Why Him?

CHAPTER 20

Roger POV

I couldn’t believe my own eyes. She is standing right in front of me. After twenty years, we finally met again. I can’t be mistaken. It was her. The only woman that I loved other than my wife. 

She might be aged a bit, but she is still as beautiful as I remembered her last time we met.

After being my personal assistant for just one week, she decided to leave. The day she left my company, it tore me apart. I am starting to lose myself. I missed her, but I had no luck in finding her. It almost seems like she vanished into thin air. Which is impossible. People can’t just disappear like that. I’ve hired the best private investigator in New York to look for her, but he came back to me with nothing. One day, I even came to the conclusion that she might get killed by a serial killer, and they buried her body in the woods.

I spent most of my time drinking. I stopped going to the office because every time I entered my room, it would bring back my memory of her. I was a fool to let her go that easily. I should’ve stopped her that day. It was rare for me to have such a deep feeling towards a woman.

“Fallon?..” I said, flabbergasted, dropping my hands from that brat collar. “Mr. Finley?” Fallon said in reply. It seems like she was also surprised to see me. Words seemed to get stuck in her throat after that. We both just stared at each other. I then looked alternately between her and Gideon. This can’t be.

“Mom, I can handle this. Go inside.” He said. My eyes widened at his word. Mom? Then a flash of memory suddenly came back to the back of my mind. I once played with Gideon when he was little. I just never thought that he was the same Gideon that I knew from before. He had grown up. I could barely recognize him.   

Gideon’s eyes went back to me, and he knitted his brows in confusion. “Mr. Finley? Is something wrong?” he asked me. I took a step back from him and went back to Kiara. “Kiara, let’s go!” I said, grabbing her hand. “Mr. Finley, wait!” I heard Fallon call me from behind, but I ignored her.

I dragged her with me and pushed her into the car with me. Gideon was about to stop me, but he did nothing when I threw him a warning glare.

I slowly massage my temple after our car drives away. “Dad, what the hell is going on back there? Why did you run away? How did you know Mrs. Barlowe?” Kiara threw a lot of questions at me.

I am still not sure what to do next, and I don’t want to tell Kiara yet about our history. “We just happen to know each other,” I replied to her, eyes looking out the window.

Come to think of it. I can’t believe Gideon is the same kid that ate ice cream with me that time. I cared about him as if he was my own son. Not that I was after his mom, but because he was a smart kid. I’ve always wanted a son to inherit my company. But I never got a chance because my wife died before it could happen. But God still loves me. I was blessed with an amazing daughter like Kiara. I know that she was capable of running the company by now, even without me.

My love story with Fallon might be short, but it seems like fate brought us back together. Kiara nudges my hand, snapping me out from my train of thought. “I know you both know each other, but how? And dad, please don’t hurt Gideon anymore. He saved me from getting raped by Nolan last night.” Kiara told me. She managed to grab my attention back.

“What did you say? Nolan raped you? He told me that Gideon hit him because he was jealous when he saw you both kissing at the rooftop.” Her jaw dropped after hearing my words.

“That’s bullshit!? He ripped my clothes and forced himself on me last night. If it wasn’t for Gideon, I would not be a virgin anymore by now.” She explains to me. A pang of guilt suddenly came to me. So this Gideon might not be that bad. Maybe I misjudged him because of his look.

“He didn’t try to do anything stupid to you last night?” I c****d an eyebrow while analyzing her face. She let out a defeated sigh at me. “No, dad…Nothing happened between us last night.” She firmly confirmed to me.

“That’s good… You better stay away from him.” I then warned her.

“But, dad?! I don’t understand…Why I can’t meet him?” she argued with me. The car slowed to a stop. We’d already reached our home.

“It’s an order, Kiara. No more questions. End of discussion.” I said, getting off the car before her.

**************

Kiara POV

It’s been two days since that incident at the hotel. Gideon didn’t do anything wrong, but dad still didn’t let me see him again. This isn’t fair. I missed him a lot, and it hurt. We were still talking over the phone occasionally, but it wasn’t enough. I want to see him in person. Looking into his eyes while feeling the warmth radiating from his body as we walk hand in hand.

Dad has already cut ties with Uncle Richard and Nolan. I was with him when dad confronted them at the hospital. Dad is being understanding to not punch Nolan in the face because he was still a patient.

Nolan begged for my forgiveness while clutching to my feet, but I could never forgive him for his wrongdoing. I am glad I could finally get out of this stupid wedding. I was kind enough to not broadcast this incident to the whole world. It would ruin their company reputation if this news leaked out about their CEO being a rapist. Uncle Richard sent Nolan to handle their LA branch out of New York.

That’s the first time I saw him that embarrassed by his own son. Last night I overheard him calling dad, but the situation between them is still heated. They seemed to argue over the phone. 

I was just finished taking a bath when I saw my phone vibrating on top of my bed. My lips curved a smile as I saw Gideon’s name flashing on the screen. I made myself comfortable, sitting on my bed before I answered his call. “Hi…” I answered. “Are you asleep yet?” He said from the other side. Oh God. I felt all mushy inside just by hearing his deep voice. “No, Just finished taking a bath,” I replied, smiling to myself.

“Stay late at the office again today?” He asked me, sighing deeply. “Yup,” I answered weakly. “I wish you were here,” I added while staring at my bedroom ceiling. This room suddenly felt too big and lonely for me.

“Look down from your window.” Gideon suddenly said. I jumped off the bed and ran towards the window. I saw Gideon in the garden. He looked up and waved at me. I felt tired from working all day long, but all of it vanished the moment I saw him. “What are you doing down there?” I said through the phone, but not loud enough because dad’s room was right beside mine. “It's been too long since the last time I saw you. I missed you.” He said, his eyes still looking up at me. “How can you be more beautiful after a week?” Gideon asked, smiling at me. “I missed you too,” I replied, blushing. He lifted one finger and mouthed, ‘wait there.’

He then went to the side. I had no idea what he was about to do because I couldn’t see him. After five minutes, he came back with a rope. He threw the rope up until it reached my window.

Don’t tell me? He wanted to climb up here? He must be joking.

“Hold them for me.” He said from downstairs, half whispering. My heart picked up its pace as I tied the rope onto my bed. I gave him a cue after I was sure it was secure enough for him to climb up.

I saw him slowly climbing up with ease as if this wasn’t the first time for him. I grabbed his hand the moment I could reach him and helped him to enter my room through the window.

“You did it!” I jumped in excitement after he safely landed in my room. He hugged me tightly, wrapping his strong arms around me. He leaned down and was about to kiss me, but then I realized something. “Wait…” I said, then went towards the door to lock them. I can’t risk dad storming into my room uninvited.

“Done, now we can—“ he suddenly spun me around and captured my lips with his before I could finish my word.