Dreams keep people alive. Hope keeps them moving.
For people like Matthew, they were everything. The thin line between standing and falling. But, if dreams were crushed and hope was shattered, would he still remain standing?
All his life, he only dreamt of one thing. To climb the ladder and reach the position that normal people could only dream of. Being born in a middle-class family where situations made him sacrifice most of his life, only his hope kept him going. Like he wanted, he climbed the ladder of success only for a giant snake playing chess to swallow him whole.
"Elira!" Mira shook me by my shoulders, making me come out of my thoughts. "What are you thinking?"
"Nothing!" I stood straight. "I have to go. Take care."
After kissing her forehead, I walked away, leaving her confused. I kept calling Matthew, and only after bombarding his cell phone with my texts did he reply.
Matthew: They beat the shit out of me but didn't kill me. I am getting treated. Nothing happened to me. Yet.
I sat on the bench in the garden, scared. That 'yet' in his text frightened me.
"Matt! I am so worried about you. I heard AcadM is going to shut down in a week. Is it true?"
Matthew: I wish it was false. I don't even know what's happening or what to do. Everything is falling apart.
"But the court trials are still going on, right? What about the law? What will happen to you?"
Matthew: There's no court or justice here. There's only one law. One rule. Keiran Wolfe.
"Matt! We still have a week left. I will try to do something."
He left me in the seen zone, probably not wanting to continue the conversation on false hope. I knew I could do nothing, but I at least wanted to try.
In the villa, I peeked through the door of his office room to check if he was there, and to my luck, I saw him going through his documents.
Thinking of the ways to get him into a good mood, I paced back and forth in the main hall. Then I went to the kitchen to prepare his favorite snacks, and when my gaze fell on the coffee mug, I recalled his words.
One day she prepared coffee for me. And now I am addicted to her coffee.
I didn't know why, but it started to make me emotional. Our moments were real despite everything that happened.
After a few minutes, I entered his office room with the snacks and coffee I prepared. He looked at me for a second but then again kept his gaze on his laptop.
"I made these for you."
Hearing my voice, he stopped his work and said, crossing his arms, "You don't usually have your coffee at this time, and only when you feel like having your coffee do you prepare it for me as well. But, now…" his gaze fell on the snacks, "It seems you prepared them only for me."
Of course! He could see right through me.
"What do you want in return?" He raised his eyebrows.
I fought with myself for a few minutes about whether to bring up the topic about Matthew, but I at least wanted to give it a try.
"Mr. Wolfe!" I looked at him with my apologetic eyes. "I am really sorry for violating the rules. I don't expect you to forgive me, but please stop hurting Matt. AcadM has been his dream, and it's shutting down…"
I flinched as he slammed the table angrily, making the things on it tumble down.
"Matt! Matt! Matt!" He angrily stood straight. "Can you stop saying that name at least for a day?"
"Mr. Wolfe… please…" I let out a frustrated sigh. "Everything is my fault. If you are angry, punish me, but leave him alone. I beg you."
"Leave him alone?" He scoffed. "After he tried to raise his filthy hand at me?"
As he tried to walk away, I shouted, "For whatever the relationship that we have, please do me this favor. I think we are at least close enough to help each other. Please. For me."
"I have already done enough for you, Elira. If not for you, he'd be dead already, so don't again talk about him in front of me."
His heart of stone didn't melt even after seeing my tears. He only avoided looking at me.
"It's my fault to think you'd have a least bit of pity. You are truly a monster."
Wiping my tears, I ran to my bedroom, feeling the pain in my chest. I wished to go back in time and run away from Matthew before anything started between us so that he'd live his life normally.
The hurt and pain grew, nearly making me out of breath, with each day that passed. Even after begging him so much, he didn't bother about us.
Apart from that, I couldn't stop thinking about how Matthew was. I wanted to talk to him and be with him in his worst moments, but I couldn't dare sneak out.
A week already passed, and it was the last night one could ever see a company named AcadM. It was hard for me to digest the fact that Matthew's dream was totally shattering, and according to the latest news, he was likely to end up in prison.
Tears rolled down my cheeks endlessly, just like the heavy rain crashing against the windows, as if the clouds were weeping along with me.
"Matt! I hope you are really fine. Please text me back." I sent a message, crying.
I was so scared and worried after reading his message, "It all ended. I have nothing else here to keep going," and I couldn't stop texting him, but he stopped replying.
"Matt! We'll figure it out. Please, don't lose hope."
It felt like I'd die of guilt if I didn't hear his voice or see his message. Even though I knew he was not the type of guy to end his life because of the situations, I couldn't keep my calm.
Having no choice, I ran to Mr. Wolfe, who was sitting on the sofa in the main hall and instructing the bodyguards about the ways to increase the security.
Ignoring everyone, I shouted, "Don't send him to the prison."
Mr. Wolfe signaled everyone to leave. Resting his elbow on the armrest and supporting his face with his knuckles, he asked, "Didn't I already tell you to not talk about him in front of me?"
"At least let me meet him. Please."
"You…"
"Let's make a deal." I interrupted him. "For you everything is business, right? Make this also a kind of business or something."
I caught his attention. He narrowed his eyebrows and listened to me attentively.
"How about this? You don't send him to the prison, and let me meet him now. And I… I will…"
My lips formed into a thin line as I had nothing to give him in return.
"I will…" I held my face between my palms. "Money… I don't have any…"
His footsteps approached me, making me gulp. Placing his finger underneath my chin, he lifted my face up to make me look into his eyes.
"I like your idea. Let's do this." A smirk appeared on his lips. "He won't go to prison, and I'll let you meet him. All you need to do is…"
I had already prepared myself for the worst thing that might happen, but I never expected him to say the words that'd tighten the ropes that already wrapped around me.
"Extend the contract."