Chapter 27
Isaac
Tip #27: You know you’re in deep with your office romance when even the smell of coffee reminds you of late nights with them.
I listlessly stared out into the campus cafeteria. The room buzzed with chatter and laughter, but it all sounded distant to my ears. A waft of masala chai and curry sauce drifted over from the Indian station. On any other day, I’d join Warner Print employees in grabbing lunch. Today, the thought of food made me physically ill.
All around me, coworkers filled the tables, enjoying their lunch breaks. They laughed and gossiped, making the air friendly—even if I couldn’t feel it.
I had to remind myself that this was why the company mattered so much. All these people depended on us. I had a duty to keep Warner Print thriving. But, without Charlotte….
A familiar voice cut through my brooding. “When I heard a ghost was haunting the cafeteria, I didn’t think it’d be you.”
I didn’t need to turn to know it was Samuel. My twin materialized beside me, eyebrows raised as he took in my appearance.
“You look like hell warmed over,” he said in a standard, no-punches-pulled Samuel greeting.
“Thanks,” I said woodenly. “You flatter me.”
Samuel enveloped me in a crushing bear hug. I stiffened, momentarily surprised, but recovered enough to slap his back in as reassuring a manner as I could muster. A lifetime of shared experiences passed between us in that moment, and Samuel understood my pain without me having to say a word.
He released me and stepped back, concern etched on his face. “I was going to ask how you’re holding up with Charlotte gone, but”—he gestured at my messy hair and creased button-up shirt—“the answer seems pretty obvious.”
I scoffed.
Samuel sighed. “Why are you doing this to yourself, Isaac?”
I squared my shoulders, ready to launch into my carefully prepared speech about duty and family legacy. Samuel cut me off before I could start.
“I know, I know. Warner Print is our inheritance, and you’re way too aware of the responsibilities we have as CEO and CFO. But look at you. You’re a wreck! Do you really think our dad would want you to give up the love of your life just to be miserable at work?”
My throat tightened. “We have an obligation.”
“Sure, we do,” he agreed, his eyes boring into mine. “But we’re also human. You’re allowed to be happy, Isaac. You’re allowed to go after what you want.”
His words hung in the air between us. I looked away, unable to meet his gaze.
“Did you ever think Charlotte’s leaving would hit you this hard?” Samuel asked.
“No,” I admitted without hesitation. “I should have known better, though. Because Charlotte…” I trailed off. How could I explain that she had become my everything without me even realizing it?
Samuel studied me for a long moment, then sighed, seemingly giving up. “Have you eaten at all today?”
I shrugged, uninterested in both his question and my answer.
“Look,” Samuel shoved his hands in the pockets of his slacks. “If you’re going to be so hell-bent on serving the company, you’ve got to at least eat something, or you’ll fall apart on us.”
I nodded, recognizing the truth in his words.
“I’ll grab you something from the line,” Samuel declared. “Then we’re sitting down, and I’m watching you eat every bite. Got it?”
“Sure.”
Samuel gave me a playful slap on the back before heading toward the food lines.
“Thanks, Sam,” I called after him.
He turned back, nodded once, then joined the throng of employees exploring the different food options.
This left me alone to ponder the points my astute brother had unfortunately bestowed on me. I knew I loved Charlotte, but Samuel was right. I'd had no idea just how deep that love went.
My mind filled with images of Charlotte: the radiant smile that made even the dreariest Monday mornings fun, her sleek dark hair that on more than one occasion I’d given in to the impulse to touch to see if it really was as soft as it looked. (It always was.) Her presence had become more than just a professional necessity; it was the reason I looked forward to coming to work each day.
The scent of coffee wafting from a nearby table hit me, and I was reminded of all the late nights we’d spent poring over work with deadlines bearing down on us, Charlotte’s laughter cutting through my stress.
Not even a full day had passed since she’d left, and already I felt empty.
The future stretched out before me, a long road of endless meetings and profit margins. Was this what the rest of my life would look like without her? A robotic existence where I lived only for work?
My brain, that logical taskmaster, knew that Warner Print was vital. But my heart… my heart thought differently. It had already made its choice, screaming Charlotte’s name with every beat.
I turned my gaze back to the cafeteria, watching as employees chatted and laughed over their meals.
I didn’t want to live without her. But could I really choose my personal happiness over my obligations to Warner Print and its employees, over my family’s legacy?
But couldn’t Warner Print keep on thriving even without my constant, borderline tyrannical, oversight? Our people were talented, dedicated, and efficient. It’s why we’d hired them in the first place.
But what about Dad? Would choosing to prioritize Charlotte mean letting him down and everything he’d worked for?
However… my father had always put us first—me, Samuel, Mom. Work came second. Hell, he’d even met Charlotte before he’d passed. If he could see us now, he’d probably be shaking his head in disappointment.
But even if he wouldn’t approve… I wouldn’t do this anymore.
“I choose Charlotte,” I said out loud.
The moment the words left my mouth, a weight lifted from my shoulders, allowing me to stand taller, breathe deeper. The constant tension in my jaw eased, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I smiled—really smiled.
Until I remembered I’d let Charlotte go.
“You idiot,” I muttered to myself, earning a concerned glance from a passing intern. “She’s your everything, and you let her walk away.”
In fact, I hadn’t just let her walk away, I’d practically pushed her out the door with my incorrect prioritization. It’s a wonder she’d parted ways with me as graciously as she had. Did I even deserve a second chance?
Maybe, maybe not. Regardless, I’d have to try.
A simple apology, however, wouldn’t cut it. I needed to show Charlotte that she was my top priority and that Warner Print would never come between us again. But how?
As I stood there, lost in thought, an idea began to form—there was one way I could show her. I just hoped I wasn’t too late.
I glanced down at my watch—the one Charlotte had given me for my last birthday. The elegant silver face winked up at me. Time was ticking.
“I need to tell Samuel,” I mumbled, fishing my phone out of my pocket. As I headed toward the tables where I hoped my twin was waiting, I pulled up Charlotte’s flight information.
My fingers hovered over the screen, a mix of determination and anxiety coursing through me. Could I really pull this off? Or was this entire plan insane?
But as I thought of Charlotte’s smile, her quick wit, the way she made me feel alive, I knew I had to try. Because a life without her wasn’t really a life at all.