A Warm Embrace
944 Words
“What did you say??!!!” Amelia flinched as she heard her father’s thundering voice over the phone.
“You heard me, Father. Emily has decided to make a deal with Kai Stevens. In return, he will give back Elise Enterprise to us.”
Emily had called her and asked her to inform their father about Kai’s conditions and her decision.
She persuaded Emily to change her mind since she didn’t want her sister to get hurt again, but Emily was determined to get back their mother’s company.
“She will be staying at his place for 30 days, Father, that’s why she can’t stay in our house.”
William clenched his fist. He wanted to punch Kai Stevens and beat the hell out of him. “Tell your sister to back out. I have already accepted losing Elise Enterprise, so she doesn’t need to do this.”
“Father, I told her that but she insisted. According to her, she also wants to prove to him that she has gotten over him already. She won’t change her mind, Father.”
“Stubborn girl.” William thought. He was worried that she might fall into Kai Stevens’ trap again, whatever he was plotting to.
He asked Amelia to keep him updated and ended the call.
He dialed someone’s number and waited for the person to answer.
“Hello? Who’s this?”
“This is William Fort, Mrs. Stevens.”
***
Mrs. Deborah Stevens put down her phone and stared blankly at it.
It must have been very urgent that William Fort had asked for her to meet him anytime soon.
When she asked what they were going to talk about, William declined to disclose his purpose of meeting with her. He wanted to talk to her in person.
She was currently in Rimeca and was enjoying her vacation. Her son, Kai Stevens, had been very busy that he was not able to accompany her.
Well, he was always busy. It had been four years since the last time she was able to bond with him.
She kept telling him that she was bored with her life since she was always alone, and only her maids were there to accompany her. Whenever she would tease him of giving her grandchildren, he would always have that far away look in his eyes.
His old nanny, Nan, once told her that there was a woman in his life four years ago, but when she returned to Centuria to meet the woman, she was already gone.
When she asked Kai about the woman, he would always evade answering her questions.
Talking about that woman seemed to be an off-topic for him.
Every day, she would always pray that her son would meet someone who would always put a smile on his handsome face.
***
It was Sunday and she was in her room, preparing her clothes and other things that she would bring with her later.
Earlier, Kai called to tell her that he would fetch her tonight. Before she could even say anything, he already ended the call.
He was a certified arrogant man!
She was almost done when she heard a knock on her door. “Come in.”
It was her father.
“Father.”
Her father was looking at her luggage and then to her.
“Are you sure about this, Emily?”
Amelia had informed her about their father's reaction upon knowing the conditions set by Kai Stevens as well as her final decision.
“Yes, Father, I am.” She said with a determined voice.
Her father stepped closer to her and said, “You don't have to do this, Emily. I'm sure your mother will understand.”
She shook her head and looked straight at her father's eyes. “Father, this isn't just about Elise Enterprise. This is also about me...and him. I want to prove to him that I'm okay. That I have moved on.”
Her father stared at her for a second and started moving closer to her. Before she knew it, she was already enclosed in his arms.
Her father hugged her! She wanted to cry! How she had longed for this moment!
“Father.” She hugged him back. She could smell the usual scent of her father that she had always loved.
“My child, forgive me. Forgive me for I have failed you. I've failed to show you my love. I've failed to protect you from harm. And now,..” Then, her father moved her away from him a little and touched her face with his hands. Emily saw that there were tears in his eyes.
She couldn't control herself anymore. She cried and cried. She knew what her father was saying: Her father was saying sorry for all the pain he had caused her. He was saying sorry for what had happened to her four years ago.
“But don't worry. Father will protect you this time.” He was wiping the tears on her cheeks with his thumbs.
She touched his hands on her face and said, “Father, it's okay. I understand. Knowing that you love me is enough. Father, please allow me to do this. I promise I can handle this...I can handle him.”
Her father saw the determined look on her face and sighed.
“I will allow you to leave but promise me that you will call once he does something bad to you. Understood?”
“Yes, Father. I promise.”
They talked for a little more and she requested her father not to see her off later. She didn't want him and Kai Stevens to see each other. It was enough that the agreement was just between her and Kai Stevens.
Her father was at first reluctant but she assured him that it was for the better.
When Kai arrived later that night, she saw her father looking at them at the balcony of his room. He looked worried but smiled when she gave him a reassuring smile.
- Writer
