How to Live After You?

"Those we love never truly leave us.

There are things that death cannot touch."

PROLOGUE.

"Another night. Another night where nightmares keep me from falling asleep.

Another night, for the past two years, that I can't sleep. My clock reads 2 a.m. In a few hours, I need to go to work, and I haven't closed my eyes.

My mind travels back to that night. February 5th. That was the day I lost everything. February 5th, at 10 p.m. The drizzle wet the streets of Chicago. It was a cold night. I will never forget it.

That night changed my life forever. Since that day, I have never been the same."

CHAPTER 1.

By Isabella.

I woke from bed at 5 in the morning. I took a quick shower and got dressed to start my workday. Luckily, it's Friday.

For the past year, I’ve been working as an executive at a very significant wine trading company: F&M.

It is a firm with much prestige and quite well-known since its wines are distributed worldwide. There isn’t an event where a bottle of their brand isn’t present.

As I chose my outfit to face a new day, the apartment buzzer kept ringing incessantly. Obviously, it was Mariana, my best friend. We both work for the same company and ever since I started there, she picks me up every morning to go together. It’s her way of ensuring my well-being, as, after all we've been through together, there is no one more unwavering for me than her.

I opened the door, inviting her into the room while I finally gathered the necessary strength to get dressed.

"How did you sleep, Issi?" Mariana greeted me with a small smile.

"The same as two years and five months ago."

"Friend…"

"No, Mariana. Don't start. I'm doing the best I can. But I can't forget him. I will never forget him," I exclaimed.

"It's okay friend," Mariana sighed deeply. "Come on, it's time to leave. You look stunning today."

"Thank you. And so do you."

We both headed to the company. Although I had no desire to go to work. For some time, I lost interest in continuing to live. Every day I wished it would be Friday to go to my bed and get up on Monday morning, forcibly, to go back to work and thus continue with an empty routine since that tragic day. Nothing made sense anymore. Nothing made sense without him. For me, Ezequiel was and always will be the love of my life. My first love. His absence was marked on my chest, as if it were a scar that could never be removed. I still couldn't forget him. That tragedy left scars, on the soul and the skin. Wounds that hurt. That ache deep down in my being and no matter how hard I try, I can't heal them.

Since that tragic day, anything that to a human being would be basic in their day-to-day for me meant a great effort. Things like showering, combing one's hair, getting dressed and, even worse, leaving the house.

Fortunately, Mr. Marshall, my boss, is an understanding man. Since working for him, he has cared for me as if I were his daughter. He's given me time and space when I needed it and also support.

Upon arriving at the company, Mariana and I went to the ninth floor, where our respective workstations are located. I left my belongings on the desk and, as every day, checked in with my boss to see what he needed today.

"Isabella. It's good that you’ve arrived. I was waiting for you because I need you to prepare the event room for this very afternoon. I have a very important announcement to make and it’s necessary that all company employees be present."

"Of course, sir. Is everything alright?" I asked.

"You have nothing to worry about, sweet Isabella," he said with his characteristic fatherly tone.

"Well… I’ll go prepare everything, sir," I exclaimed, leaving the office to carry out his orders.

Mr. Marshall's words were spinning in my mind.

"What does my boss want to announce?" I wondered. - "Perhaps there is a raise or one of the employees is retiring and he wants to give them tribute."

Lorenzo Marshall is the fairest and most amiable boss in the business world. His company is part of his family. Each employee gets the recognition they deserve. Everyone is content with this job. It's a very large and prosperous company, with a huge motivation system. The Marshall philosophy was that if the employee is well-motivated, they are more productive. Despite being people with too much money, this was not an obstacle to treating their employees as equals.

I made sure the room was ready and personally chose the best bottles of wine from the company’s cellar. Once done, I announced to my boss that everything was ready. He ordered that after the break, all employees gather there, which made my curiosity, and that of the rest of the employees, grow even more.

While Mariana talked to me about the plans she had made with Julia, my other best friend, for the weekend, my mind kept thinking about the announcement my boss would make.

"Are you listening to me, Issi? You haven't even touched your lunch," Mariana asked.

"I'm sorry. I'm worried about the announcement Mr. Marshall will make. What do you think it's about?"

"Surely it's nothing. Perhaps the presentation of a new line of wines."

"Maybe," I responded tersely, though I was not very convinced.

After lunch, everyone was waiting anxiously in the event room, as the boss had requested. All company employees were there, tasting wines and some snacks. A slight sense of happiness overcame me, knowing that everything was going smoothly. After a while of waiting, the long-awaited announcement was about to take place:

"Well," Marshall spoke, "I have gathered you all here because I have made a very important decision and I believe all of you, as part of the company, should be informed. As many of you have anticipated, after much consideration, I have decided to step down as the president of this company and hand over the position to my son, Valentino Marshall."

All employees were stunned by the boss's announcement. Although everyone was aware that this day would come, no one expected it to be so soon. Moreover, who exactly was Mr. Lorenzo Marshall's son? - This was the question on everyone's mind. He had rarely appeared at the company and not all had the opportunity to see him. However, it is said that if arrogance had a physical form, it would probably be Valentino. Amidst the employees' astonishment, the boss spoke again:

"I know many of you are worried about this sudden change. However, I want you to know I have been contemplating this for some time. Also, you should know one of the conditions for my son in taking over as president of F&M is that the employees will keep their jobs unless a promotion or dismissal is required. This latter case, as you know, is done under strict scrutiny to prevent injustices. Otherwise, everything will continue as before. I fully trust my son's judgement, otherwise, I would not be giving him such an important responsibility. All these years at the helm of the company have been wonderful and I have met many people who will forever remain in my heart. I only hope Valentino is as fortunate. Thank you for everything."

Finally, we all clapped for the boss. But one could still see some worried faces despite Lorenzo's attempts to reassure us. To put the finishing touch on his speech, the boss invited Valentino to come forward to officially introduce himself to everyone. Valentino stepped onto the stage and spoke directly:

"Good afternoon. My name is Valentino Marshall, and as my father said, I will be your new boss from now on. I will implement some minor changes, which I hope will not affect the company's performance. If you have any questions or concerns, you can bring them to my office. That's all I have to say," he finally declared, stepping down from the stage.

The ladies of the company started to get excited; at first glance, Valentino is a very elegant and sophisticated man. And certainly sexy. However, I wasn't the slightest bit interested. My mind continued to dwell on that man who had stolen all my sighs some years ago. Of course, I cared that Valentino would now be my boss, but I wasn't interested in contemplating his attractiveness but rather his capability to lead the company.

At this moment, I just wanted to get home and crawl into bed. The office hours had passed; we were delayed due to the introduction of the new president. From next week on, things would take a drastic turn. A man about whom we knew absolutely nothing would become the new boss, and from his demeanor, he seemed quite serious.

I approached Lorenzo and hugged him. I wished him luck and a good rest now that he was retiring. Behind me, I felt a strong shiver. I turned and caught the intense and penetrating gaze of that enigmatic man. His look was cold, seemingly hollow. He had a perfect poker face. I did not know what thoughts were going through his mind, but I knew they provoked a strange sensation within me.

CHAPTER 2.

By Isabella.

That evening, I arrived at my apartment and left my belongings scattered on the couch. I made my way to the bedroom to peel off those tight clothes and slip into some pajamas. I settled into bed, but once again images of Ezequiel's smile besieged my thoughts. I had no appetite, no desire to shower; I just wanted to lie down all weekend. My eyes caught sight of that lovely photo on the nightstand; I picked it up and clutched it to my chest. The memories flooded back, one by one. That tragedy. The day I lost him forever.

""Pain. Pain engulfed my body. My arms. My left knee. Intense agony. I opened my eyes, not understanding what had happened. Everything was upside down. I tried to move, but I was stuck. I realized the seatbelt was holding me back and quickly unfastened it. My body dropped swiftly, pain intensifying. I noticed cuts on my abdomen too, shattered glass everywhere, likely embedded in my flesh. I looked for Ezequiel. He was right beside me. I called out, but he didn't respond, appearing seriously injured. I tried pulling him out, but he was heavy, dragging him a few feet with great difficulty. Tears blurred my vision; I held him, hoping for a sign of life. At that moment, a loud explosion rendered the world silent, and darkness took over.""

Startled awake by the sound of the doorbell, I got up reluctantly to answer it. My body ached fiercely. The unbearable pain in my legs barely allowed me to walk. Phantom pain, that's what the doctors called it. I knew it was my crazy friends at the door; they had been my rock since that day, never leaving me alone.

"Hey. Why are you in PJs on a Friday night?" Julia questioned.

"I was trying to sleep, to no avail," I exclaimed.

"Did you take your medication?" Mariana asked.

"I completely forgot. I'll take it later," I said.

"Why don't you dress up and let's go out for drinks?" Julia proposed.

"Are you insane?" I retorted. "How can I be in the mood for a party?"

"Come on Issi, you can't continue like this; it's not healthy," Mariana insisted.

"Of course, I'm not okay. Unless you can bring Ezequiel back to life, I won't be."

"You know I can't do that. But do you think he'd be happy seeing you this way? It's been two years, Issi, for God’s sake. You need to start living," Mariana exclaimed.

"That's exactly what I don't want. I should have died with him in that accident," I confessed, my voice breaking into sobs.

"Don't say that, friend. Come on. We're going to that club, and you're going to have fun. You're coming whether you like it or not, got it?" Julia interrupted. "So let's go. Take your medicine, get dressed, and we'll go. We'll have a good time and if you feel bad at any point, we'll come back."

I rolled my eyes, aware that if I didn't acquiesce, I'd wind up with another complaint from the neighbors—just like the last time they threw their own party in front of my house.

My friends helped me shower, dry my hair, do my makeup, and, finally, dress up. They combed through my wardrobe until they unanimously decided on an outfit that suited me.

"I'm not sure about this, girls. This doesn't feel right," I sighed.

"What's not right is you staying here, wallowing. Please, Isabella, you've just climbed out of a depressive episode. We don't want you sliding back," Julia said.

"I'll go with you, but you have to promise it's just for a few drinks," I insisted. "And if I want to leave at any point, you won't object."

"Of course, friend," they both chimed together.

I grabbed the car keys, and we headed to a renowned bar in downtown.

"How are things with Matias, Juli?" I asked.

"Good... Maybe I'll see him tonight at the bar," Julia exclaimed. "I think he's coming with his friends."

"I'm happy for you, my friend," I said. Matias, like the girls, had been a great friend to me, as well as Ezequiel's best buddy. I held him in high regard. He was truly an incredible man.

We entered the club, now at the peak of the night's energy, and I immediately made for the bar for drinks, flanked by my friends. We ordered three mojitos and stayed seated there for a while, chatting and listening to the music that blasted loudly. I attempted to get into the spirit of the place but found it difficult. This place reminded me of Ezequiel. Everything reminded me of him, his broad smile. Ezequiel loved this bar—where we met.

"Issi?" Mariana's voice snapped me back to the present.

"Yes? Sorry, I wasn't paying attention," I said, letting out a sigh.

"I was saying that Valentino Marshall is over there. The boss."

"Oh. Well, I'm concerned about what the day-to-day at the company will be like, especially for me, seeing him on a daily basis."

"Let's not think about work now, girls. It's Friday and the night is still young," Julia interjected.

"You say that because you don't have to worry about your boss," Mariana retorted.

"Mr. Edward is a great boss; I've worked for his company for so many years. But I've never seen another Marshall around. I guess their relationship isn't that good."

"Are you kidding?" Mariana said. "They hate each other. I don't know why, but they have no relationship at all."

"Hello, ladies. Am I interrupting?" Matias asked, appearing with a tall, serious, and very elegant man. His hypnotic blue eyes, a masculine scent fit for a leading man, and a solemnity that only made him more intriguing.

"My love! What are you doing here?" Julia asked. "I thought I'd see you later."

"I was with my friends, and when I saw you, I wanted to come greet my beautiful girlfriend and her beautiful friends," he said, laughing while taking Julia into his arms.

Matias was an incredible guy. They had met in college, where he started dating Julia. Because of him, I met Ezequiel. He was there every step through the grueling process with psychologists and psychiatrists. I considered Matt a best friend, just like the girls.

Coming back to reality, I noticed that my new boss was Matias's companion. I observed him for a few seconds but quickly looked away when Matias spoke again.

"Ladies, I almost forgot, let me introduce Valentino Marshall. Though I guess you've already met," Matias said.

"Just from a distance," Mariana replied. "Pleasure, boss. Good to finally meet you," she said. "I wish you the best in your new position."

Valentino nodded modestly and accepted Mariana's handshake with a smile. Then his gaze settled on Isabella.

"Ms. Moretti," he said. "I understand you will be my assistant. My father has spoken highly of you."

"Yes," I replied. "I hope he only had good things to say."

Valentino simply nodded, continuing to fixate on me with a deep, cold stare. It was disconcerting, more than I'd expected. His eyes were beautiful, yet the intensity felt like they were analyzing me. Desiring to escape this discomfort, I rose to head to the ladies' room. There, I splashed water on my face, careful not to ruin my makeup, in an attempt to steady my nerves. I felt anxious. Flustered. The venue was suffocating me. And Valentino's stare – so penetrating – made me exceedingly nervous. I felt it to be eerily familiar.

"God, help me," I prayed silently. "I'm losing my mind again. I need to get back home."

With those thoughts, I decided to let my friends know it was time to go home. I couldn't take it anymore; I had endured enough. Coming out of the bathroom, I bumped into someone.

"Sorry, I didn't see you," I said, without looking up.

"Ms. Moretti. Perhaps too many mojitos for you," came the voice.

"Mr. Marshall. I'm sorry. I have to leave."

Valentino grabbed my arm, trying to hold me back. I was distressed, and he looked concerned.

"What are you doing? Please, let go," I exclaimed.

"You are quite upset. Understand, I cannot let you leave like this."

"I'm fine. I have to find my friends. Excuse me," I said and pulled away from him.

I found my friends to tell them I was leaving. I urged them to stay; I didn't want to ruin their night. As I got into my car, the tears came freely. I cried, wishing with all my heart that Ezequiel were there with me. I started the car and drove back to my apartment. Once home, I discarded my things and lay on the bed without changing. I took Ezequiel's photo from the nightstand drawer and hugged it tightly as I cried. And I cried, just like every night since I lost him.

By Valentino.

Today my father announced me as the new president of F&M, our family business. He's spent all this time touting his assistant's virtues. I couldn't care less. My goal is to do my job and continue my family's legacy. After my father's speech and my introduction, I met my future assistant fleetingly. For some reason, I couldn't stop watching her. There was something about her that captivated me. My hunter’s instinct told me I wouldn’t stop until I had her in my bed, screaming my name. Yet, there seemed to be an invisible hold restraining me from pursuing anything untoward with her.

Later, my friends decided to celebrate my new job and my first executive decision as president—appointing my buddy Matias as vice president. We ended up at our usual hangout. After a while of drinks and people-watching, Matias excused himself as his girlfriend and her group were present. That's when I saw her again and decided to make a move. I approached, trying to ensure she’d notice me, but she seemed preoccupied. She ignored me, and I didn't like that. She headed off to the restroom, and after a bit too long, I decided to check on her, concerned about the number of reprobates around. I found her as she was leaving the restroom. She was visibly shaken, and inexplicably, I felt an urge to intervene. Nonetheless, she resisted and left, leaving me with the sour taste of rejection.