Chapter 2
1371 Words
In the executive hall, many legs walked.
To and fro, up and down. But amongst the many, one pretty feet existed. A five-year-old girl who looked around for her mommy.
Alexandra Matteo.
While one part of her wished she hadn't disobeyed her mother by walking away when she was asked to stay in a spot, Alexandra didn't feel so bad, especially when she had a chance to explore this hall and the great artworks hanging everywhere on the wall. Something her mother would not have allowed her to see.
Again and again, Alexandra continued to walk.
Not in one direction as she turned around so many times, just so she could return to the same artwork she'd seen, all in the name of comparing which had more colors and was better. Now she turned again, more than ready to reunite with her mother and brother.
Maybe ready to be scolded.
But as Alexandra continued to move, there were too many people in her way. There wasn't a chance to set her eyes on her mother, talk more about her brother. What was she going to do?
One more step and she tripped, falling to the ground at that instant, a frustrating sigh escaped her mouth as well.
“What are you doing out here alone?”
The voice of a man sounded in her ears. Little Alexandra looked up to see the face of a man, a familiar one she wasn't sure she had seen before. Her small hand stretched out to him for help and he pulled her up. “Where are your parents? How are you out here all alone?”
“I—” She dusted her dress, and looked up at him again, now smiling. “Thank you, sir. Mommy is somewhere in this hall, I can't find her.”
“Who is she?”
He asked because he knew many people here.
He was the famous Eric Norman, after all, a man who knew a lot of people.
So many that made it to this event, even.
The only way he would not know her mother was if she was new in the country.
Aside from that, his connection was vast.
“Who is your mommy? I can take you to her.”
“Mrs.—”
“Alexandra!”
Someone from behind cut her short.
While Alexandra looked behind, the strange man looked in the same direction. The smile on his countenance from a while ago faded at this instant. His mouth opened and closed, his hands going behind his back and he moved farther, confused about what exactly to do.
“How did you get here?!”
Rochelle, who stopped in her tracks a while ago, walked closer and stood right next to her daughter. She looked up at Eric, a man she'd known for seven years. “It's a coincidence to meet with you again, Eric. Forgive whatever inconvenience my daughter has caused you.”
Alexandra tapped. “Mommy, who is he?”
“A man.” Rochelle faced her.
“He's like the other men in this hall. Tell me how you got here or I spank your ass. What did I tell you before now, Alexandra Matteo?”
“I thought I should take a look at the walls. You wouldn't let me if I asked, so I went on my own.” Alexandra walked even closer and hugged her mommy. “I'm sorry, mommy.” She hugged her tighter, one way to Rochelle's heart.
A sigh escaped Rochelle's mouth.
“That's alright. Are you done taking a look?”
One nod from Alexandra and Rochelle gave a nod. This was the time when they left the sight of a man who had been staring since she came. But she couldn't leave without saying a word. Looking up, Eric still had that look of shock.
She could read his mind.
“Thank you for keeping her company until I came. I wonder where else she would go.”
“Oh, that's alright.” He looked at the girl. “Don't be out all alone again, mm? Not everyone likes how pretty you are.” He cast another glance at Rochelle who was about to leave. “It's good to see you again, Rochelle. You look—”
“Oh, Eric. I'm so sorry I took so long.”
Rochelle looked to her right, it was where the familiar voice came from. At the sight of Elsa, the smile on her countenance faded. One part of her wondered now what she was doing in the same space with Eric in the first place.
“Hey, Rochelle.”
“Good day, Elsa.” Her voice went cold. “It's good to see you too. How have you been?”
Elsa kissed Eric, right in her face.
Why did one part of her believe they would have remorse for what they did to her?
“As you can see, I am fine with the love of my life.” Elsa kissed Eric again, he kissed her back this time and Rochelle couldn't help her anger. “Your presentation was a powerful one, although short. Bad thing Eric wasn't there to watch. Can you make him explain why he came late to the function? He does this all the time, especially since five years ago. It annoys me so much.”
“Oh—” Rochelle picked up Alexandra's hand. “That's good to know, that you two are doing alright. I should get going now.” Without any words from them, or even Rochelle who was done with talking, she dragged Alexandra away.
“Mommy, I know that man.”
“You do?” She chuckled.
“How come? You're here for the first time since you were born. Is there something you want to make me understand?”
“I don't know, mommy. Maybe it was on your phone.” She looked at her mother who looked back at her. “I'm sorry, maybe I'm not sure.” They continued to walk until a part of the hall was reached—the same place Alexander waited.
“Do you see your brother?”
“Yes, mommy.”
“Do you see how he's here, at one spot, waiting there just as I asked him to?”
“Yes, mommy.”
“Come on, Alex.” She urged her son who now walked with them. Anger could be seen on her countenance, but while her children imagined she was reacting because of how Alexandra was almost lost, Rochelle herself hated the fact that she had seen Eric—with that woman.
“Get in the car and don't waste my time!”
They hopped in. She did the same and mouthed. “Take us home, Darlington.” She ordered the driver who started the engine the next moment.
“Are you alright, mommy?” Alexander asked.
“Yes, darling. I'm alright.”
But she wasn't. Deep down inside of her, she would shoot them in the heads if she had a chance to do such. Why did they think they could humiliate her again after five years of staying away from each other?
She wanted to deal with them.
Dealing with Elsa and Eric was all she'd wanted since five years ago. But she couldn't, only because she didn't have all it took. Now that she did, missing out on it was the least of things on her list. There was no way she wouldn't take back what was hers, maybe the famous winery.
Or maybe not.
One thing was certain—Eric would plead with her before the end of her story. She would be vindicated and Elsa? Thrown out of that house, not because Rochelle wanted to be in it again, but because it was what was meant to happen.
“Mommy?”
Rochelle looked at her son as she snapped out of her thoughts. “What?”
“You said we would get food on our way back.”
“Oh, yes. Darlington? Drop us at the usual.”
A fulfilled smile, once again, appeared on her countenance. She wasn't fulfilled, yet, but she would be. All she needed was time.
- Writer
