61

Jennifer.
“Hey Carl?! Walk slowly, I don’t want Jennifer to wake up!” Tomas frowned, pointing at Carl to shush him. Okay, I wasn’t totally sleeping; I just pretended. I don’t know why, all of a sudden, I was acting like a spy. Maybe curiosity truly killed the cat, especially after all I’ve suffered. The air hung heavy with unspoken anxieties, a silent tension that vibrated between the three of them. The hushed tones and furtive movements felt like a scene from a clandestine operation, rather than a simple nighttime excursion. My heart pounded a nervous rhythm against my ribs, a counterpoint to the slow, deliberate steps echoing in the hallway. The darkness seemed to press in, amplifying the sense of danger and intrigue.
“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 Tomas, his voice laced with genuine concern. I admitted to myself, silently, that I loved this man like a father. He was so kind, so incredibly supportive, and he had helped me through so much. I couldn’t deny the deep affection I felt for him, even though he kept many things hidden from me. But that secrecy, I realized, was often a form of protection, a shield against the harsh realities of his world. The weight of his secrets, however, was a heavy burden to bear.
Tomas sighed, a long, weary sound that spoke volumes. “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 that she was just dreaming. I guess everyone is right; she is too innocent. Maybe that’s why I love her.” Tomas sighed again, a deeper sigh this time, one that seemed to carry the weight of unspoken emotions. Glancing back at me, he noticed my eyes were still squeezed shut, a testament to my continued pretense of sleep. The quiet intensity of his gaze sent a shiver down my spine, a mixture of fear and exhilaration.
Carl smiled, a childish, almost goofy grin that belied the seriousness of the situation. “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!” Carl sighed, his gaze lingering on me, a mixture of paternal affection and something more profound in his eyes. The depth of his feelings was palpable, a silent testament to the bond he shared with me.
Tomas’s eyes widened in surprise. “What?” he exclaimed, his voice a low, incredulous whisper.
Carl frowned and quickly put his hand over his mouth, stifling a laugh. “Shush. Don’t raise your voice,” Carl said to Tomas, his laughter muffled by his hand. He chuckled softly, attempting to control the volume of his amusement. “Are you jealous, Tomas?!” Carl teased, a playful glint in his eyes.
“I’m jealous! How did you fall for her, Carl? I thought that…” Tomas stuttered, rolling his eyes, a mixture of disbelief and playful annoyance coloring his features. I suppressed a chuckle, the sound a quiet vibration in my chest.
“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 fell for her,” Carl explained, his voice softening as he spoke of his hopes and dreams for us. His words were a balm to my anxieties, a reassurance that his love was pure and selfless.
Tomas blew out a breath, placing his hand over his chest. “Oh, thank god, you scared me. But I think that 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…” Tomas explained, shaking his head slightly, the weight of his responsibilities evident in his voice. The gravity of his words settled heavily in the air, a palpable reminder of the dangers that lurked around us.
“So what are you going to do now, Tomas? Step by step. Which is your first one?” Carl asked, his voice practical and supportive.
Tomas furrowed his brows, his mind already racing ahead, strategizing. “At first, we have to sneak out now and walk slowly without anyone noticing. We have to take the plane to my house. What about Amanda and Paul, are they sleeping or what?” Tomas asked Carl, his voice low and urgent.
“Yes, both of them are in their rooms. I commanded our men to watch them and pay attention to their every step and move,” Carl informed Tomas, who nodded in acknowledgment.
“Okay then, open the door for me, Carl,” Tomas ordered, and Carl walked towards me slowly, lifting me gently into his arms. I moved slightly, but I didn’t open my eyes. He was watching my sleepy face, his expression a mixture of tenderness and concern. As he carried me slowly to the limousine, the weight of his touch, the intensity of his gaze, sent a thrill through me. He placed me gently on the back couch, then took the driver’s seat, with Carl sitting beside him. The journey was a blur of speed and anxiety, a frantic race against time. He drove like a man possessed, his every action driven by the need to get me home safely. His worry, his palpable concern, filled me with a warmth that melted away the lingering fear. His desire to protect me, to keep me safe, was a powerful aphrodisiac, a silent testament to the depth of his feelings.
We took the plane, and I was almost asleep. I adjusted my body, and he covered my shoulders with his suit jacket, the gesture both comforting and protective. The flight felt like a dream, a hazy transition between one world and another. Finally, we reached our country, the sun already rising in the sky. He lifted me in a hurry, his movements efficient and decisive. He rushed us to our room and gently laid me in our bed.
“Welcome home, Mr. Tomas!” Carl sighed, a mixture of relief and exhaustion in his voice.
Tomas widened his eyes. “Thank god, Carl. I want to kick Amanda out of the house and out of my life too. But I have to wait until the DNA results come out. So do your best and make it fast,” Tomas commanded Carl, his voice sharp and decisive.
“Yes, Mr. Tomas. But for now, just keep your eyes on Jennifer and take a nap. You need to rest,” Carl said to Tomas. Tomas nodded, closing the door after Carl left. He slept next to me, looking at my face, his presence a comforting weight beside me. He leaned his head towards me, kissing my forehead and cheeks, holding my hands tightly. Then he fell asleep…
Few hours later, he woke up and didn’t find me next to him. He jumped out of bed, searching for me everywhere. He didn’t find me in our room, so he opened the door, running and yelling, shouting Carl’s name.
“Carl? Where’s Jennifer?!” he asked Carl, his voice laced with fear, his eyes scanning frantically for me.
“She was sleeping next to you, Mr. Tomas!” Carl furrowed his eyebrows, his voice questioning.
Tomas ran downstairs. Then he found me coming, jumping, and running with blushing red cheeks. “Where have you been, Jennifer?! I was worried about you!” Tomas hollered, his voice sharp with concern and relief.
I was shocked, my smile faltering. Then I stared at him, raising my hand to the air. I was holding a bunch of roses, hiding them behind my back. “This is for you, Tomas!” I smiled, my heart pounding with a mixture of nervousness and affection.
Tomas ran to me, holding my hands and hugging me tightly, kissing my forehead. “Don’t ever walk away from me. Don’t ever make me worried about you, Jennifer. You don’t know how much I love you,” Tomas said to me, his voice soft and tender, his words a balm to my anxieties.
But suddenly, Amanda and little Tomas arrived. “What are you doing, Tomas?!” Amanda screamed, her voice shrill and accusatory.
Tomas spun his head, narrowing his eyes at her. Then he turned his body, patting my shoulders. “Sweetie, go back please to our room and wait for me. I have something important to finish here with Amanda,” Tomas winked at me, and I nodded, walking upstairs. Seriously, I wanted to know everything; that’s why I sneaked and hid to see what Tomas would do or say to her. My curiosity, fueled by a mixture of love and apprehension, propelled me forward.
Tomas pulled Amanda’s arm. “Come with me; we have something to talk about, Amanda,” he shrieked in a serious way. And Carl took little Tomas to his room to babysit him.
Tomas opened his office door. “Close the door behind you, Amanda!” Tomas shouted at her in a commanding tone.
I sneaked downstairs to the office, pressing my ear to the door to hear the rest of their conversation. I was so incredibly curious, my heart pounding with anticipation.
Tomas walked to the window, giving Amanda his back. “Listen to me, Amanda. I’m not in love with you. But I’m waiting for the DNA results to come out; until that moment, please keep yourself in your room; don’t make me mad. So please be obedient,” Tomas frowned, commanding Amanda. His voice was firm, leaving no room for argument.
“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 Tomas nervously, tucking her fingers, her voice trembling with a mixture of fear and indignation.
She was totally screwed up; as a woman, I got the feeling that she was hiding something, and that little Tomas didn’t look like Tomas at all! My intuition, honed by years of observation, told me that something was deeply amiss.
“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,” Tomas informed Amanda, his voice measured and controlled.
And he left the office, walking to 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?” Tomas asked Carl, his voice betraying a hint of urgency.
Carl 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 Tomas, his voice grave.
“Okay, Carl. Now next step. Get me the wedding ring that I asked you to prepare. I wonder who I will propose to tonight. I hope that it will be Jennifer. But I still have to wait until the results of the DNA. If this child is really my son, then all my plans will be changed,” Tomas informed Carl, his voice heavy with the weight of his decisions.
And I was hiding myself back in the kitchen… seriously, I was definitely acting like a spy… but afraid to get busted. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic drumbeat accompanying my clandestine activities.
“But if so, then Jennifer will be totally hurt and harmed and shattered. You have to think about something else,” Carl raised an eyebrow, his voice laced with concern.
“I have no choice, Carl. But some pain could turn everything into white. After darkness comes the pure item with the clear blue sky,” Tomas said to Carl, his words cryptic and enigmatic. And he walked to our room.
I didn’t get what Tomas actually said; his voice wasn’t so clear to hear. But my instinct told me that he might break up with me soon and shatter my heart. The uncertainty gnawed at me, a cold dread settling in my stomach. The weight of his unspoken words hung heavy in the air, a chilling premonition of the future.