Chapter Text
Looking down at the file on his desk reading over it again, leaning back in his chair. Digesting the intel. His head spinning with the latest stunt of his competition trying for the same land as him. Grabbing his laptop opening his browser finding himself on his social media page again. Deciding to waste some time with the game that had helped him while away the lonely hours between his work. Opening his clan page seeing a new post.
"Can everyone give a massive welcome to our newest member Cornelia she prefers Lia for short. She has been playing the game for years, and has taken her time deciding on which group to come to after leaving her first group. Angie "
Clicking on the comments seeing welcome after welcome going under the post. A response to each saying thank you fr sent. Checking his requests seeing one from her. Clicking on her profile, opening up the page finding it locked down unless friends. Accepting it surfing through her pictures. Finding himself laughing at her random pictures and sense of humour. Scrolling her page finding an argument with someone over ancient roman policies. The other missing the point she was making and the validity of her point. His respect for her going up a little. Turning on the group skype. The computer beeping, opening it up reading through every thing.
"Noon all. Hope everyone is doing good today." Clicking send.
"Hey Caesar hows all in the sun? Found a nice show girl for me yet?" John's name appearing.
More coming through, his eyes seeing Lia writing.
"Really Caesar? As in the guy that bought the hotel. Because his ego hated someone else having it? Is that your real name or did you change it trying to re make the Empire? You are aware he screwed up...." A laughing head rolling from side to side.
Shaking his head laughing softly to himself.
"Yes real name, my dad loved the guy. I wish if i owed that place i would not be working every hour i do. So tell me Cornelia did you get your name after roman Emperors wives?" Unable to stop himself teasing back.
"No. It was my grans name." A smiling face with it.
Opening her profile sending an add request. Lia accepting it. Going back to the other, a message beeping through going back to the private mail.
"Yes Oh Mighty Caesar. How may i be of assistance?" Laughing reading it.
"I add everyone." Clicking send, before he could admit he was lying.
A few hours passing Lia wishing them all good night. Checking her profile seeing she was not in America, feeling his stomach sink a little. Shrugging his shoulders.
Over the next couple of years Lia teasing him everyday, with. "Good morning mighty Caesar". His response always. "Thank you Lady Lia". Getting closer finding himself spending hours in private chat with her, debating and talking over every thing. Tho avoiding work questions. Wanting to kick himself for lying to her in the beginning.
Coming on one morning reading the messages, feeling his stomach sink. Lia in hospital, in intensive care. Sending a private message to another.
"Hey C. Her mum came on to her chat. She has been fighting kidney problems, she is in intensive care. Her kid sister is going through testing. Finger crossed she will pass. Her mum has said, until she is out of intensive care she can not have her phone or stuff. As soon as she can she will message us. She never told any of us. Did she tell you?" Misty replying.
"I knew she was having some bad days. Thanks Misty." Hiding his ignorance of it all.
Opening Lia's private chat.
"Message me as soon as you can, no matter the time. Please let me know you are ok. I am begging you Lia, let me know." Clicking send before his logic, stopped his heart.
The hours slowly passing to days a week passing, still no message or update. Keeping his skype on 24/7 refusing to miss her message. Every beep causing his heart to stop, then sink seeing it was not her. Two weeks passing, sitting in his office looking out over the city below him. Hearing the familiar beep, looking round opening it up, his eyes catching a side chat. Clicking on it seeing it from Lia.
"All Hail Mighty Caesar! Can a woman not have some sleep without her Lord Caesar worrying so?" A smiling face.
Clicking on the call button on reflex. Lia answering the call. The light dim, his eyes taking in the plastic tube under her nose. Her eyes showing pain.
"Why did you not tell me? Am i not one of the people you trust and are closest to?" Unable to stop his pain getting out.
"I did not want you worrying about me. You have enough to worry over." Her voice hoarse.
"Well not telling me had me nearly booking a flight to you. I have been going insane worrying about you. Do not ever do this on me again, or i am coming over there and putting you over my knee!" Surprising himself with his words and open telling her.
Her voice laughing softly causing her to cough a little. Spending the next hour on video with her. A nurse arriving shouting at him she needed to sleep. Phoning her the next day, and the day after. The impulse becoming a habit, now two years on phoning her at least twice a week. Every call ending with a lump in his throat stopping him telling her, he loved her.
His logical mind telling him, he was 13 years older, in a different country. He could not ask her to give up every thing for him. Convincing himself she would want someone closer to her age.