Now that Logan and Anne are out of the way, until they are sentenced, I can finally focus on getting everything back on track.

But, now I'm missing a head tech, since the position is very important and crucial to the company, it would probably take months and months on end for HR to hire the right candidate. Unlike a position like an assistant, which is important as well, a head tech controls mostly all the technically that goes into the company.

Having a solution to the problem, I instead got a temporary replacement for Logan, after little convincing with the board of members and HR.

From there, the temporary replacement was here to restore and replace all the files that Logan purposely ruined. It took the replacement many hours to do so as I was overlooking the progress until it was done.

I know that I should trust this person with the restoration of the files, but after what happened with Logan and how ready he was to betray me and the company all for the sake of his wife, which is crazy, I wasn't ready to fully trust another person that quickly.

I didn't want to take any chances, and considering the trust I had in Logan, I need to be more careful about who I bring in this building.

The feeling that this is kind of all my fault is eating me alive. I know I shouldn't blame myself, that's what everyone told me after finding out the truth about Logan and what he has been doing.

But truth be told, if I haven't been so distracted with my own personal problems, then maybe I could've seen the signs that Logan was behind all of this, and added additional pressure to everyone.

I could've prevented it, but I was blinded by the amount of trust I had for him, and many people have to pay the price for that.

As I pushed those feelings to the back of my mind, I regained my focus for the process of the replacement tech getting the files back in order, as I'm standing over them, they typed quickly and steadily as they suddenly stopped.

They then looked at me with a smile as they informed me that every file was saved and everything can now run smoothly.

I thanked them as I smiled, feeling ever ecstatic about this because now the launch can run smoothly without any complications.

I felt a huge weight being lifted off from my shoulders, I no longer felt the stress of hoping that tomorrow would be different.

For once, in a long time, I felt my mind being free of some of the pressures of being a CEO. Sure, there are some other pressures that will never go away because of my position, but this, this whole problem, made me appreciate the privilege of having to worry about other things in my life.

But, then again, I can't shake off the feeling that something else is missing–Something that I alone need to fix.

As I walked back to my office after receiving the happy news, I made a note that I should tell everyone about that so that they won't have nothing to worry about anymore, that would take the stress off them as well.

But still, as I opened the door to my office, the cool breeze hitting me right in the face as I entered. That missing something isn't going away, it's like a person lingering behind me and no matter what I do, the person won't leave until I address it.

It's like the person is telling me that something still needs to be done, otherwise, it won't leave me alone. It's like a feeling where you think you left something before a plane ride or a road trip. Just lingering and looming.

But the thing is though, is that–I would address it head on, but I can't place a finger on it.

And it's annoying.

Sitting at my desk, clearly this thought isn't going away so I started to try and figure out what else I needed to do, this has to be clearly about the launch or something related to that.

I started listing off things in my head, maybe it's the presentation? No, it is polished and ready to go. How about the invitations for the launch party, no that can't be it either.

As I continued to list off things one by one, I was starting to get a headache because of the amount of things I can list but nothing was wrong. Everything is perfect, is it?

Then there is a knock at the door, and without missing a beat, Liam comes in, wearing a sharp suit and IPad in hand, along with papers as well.

The sudden thought hit me, it's him, Chopard. Everything that happened between us hits the fan in my head, the file, the argument after that one particular meeting, everything that went wrong between us.

I need to make amends with Liam, I thought, but not just amends, recognizing that I need to explain everything to Liam and apologize to him. He deserves that.

I absolutely have to do that, it's the right thing to do, usually when someone like an employee is mad at me, I don't even bother to say anything to them, I just move on like any normal day. But this is different.

This is Liam we're talking about, out of all the people I've shitted on, Liam doesn't deserve any of that. He was just a pawn in Logan's game and I fell for it. And as for me, I have no reason not to trust him, since the beginning, he had been nothing but patient with me.

I've been a complete asshole to him, and even after our intimate moments together, I've treated him like shit. He doesn't deserve that at all.

I'm guessing this is my personal feeling towards everyone. That I think everyone will betray me in the end for their own personal benefits. Whatever the case is, it's not going to end well for me if I keep up with this mindset.

Plus, this is a rare occasion for me, as the only people I've ever apologized and explained myself to are my friends and my mom, and even those moments I don't remember. I guess those moments were a long time ago.

But I'm willing to apologize to Liam.

Liam comes to my desk as he drops off the stack of papers, most of them are unsigned documents that are in need of my signature as I have my eyes on them, looking at the content.

But then I noticed that Liam didn't say anything, nothing at all. I looked up and he's already walking to the door, quickly trying to leave.

I silently gasp as I suspect that he wants to avoid me, still.

But I don't want to delay this or waste an opportunity to make it up to him. So I think fast as I want him to stop and turn around to face me.

"Liam" I suddenly said without thinking much. Calling out his name was the only thing I could think of to get him to stop, and just in time because he was about to open the door as his hand was extended outward towards the knob.

As he still faces the door, he moves slowly as he slightly turns back towards me, not showing his full face, but this, I can manage, just as long as he hears me out.

He looks down at the ground as he asks me, "What do you need, Ms. Cantrell?" He says quietly.

As he asks that, I'm suddenly lost for words, I don't know why. But Liam saying 'Ms. Cantrell' struck me, yes, I deserve that, but I didn't suspect it to hurt that much.

Who knows that Liam calling me by my last name could sting, hard.

I didn't say anything as I realized I didn't prepare for this, I don't have a plan on how to actually explain myself to him.

It's funny, for everything else in my life, I have always planned things, planning things ahead of time, for the future or for anything small.

But lately, that skill of mine was fading away. I guess when things don't go my way, I'm the one who flips out and lets things get out of control.

I stand up from my chair, wanting to make myself say something, anything at this point, because my silence has been going on for far too long. Being conflicted with myself on how to start this, I instead ask, "How are you?" Wanting to clarify further, "You know, with everything happening–I just want to make sure you're okay"

I know it wasn't the right thing to say, I know I should've said something else instead, but I can't seem to think of anything good enough to say to him. And everything I've come up with in my head, I told myself, it's not good enough for Chopard.

This is not the best, and I should probably say something else right now–

Chopard barely answers, "I'm fine" He looks down at the floor even more to avoid my eyes as he says, "I should get back to work" And with that, he quickly opens the door as he leaves. His presence no longer taking up space in my office.

I slam myself down in the chair as I scoff to myself, as I'm left feeling dissatisfied and disappointed, not to Chopard, but at myself. I could've said anything else, but instead, my stupid head didn't come up with the right words.

And plus, probably after this, Chopard is still not going to talk to me, and might even avoid me as much as possible, but I know that's going to be hard because of his role here in the office.

I don't blame him one bit, I would even avoid me as well. I did this to myself. I was so obsessed with the idea that Chopard would betray me in the end that I couldn't see past my own judgment.

It's sad, to be honest.

Putting both of my elbows on the desk as I lean my face on my right hand, the thoughts circle in my head as they're mixing with each other, leaving me frustrated and annoyed. I have to fix this, I want to fix this, I don't want Chopard and I to work together with this tension circling around us.

This made me feel stuck as every idea on how to apologize to him wasn't good enough and was not going to get me the outcome I want. And the only outcome I want is for Liam to forgive me. We don't have to go back to what we were doing–We could just remain co-workers, boss and employee.

That's the best I can hope for.

My foot began tapping out of frustration of how to figure this out, and after some thinking, I have come to the realization that I might need advice for this, on what to do, but someone other than Akako and Daphne.

Sure, they always know what to do, but I come to them many times, almost to the point of where I sometimes guess right on what they're about to say. Plus, they might be tired of hearing about me and Liam.

I need someone else's opinion, someone who has a lot of wisdom and also knows more about life than me.

The idea settles in my mind as I think more and more about it, I think mom would know what to do in this situation. I nodded to myself as I settled on her.

*

Right after the day's work was done, I quickly packed up my things and rushed out of the building, telling the driver to take me to my mother's house. I didn't have time to stop and chat with anyone, I just wanted to get there as soon as possible.

Currently, I'm sitting on her soft, cozy couch. Looking around the living room, it's like it never aged, pictures are still in the same place, the drawings I made when I was little are still hung up. Nothing changed, same everything, even the scent was the same.

It's like I never left.

The moment I rang the doorbell (even though I still have the key), my mother was ecstatic and was surprised to see, embracing me in a tight hug as she urged me inside, making me sit down. I apologize for the late notice as I figure she was cleaning up or doing something to pass the time.

She denied my suspicion, saying that I'm welcome whenever I want and that I could stay for as long as possible.

I smiled to myself, glad that my mother hasn't changed a bit. I then asked if I could have some advice from her while she finished washing the dishes.

Now after she cleaned the dishes, she handed me a glass of water as I finished telling her everything. It was hard to help her keep track, as she interrupted me every few seconds to ask me who and who is, but I didn't mind.

But nonetheless, I didn't leave out any details, from Anne first getting fired, then Liam getting hired, to New York, the file, Anne breaking in the meeting room. Just everything, including me and Liam's intimate moment, I thought it would add more context to the story.

After telling her everything, my mother didn't say anything at first, all she did was remain on the couch as she continued to think.

I nervously sipped on my water, getting more and more nervous by the minute. I searched her face for any possible thought, just anything to calm myself down. But I knew she wasn't going to be harsh.

Her ginger short hair, being tied back into a lower ponytail, as the lines on her face deepens, her casual style of a sweater and sweatpants, compared to my style of a business suit and boots. People say that I'm her copy, her replica. Personally, I don't see it but I guess it's true.

She hummed as I almost choked on my water, as she caught me off guard, sitting up straight as I'm ready to hear her, not guessing on what she's about to say.

Leaning down on the couch, she looks at me as she smiles, her face undetected, she then asks, "Do you like this boy? Liam, was it?"

I sign as I sarcastically say, "No mom, I don't like him, I just like having sex with him, and using him as a toy" Crossing my legs, thinking that she caught on to my saying.

"Oh" Is all she said, she tilted her head as she then asked, "Then what's the problem? If you're coming to me about your business or your career, then all I can do is be your cheerleader. I don't have a single clue about business, dear" Confused, she added, "Why are you upset about a boy that is your toy then, Hailey?"

I smacked my forehead as I sigh even deeper, "Mom, it was sarcastic" Tucking my arm inside my jacket as I continue to gulp the water.

"Oh" She said, "You young people always don't mean what you say" She giggled as she placed a loose hair behind her ear, "You know, I was about to say that you're your mother's daughter. You know–I did the same thing as you, back in the day without the feelings and emotions, or course, he was so–"

"Okay, okay, we get it" I said as I covered my ears, not wanting or willing to hear more.

She giggled as she asked the same question, "So, do you really like him?"

I scratched the back of my neck as my heart begins beating faster, though embarrassed, I answered, "Yeah, I really do mom" Gripping the glass, "I'm worried that he'll never forgive me, truly"

She took the glass out of my hands as she noticed that I began squeezing the glass too hard. I crossed my arms as I looked away.

"What made him so upset at you?" She asked, cursious for what I'm about to say.

I prepared myself, "Well, I had a hidden file about him, like everything about him and his life, and it was in my drawer in my desk. And I guess he found it and he freaked out about it" I said as I left out a certain part, because of the embarrassment I would have if I told my mother that part.

She crossed her legs as she looked like she was complexed on the situation, like she doesn't know whether or not to side with me or be against me, so she asked another question, "Hailey, dear, why would you have that? I thought you liked him"

I honestly answered, "Yeah, well, that was before the whole feelings thing. When he was first hired, I just didn't trust him and I wanted to find out everything about him before I could be disappointed if he didn't turn out right" I sigh, "I wanted to be prepared for the worst"

My mother sighs, and I thought that was a sign telling me that she was disappointed and was going to scold me. But instead of that, she reached out and touched my cheek.

Her warm hand, no doubt from washing the dishes, made my cheek warm and cozy. I didn't know why she was doing this, but she said, with a sad look on her face, "Oh Hailey, I truly blame myself for that–Your lack of trust and vulnerability, that was my doing"

I was shocked, I didn't move away from her touch as I was conflicted by what she was talking about. I mean, how could she be the reason that I 'supposedly' have a lack of trust and vulnerability? I wouldn't say that I have a lack of trust, maybe, I'm very suspicious of everyone around me.

So I ask, "Mom, what do you mean by that?"

"You're insecure about trust and it's because of your father" She bluntly said, not missing a beat or sugarcoating it.

I stand up quickly from the couch, pushing her hand off of my cheek as she continues to sit down on the couch. She didn't say anything else as she looks up at me with regret and sympathy. I mean, why would she ever think to say that? I thought to myself.

That is a total lie and accusation, I can't even believe she would ever mention him. I haven't thought about him or even talked about him in years and here she is, bringing him up like it's nothing.

Putting my hands on my hip, I wanted to leave, walk out the door and get in my car and go back to my house. But–For some reason, I can't seem to move my feet, like it's being planted here.

I can't bring myself to turn my back to my mother.

Instead of wanting to run away, I faced it head on as I denied, "I don't have an insecurity and if I do, it has nothing to do with that man" Clenching my fist, to make myself believe it, even if my mother has been right about most things she has told me in my life.

"Sit down, Hailey, we need to talk about this" She patted the seat next to her, as she reached out for my hand. As I come to terms and accept my mother's wishes, I open my hand up to her as she pulls me down on the couch.

I looked away from her as I don't want to talk about this any more than I need to, I just don't.

She starts off by saying, "I know you have some trust issues Hailey, trust me, I've seen it and I hear about it. I suspect it's because of your father because he left without an explanation, it left us both heartbroken"

Adding on, "I also know that you loved him dearly, you looked up to him the most. And after he left, it's like a switch inside you turned off, you didn't want to express your feeling as much anymore, with anyone"

As she's still holding my hand, I eye it as I then look at the ground, but my eyes pull me towards a certain picture, a picture that has been collecting dust after all these years. A picture that I tried to convince my mother to throw away because it's useless and doesn't serve any value to me or her anymore.

But she never got rid of it, instead she kept it, and ever since. I have avoided it, I won't look at it, I even purposely don't look towards the area at all because of that one certain picture.

A picture of me and my father smiling, so happily, I somehow remember why we were smiling, it was because I thought he and my mother didn't come to my first grade school performance that was mandatory. I was sad when I didn't find them but then, they surprised me, capturing the smile on my face.

I was pulled out of the memory as my mother turned my face towards her, she wiped my cheeks, and that's when I realized that tears were slipping down my cheeks.

I immediately tried to wipe them away from my cheeks, not wanting them in the first place. I don't know why I'm crying, when did I even start crying?I shouldn't be crying about it.

The tears kept falling as I tried to wipe them away, but suddenly my mother swipes my hand away, not allowing me to wipe the tear away anymore. She held both of my cheeks firmly, forcing me to fully look at her.

She has tears in her eyes, but doesn't allow them to fall as she blinks them aways, "Hailey, this is the sad reality, your father may or may not ever come back, but whatever happens–You have to let it go or else it's going to hold you back forever, honey"

She continues, "I already made the mistake of letting the issue go too far, and if there's another chance of doing this, then I'm taking it, so you need to listen"

I cried out, after several attempts to hold everything together, and that followed with many more tears, no matter how hard I didn't want to listen, my heart and brain was telling me to do so.

"Hailey" She starts, rubbing my cheeks with her thumbs, "Not everyone is out to get you, not everyone is going to leave, you have to stop expecting the worst from everyone. You have to open up with the ones you cherish in your life, and if people betray or leave you, that's a reflection on them instead of you" A singular tear runs down her cheek, "Everyone is not guaranteed to stay in your life forever, that's just life. So enjoy the ones that are here dear"

As I'm overcome with emotions, I couldn't think of anything to do, so I did the only thing that's familiar. I lay my head down on her lap as she smoothes my hair out, whilst wiping my tears away.

Comforting me, just like old times. I realize that I miss this, miss her and miss him.

We stay like that for I don't know how long, but as I continue to think about it and take my mother's words to heart, I now know what I have to do and how to do it.

Emotional long chapter for you guys, loving Hailey's mom though.

-Summer Roe