From Riches to Rags

Chapter 3:Not Over It

Kathy's POV

I got a day off from work today and I decided to take Toby to the park. He hasn't been out of my apartment for about a month and he has been begging me to take him out. I sat in the grass on a blanket and watched as he climbed the monkey bars with his friends on. He easily makes friends everywhere he goes.

He looks over at me and I give him a smile signaling him to come to me.

"Yes mom" he says out of breath

"It's time to go, hunny, it's getting late" I said to him.

" OK......can I go say goodbye" he asks, pointing towards his new friends.

"Sure"

He runs to them and says something and points at me and then runs back. I took his hand and headed home.

My apartment was walking distance from the park, so we were home in less than five minutes. As we approached the corner to my apartment door, I saw Ben sitting there on the floor.

"Uncle Ben!" Toby screams screamed, letting go of my hand and running into Ben's arms.

I walked up to him and asked

"Ben......what are you doing here?" I said to him, moving to unlock the door. We step inside and Toby runs to the couch.

"I came to see if you were OK.... you know our last encounter wasn't...." he stopped talking as he saw my facial expression change.

"I'm fine Ben...can I get you something to drink," I said, trying to change the subject.

He caught on to what I was trying to do and walked over to me holding my hands and looking directly in my eyes,

"You can talk to me Kat....you know that, right?"

"I know......Ben, it's just......"

"Kat....I have known you for almost four years.... you say we are friends but I know nothing about you.... when are you ever going to let me in, Kat"

I looked down on the floor and shook my head, tears threatening to fall. He sighs and removes his hands from mine, he walks over to Toby...kisses him on the forehead and heads towards the door. He turns to look at me, shakes his head and leaves.

The tears were now flowing freely down my face. I had to wipe my eyes quickly before Toby saw. I walked over to him and turned the TV on for him to watch cartoons.

"Watch it with me mommy" he says, holding out his arms. I couldn't resist his puppy dog eyes and we ended up lying on the couch together watching cartoons. As I sat there, I started to think about what happened today with Ben. He was always there for me and I couldn't lose him. He and Toby are the only people I have left. But I can't give him what he wants from me. I had to forget about the past and move on.

"You can't do that with all these emotions bottled up" my subconscious said.

And that was right but I couldn't.... I just couldn't

This is all HIS fault!

He made me this way!!

Chris's POV

I miss her...I miss her touch ...I miss the feeling of her body against my again...I miss her- my thoughts were cut off by my office intercom.

"Sir, the board of finance is here to see you" my secretary said.

"Tell them I will be right with them."

I got up from my desk and went to the conference room. I was greeted by three very serious faces.

"Gentlemen," I greeted them, "and how is everybody doing?"

"We don't have time for pleasantries, Mr. Thomas said," Cut me off. He then signaled to his assistant, who then started handing out files. "If we all take a look at the chart showing last month's financial rate compared to this month, there is a drastic decline......so Mr. Thomas" he said, shifting his attention to me, "could explain why.

The anger that I had been holding in the past few weeks had started to resurface. "THIS IS MY COMPANY AND I RUN IT!!" I shouted, slamming my fist on the table. I got up and said " this meeting is over" and headed for the door.

"Mr. Jonas.....I would like to remind you that everybody around this table is a major shareholder in your company."

"I don't give a f**k!" I shouted, slamming the door on my way out.

I got on the elevator and went straight down to the parking lot, hopped into my car and broke the speed limit home. I went straight to my room and packed all my clothes into my suitcase, I placed all my luggage in my car, took all the cash I had in a safe in my house and left.

Where was I going? I had no idea. I ditched my car and walked for about an hour until I saw a train station. An old man sat around the register with a cigar in his mouth. I walked up to him and said "I need a ticket to a small town."

He looked up at me, took a drag from his cigar and puffed in my face, while my patience was at its very end. He took the cigar from his mouth and said "My dear boy, there are a lot of small towns."

"Look, I'm not your boy....and it doesn't matter where......I just want to get out of this god-forsaken town-"

"Hmm...Calpedi....it would be perfect for someone like you" he says, placing the cigar in his mouth.

I hand him the cash and ask "someone like me?"

"Yes......hiding from someone.... or something" he answers with the cigar at the corner of his mouth.

"I'm not-"I tried to say, but was cut off by him nodding and saying "you keep looking behind you and your hands are shaking"

"I-" I tried to defend myself but was cut off by a loud sound.

"That train is to get you where you want to go" the man said, handing me a ticket and pointing to the train that had just stopped at the station. I got on with my luggage and found a seat. I finally let out the breath I didn't know I was holding.

Finally, some peace......or so I thought.