Several months had passed since Kelvin took over the management of the mines, and during that time, changes had been implemented.

Not many.

But enough to be noticed.

The workers were still pushed hard, sometimes harder than they should have been, but at least now they were given time to rest. They received proper meals and enough food to replenish the energy lost during long hours of labor.

As a result, complaints had decreased.

Protests had become less frequent.

Although little progress had been made regarding the missing funds and suspected embezzlement, Kelvin had not given up. He had quietly assigned a few trusted men to look into the matter.

Back at the Anderson Estate, news of Kelvin's work at the mines had already reached Julius.

While he wasn't entirely pleased with some of the changes Kelvin had implemented, he couldn't deny the results.

Production had increased.

Workers' unrest had decreased.

For now, that was enough.

Julius sat in his office reviewing documents when his mother entered.

Mrs Kate did not sit.

Nor did she immediately speak.

Instead, she wandered around the room, studying the bookshelves and occasionally glancing at the framed photographs hanging on the walls.

Julius continued working.

For several minutes.

Eventually, her silence became more distracting than her words ever could be.

He lowered his pen.

"Can I help you with something?" he asked.

Mrs Kate glanced at him briefly.

"No."

Then she returned to examining the bookshelves.

Julius frowned.

His patience began to wear thin.

After another moment of silence, she finally spoke.

"Have you heard the reports from the mines?"

Julius remained quiet.

Mrs Kate continued.

"The workers seem calmer now."

She walked toward his desk.

"Not happy. But calmer."

A pause.

"They're resting more."

"They're eating better."

"And from what I've heard, Kelvin sometimes joins them in the pits himself."

Her eyes settled on her son.

"He's proven efficient."

Julius leaned back in his chair.

"And?"

Mrs Kate placed both hands on his desk.

"I think you should reward him."

That got his attention.

"A reward?"

"Yes."

She nodded.

"Give him some time away from the mines."

"Let Timothy or John take him into town."

"Allow him to unwind."

Julius stared at her.

For a moment, neither spoke.

Then:

"Why would I bloody do that?"

Mrs Kate's eyes narrowed.

"Because I'm asking you to."

The firmness in her voice surprised even him.

Julius studied his mother carefully.

He didn't understand her fascination with Kelvin. Since his arrival, she hardly asked about his missing son. He does not get it.

Not at all.

But he desperately wanted her out of his office.

And if granting a simple request accomplished that goal, then so be it.

Without another word, he picked up the phone.

His eyes never left hers.

"My office. Now."

---

Later that evening, Timothy, John, and Kelvin made their way through the crowded dance floor of a nightclub.

Music thundered through the building.

Colored lights flashed across the room.

The air was thick with perfume, alcohol, and the excited screams of clubgoers.

They eventually reached a reserved booth tucked away at the far end of the club.

Once seated, John ordered drinks for everyone.

Kelvin looked around suspiciously.

Then at Timothy.

"Why are we here?"

"Julius's orders," Timothy replied.

Kelvin frowned.

"Why?"

John laughed.

"Because apparently you've done a good job."

Kelvin looked unimpressed.

"Managing the mines was my job."

"Exactly," John said.

"And for once, the man is rewarding someone instead of threatening them."

Kelvin leaned back in the booth.

Still unconvinced.

"So this is my reward?"

Timothy smirked.

"For now."

Kelvin opened his mouth to reply, but their drinks arrived before he could say anything.

Something told him the night was only getting started.

***

As the three men drank and talked, Kelvin found his attention drifting away from the conversation.

The music was loud.

The lights flashed endlessly across the crowded dance floor.

People moved together beneath the colored lights as though the rest of the world had ceased to exist.

Couples danced closely.

Friends laughed and swayed to the rhythm.

Even groups of young people crowded together, singing along to songs that seemed known only to them.

Kelvin watched it all from the booth.

For a brief moment, it felt strange.

So much life.

So much freedom.

It was a world completely removed from the one he had spent months living in.

Mostly he would have been happy being here. But not with a company like John and Timothy close by.

His eyes continued scanning the room.

Then they stopped.

A group of women danced together near the center of the floor.

At first, he didn't know why they had caught his attention.

Perhaps it was their energy.

Their laughter.

Or perhaps it was the woman standing among them.

She wore a fitted dress that hugged her figure elegantly. Her thick curly afro bounced with every movement as she danced freely among her friends.

Her arms were raised above her head.

Her waist swayed effortlessly with the music.

Her laughter carried above the noise.

Something about her seemed familiar.

Kelvin found himself staring.

Trying to place her.

Then she turned slightly.

And his heart skipped.

Mabel.

For a moment, everything else disappeared.

The music.

The crowd.

The conversation behind him.

Gone.

His eyes remained fixed on her.

She looked beautiful.

More beautiful than he remembered.

Which annoyed him more than it should have.

Across the booth, Timothy noticed his sudden silence.

He followed Kelvin's gaze.

Then smirked.

"Well, well."

John turned.

His eyebrows immediately shot upward.

"Looks like someone finally found a reason to enjoy this place."

Kelvin ignored them.

Timothy laughed.

"Go talk to her."

"No."

"You're staring."

"I am not."

"You absolutely are," John said.

Timothy leaned back.

"You've spent months buried in ledgers, mines, and revenge."

He pointed toward Mabel.

"For once, go enjoy yourself."

Kelvin remained silent.

His eyes drifted back to her.

Mabel threw her head back laughing at something one of her friends said.

The sight did something strange to his chest.

Timothy noticed.

And smiled knowingly.

"Go."

After a long moment, Kelvin sighed.

"Fine."

John raised his glass.

"About time."

Kelvin shook his head and stood.

Neither Timothy nor John noticed the faint smile that appeared on his face.

Nor did they realize he already knew the woman they were encouraging him to approach.

Kelvin made his way through the crowd.

Closer.

And closer.

Mabel remained completely absorbed in the music.

Unaware.

He slipped behind her.

Close enough to catch the familiar scent of her perfume.

Close enough to remember exactly why forgetting her had been impossible.

Leaning slightly toward her ear, he spoke softly.

"Still dancing without me?"

Mabel froze.

Only for a second.

Then she turned.

Her eyes widened.

"Kelvin?"

The surprise on her face quickly melted into a smile.

A real one.

Warm.

Genuine.

The kind that made him feel unexpectedly relieved.

"Hello, Mabel."

She laughed softly.

"I thought you'd disappeared again."

"I considered it."

"Of course you did."

Her eyes moved over him briefly.

Taking him in.

Confirming he was real.

Not another memory.

Not another excuse.

Just him.

Right here.

The music shifted.

Mabel extended her hand.

"Then since you're here..."

Her smile widened.

"Dance with me."

Kelvin looked at her hand.

Then took it.

She pulled him into the crowd.

Soon they were moving together beneath the flashing lights. Their bodies pressed close together. With Mabel's back against Kelvin's chest. His hands on her waist as they swayed to the music. "His breath tickling her ear

Not saying much.

They didn't need to.

The music filled the silence.

The familiarity between them filled the rest.

For the first time in months, Kelvin felt something close to peace.

Eventually Mabel leaned in so he could hear her above the music.

"What are you doing here?"

"Apparently being rewarded."

She laughed.

"A reward?"

"Don't ask."

"I wasn't going to."

Kelvin smiled.

Another rare occurrence.

Mabel noticed.

And liked it.

After another song ended, Kelvin looked around at the crowded dance floor.

Then back at her.

"Want to get out of here?"

Mabel tilted her head.

"Already tired of dancing?"

"No."

His gaze held hers.

"I'd rather actually talk to you. Or we could do something else."

Something softened in her expression. She nodded toward the two men looking at them. 

"Company of yours?"

"Something like that. But they won't mind if I disappear for a little while with a beautiful lady like yours truly."

Mabel giggled.

"My place?"

Kelvin's eyes remained on hers.

"Your place."

Mabel took his hand.

"Then let's go before I change my mind."

Together, they made their way through the crowd, leaving the music and flashing lights behind.

For once, neither of them was thinking about tomorrow.

Only tonight.

Timothy watched them disappear into the crowd.

"Well," John said, lifting his drink, "looks like we lost him."

Timothy smirked.

"Good."

"Good?"

"It's the first time in months I've seen him look at something that wasn't revenge."

John cocks his brows at him.

"Shouldn't you be worried?"

Timothy smirks. "Not one bit."