The first good news of the new year came to him that morning when he got to the office, he had arrived late and wasn't even looking forward to having to go over the same process again, if they didn't approve this time, he was going to give it up and look for a better state in the United States to set it up, it wasn't his loss.
"Sir, it came,"
Armani said when he walked into the office that morning feeling fresh from his weekend away from work, yes, despite Josie ruining his time in Hawaii, he hadn't come to Florida directly, he changed his mind as he boarded the plane and had decided to finish off his time off in California, he only spent one day there but it was refreshing, he met with Reuben who had been too happy to host him.
"What's that?"
"The approval, they came and it is approved,"
"What approval? Wait the mining?"
"Yes sir,"
She responded in excitement, he had almost given up on that ever happening and it was such great news, he should be happy, he got what he wanted but, he wasn't happy, he just felt normal.
"Thank you, Armani, this is great news,"
"Yes, sir, but you don't look as excited as I thought you will be,"
"I don't know, I am happy but maybe because it is long overdue,"
"True but still,"
"Thank you very much for being the bearer of the first good news I have heard this year,"
"I am glad I could help but then, I might have to be the bearer of bad news too,"
She replied her mood changing so fast, it got him scared.
"What is it about?"
"It's Caleb, he left,"
She revealed.
"Caleb? He was at my house on New year's Eve and left the next morning, I spoke to him yesterday morning too, he didn't tell me he was traveling."
Rafael said, wondering if Caleb had told him and he had forgotten.
"He didn't travel, I knew he didn't tell you anything because you would have asked me, he left and I don't think he is ever going to come back,"
"That's not possible, where will he go?"
"I don't know but he suddenly decided he wanted out and he didn't even give me a good reason, I feel like a fool all over again but this will be the last of it,"
Armani said wiping her eyes, Caleb really hurt her this time, for her to cry in his presence.
"I am so sorry, Mani, I didn't even know he would do this, he didn't talk to me about it,"
"I know, I just, I am sorry, I shouldn't be doing this in the office,"
"Hey, it's okay,"
He said giving her a hug to comfort her.
"Thank you,"
She said when they pulled apart.
"It's fine, you can take today off and regroup, I am sorry you have to go through the pain again,"
"Thanks, but I can't take a day off, I will just spend it crying, it's better to be here at work than be crying at home,"
She said wiping her eyes with her hands, he gave her his handkerchief and she thanked him again.
"Mani, go home, even if it's just to cry, you have to cry it out, don't keep it in it's okay to cry when you are hurt,"
She looked at him as fresh tears started dropping from her eyes, he felt like hell and he wasn't even Caleb, was this it? Was this what he did to Nicole too? Of course, it was, he saw her cry, the day he told her about the divorce, he saw her cry, stayed behind the door, and heard her cry yet it hadn't stopped him, seeing Mani crying right now made him feel like hell, he wanted to find Caleb and punch him hard even though he was his friend, he wanted to beat him up for doing this to Armani.
"You deserve a beating too,"
The voice in his head said. He didn't argue he knew he did.
"I am such a fool,"
She whispered.
"No, you are not you are one of the strongest people I know Armani and I know you can get through this, just don't give up on Caleb yet, he is going through a lot,"
He pleaded on Caleb's behalf.
"Nah, I am giving up on him, I wanted us to do it together, get through this together so I asked him to come live with me when I found out they threw him out, yet, he doesn't think we can do it together, that's why he left, and I can't keep building my life around someone like that,"
She replied.
"I understand Armani, just take the day off, you can do anything, just don't keep it in, come back when you are ready, the others can do your job while you heal,"
He advised.
"Thank you Rafael, you are the best boss a girl could ask for,"
She said smiling through her tears.
"You are welcome,"
He said and Mani left, he felt bad, he wanted to call Caleb and give him a piece of mind right there and then but he didn't do it, instead he concentrated on getting the day's job done.
Rafael waited until he got home before he called Caleb, he didn't pick up on the first two calls but he did when he called him the third time.
"What's up, man? Where are you?"
He asked making sure to keep his voice normal and not give it away that he already knew he left.
"I am somewhere in the world,"
'Where is that young man?"
"Somewhere, what's up with you?"
"A lot, I got the deal,"
Rafael revealed
"That such big news, I am so happy for you Rafael, congratulations man,"
Caleb said, he sounded genuinely happy for him despite his own life not being his best right now.
"Thanks, man, when are you coming back?"
"I don't know yet, maybe next year,"