Savior

Chapter Twenty-two

Power walk, your walk becomes a “power-walk” when either you are confident about your win or you’re so angry to a point where the boiling energy is iterated by your walk. Throwing open the front gate, as my shoes touched the stone-made walkway to the entrance of the house, I entered my father’s abode which now belonged to his second wife and my step-mother, Amanda Simon.

‘Sole, to what do I owe this pleasure?’ She said as soon as our eyes met.

Standing there in her gym clothes, I was looked at in awe by her. That I hadn’t been home in a while, anyone could guess through her expression. ‘Sorry but I think your gym would be a bit empty today. We need to talk.’ I said and walked past her, straight into the living room. She followed behind and so did Ricci. When she eyed him carefully I told him to step out and he did.

‘What is it?’

‘Never as a child I was a fan of hide and seek, so I’ll come straight to the point. Have you met Luna in person?’ She didn’t flinch which I was expecting to. Either she genuinely didn’t remember her or she was a great actress.

‘Who’s Luna? And why would I have had met her?’

‘Amanda….’

‘How many times do I tell you to call me mom?’

‘You’re not my mother and I’m no child nor are you childless that you’re dying to hear the word from me. So let’s get back to Luna.’

She pulled a face trying to look upset but I knew wasn’t. ‘I don’t know any Luna.’

‘She’s the girl I was going to marry three years ago but you came and took me from the church. Remember now?’

Tilting her head she narrowed her eyes, as if trying to remember and said, ‘Ah! Now I do. That girl. So her name was Luna.’

‘Did she come to meet me?’

‘How would I know?’

‘According to her, she’s met you and asked to meet me but you told her I didn’t want to.’

‘Now you will believe someone who left you for another man.’

‘That reminds me, how did you even know that it was her with Jake Cortez?’ A sharp intake of air from her made it clear she was caught.

But she refused to give in easily as she put on a smile and said, ‘Sole, it isn’t quite difficult for people with money to find out about someone. I just had to pay the right person, and I knew it was Luna.’

‘Give me the name of that person.’

‘What?’

‘Tell me who you hired to investigate her.’

‘How would I remember now?’

‘Amanda, stop lying. I know she came here in this house and that you turned her away!’ The way my voice was raised, anger flared in her facial features.

‘I don’t understand why ask about her after all these years. What is she to you now? Huh!’

I stepped forward and said, ‘She is the mother of my child who died because you refused to let her meet me.’ Hearing that Amanda

stepped back in hesitation.

‘Who told you that? Are you talking to her now?’

‘So you did know that she was carrying my child.’

‘She was lying then and is doing the same even now. Listen to me Sole, it is all her plan to….’

‘To do what? Take my money? My business?’

‘What else would she want from you? Think carefully, she took you in when you ran away from home and let you, a complete stranger stay with her and was even ready to marry you. On the day of the wedding she ditched you because by the time your father’s faltering health and his failing business were all in the news. She met a richer guy than you soon after and started dating him. Do you really think she is trust worthy?’

I scoffed. ‘If she wanted my money, she would’ve been the one to suggest marriage not me. She could’ve left me after knowing I had no plans on becoming the next CEO after my father but she didn’t. She could’ve not had the baby or worse she could’ve sued me court demanding heavy compensation using child as the bait but she didn’t. All these years she could’ve blackmailed me for money but she didn’t. In fact, this time too I was the one who went to find her first. She was never after the money someone else was!’

‘Are you suggesting it was me?’

‘Why else would you purposely keep her away from me? Why would you not tell me about the baby?’

‘Sole, you have to believe me!

‘There was no trust between us but there was a line which stopped me from disrespecting you. Now I don’t have the choice but to erase that line.’

‘What do you mean?’ She panicked.

‘Pack your bags and find a place to stay somewhere else. You’re no longer allowed in my house.’

‘Sole!’

‘Don’t shout! This is still less for what you did.’

‘If I’m lying then where did the photos come from? She and Jake were together, you saw it yourself. Rest everything could be a misunderstanding but what about what you saw with your own eyes?’

‘I’m sure there’s an explanation behind it. I’ll ask Luna myself.’ I stared in Amanda’s eyes and continued, ‘And this time, I will believe her.’

Leaving behind a bewildered Amanda I drove to Luna’s house. She might not want to talk to me but nothing was going to stop me from clarifying things with her today. We were meant to be and I will make sure we I win her back, but of course not before apologizing for everything I’d put her through.

‘Luna!’ I shouted as I knocked on the front door. This time I’d ditched the window and Ricci was also left behind at my house to make sure Amanda had vacated the house. ‘Luna!’

A voice was heard and someone came to open the door. I was ready to face anyone from her family. Her uncle, aunt or Gina or even Dave but the person who opened the door was someone totally unexpected.

‘Jake Cortez’ ‘Sole Accardi’ Both of said at the same time. Out of all people what was this guy doing here? Seeing him made me think, so Luna did know him.

‘What the hell are you doing here?’ I snarled.

‘I could ask you the same.’ He said raising a brow.

‘This is not your house.’

‘It’s not yours either.’

His smartness irked me and I grabbed his collar, shouting in his face, ‘I asked what the hell are you doing here, Cortez?’

‘Just because you have a dog face doesn’t mean you have to bark like one.’ Gina came from behind him and grabbed my arm,

pulling it away from Jake’s collar. ‘Where are your manners, Accardi?’

‘What is he doing here?’

‘Now do we need your permission to call someone in our house?’ She said.

‘Where is Luna?’ I looked inside and Gina blocked my way.

‘She is not here. Even if she was, I’m sure she wouldn’t want to see your face.’

‘Why do you want to meet Luna?’ Jake, the jerk asked. I wanted to nothing but punch him in the face. I so done meeting Luna’s

lovers, all of them were worse than the other.

‘It’s between me and her.’

‘There is nothing between you and her. Leave.’ Gina tried to push me away but I didn’t move.

‘I’m not leaving without talking to her.’ I tried to step inside the house but Gina blocked my way again.

‘And I’m not allowing you inside.’

‘Gina!’ I warned but instead of her it was Jake who pushed me. Gina instantly came to stop him before he could push me again.

‘Babe, he’s not worth it. Let it go.’ Babe? I heard that and my face scrunched up automatically. Why would she call him that?

‘What did you call him?’ I asked.

It was Jake who answered. ‘Why now you have a problem with that too?’

‘Why would you call him that?’ I asked looking at Gina.

‘Because he’s my boyfriend.’ What? When I continued to stare at her, she continued, ‘Sole, you’re behaving really strange. Have you

lost it because Luna it getting married to someone else? What is it really huh?’

I couldn’t say anything. Gina was dating Jake. She was his girlfriend and not Luna. ‘Since when have you been dating him?’ I asked.

‘It’s been five years. Why? You like her or what?’ Jake asked. I closed my eyes and sat on the ground.

‘What are you doing? Sole?’ Gina said from behind me but my ears felt numb. My whole body felt numb. He was dating Luna’s cousin, so it wasn’t weird from them to meet up. That day when I’d seen them together maybe she was smiling because she was acquainted with him and…..I was a complete fool.

Standing up I asked Jake, ‘Three years ago, you were together with Luna in a golf course club. Did you know her back then?’

Lines formed on Jake’s forehead. ‘Three years ago? Why are you asking?’

‘Just tell me.’ I said with almost drained of my energy.

‘Gina and I frequently go to play golf, Luna has joined us a few times. I don’t understand why are you asking this?’

He might not have got it but his girlfriend did, for she came forward and slapped me hard across my face. ‘You saw them together and thought she was cheating on you, didn’t you?’ When I didn’t answer, she slapped me again. ‘Just when I thought you couldn’t be more disgusting. How could you even think like that? Thank goodness she didn’t marry you that day or she would’ve been ire of your suspicion all her life!’

‘Wait is he the bastard who left Luna heartbroken?’ Jake said. ‘Gina why didn’t you tell me it was him?’

‘Luna never wanted to reveal his name to anyone. Despite everything she still wanted to protect your reputation.’ My heart sank. I’d been judging the girl I’d loved so much and lost her only because of my own insecurities. What had I done?

‘Gina, please tell me where is Luna?’ I asked. Before she could say something Jake punched me in the face and then in my stomach.

‘Jake!’ Gina tried to hold him but I stopped her.

‘Let him. I deserve it.’ Just then I received another punch on my face.

‘Absolutely right. You deserve it, you bastard!’

When Gina finally managed to stop him, she said. ‘Jake enough. Let him be.’ She then turned to me and said, ‘She’s gone with Dave.’

My eyes lifted up and I asked, ‘With Dave?’

‘They are on their “Pre-wed-moon”.’ She said folding her hands.

‘Now what the hell is that?’ Both I and Jake asked at the same time. She looked at us and then shook her head in disappointment.

‘What generation do you guys live in? It’s a pre-wedding honeymoon.’

‘A what?’ I asked loudly.

‘Couples go on a short trip before the wedding to get to know each other better, resolve conflicts between them, and more importantly to calm down any pre-wedding jitters.’

‘That’s such a nonsense concept!’ I said as mind tried to avoid any unwanted images of Dave and Luna together.

‘Well, it is what it is and I think it will help Luna and Dave to build chemistry between them before they officially get hitched.’

‘So cool.’ Jake made an unwanted comment in between.

‘I know right. The wedding planner suggested it.’ Gina said smiling. ‘I think we should go on one too before we get married.’

‘Totally.’ Jake winked at her and I decided to walk away in disgust. Even if he wasn’t dating Luna, I still found it hard not to dislike him.

I sat in my car and thought what to do. Where should I head when there was no destination known. How do is stop Luna? I called

Ricci but he didn’t pick up. Then my phone rang.

‘Ricci?’

‘It’s me Gina.’

‘Why are you calling me?’

‘Pull down the window.’ She said and I looked out, she was standing there waving her hand. I pulled the window down and she sent a text to me. When I check it, it was an address. ‘She’s here.’

‘Why are you telling me? Don’t you hate me?’

‘I do which is why I want you to go there and see for yourself that she’s moved on.’

‘And what if she hasn’t?’

‘Then I can only hope she choose for herself wisely this time. I don’t want to see her in that condition ever again, which I saw three years ago.’ I turned on the ignition and she leaned in the window, ‘Sole…’ I looked in her eyes and she continued, ‘She was looking gorgeous in her wedding dress that day. I’ve never seen her eyes smile like they did back then, again.’ When she moved away from the car I drove to the location she’d given me, her words haunting me all through he way.