Drip Coffee

‘The online world of glamour, desecration, and anonymous identities are having a field day over the leakage of photos with two entirely different stories of the same protagonist. One is that of a senate representative, holding the wrists of a fellow politician's wife. Second are the seemingly intimate photos of the infamous public servant and a rising actress. The protagonist in question? Soren Iversen.’

“That one social media post has already garnered almost half a million likes ever since the time it was posted, which was just a few hours ago. I know you’re not in a good place right now, Mr. Iversen, but I hope you would at least consider not damaging your reputation anymore than it already is.”

“I didn’t expect you to have so much concern for me, Lewis.”

Soren disregarded the frantic back and forth of his secretary in front of him, proceeding to the kitchen to brew some coffee for his hangover. 

“Please take this seriously if you still want to run for re-election next term. We can release a statement mentioning the legal repercussions of the slander against your name, including the accusations regarding you being a third-party-”

“Lewis,” he took the cup from the machine, feeling the heat radiating from it, mind wandering towards the root of his secretary’s distress. “I’d actually prefer not to release anything. I do care about the job even if it may not seem like it. The critics can provide their unsolicited opinion on my private life but the proof of my competence and dedication should be enough to deflect them. I’ll just do what I always do.”

The man can only massage his temples. Soren let out a little smile before taking a sip, having known that he got his secretary’s agreement.

“Alright, if you say so…” an awkward pause made him look back at Lewis.

“What? Got any more argument up your sleeve?”

He put down his cup at the counter table, directing his attention to the man. Lewis was fiddling with the cufflinks on his sleeve. A few more moments, a sigh finally left his lips before speaking up.

“I did not want to overstep my boundaries so I have been hesitating… but for once, not just as your secretary but also as a confidant, I’d like to remind you that you’re waiting for a married woman. I don’t have to list all the problems that come with that, do I?”

Soren very well knows the price that comes with loving the woman of another man, but he could not bring himself to end the only relationship that kept the honest, vulnerable, and truest parts of him. 

“Please refrain from seeing her, it would do you no good, especially at a time like this.” He drank some more of the beverage while listening, savouring the warmth on his stomach. “If it weren’t for Ms. Sabine, your name would definitely go up in flames, and you wouldn’t have even been able to go home without a scratch.”

He pressed the cup on his lips while thinking. Sabine? He does not recall ever encountering someone with the name.

“Who exactly are you pertaining to?” he asked, brows raised.

Lewis only stared at him with his mouth parted. Is this person so significant to warrant such a reaction from him? Soren cluelessly thought.

“Sabine Aria is the reason why there are still some positive comments about you, her fans are defending your name. Some speculate that you and Victoria just happened to cross paths. Since most of the images were captured outside the restaurant, your interaction with Sabine is garnering attention. It was also her who called me to take you home.”

A woman helped her? He could only remember Victoria. He drank a little too much and his memories are in a haze. She came to the restaurant wherein he tried to express how he truly feels. There is a blurry image of him chasing after her back. Then there was a pause, a moment of silence between them. 

The alcohol did make him lose all his inhibitions, it was effective in that regard. Nevertheless, it was not able to numb the pain in his chest. His heart still aches for her. Unfortunately for him, she has a number one priority, and he falls at the end of the list. She couldn’t even stay and listen.

Now that he thinks about it–there is a different face flashing in his memories. Could that be who Lewis is referring to?

Soren looked out the floor to ceiling window of his condominium. 

“Is that so?” 

He took his coffee to the couch where he opened his laptop to go over his work.