EPISODE 1

Fred picked up the phone, his voice cold and clipped. "Get Cherry in here," he said, his words a command rather than a request. He hung up the phone, his gaze fixed on the paperwork spread across his desk, his expression unreadable.

Cherry entered the office, her eyes narrowed, her expression a mix of defiance and amusement. She walked towards Fred's desk, her steps measured and confident. "You wanted to see me, Mr. Fred?" she said, her voice laced with a hint of sarcasm. She leaned against the edge of his desk, her posture radiating a quiet challenge.

To Cherry's surprise, Fred's demeanor softened slightly. "Please, have a seat. And do try the tea. It's my favorite." The unexpected kindness was notable, suggesting a shift in his usual demeanor. The offer felt genuine, even if only momentarily.

Cherry's hand trembled slightly as she raised the teacup. She took a hesitant sip, her eyes darting nervously towards Fred. The tea scalded her tongue slightly, a physical manifestation of her inner turmoil. She set the cup down abruptly, the clatter echoing in the tense silence.

"Cherry," Fred began, his voice low and serious, "we need to talk about Eros. His recent behavior is unacceptable."

Fred leaned back in his chair, a condescending smile playing on his lips. "I'm only looking out for Eros's best interests. And sometimes, that means making difficult decisions"

"I'm sorry you feel this way, Mr. Fred," Cherry said gently. "Could you explain your concerns in more detail? Perhaps there's a misunderstanding we can clear up."

"I've seen the way Eros looks at you, Cherry," Fred said, his voice low and dangerous, the words hanging heavy in the air between them. The expensive scotch in his hand trembled slightly. "It's not healthy. It's not good for business."

Fred smiled, a thin, almost imperceptible tightening of his lips. "Eros is a good boy, Cherry," he said, his tone carefully neutral. "But he's easily swayed. He needs to focus on… more important things."

Cherry took a deep breath, trying to maintain her composure. "I understand your concerns, Mr. Fred" she said, her tone measured and calm. "But Eros is a grown man. He's capable of making his own choices, and I wouldn't dream of interfering."

Fred steepled his fingers, his gaze unwavering. "Perhaps. But grown men can be easily misled. And your 'support,' as you call it, seems to coincide rather conveniently with a significant decline in his productivity."

"With all due respect, Mr. Fred" Cherry said, her voice steady despite the tremor in her hands, "I am not manipulating Eros. He makes his own decisions. Your accusations are unfair and frankly, insulting."

Fred leaned back, a slow, dangerous smile spreading across his face. "Insulting? My dear Cherry, I deal in facts, not feelings. And the facts are, since you've entered his life, his focus has shifted dramatically. Coincidence? I think not."

Cherry's face paled, her lips pressing into a thin line. She said nothing for a long moment, her silence more potent than any outburst. Her hands, clenched into fists at her sides, trembled slightly. Then, in a voice barely above a whisper, she uttered, "I'll remember this, Mr. Fred. I'll remember every word."

"This conversation is over, Cherry," Fred said, his voice hard as granite. He gestured towards the door with a dismissive flick of his wrist. "Leave my office. And for the good of everyone involved, leave Eros as well. It's the only way to salvage what's left of his reputation."

The door closed behind Cherry with a soft click. She walked with a stiff spine, her face pale and drawn. She didn't look back, but as she reached the end of the hallway, a single tear escaped, followed by another, and another, until silent tears streamed down her face.

Meanwhile, Eros strode confidently down the hallway, the polished floor gleaming under the fluorescent lights. He was humming a tuneless melody. Then he saw Cherry. Sitting on a small bench, her shoulders shaking, her face buried in her hands. The sharp click of his polished shoes against the floor seemed to echo in the sudden silence that descended. The humming died in his throat.

He rushed to Cherry's side, sits beside her. His hand reached out hesitantly, then gently touched her arm. "Cherry what happened?" he whispered, his voice filled with concern.

Cherry's voice trembled as she spoke. "Mr. Fred.. he said… he told me to leave you" she whispered, her eyes welling up with tears. "He told me to leave you alone!" She looked at Eros, her expression a mixture of hurt and confusion.

Eros stood up, his fists clenched, his body tense with barely contained anger. He burst into his Father's office, his anger a palpable force. He slammed the door shut, the sound echoing in the tense silence. "What the hell did you do to her?" he roared, his voice shaking with barely controlled rage. His fists were clenched at his sides, his body rigid with fury.

Fred's head snapped up, his eyes narrowing in annoyance. The sharp crack of the door slamming echoed the irritation simmering beneath his controlled exterior. He'd been expecting Eros, but not this Eros.

"What did you say to her, Father?" Eros voice vibrated with suppressed rage. He stood rigid, his fists clenched at his sides, his eyes locked on his father.

"I was simply expressing my concerns, Eros. Cherry's presence is disruptive. It's affecting your work." Fred leaned back in his chair, his tone calm, but his eyes held a calculating gleam.

"Disruptive? You think she's manipulating me? That she's a bad influence?" Eros voice rose in anger. "She's my friend, Father. She's been there for me through thick and thin."

"Friendships can be distracting. Especially when they're inconvenient. Cherry is a beautiful, charming woman. You're a successful man, Eros. Such distractions can be… costly."

"Costly? You're talking about my life, Father. My happiness. It's not a business transaction." Eros's anger simmered, but he forced himself to maintain his composure. "You have no right to dictate who I can be friends with. Especially not when you haven't even bothered to get to know her."

"I know enough. I know that she's ambitious, Eros. And I know that her ambition might not align with yours. This isn't a game, son.This is business. And in business, you can't afford to be sentimental."

"Sentimentality? You call it sentimentality? You call caring about people sentimentality? You've built your empire on the backs of people, Father. You've never known what it's like to have a true friend, someone who cares about you for who you are, not for what you can do for them."

"You're being reckless, Eros. You're letting emotions cloud your judgment. You need to focus on your work, on building your legacy. This is a world of cutthroat competition. You can't afford to be distracted by the things that don't matter."

"The things that don't matter? You're calling Cherry the things that don't matter? You're calling friendship a distraction? You're the one who doesn't matter, Father. You're the one who's lost sight of what truly matters." Eros's voice cracked with emotion. He turned away from his father, his shoulders slumped with disappointment. He knew he couldn't win this argument. He knew his father would never understand.

"This is all for your sake, son," Fred said, his tone self-righteous. "I'm building an empire, and you'll inherit it. These tough decisions are necessary for your future success. Remember what your mother always said?" Fred said, his voice a low rumble, "She said she believed in you, Eros. She saw something special in you, a potential to lead this company to new heights. Don't you want to honor her memory by fulfilling her dreams?"

Eros's love for his mother was a deep, abiding wellspring, a source of both strength and vulnerability. Her death had left a gaping hole in his life, a wound that never truly healed. The thought of disappointing her, of failing to live up to her expectations, was a constant, gnawing fear.

Fred leaned forward, his voice softening slightly, but his eyes gleaming with calculation. "Eros, my boy," he said, "let's be honest. Your mother would never approve of this. So, who is it going to be? Your mother, or Cherry?"

Eros's voice trembled slightly as he spoke. "My mother," he said, his eyes welling up, "she's everything to me. More than anything. I can't bear the thought of letting her down, of failing to honor her memory."

Fred pulled Eros into a hug, the embrace feeling more like a restraint than an expression of affection. His arms were tight, possessive, more of a controlling gesture than a comforting one.

"Tell her," Fred said, his voice tight with barely controlled fury. "Tell Cherry it's over. This is the last thing I'll ask of you. Obey me." He saw losing Cherry as a loss of control over Eros.

Eros faced Cherry, his expression serious. "We need to talk about our ties," he said firmly. "Things can’t stay the way they are-"

Tears welled in Cherry's eyes as she interrupted Eros."I know," she whispered, her voice choked with emotion. "And yes, I agree. It's for the best." Her agreement was laced with sadness and acceptance.

A chilling coldness radiated from Eros as he stared at Cherry. His eyes were like ice, reflecting the icy grip his mother's memory had on his heart and mind. Without a word, Eros turned his back on Cherry and walked away, his cold demeanor leaving her feeling abandoned and alone.

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