Elsie Blake was creating a fuss. She wants to go with her momma and Santiago said she could come along. Reluctantly, Charlotte let her go with them. The latter was too addicted to her niece.
When they got to the company, Patrick Connor saw the president walk in with a little girl of about three years or older and another woman followed, wearing long curly hair.
He was excited. He came back with his family, he guessed. He prayed silently that everything would work out well for him.
As Santiago sat behind his swivel chair, he pushed the profile before Aurora “A young company with little assets. Perhaps that’s why his file was removed in the first place. But I believe in fairness Aurora, especially new businesses who need our support…” he was saying.
Suddenly, Aurora’s face went pale when she saw the name. Patrick Connor? She looked further and saw his passport. He’s Adrian’s friend.
This man stood by her momma when her Papa died. She heard that he got into a fight with his friend because of her. Now he has started a business, isn’t he working with Adrian anymore?
“Is there a problem, Aurora?” Santiago demanded. Her face went pale and she seemed to look lost, staring at the file before her.
“Not a problem, Santiago. But a pleasure. Have him invited already” Aurora declared, her face lit up with a smile. She wants to meet him again. She’d looked forward to a day like this.
“Huh!” Santiago grumbled and simply pressed a button. His secretary came in quickly and he said “Let Patrick Connor come in” he instructed.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” Santiago asked. Aurora has so many unspoken secrets within her, secrets like who is Elsie’s father and why she hates to be acquainted with men.
Even Ray Grimard didn’t appeal to her, a man that many ladies struggled to get a glance from. He didn’t spare anyone a glance except Aurora but his sister hates men.
“I’m perfect” Aurora declared just as the door opened and Patrick Connor walked in. This time his palm was sweaty and he looked like he was afraid of being rejected.
He saw the back view of the woman and assumed she’s the President’s wife. At this time, Aurora was wearing a broad smile and she’s waiting for the perfect time to turn her face to him.
“Uncle, did you get me a chocolate?” Elsie interrupted Santiago’s stare at his sister. He doesn’t understand why his sister was smiling like a teenager.
“Sure” Santiago replied and fetched two wraps of chocolate from his drawer and handed them over to Elsie.
Uncle? Oh, she’s not the president’s daughter. But this woman is definitely his wife. Their picture was hung on the wall in the office, such a beautiful woman.
The few seconds that Elsie interrupted Santiago, Patrick used it to build his calmness back into place and felt alright again.
“Good sir and ma’am my name is…”Patrick began but was interrupted by someone else.
“Patrick Connor, a former employee of Lester’s conglomerate, an old childhood friend of Adrian Lester, and a very good friend of Ava Leon” Aurora declared.
Patrick Connor went speechless.
Not for the details of himself but the voice that read that out. It’s too familiar for him to forget the sound of that voice.
He was dazed and fixed his gaze on the back view of the woman. Who is she, and how did she know those details about him? Those were not included in his profile but they are true.
Santiago Blake sighed softly. Oh, he used to be her friend. Is she ready to unveil her new identity to the people in her past? Well, she said a friend of Ava Leon. That means she trusted him.
Aurora stood up and gently turned herself to face Patrick Connor…. When Patrick saw the face of the woman who stared back at him, fear gripped him.
His complexion turned pale as if he was drained of blood and the file he was holding slipped off his hand unknowingly. He moved a step backwards and his heart seemed like it was going to jump out of his rib cage.
His hands trembled and he couldn’t utter a word. She’s dead. No Ava Leon is dead. She can’t possibly be the one staring at him at the moment. He subconsciously placed his hands on his chest but didn’t remove his gaze from her.
Aurora saw that he was afraid. That he thinks she’s a ghost. Everyone in New Jersey thinks that she’s dead. Her parents had thought that she had died back then too.
Just how many times will she be dead in this life and yet, she was still breathing. Now, Patrick seemed like he’d seen a ghost staring at him.
“Wow…”Santiago chimed before continuing “Patrick Connor, this is Aurora Blake my sister and it appears that you’ve met her before with a different identity, Ava Leon”
Santiago’s words seemed to work on Patrick Connor but yet, he couldn’t bring himself to say anything yet. She’s alive, the tomb was there with fake ashes?
“Patrick” Aurora called and she got emotional. Within seconds, Patrick remembered Ava Leon and the life she lived when she was in Lester’s mansion.
But seeing how gorgeous and elegant she is now, he saw the difference. The memory of the night she was caught in the storm, his fury and outburst on Adrian, everything makes his eyes go moist.
He was still standing transfixed at the point when Aurora got to him and he gripped her and hugged her tightly. He really shed a few tears while on Ava’s shoulders.
“I thought you were gone, Ava. I was mad with Adrian. There was a funeral and…” Patrick paused, holding Aurora so tight as if she would disappear from him again.
“I missed you Patrick,”Aurora sniffled. “I missed you and we all missed you Ava” Patrick replied. They both didn’t know how long they were holding each other until Elsie’s voice made them pause.
“Mommy, is this uncle my daddy?” Elsie asked in her tiny voice. She saw how happy her Mommy was when she saw this uncle. Maybe he is her daddy.
Mommy? Patrick gently pulled away from Ava and glanced at the little girl. Something struck him as he stared at the girl. What is going on?