Page 16

He leaned forward, grinning, and added, “Lose control, huh? Actually, you should be the one to be afraid of losing it.”
“Me?…never…”
“How many times do I have to remind you that you are a bad liar?”
“I know how to…not lose control. I never lost it in 27 years of my life.”
He lifted his brow in astonishment, “Don’t tell me you’ve never kissed anyone.”
“I never did,” I said honestly, avoiding eye contact with him.
He put out a tiny giggle, making me irritated.
“There is nothing funny about it!” I folded my arms. He chuckled once more.
“Fine! Laugh at me…I am leaving,” I turned sideways and proceeded to my room.
But before I entered my room, I heard him remark, “For how long can you resist me, Vivian?”
I didn’t respond; I just said goodbye and closed the door.
But really, how long?
Who is waiting for their first kiss? Me: 🙌
So, I decided to post more frequently because…my exams are coming soon…and I don’t want to be bothered when studying.
I looked out the glass wall, down at the roads. I was fatigued, both physically and psychologically.
I’ve been looking for inner peace and contentment for years, but I haven’t found it.
Seven years ago, I desired money, power, and glory. And I hoped that with it, I would find peace, but I was mistaken.
I was still dissatisfied with my life, and now I don’t want money.
I’ve always known what would satisfy me, but I can’t seem to locate it. My soulmate is everything I desire and will continue to crave throughout my life.
I strolled up to my desk and took out my old diary, in which I used to write about my love aspirations.
Flickering through the pages, I came upon one in which I had written a little note to my sweetheart. And I read it out quietly:
“To my Soulmate,
I wish I could be in your arms right now, and all other problems would vanish because only you and I would matter, and the storm would calm down because I would find my missing piece because I would find YOU.
I exhaled, smiling at my letter to someone I didn’t even know; I had no idea who he was, how he was, or where he was. Did God even make one for me?
The letters and words were ancient, yet they still made sense to me; my partner was all I needed.
And now…I am married to Jaxon. Could he be my soulmate? I thought about it but could not come up with a response.
If my soulmate is out there, he will find me anyway.
A knock on my door interrupted my thoughts as I offered Jona permission to enter.
“You should leave for your meeting,” he reminded me.
“Yeah, thanks.”
Grabbing my bag, I left the office and eventually arrived at one of my restaurants, where I would meet with one of our clients.
With Jona following me, we arrived at a secluded room where our client was already sitting, and the meeting began…
As the meeting concluded, I stood up, shook hands with the client, and exited the restaurant.
As I walked out of the restaurant, I asked Jona, “Where’s the car?”
“I’ll call the driver,” he responded, and after speaking with the driver, he told me that the car would be here in a minute.
“Will you mind if I go get some pantry items? I actually ran out of them,” Jona pleaded with puppy eyes, and I couldn’t say no to him.
“Just give me five minutes,” he said, and I urged him to go.
As he went, I began going up and down the street until I came upon an alley, which stood out because of the faint cries I could hear.
As I moved into the alley, I noticed a tiny girl sitting with her back against the wall, one leg tucked under her, the other spread on the ground.
Her head was down as she wept, wearing a filthy dress with blonde hair.
I approached her gently.
“What happened?” I said, dropping down beside her.
She stopped sobbing and gently lifted her head; tears soiled her cute, innocent face, and those brown eyes looked very familiar.
Her gaze melted my heart, and I wanted to cry when I saw her condition.
“I-I…am lost”, she wailed.
Oh, God.
“And…” she said, “m-my leg…hurts a lot.”
I softly grabbed her cheek and wiped away her tears.
“I’ll send you back home, I promise,” I informed her.
“But my leg… it’s paining.”
I examined her swollen left leg, and when I gently touched it, she winced loudly.
Her leg was sprained.
“Vivian, what–” I heard Jona say from behind me, but he stopped when he saw that female.
I carefully picked her up in my arms, trying not to injure her, and Jona could tell she was hurt.
I carried her to the car and carefully set her down.
“To the hospital, immediately!” I urged the driver while sitting alongside her, and Jona sat in the passenger seat.
“How long has your leg been hurting?” I questioned her.
Sniffing, she murmured, “Since morning.” It was 1 p.m. now; how could she have endured such discomfort for so long?
“What’s your name?”
“Rose.”
“Your full name will help me send you back home.”
“Rose…Adek.”
It cannot be. Jona turned to face me as I spoke her name. I nodded gently to him, and he sat back straight, sighing.
I returned her gaze, “Is your father’s name…Jeff Adek, and your mother’s name, Lilia Adek?”
She nodded eagerly, her eyes light up with enthusiasm, “You know them?”
How the hell could she get lost in Florida while living in Alaska?!
“…yes.”
“You live in Alaska, then how come you got lost here?”
“I came here with my parents two days back. We had to go to the airport for our flight, but the airport was very, very crowded, and before entering the airport, I got lost.”
“Two days?! Did you even eat anything?!”
That was a foolish question.
She began weeping again and shook her head.
I gave her a side hug and informed her that I would bring her home as quickly as possible.
“Jona, find her parents’ phone numbers and inform them that she is with…me and that I will send her home soon,” I told Jona, who nodded.
“She must avoid any major movements for at least two days,” the doctor told me after I wrapped Rose’s leg.
“What about traveling in a plane?”
“It would be better not to travel for a day or two even if you carry her in your arms.”
I nodded at the doctor before exiting the room, where I saw Rose seated on Jona’s lap on a chair.
I gently removed her from his lap and instructed Jona to get some clothing for her.
I cannot picture a six-year-old child surviving on the streets for two days!
I suppose she’ll be staying with me for the time being.
I’ll deal with Jaxon, hopefully.
“Where are we going?” she said as I entered the car.
“To my house,” I said, smiling at her to make her feel at ease.
“But dad-”
I ended our conversation: “The doctor said not to travel, so I can’t send you home right now. You will have to stay with me.”
“Your parents are already informed, and don’t worry, you are safe with me,” said I.
“But…I am hungry.”
I offered her a sorrowful grin and said, “I understand…I will get you fed as soon as we get home.” She nodded in agreement.
It was quiet inside the car until she added, “I think…I have seen you somewhere.”
“Really?”
“You look familiar…” she trailed off, trying to remember.
“Oh! I didn’t even ask your name,” she said innocently, making me giggle.
“My name is Vi…Vivian.”
“Vi.. Vivian?”
“No,” I moaned, “only Vivian.”
“Oh.”
“Is that your house?!” Rose screamed as I got out of the car, holding her in my arms.
“Yes. You like it?”
“I love it!” she said, making me giggle.
I escorted her inside and had her seat on the sofa.
And I went straight into the kitchen to prepare something for her to eat because Jenny had taken the day off.
While I was making Mac and cheese for her, I offered her a packet of chips to chew on.
Jona arrived halfway through the cooking process, and I led her up to my bedroom after telling her to check on the Mac and cheese.
I know I order Jona frequently, but he is much like my sibling and doesn’t like it.