28 Paul?...

"Take a seat" he said pointing at the chair in front of his table. "I'm really busy so you have 5 mins." He said taking his seat on the other side of the table.

Agreeing I took the seat in front of him, "So I wanted to see you, because I need to know where I can find Paul." I requested

"Not gonna happen" he answers me.

"But it's very important!" I replied sounding very serious.

"Doesn't matter.... you guys parted ways years ago" He replied and began looking over some papers.

"It's really important, you must believe me." I pleaded.

"Paul gave me specific instructions not to let you two come into contact." He informed me.

"Okay.... okay.... can you at least tell me if he's alive?? And here with us?" I questioned with him hoping for a compromise.

"Well.... I suppose there's no harm answering that.... Yes he is doing well" Jay replied to me.

"Is here still here with us? I questioned again.

He looked at me confused with the question... "Well if he's doing well off he's still alive if that what you meant by still with us." He replied.

"...." 'hmmmm I really needed to know if he's in Atlantis...' "How about, you tell me where to find him and I'll pretend it was serendipitous." I suggested.

"Look you and I both know.... that I was always wanted you two to live happily ever after, but this is what you wanted years ago. I don't get why you want to see him now after so many years, what's done is done." He said still refusing to budge.

"Jaymesh please its super urgent." I pleaded with him again.

"..... Okay fine..... Tell me why it's so important and I'll see if it's urgent enough." He offered.

'He's gonna think I've gone mad if I tell him the truth....'..... I looked down as if afraid to tell him.... "I'm dying....the doctors said I have about 2 months, so can you please tell me" I lied to him acting as if I'm in extreme pain and began to cry.

"Ohhh my god..... I'm so sorry for treating you so coldly...." he replied in shock and began scribbling on a piece of paper, "here's his number..... If there's anything you or your family needs please let me know. He added handing me a phone number.

"Thank you so much....." I thanked him wiping away my tears and taking the piece of paper with both hands forcing them to quiver, and faking a sniffle.

"So that happened?.... what are you sick with?" he asked looking extremely sad for my fake condition.

"I don't quite know myself they just said there's something wrong with my body and it's deteriorating..." I lied to him.

"If you need money for any treatments or anything, please let me know..." he said offering help, it made me feel guilty lying to him, but it was the only option.

A knock came from the door, "Mr Patel.... it's time for your meeting." A female assistant informed him.

"Thank you Emma. I'm sorry Emilia, I have a very important meeting, here's my number if you want to talk or need anything, Take as much time as you need." He said handing me his business card and walking out with Emma.

'Finally I can clear all this confusion up.' I unlocked my phone, dialling Paul's number.

"Hello?" Paul's familiar voice answered my call.

"Hey...." I replied.

"Emilia?....." He questioned.

"Yeah.... Don't put don't the phone…." I quickly answered him.

"Why are you calling me?" He asked.

"Can we meet? I want to talk." I requested.

"I don't think it will be a good idea." He replied.

"Please?..." I desperately asked him, he would always do whatever I asked if I asked him sincerely enough.

"...….Okay...…" He agreed.

"Where?" I asked.

"I'll message you the location." He replied and put down the phone.

I began making my way out the building, waiting for his message to arrive. Exiting the building my phone buzzed letting me know his message arrived. Eagerly opening his message, "Café Nero – Stratford." His message read.

I quickly started to make my way to the train station to get to Stratford. Sitting on the train the journey gave me time to contemplate, 'Was Atlantis just a dream?..... It felt so real though….' I felt so conflicted, I was so excited to be in a world of magic but then I'll be losing my family. 'No point thinking about it before I clear things up with Paul.'

Arriving at Stratford I quickly made my way to Café Nero, I wonder if he remembered this was the location we broke up...… Arriving at the shop, I saw him in the corner on his phone, he looks exactly how I remembered, minus the leather boots and electrical sparks shooting off him. Quickly making my way in, I quickly sat opposite to him, giving him quite the surprise.

"Hi...….." I said hesitantly

"Hi…. … how are you?" He asked.

"I'm good I've just had one hell of a weird day." I replied.

"Ohh…. Well it's good to see you're doing well" He replied uninterested in what made my day weird.

"…Ummm... have you been okay?" I asked in return.

"Yeah I've been doing well, ohhhh and I hope you don't mind but I already ordered a drink for you." He said.

"Ohhh that will be fine thanks." I replied with a smile but he didn't smile back.

"So why did you want to meet me again after so long?" He asked.

"I just wanted to ask you something in person... Something's been messing with my mind driving me crazy." I replied.

"Thanks for agreeing to meet with me by the way….." I thanked him still smiling.

"It's no problem I'm free during the morning and afternoons." He answered still sounding distant.

"One Iced Lemonade and One White Chocolate Mocha with cream." One of the baristas shouted.

"That's ours." Paul said standing up to get the drinks.

Returning he placed the Mocha in front of me and sat back at the same location with his lemonade. "So what is it you wanted to talk about?" He said taking a sip.

"So this will sound weird, but have u heard of Atlantis?" I asked.

He looked at me totally confused, "Everyone has…. Mythological city that sank beneath the waves..." He answered looking at me totally confused.

"Then how about Arcanum?" I asked another question.

Looking at me even more confused, "generally in Fantasy Arcanum is like magic I guess…." He answered.

'FKKKKKKKKKK he's totally oblivious... was Atlantis really a dream?'

"Did u really ask me here, to answer stupid questions…?" He said looking pissed off.

"I'm so sorry, I just had the craziest day…. And I really needed to ask you those questions….." I replied as sadness filled my gut.

"I'm so sorry for sounding rude and cold...." He replied.

"Do you want to like… hang out for a bat?...." I hesitantly asked...

"...….." he didn't know quite how to respond, "Are you okay?.... you said to never talk to you ever again and now out of the blue you want to hang out?.....…" He questioned.

"Yeah....." I replied, suddenly remembering how I treated him after he broke up with me. "I'm sorry for how things turned out…." I apologized.

"I'm sorry too..." He also apologized, "Have you eaten yet?" He asked caringly.

"No I haven't….." I answered him.

"Do you like Ramen?" He asked.

"I'm good with any food…." I replied.

"…..Okay lets go get some food I know a place near here that's really good, but im not sure how their vegetarian dishes are though…." He offered standing up.

"Sure…." I answered with a smile.

As we both made our way out the coffee shop.