Change of Heart

I saw her stumbling down the hallway cursing loudly. She went outside of the bar unsteadily. "Screw you people! Screw my family! Screw my fuckin’ life!" She cursed loudly between hiccuping and laughing. She drank from the bottle of vodka on her left hand. I shook my head and watch her wasting her life. Poor her. Suddenly, the heavy rain came drenching her. I heard her curse and sat on the ground laughing like crazy. You can hear her laughing and crying at the same time from the way her voice trembles. You will notice it from the way her shoulders shook differently. I glanced at Brandon beside me at the back of the car watching her too. I saw pity in his eyes, but he kept his face neutral. I nodded at him giving him the signal and he went out of the car, but I stopped him. I removed my leather jacket and gave it to him. He nodded before exiting the car. I turned and look at her again and I saw her knocked out lying on the ground under the heavy rain. I saw Brandon and my security men helping her unconscious body. I closed the window of my car and asked my driver to go. I left the area with a peculiar feeling. Something is squeezing my heart. The walls I have created for years almost clatters seeing her like that. But I hardened my emotion and closed my eyes thinking about what happened. ……………………………………………………………….. "I didn't do anything wrong officer. I'm not drunk." She slurred through hiccuping. "That i***t didn't know how to drive." She continues kicking and punching the officer holding her. "I'm sorry Miss Valdez but we have a witness and the CCTV caught everything." The officer told her massaging his temple. It's not new to them. She's a regular traffic violator and always ended up to prison from reckless driving, driving drunk and a lot more. "Fine! Anyway, I'm exhausted and I want to sleep." She giggled and let the officer led her inside the cold cell. She slumped down the floor the moment the cell was locked, and sleep consumed her drunken state. "Brandon, bail her again and make sure she is safely home tomorrow. Let her spend the night here and bring her a comfortable bed to sleep." I told Brandon while watching her drunk body slumped down the cold floor, sleeping soundly. Her state didn't lessen her immaculate beauty. She looks like an angel. One of the most beautiful girls I ever saw in my entire twenty-three years on earth. It's the twentieth time for a month I bailed her and I'm getting tired of this. I should be happy seeing her like that, but something pocked at my heart. I bailed her without my father knowledge. He would be pissed if he learned about this. I left the police station after giving her last lingering look. I asked my driver to bring me home again. ………………………………………………………………. "I didn't know why you're treating me like I'm a stranger. I am your daughter. I am only doing this because you pushed me to! I love you Dad. Why can't you see that? You're all I've got. I need you here with me especially right now. I promise to be good." I heard her said on the phone, crying her heart out. I am silently watching her discreetly, so I heard everything. She's leaning against the flower box outside her condominium building and of course drunk again. But not that drunk unlike most of the night before. I saw her took a small liquor bottle inside her bag and drink. What's with her and the alcohol? After throwing her phone on the pavement, she stood up angrily and walked unsteady towards her car, wiping her tears away. I followed her and signaled my driver to open the car door. I went inside my car and asked my driver to follow her. We end up to a nearby bar. I followed her unsteady step and sat behind the bar three chairs away from her. I heard her order six shots of tequila. After watching her for hours while having my second bottle of beer, she stood up and went to the dance floor. I waited for her to come back on her chair, but half an hour, she did not come back yet. I checked the dance floor, but I couldn't see her everywhere. I went out of the bar and looked for her, but I can't still find her. I scanned the dark alley, but I can't see anyone. I decided to give up and went to my car after informing Brandon I'm going home. I arrived in the car with Brandon waiting for me outside with a worried expression. "Sir, we have a problem. We found Ms. Valdez at the back-alley unconscious. I'm sorry but she’s okay now. She's inside the car." Brandon explained bowing his head. I felt my heart went out of my body. I went inside the car immediately and saw her passed out, almost naked. She looks like a train wreck. Her dress was torn, and her skin were flushed. Her lips were bleeding and her cheeks were swollen; her hair was everywhere. "What happened to her?!" I asked angrily but not with Brandon. I have this urge to kill whoever did this to her. "We heard someone shouting and when we found out we saw three drunk guys having their ways with her. I'm sorry Sir we found her a little late. But I assure you, nothing happened." Brandon explained again apologetically. I took a deep breath and removed my leather jacket and put it around her body to secure her. "Let's take her home." I said in a firm voice. Brandon nodded and we took her to her condo and asked for my doctor to check her. I put her head gently on my lap stroking her hair gently. Who did this to her will pay! “Brandon, make sure to find the three drunk guys who did this.” I said firmly which he nodded as agreement. I left her house after the doctor arrived. I asked my driver to bring me home and I fell into a deep thought and worry. ………………………………………………………. "Come in." I said firmly after hearing a determined knock. I glanced at the time and it's already eleven in the evening. I didn't notice the time because I had a lot of pending documents to review that needs my approval. Brandon strode inside with a worried expression. I seldom see him like this. "Yes Brandon?" I asked massaging my aching temple. It's a rough day for me. "Sir, I have bad news." Brandon said and I glanced up at him furrowing my brows. "What is it?" I asked in a curious tone. I felt nervous about what he is going to say. "Sir, Ms. Valdez met an accident twenty minutes ago and she is in a critical condition right now." Brandon answered staring at me. "What?!" My eyes widened and I stood up abruptly. I felt cold water flashed into me. I should be happy right? Because I didn't start yet but here she is, paying for her father's sins. I stood frozen and couldn’t move. Brandon knew me so well and decided to leave my office silently to give me time to think. I should be happy. I should be happy. But why did I feel this way? Why do I feel like my heart is dying and I felt incomplete? Like my other half is missing. My thought was interrupted when my private phone rang. I answered it absentmindedly. "Anderson." I answered stammering. "Have you heard the news?" My father's victory voice echoed from my brain. I know what he meant. And I answered humming. "See? Karma is fast, son. The devil is paying for all of his sins, sadly from his daughter but time will come he will pay for all of it." My father said in an angry drawl. I can't find the words to say. I just cleared my throat and agreed to him. He told me to continue his plan of revenge and ended the call. I don't know, we didn't do anything cruel, yet I felt guilty for what happened to her. Something is squeezing my heart for what happened. I closed my eyes tightly and calm my nerves. After my body relaxes a little, I went out of my office. I am heading to the hospital where Georgina Yvonne Valdez, daughter of George Emerson Valdez who killed my mother was rushed.