Karen stepped inside her room in her beautiful duplex. The house still looked the same from how she left it, just that it needed a minor clean up session. She walked to to the window and pulled the curtain open, allowing the sun seep into the room.
She had arrived by flight some minutes ago and had avoided public eye. Though her situation with Jack had gradually died off, there were still some obsessed fans who were lurking around. The drive from the airport to her house had lasted fifteen silent minutes. She had taken the time to think. She was finally returning to Los Angeles after over a week and if not for her father who had suddenly showed up, she could have spent more days there.
She wasn’t prepared to see Jack. Infact, she would never be prepared to meet him, but she knew she would have to meet him soon. Frankly, she really missed him, but she would rather deny it. It was better that way. She was yet to come to a decision over her unborn child. Would she let Jack back into her life, or would she let her child grow without a father? She was yet to decide that.
She rubbed her hand on her growing stomach. It was now obvious that she was pregnant. She had added enough of weight, especially due to the break she had taken. She smiled, leaving her hand on her stomach. She was going to give birth to her child.
**
Karen’s friend, Ciara paid her a visit. Karen had informed her of her arrival the day she arrived, but her busy schedule couldn’t allow her visit. She decided to visit today, two days after Karen’s return.
“I’m annoyed with you. Why would you leave like that without informing me.” she chided, seating cross legged on the sofa opposite Karen. She was dressed in corporate wears, she had dropped off from the office.
“I needed to clear my head. I’m sorry for not informing you. I’ll do that next time.”
“Next time? There would be no next time. If you want to clear your name, you’ll do it here.” she replied, making Karen smile. She was grateful for having her as a best friend.
“By the way, your stomach is growing.” Ciara noticed, moving closer to seat beside her. “Gues it’s really real. You are going to be a mother soon” she added dramatically.
“You would be her godmother” Karen replied with a smile.
“her?”
“Yes. I want a girl.” Karen replied. “I’d name her Stephanie” She added, looking dreamily.
“You’ll probably give birth to a junior Jack.” her smile was wiped from her face. Ciara noticed the change in her mood so she quickly added “Not a junior Jack, just a boy.”
“I want a girl, and that’s final” She replied and Ciara raised her hands in surrender. They continued their discussion, moving from the pregnancy to Ciara’s non existent love life and everything that was going on in the celebrity circle. She had deliberately avoided talking about her stay in New York. She wanted to keep it to herself, but on a second thought, she decided to spill. Ciara had taken her as a sister and she was the only one who could advise her on the right thing to do.
“I ran into my dad.” She spilled in the middle of their conversation.
“What!” the shock on Ciara’s face was as evident as the sun in a hot day. Ciara studied her expression and when she saw no iota of joke on it, she muttered slowly, “That’s bad.”
“When did this happen?” she asked, after a minute of silence. Karen went on to explain everything to her and she listened attentively. Karen broke into her round of tears after her narration and she patted her back slowly, consoling her. Karen had already told her about her father’s disappearance and how she wished to see him again.
“Is that why you came back?” she asked, her hand on Karen’s hair, patting it slowly. She nodded in affirmation and they remained in silence. Ciara let her cry all she needed to. She wanted a shoulder to lean on, and she was going to be that.
“Don’t worry. Everything is going to be alright.” she encouraged.
***
“Sir, the lady is now in Los Angeles. She left two days ago.” one of Roy’s men informed him. He had ordered him to keep an eye on his daughter, Karen.
“I’ll need you to travel to Los Angeles and spend a week. Make sure she’s safe before coming back.” he had finally gotten to meet her after so many years. He wasn’t prepared to let her slip out of his sight again. He was going to protect her, even though she hated him now.
“How is the Italian consignment going?” he asked the second man in the room.
“Everything is settled. The Italians would be flying in tomorrow. We are expected to close the deal then and finalize everything.” the man informed him and he nodded in understanding. He was now the leader of the organization, and this was just one of his duties. It’s been over a week since Damian left. Though they felt an instant blow, they were quick to adjust to life without him.
Harry sat on his favorite chair in his sitting room, his face hard and emotionless. He had officially had his first heartbreak, and he couldn’t blame her for it. He blamed her parents, and somehow, he blamed himself too. He stared at his drink cabinet before dispeling the urge to drink. He wasn’t going to get drunk going over a girl that had left his life forever. He had driven her to the airport that morning and from her disposition, he could see that she was very happy. Her face was lit up in smiles as she chattered on in the car. Her mood had improved from that night where she had broken the information to him. Though he himself was sad about the whole thing, he was still happy for her.
“I guess this is where we say goodbye forever.” he stood beside in car at the airport while she stood with her luggages.
“I guess so.” her tone was gay.
“Is there anything I can do to change your mind and make you go home with me?” She laughed at the statement. He knew it was impossible. It was already too late. She moved into his arms in a warm embrace for few seconds before moving out.
“Promise me something.” She held his hands in her’s as they locked gazes.
“What?”
“Promise me you would fall in love again.” she replied and he turned cold. He removed his hands from her’s, unable to meet her eyes again.
“I can’t promise you that.” He replied. He wasn’t plan on falling in love anytime soon.
“Why?” her voice was breaking again. “I want you to be happy” she held his face in her hand, enchanting him with her beautiful eyes.
The departure announcement rang out through the multiple speakers and they broke their gaze. She hugged him for one last time “I still love you.” she muttered against his chest before pushing her box inside the airport hall. He stood and watch her back before disappeared into the busy hall, and then and there, he knew he had lost her forever.
He Shaked his head, trying to clear his mind of the memory. He turned on the music speakers, going through his list of songs before settling for a sad heartbreak song. He smiled as the song started playing, burying himself in the chair.
Jack placed back and forth in his room. It has been over a week since Karen returned, and he was yet to meet with her, even once. On many occasions, he had planned to meet her, but would stop his plan halfway. He still didn’t know if she wanted to meet him yet. He had seen her from afar on few occasions and she looked as beautiful as ever. She had added a little amount of weight and her baby bump was not starting to grow, but she still looked very hot. She had resumed modeling, but from the information he had gathered from her secretary, she was planning to go on a long break soon.
“Why can’t I just approach her?” he thought to himself, standing by the window to look at the city. “I had acted like a coward, and I ain’t gonna do that again.” he felt that with every passing day, he was slowly loosing her and she was going to learn how to live without him.
The thought pierced his heart deeply. He couldn’t afford to lose her again. He took out his phone and put a call across to his secretary.
“First thing tomorrow morning, book a meeting with Ms Karen smith” he informed her.
“Okay sir.” she replied sleepily. It was late in the night and she was already asleep when the call came in. She had woken up to the sound of her ringing tone and when she checked to see her boss as the caller, she immediately braced up. It was unlike him to call her in the night.
“Goodnight” he dropped the call, returning the phone to his pocket. Tomorrow was going to be a long day for him.