Begin Again

TWO DAYS BEFORE

Work. It was all Delano needed to get his mind off his father's little business. His eyes bounced off the list of actors who signed up for the audition that afternoon, and landed on his ringing phone. The ringtone was September In The Rain by Harry Warren and Al Dubin, arranged by Nikki Iles, a beautiful piano piece which reminded him of autumn leaves and a colourful array of wildflowers. The jazz tunes tickled his senses, rejuvenating him after a busy morning between paperwork and checking out the movie set. 

'Mother,' he greeted gently, resting the list on his table. Standing up from his seat, he walked towards the white Fendi Casa armchair and sat on its arm, leaning against the side of the chair. He was in an artichoke-coloured shirt and a brunswick green suit, his chestnut brown hair brushed up into natural waves. He would make a beautiful model if he wasn't a producer.

'Delano dear, did you forget your father's birthday?' Corinne's angelic voice sent a soothing calmness, her words however brought Delano back to reality. 

His father's birthday was today, of course. Of all important days, he had to miss out the most special one. 

'I'm sorry, mother, I did forget. I'm going to get him a gift right now, thank you for reminding me about it.' Delano grabbed his coat from the hanger and reached for his car keys. 

'Don't worry, I've prepared your father's favourite sponge cake with raspberry pavlova cream. I'm just outside your office.' She giggled a little. With that, Delano heard a soft knock on his door, followed by a little creak. 

Corinne sashayed into the room, with her peach Christian Louboutin heels clacking on the Macassar Ebony floor, shiny nadeshiko pink Louis Vuitton handbag on her shoulder, and a sunshine smile plastered on her delicate face. In her hand was a beautifully wrapped up cake, neatly put into a transparent glass box. 

Delano ended the phone call before hugging his mother. Corinne was always so thoughtful, especially when it comes to her beloved husband. She had something planned in mind for Flavien's birthday every year since they started dating and it never stopped surprising Delano the way his mother managed to make his father laugh. 

Delano filled his mother with the details of his new movie on their way to his father's office on the highest floor. The two of them strode towards Flavien's office, cake in one hand, card in another. Just as Corinne was about to knock on her husband's door, her hand stopped a few millimeters away from the piece of wood. 

'Aren't you still gorgeous? Just like old times, ' A deep masculine voice was heard, followed by a low protest of a female. 

'Come here, chère,' Then, there was a soft plump on cushion. Without hesitation, Corinne pushed the door open, only to reveal a scene that would be stuck in her head forever. Her beloved husband was cuddling on the couch with a lady with bewitching beauty, his hands held tightly onto her waist, whispering something into her ear. 

At the split of the second when the door flew open, Flavien sucked in a deep breath, his eyes drifted from the wide-eyed disbelief on his son's face to the tears glistening in his wife's eyes. The lady in his arms turned her head away, trying to cover her face in her coat of shame. All Delano could remember was those rare green eyes, pleading for forgiveness.

The glamorous cake which Corinne had been preparing for the whole morning fell onto the floor with a splat, the glass box holding it scattering into tiny pieces, just like the way her heart broke. Everything happened in seconds that felt like hours, no one could hear a sound, but all the dreams they had been building all these years came crashing down like an earthquake.