The Driver

CHAPTER 14

            It was incredibly beautiful to wake up next to her, and I looked at her and I could not believe there was such a beautiful and pure being. I considered myself lucky to have such a woman in my bed next to me.

        I gently got out of bed so I would not wake her up and went into the kitchen to make coffee. I had texted the maid not to come today because we did not want to be disturbed.

        I did not know how much she wanted to stay with me, but I was going to convince her to stay as long as possible. I took Zeus out into the garden because he was anxious to get out and he was already making too much noise.

-       Good morning. I hear suddenly behind me.

-       Good morning. I am sorry if I woke you up or if my unspeakable friend did it.

-       None of you had the honor of waking me up. I felt the smell of coffee. I love the smell of coffee in the morning. It is reviving me right before I drink it.

-       You are so beautiful in the morning when you barely wake up when you are still sleepy. I want you so much. I want to feel the warmth of your body every day. Do you want to have coffee here or do we go to the garden?

-       I would rather go to the garden. It smells so good out after the rain. I love spending time in nature, and you have a beautiful garden.

-       I take care of it myself; it relaxes me a lot and does not involve much work.

        After drinking the coffee quietly, listening to the birds chirping, Izabela left. Indeed, I had a beautiful garden. I had a few fruit trees and countless flowers. There were colors everywhere and their scent they were charming you since you walked in the garden.

        I also had a vine vault under which I had placed a table and four armchairs and behind them a large swing. I used to fall asleep in it every summer in the afternoon when I could afford to stay home. Since the scandal started, I had not been home much longer, and my evening with Izabela was a far too big gift that I could not miss.

        I tried to convince her to stay, but I could not. After Izabela left, I took a shower and went to the office. The investigation was not over yet, and the scandal was getting worse. I knew what all those people were doing in my limos, but I did not expect a murder to happen.

        Now that Izabela was in my life, I had to make everything work as well as before. I still did not know what her plans were, but I had to find out as soon as possible. I could not let her run again and I could not afford to lose her.

        I could have said for the first time that I loved her. I loved her so much that I wanted to be with her every day. She had become like a drug to me from the first day I met her. I just had to give her a good reason to give up her promise to live alone for the rest of her life.

        She deserved the chance at happiness, and I was her chance. I did not know how I was going to prove all this to her, but I trusted the destiny. If fate has brought us together at times when we both no longer believed in happiness and love, perhaps fate will help us stay together.

        I was not completely cured yet, but I knew she was the medicine I needed. I was hoping I could be her medicine too.

        My afternoon had been very busy in the office. Many papers to sign and then another visit to the police to give statements. They had exhausted me since the investigation had begun, and yet I hoped it would be over soon.

        The fact that a car of mine had been involved did not mean that I had committed the crime and yet they would call me to the police every day to give statements.

        Towards the evening, when I got home, I wrote to Izabela. I did not have any time all day and I was hoping she would not be too mad at me. After the fact that she had not written to me, I thought she had probably been asleep all day.

        She must have been very tired after the wonderful night we spent together. I felt more alive and energized than ever.

        "Hello, my dear. I hope I do not wake you up with this message if you sleep. I am sorry I have not written to you all day, but I have been very busy. I just got home, and I was thinking you might want me to pick you up and go have dinner together at a restaurant or at my house. I can still smell your perfume around the house, and I miss your presence here. We had a great night together and I was hoping to spend more. I wish we could talk, and maybe I could convince you to stay.

        While I was waiting for Izabela's answer, I decided to take a shower. I did not know if she would accept the dinner invitation, but I was still getting ready to go and invite her personally if she did not reply to my message.

        Eventually, I should have surprised her and gone straight to her hotel. So maybe she would not have had a chance to turn me down. After I showered and went into the bedroom to change, I noticed the bed being messed up.

        I forgot that I had told the maid to take time off today hoping that maybe Izabela could stay with me. I have had all the moments of the night before. I had dreamed so much and in so many ways what the moment would be like when I would make love to her!

        But reality exceeded all the expectations and fantasies I had with her.  I loved the way she kissed me, the way she stroked me, and told me she wanted me.

        I thought about her and realized that I could not live without her anymore. I took the phone in my hand and was surprised that I had not received anything.

        "You're probably still sleeping. I will wait a little longer, maybe you will wake up. I hope you're okay."

        I went into the kitchen to get a cup of coffee. I was a little panicked and worried at the same time. I had not received a sign of her all day and all kinds of thoughts were beginning to come to my mind.

        I knew she was very comfortable with me; I knew she wanted me, and she had feelings for me. And yet why ignore me? I had not hurt her. Maybe I had just been under illusions in the hope that we could have a relationship!

        I could not wait for her answer, so I went to the hotel to make sure she was okay. I did not know what room she was staying in, but I was going to find out from the front desk.

-       Good evening. Can you please tell me which room Izabela Matache is staying in? I have a surprise for her.

        I had bought her a huge bouquet of colorful flowers and a big teddy bear, bigger than me. It seemed like a classic gesture, but I was hoping to surprise her and bring a smile to her face.

-       I am sorry, but Mrs. Izabela left the room today around eleven o'clock.

-       That is not possible! Check again, please. She told me she would be here for another week.

-       That is right, she had a reservation for another week, but she canceled everything in the morning, and she left.

-       Do you know if she went to another hotel?

-       I am sorry, but I cannot help you with that kind of information. I just know she asked me to call for a cab and she left.

-       Can you please tell me the taxi company you called and if you can also remember the car number?

        After finding out all the information I rushed to the taxi company to find out where the driver had taken Izabela. I left the flowers and the teddy bear I bought for Izabela to the lady at the reception. She deserved it, she was nice to give me so much information and seemed far too tired.

        I was glad to see her smiling when she took the bouquet of flowers from my arms. I was going to buy Izabela another gift. Anyway, I think the flowers would have withered in my attempt to find Izabela.

        I was finally able to find out where Izabela had gone. She went to the airport. I was already getting desperate and I did not understand why she did not say she was going to leave. I tried to call her several times, but every time the voicemail enters. I was standing in front of the airport and I could not believe I lost her again.

        Not now that we have spent an unforgettable night together. I had hoped until the last minute that she would change her mind and give up that stupid promise. I was hoping she would choose to be happy with me.

        I was standing there in front of the airport with the cigarette in one hand and the coffee in my other hand. Just like the day I met her.

        She seemed so innocent when she shivered coldly next to my car. I felt tears streaming down my cheek. Tears of pain and helplessness. I left her another message in the hope that she would switch on the phone.

        "I do not understand what made you run away again. I do not understand where or what I did wrong. I thought I would be able to convince you to stay. I thought you felt the same way I did. You did not even give me the chance of a last night together. The night before, I saw something in your eyes that I could call ”love”. I had even seen a trace of happiness. I knew it would be hard to convince you, but I did not know you were going to run out of my way so quickly and without even letting me know. I think I deserved at least one chance, at least one explanation. I love you and I will do everything in my power to bring you back. I want you in my life and I will not give up until the moment you will be mine forever. All I want now is to know you're okay."