Tomas.
“Hey Carl?! Walk slowly. I don’t want Jennifer to wake up!” I frown, pointing at Carl to shush. The events of the night weighed heavily on me, a profound sense of self-blame settling deep within. I knew I was the target, and if Jennifer wasn’t involved, if I hadn’t fallen in love with her, none of this would have happened. She wouldn’t have been noticed, let alone hurt. The killers sought me out, but she became collateral damage, an innocent caught in my crosshairs. And in a twisted way, they were right; her presence in my life was a stark contrast to the darkness that surrounded me.
Her angelic face, lying peacefully beside me in the bed, sent a wave of questions crashing over me. Why had God sent me such an angel? Why did she possess such an unwavering capacity for forgiveness, time and time again, after I inflicted emotional, mental, and even physical pain upon her? I was blessed, truly, while she was cursed by association with me. I had failed to protect her, a failure born of my own stubbornness and reckless actions. If I hadn’t found her when I did, she would be dead, and the agony of her loss would have consumed me, unleashing the torrent of tears I’d held back for years. She was my weakness, a vulnerability deeply etched into my heart and soul.
Throughout my life, I’d encountered numerous women, but none had ever affected me the way Jennifer did. She was the only reason I truly felt alive. My past was littered with mistakes, a misguided belief that I was in love with the unknown girl who’d sent me a letter in college. Perhaps the pain of losing my parents in the plane crash had fueled that yearning, a desperate need to love and be loved that wasn’t grounded in reality. Subsequent relationships proved that wasn’t the case. I couldn’t find that same connection, that same profound love. They simply weren’t the right love for me.
Jennifer, however, was my soulmate. Her presence had the power to melt my hardened heart, to evoke a protectiveness and possessiveness bordering on obsession. I would have killed for her, burned the town to the ground to ensure her safety. Losing her would shatter my mind, extinguish my hope for the future, and unleash a merciless fury upon anyone who stood in my way. Even now, looking at her, I felt a conflict of emotions: the urge to slap myself for my past mistakes, the overwhelming desire to whisk her away, to keep her safe in my arms forever. For a fleeting moment, I felt a submissive urge, a desire to worship her, to approach her with reverence in every word and action.
I snapped back to reality, noticing Carl still standing there, his gaze fixed on Jennifer’s face, etched with worry and concern.
“Okay, but I’m a little bit worried, she is still sleepy! She fainted and didn’t wake up until now! It’s midnight already. How did this happen?!” Carl asked, his voice laced with worry.
My own worry mirrored his, but her heartbeat was steady, suggesting she was simply in a deep sleep. I hoped to pass it off as a bad dream later, knowing she wasn’t foolish, but I had to try. I couldn’t bear the thought of her feeling unsafe with me, of her deciding to leave. The thought was unbearable; she was my everything, and I would do anything to keep her.
My dominant tone returned. Yes, I would force her to stay, perhaps forever, imprison her in my palace, or even force her into marriage and motherhood. The selfish thoughts disgusted me, yet love, I told myself, demanded sacrifice. No, I corrected myself, love wasn’t about selfishness. The internal conflict raged. I glanced at Carl, who was watching me expectantly, urging me to act, to protect Jennifer.
I sighed. “No, don’t worry, she turned her body many times, but I guess when she opened her eyes and found herself in the bed, she thought she was just dreaming. I guess everyone is right, she is too innocent. Maybe that’s why I love her.” I sighed again, smiling softly as I gently touched her soft cheeks, admiring her breathtaking beauty.
She was a vision, surpassing any Miss World contestant. Amanda might have been considered more beautiful in the past, but I suspected her beauty was artificial, a manufactured facade. My eyes, I realized, were only truly attuned to Jennifer’s beauty. Love, I mused, made us adore the object of our affection, flaws and all. We fell deeply, completely, embracing everything about them.
Suddenly, I felt like a poet, not the ruthless mafia king I was. Jennifer’s influence was transforming me.
Carl smiled, a childishly innocent expression. “You are totally in love with her. I’m so happy for that. From the first sight I saw Jennifer, I fell in love with her too!” he sighed, gazing at Jennifer.
My eyes widened. “What?” I exclaimed, startled. I hadn’t fully registered his words, lost as I was in the beauty of Jennifer’s slumber.
Carl quickly covered my mouth. “Shush. Don’t raise your voice,” he said, laughing softly. “Are you jealous, Tomas?!” he asked, his tone serious.
Jealousy gnawed at me, even of Carl, especially considering his declaration of love and Jennifer’s request that I call Carl “father.”
“I’m jealous! How did you fall for her, Carl? I thought that…” I stuttered, rolling my eyes. His expression made me lean closer, a teasing grin that made me wonder if his love for Jennifer was more than paternal, perhaps romantic. What would I do if he confessed? Kill him? But Carl was my most trusted confidant, the man who’d raised me, managed my business, the only man I truly trusted.
“Don’t worry, I fell for Jennifer as my daughter. I hope that someday you will fall for her and marry her. I wished that she could change the one I raised. I hoped that she could change you into a better person, Tomas. That’s how I fall for her.” Carl smiled, relieving my anxieties.
A wave of relief washed over me. I’d been on the verge of madness.
I breathed deeply, placing a hand on my chest. “Oh, thank God, you scared me. But I think one of your wishes will come true soon. Or maybe all of them. She throws her charming spells on me. She stole my heart and my mind. I can’t get her out of my mind even if she was next to me. I’m totally in love with her. But I have to do a lot of things at first. She is now in danger. I can’t let anyone come near her, I have to filter all the territories and the spies around me for her safety…” I explained, and Carl shook his head.
“So what are you going to do now, Tomas? Step by step. Which is your first one?” Carl asked.
I furrowed my brow. “At first, we have to sneak out and walk slowly without anyone noticing, we have to take the plane to my house. What about Amanda and Paul, are they sleeping?” I asked Carl.
“Yes, both of them are in their rooms. I commanded our men to watch them and pay attention to their every move.” Carl informed me, and I nodded.
“Okay then, open the door for me, Carl.” I ordered, approaching Jennifer and carefully lifting her. She stirred slightly but didn’t awaken. I gazed at her angelic face as we moved slowly towards the limousine. I placed her gently on the back couch, took the driver’s seat, with Carl beside me. The drive was a blur, my mind focused solely on getting her home safely.
The plane ride was uneventful, Jennifer mostly asleep. I adjusted her position, covering her shoulders with my suit jacket. By the time we reached our country, the sun was rising. I hurried her to our room and placed her in bed.
“Welcome home, Mr. Tomas!” Carl sighed.
My eyes widened. “Thank God, Carl. I want to kick Amanda out of the house and my life, but I have to wait until the DNA results come out. So do your best and make it fast.” I commanded Carl.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas. But for now, just keep your eyes on Jennifer and take a nap. You need to rest.” Carl said. I shook my head, closed the door after he left, and slept next to Jennifer, my head resting on her face, kissing her forehead and cheeks, holding her hand tightly. Then I fell asleep.
A few hours later, I awoke to find Jennifer gone. Panic seized me. I leapt out of bed, searching frantically. Finding her absent from the room, I burst out, yelling for Carl.
“Carl? Where’s Jennifer?!”
“She was sleeping next to you, Mr. Tomas!” Carl frowned, his brow furrowed.
Terror gripped me. Had I lost her forever? Had she run away? The thought was devastating. My love for her was so profound, it felt like my heart skipped several beats. My legs felt weak, unable to support my weight.
Even so, I had a plan, one that could be painful for both of us, but not simultaneously. That might kill me instantly. I couldn’t wait, I had to find her.
I ran downstairs, and there she was, Jennifer, bounding down the stairs, her cheeks flushed, a radiant smile on her face. She was holding a bouquet of roses, hidden behind her back.
“Where have you been, Jennifer?! I was worried about you!” I shouted, relief flooding me.
She stopped, her smile faltering, then raised her hand, revealing the roses. “This is for you, Tomas!” she smiled.
I ran to her, taking her hands, hugging her tightly, kissing her forehead. “Don’t ever walk away from me. Don’t ever make me worry about you, Jennifer. You don’t know how much I love you,” I whispered, my voice tender.
Suddenly, Amanda and my son, little Tomas, appeared. “What are you doing, Tomas?!” Amanda screamed.
I spun around, my eyes narrowing. I patted Jennifer’s shoulder. “Sweetie, go back to our room and wait for me. I have something important to discuss with Amanda.” I winked at Jennifer, and she nodded, heading upstairs.
I pulled Amanda’s arm. “Come with me, we have something to talk about, Amanda,” I said, my tone serious. Carl took little Tomas to his room.
I opened my office door. “Close the door behind you, Amanda!” I shouted.
I turned to the window, my back to Amanda. “Listen to me, Amanda. I’m not in love with you. But I’m waiting for the DNA results to come out; until then, please stay in your room, don’t make me mad. Be obedient.” I frowned, commanding her.
“But what do you mean by DNA?! You don’t think that my son is yours?! How could you? And why would I lie to you?” Amanda asked, nervously twisting her fingers.
“And who said that I don’t trust you? But according to the results, everything will change; you could say that maybe I will make you a part of my family officially,” I informed her.
I left the office, approaching Carl. “Get me the results immediately, Carl. I can’t wait anymore. Oh, by the way… Do you know where Paul Walker is right now?” I asked.
He coughed. “Actually, he totally disappeared in the middle of the night too. Our men can’t find him. I guess our suspicion is true. He is involved with the Russian mafia son.” Carl informed me.
“Okay, Carl. Now, next step. Get me the wedding ring I asked you to prepare. I wonder who I will propose to tonight. I hope it will be Jennifer. But I still have to wait until the DNA results. If this child is really my son, then all my plans will be changed,” I told Carl.
“But if so, then Jennifer will be totally hurt and harmed and shattered. You have to think about something else,” Carl raised an eyebrow.
“I have no choice, Carl. But some pain could turn everything into white. After darkness comes the pure item with the clear blue sky,” I said, and I walked to my room, my mind racing with the uncertainty of the future.