"One bottle of whiskey." Conrad asked the bartender as soon as he sat at the stool in the counter.
Couple of minutes later, he's already drinking the alcohol. Thinking about nothing in particular. He just want to let the alcohol take his thoughts away for a while.
The bar was too noisy and hype that sometimes, he's thinking that his eardrum will explode soon. Youngsters are all around the corner, doing earthly things that who knows what more could be.
"What a day." He sighed before he emptied his shot glass.
"Espresso martini, please." An order from a lady who sat next to him.
Conrad smiled at himself. Why do he heard a voice that is somewhat familiar to him?  There must be really something wrong with his hearing.
"Hey, Maddy. Long time!" The bartender gladly nodded as he faced Madison.
"Not really. It's just that I'm busy this past few days."
"Well I'm glad you pay a visit."
"Not at all. I'm here to get some drinks."
"Coming right up!"
The woman turned her gaze around as she waits her order to be done. As usual, the bar is still crowded.
Conrad emptied his glass again before turning his head to random corners of the bar. Then subconsciously looked at the person next to him.
A familiar colored hair caught his attention. Then he turned to her completely to have a better look.
The woman was wearing a black cropped top sando and a denim miniskirt. Her hair was loose and she's wearing high heeled booths.
Her face somewhat reminds him of someone minus the hair.
Maybe the woman felt that someone was looking at her so she turned her face to his side and there, their eyes meet.
Conrad smirked after sometimes.
"So you are partying after working at the restaurant?" He loudly asked.
"Excuse me, do I know you?" In a dead emotion, she asked without looking directly at him.
because of the amount of alcohol he drank,  Conrad smiled as he approached the woman's seat.
"I think it's not just because you want to party that you're here. I think you're also here to find your possible prospect."
"Excuse me, what?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Oh c'mon ... are we still going to fool around here?"
Because of what the man wanted to convey, Madison's hearing seemed to sting.
"You know, you're the reason why I'm here. If it wasn't you, my job wouldn't have been in a precarious situation. I wouldn't be overthinking about things I shouldn't be thinking about. If it weren't because of you,  I might have been sleeping soundly now! You're such a mess you know? Who do you think you are and you act like you are the richest man in the world? ”He said to the man without hesitation.
But instead of being annoyed, the man just smiled even more because of what he said.
"I may not be a man of the world, but it doesn't make me a fool not to know what kind of a person you are." It was an insult to Madison's side that only intensified her annoyance with him.
"Oh wow. I wasn't informed that you're a psychologist. 'Cause you are more of a psychotic. You're not just a fortune teller, you're also a great judge. Where did you study and that's what you learned?" She flipped her hair before crossing her arms. Squeezing her chest that makes her cleavage more visible.
And with that, the man's eyes go down to the particular part.
Not until Madison slapped him because of that.
"Immodest!" She said angrily before turning around and walking away.
Conrad couldn't keep himself not to swallow hard. Even though the surroundings were dark, he knew her face was red as well as he was.
That was unexpected. It was a strange feeling that he felt for that woman. it was as if a part of him had been awakened because of his simple glance at the woman's chest.
"That was the saddest part." He heard the comment of the bartender who had just been looking at them.
"I think. It was." Conrad smiled to himself. He don't think he can count on himself how many times he has offended the woman. And he really thinks he deserves to be slapped for what he did in front of her.
-------------
Madison felt lethargic when she woke up the next day. She was not in the mood to get up because she had fallen asleep too late. But she reminded herself she needed to get up and go to University and to her job at the restaurant.
She scratched her head as she got out of bed.
She went straight to the bathroom to take a shower and get ready.
After half an hour she went to the dining area for breakfast. Mrs. Carlson was not around but she already prepared her food.
After a quick meal, she went straight to the garage to get her car ready.
She cleared her mind before getting inside her car. It's been years and this is her last year in college. And everytime she's counting everything in her thoughts, she's getting more and more aggressive and lively.
The last four years in her life staying in Croatia, she had already set in her mind the goals she must achieve. And she's very proud of herself that she's already getting the peak of everything.
Soon it will worth all the hard work she puts into those years. It was the part of her  life she won't be able to forget.
She's an independent woman now. And a complete survivor who will soon face the world with her achievements in life.
---------
It's been four years.
Sylvia couldn't find herself believing that four years had already passed.
She put the documents down her desk. Taking off her eyeglasses and with a complete devastated look, she turned her gaze into Greg's side. Not willing to utter any word for a moment.
"Two hundred million has been missing in our funds from the past few months without any reports from the audit?" Greg's confused look at his secretary's face.
"Yes, Sir. And based from my sources, this is not the first time to happens for past few years." He bowed his head a little. Afraid he might be the one to face his rage in any moment.
But opposite was the man's appearance.
He looked calm and compose though his voice was a little rough.
Sylvia couldn't bring herself into the same matters that she decided to just stood up and leave.
She lost enthusiasm anymore. It's been four years and it was turning a torment for her to live everyday.
"Do you have any thoughts in mind?" Greg's voice break the silence inside her office. She was facing the glass wall for the nth time looking nowhere with dissipating thoughts in mind.
"What about you?" She tossed his question back at him.
She heard her former husband heaving a sigh before he stood up right next to her. His eyes we're following her gaze beyond the glass wall.
"I failed in everything, Sylvia." He said. She couldn't define if his voice were sad or regretful.
"You're not the only one thinking about that." She said.
They both fell into silence.
"I got the reports from the head auditor." Greg was the one to broke the silence. "We already lost a billion dollar for the past five years."
"And the person behind this?" Sylvia turned to him with a stern look.