When snow falls twice

Episode2

Chapter 2

SIA…

“Mrs. Lawson, your ride is here,” the shuttle dispatcher tapped me out of my sleep. I passed out in the airport after successfully landing in California. The cake that I bought to celebrate the news of my pregnancy had gone halfway before I landed.

He led me to a black limousine waiting at the entrance.

“Thank you. You can have the cake, Merry Christmas,” I handed the cake to him after he opened the door for me. Uncle Alejandro was sitting at the left, face buried in his phone when I entered.

“Six years and you haven’t changed a bit,” he commented, finally taking his focus away from his phone.

“Seven years,” I corrected him. We stared silently at each other, my heart racing as I tried to hold back my tears. But the moment he pulled me into a hug, it all came pouring down. Uncle Alejandro was my father’s twin.

The only thing that distinguished them was their height and the scar on my uncle’s face. He was taller than my dad, had lighter skin, and had a prized scar on his face. He pulled me away from the hug, patting my back gently.

“You must sit up, princess. Your father’s partners won’t hesitate to pounce on you once they realize you’re weak,” he said, taking out two dark shades and handing one to me.

“You’ll make your first appearance before the board members tomorrow, you should get yourself cooked before then” he added.

I sighed, unsure if I was able to fit into my father's large shoes. He’d left a huge hole for me to occupy, one which I would either seal or get swallowed by. We were driven back to our grand estate, silence prevailing until the car came to a halt in the garage.

“Is he the reason you chose to leave?” My uncle asked.

“Papi has…”

“No, your fiancé. Jamal,” he corrected. I sighed, rolling my eyes because that was the last topic I wanted to discuss. Uncle Alejandro always had his hands on information before they even got out. I was sure that somehow, he had already heard about it.

“Trust me, you’ll forget about him. This Christmas came with a lot of surprises, princess. Buckle up,” he brushed my hair before coming out. I joined him shortly after, taking in the air of an environment I abandoned seven years ago.

“Uncle,” I made him halt in his tracks. “How is she?” I asked. He only gave me a small smile, then gestured his head toward our mansion. “Go in and rest, Sia,” he replied before going into a second vehicle which drove him off.

******

After seven years of leaving my home for my father who married my high school best friend, I still couldn’t believe I would recognize every part of the house.

Aside from the new painting and furniture, everything else was the same. I made my way to the room which I once occupied. It was clean, just the way I left it. This was a life I was ready never to return to. Struggling for my father's attention with my best friend, Lauren.

I had myself to blame for constantly bringing her home for dinner and girls' night. Little did I know she was getting tangled with my father. When Papa made his intentions known to me that he loved Lauren, I found it difficult to take in the news.

But she was my best friend, we were all adults by then and I didn’t know how to not be happy for them. So I let him go ahead with his plans. Lauren was just nineteen, and her parents were ready to give her out. I couldn’t blame them either because it was a way to stabilize their falling economic situation.

I had no issues with my best friend being my stepmother until Lauren turned cold and bitter. It became a contest to get my father's attention. An unhealthy one. One I wasn’t ready to continue for the sake of my mental health. So I left home.

The rev of a car engine sent me hurrying towards the window. More cars followed in, and then the car that my uncle left with was the last to come in. I stood at the window, wondering what the matter could be until I saw the visitors.

The board members and my father’s partners.

The room to my door flung open and a butler hurried in and bowed.

“Mrs. Lawson, Chairperson Alejandro had asked that you get dressed and make your way to the board room. There’s been a call for an emergency meeting,” he dropped.

My heart sank, my fingers trembling as I moved away from the window.

“I…I’m not ready,” I stuttered,

“I’m sorry ma’am. But it’s urgent,”

*******

With every glare from the board members and my father's partners, ran a cold chill down my spine. There were twenty of them, sitting round the long table, bearing long, stoic faces. I was dressed to fit into the occasion, looking like the princess I was raised to be.

“Your father taught you a lot about this. Apply that knowledge now, princess,” My uncle whispered in my ear before taking his seat. I inhaled, darting my eyes round the table only to notice he had dropped a paper before me.

I glanced at him and he winked at me. A small smile crawled up my lips, which disappeared immediately after one of the board members stood up.

“I am Mrs.Allison, your fathers’..,”

“We know who you are Allison, go ahead with your claim,” my uncle interrupted. I scoffed, almost bursting into a peal of laughter because of how my uncle embarrassed her. Mrs. Allison didn’t seem to have taken it likely.

I saw the anger in her eyes before she spat her next words. “Sia Lawson has been away for seven years. She does not know her father's company. She can’t sit as our CEO. Aside from that, this document shows her father had a requirement,”

She raised a document, causing my heart to sink. I glanced at my uncle who looked unbothered. Then I looked at the paper he gave to me to see if there was anything to help me beat whatever Mrs. Allison claimed.

“Mr. Lawson requested that his daughter must be married if she wants to take his position. A date and deadline were given. Unfortunately, news has it that Sia here is single,” she said and tossed the file to me. I read it, taking in the words with a racing heart.

“You’re mistaken, Allison,” Uncle Alejandro said. He stood up, snapped his fingers and the board meeting door was opened. My attention was drawn to the door, parting slowly and paving the way for a 6-foot-tall man to walk in.

The stomping of his nearly polished Italian shoes was the only sound being made in the room as he approached the long table.

“Ladies and gentlemen, meet Chris Declan, Sia’s husband,” Uncle Alejandro introduced, throwing me into a world of spinning wheels.

*****

“Husband, hmm,” I blurted, sipping from my wine as I approached Chris who had been avoiding a meet and greet since we rounded up the meeting.

“Trust me, I am more uncomfortable with this than you think. I’m doing it because of your father. He was a good man,” he said. I forced a small smile because was still learning how to take in the news of my father's death.

“It’s just a marriage deal. We don’t have to be actual couples,” I stated.

“Yeah…no strings attached. Strictly…business,” he said, reaching for a handshake. I smiled, more genuinely this time as I took his hand. I turned to leave but stopped after the thought of my pregnancy hit me.

“Then I doubt you’d mind if I told you I’m pregnant,” I said right before turning to him. I saw the shock on his face before it was waved off. A small smile crawled up his lips.

“I don’t mind, Sia Lawson,” he responded.

******