Now that everybody had graduated and had a stable life, they brooded about taking things up a notch. Because security was involved, the first step was to establish a trustworthy entity and hire journalists for their work. He wanted to have a strategic share of the company, a 26% share so as to hold the veto right. After all, he was the one who proposed it and the one who was putting in the most effort. But when the time for the investment came, costs had shot up and he had to settle with 20%. He refrained from asking his parents for the money and simply borrowed from the bank. Rest came from the rest of the Protectors. He named the company Hidden. That name had so much weight, it was in no way just fancy.

There was a good reason as to why he did not ask for his dad's money. He had a great love for mathematics. But his family had a jewellery business, which went by another fancy name, Sapphire Stone. Both his parents wanted him to get a certificate in business management so that he could overlook the affairs of their business. But he was very stubborn. In the end, he decided to lie to them.

When he came back after graduation, he even silently walked around and lazed in Sapphire Stone for a week. The first time he attended a meeting with his father, he was clueless. He only understood what a lay man would. And that was very little. He had not signed any document and things became stagnant, while he read the legal contracts word to word, with a dictionary on corporate terms beside him. After the second meeting, his father had a bad feeling. After all, he had not even shown his Masters certificate to them.

When he reluctantly pulled out a file, a big feud broke out between him and his parents. The university was what they expected but both major and minor degrees had nothing to do with running a business. Mathematics - Number theory was his major and Computer Science - Cryptography and Cyber Security was his minor.

After some shock, his father raised his voice. "What do you think you're going to do with all of this?" He shouted.

Ramit cowered a little but in an attempt to appease his parents, he spoke out slowly, "Papa, maa, I got a job. It pays well too. They even have a branch here."

His father was mad.

"Then what about the business?" She also shouted.

"Isn't Ria studying Design? She'll help you." Later on you'll marry her to a guy who can do good business anyway, he thought.

...

He called his wife again. She was more of the reason he had flown to Paris. Of course, it helped his business.

"Let's get lunch."

"I can't come. Packed up with work." She hung up.

He called her again later when the sky turned dark. He knew if he let her go just like that, many times in the future, she'd take shelter of being busy with her job to avoid him. In fact, it was what was happening already.

"Let's grab dinner."

"But I already had."

He pulled away his phone from his ear and the screen lit up showing time in one corner. It was 7:20.

"Okay, I'll come to your office." He knew where her office was. The corporation she worked for only had one branch in that country.

"What for?"

"... I'll drop you home."

"My car is here, no need." And there he was riding a taxi, he was just visiting after all.

"I'll drive you."

She did not reply for a few moments and cut the call.

He had a quick dinner and went to her workplace and waited almost an hour before she showed up.

"I told you there was no need." She said before he could greet her and they walked to the parking lots.

"Just give me the keys," he took the keys from her hand and pressed a button. The car blinked its lights with a sound.

"There it is." He took a few files from her hands as they walked to the car.

She sat in the driver's seat. He was at a loss.

"Let me drive... I said I'll drop you."

"Just sit there," she nodded at the passenger seat.

He was happy. But he'd be a fool if he felt too happy, he was unsure.

"Hm."

The ride lasted 40 min. The car stopped and she got down.

He was angry and sad, indeed. She brought them to a hotel. Again. And he knew she'd leave him there and go home and live her own life.

He walked away. He did not want that.

He put on his jacket when he sensed her car turn back. In the chill of the night he found himself in front of a bar. He sat there drinking alone and thinking back.

He had first seen her when she was just a baby. When she was in college, he confessed. They dated for a week. She had initiated the breakup and he didn't make a fuss. Then,

"My job might need me to work far away." He thought long distance relationships were sweet when he heard that.

"We can manage."

"I don't want to live with anyone." That sounded off to him but he was amused.

"How so?"

"No reason. I just don't like it." His amusement increased.

"Well, it'll work for me."

But those words, he regretted them for a year now.

The next morning he woke up with a hangover. He pressed on his head and remembered that he somehow stumbled into the room the waiter got for him. He didn't move and stared at the ceiling. Soon he fell asleep.

When he woke up again, it was 11. He freshened up and checked out of the hotel. He had some food in the bar's restaurant. When he was done, he saw the blonde waiter who helped him the night before. He called him for the bill and left some tip.

The waiter then said, "I don't know if I can say this, but don't delay your happiness because of just one person."

He slowly nodded. He drank quite a lot. He barely remembered what all he told this boy.

The boy kept searching his face. He asked with curiosity, "What are you going to do?"

"She isn't that unbearable. I'll go find her now."

The boy turned his lips down and nodded. He'll know when he falls in love, Ramit thought, looking at the young fellow.

...