you are a very unusual man. Exceptionally gloomy, yet oddly fascinating."
"A few months ago, I thought you might collapse somewhere or end up in the hospital with a heart attack or a stroke. You looked dreadful. Thin, pale, with dark circles under your eyes. You'd fall asleep wherever you sat down."
"Then suddenly something changed. You were full of energy, the circles under your eyes grew smaller, and your face regained some colour. You were signing contracts left and right and even laughing." He gave a theatrical look of amazement. "Edward Moncler laughing. What a sensation."
"The most curious part, though, was that during all this, you kept disappearing somewhere. Event after event passed without you, yet no one could say where you were."
He narrowed his eyes at me. "To be honest, I assumed you had started seeing someone. I even spent quite a bit of time trying to discover who the lucky lady was. Unfortunately, I never managed to find out."
He studied me for a moment longer.
"Then suddenly you returned to your usual self. Actually, no, that's not quite right. You look even worse now." He rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "So here is my question. Did someone break your heart?"
I pressed the fingers of my right hand against my temple, slowly massaging the spot with pressure. The pain seemed to push through the tablets, and I suspected this idiot had something to do with it.
"So you're telling me you follow me everywhere because you're curious whether someone broke my heart? You built this whole story simply because my face looked healthier for a while? Seriously?" I sighed. "Just… go to hell. I see no reason to discuss such nonsense with you."
"Yes," Michael said calmly, reaching for his cup again. "You may say whatever you wish to me. Send me to hell or anywhere else you prefer. But I'm entirely convinced that our dear Edward has a little secret." He took a sip and looked far too pleased with himself. "I'll follow you until I discover it. If you wish to be rid of me, you only need to tell me what happened."
I raised my other hand and pressed it to my second temple, massaging both sides of my head. By now, I knew perfectly well it would not help, yet the motion came automatically.
It seemed I was stuck with him.
Damn it, the man was far too observant.
Somehow, he had read me with disturbing ease. He had noticed the changes, the shifts in my behaviour, and even tried to discover their cause.
The idea that I had failed to keep my secrets properly hidden, that they had nearly slipped into the open, was enough to make my jaw tighten.
I had long considered one of my greatest abilities, practically a personal superpower, to be control. Control of my expression. Control of my emotions. No one had ever been able to say with certainty what my reaction to anything truly was. Whether I was angry, pleased, irritated, or amused. That ability had become something of a signature.
And now, a man I barely knew had noticed that something had changed.
Clearly, I still had work to do.
I drew a slow breath, hoping it would steady me.
It did not.
The office felt stifling. The air seemed heavy, difficult to draw into my lungs.
I rose and walked quickly toward the door.
"I'm leaving," I said coldly. "When you're done, make sure my secretary clears your cups."
Michael blinked. "Leaving? Where?"
"For a walk."
"Excuse me, where?" He looked so startled that he nearly choked on his tea.
For heaven's sake. What sort of child had settled in my office?
I reached for my coat and pulled it on.
"I already said it. I'm going for a walk. I need some air."
"I'll join you," Michael said with sudden enthusiasm. He placed the cup down and managed to spill tea across the table in the process.
My head began to pulse again.
"I can walk alone," I said, my hand already on the door.
"No, no, no. Absolutely not," Michael said, hurrying after me. "Edward Moncler is going for a walk in the street. How could I possibly miss such a magnificent event?"
He followed me out without hesitation.
Seemed this walk was not going to improve my mood in the slightest.