Almost but not Quite

"I love you baby. I'll see you soon". I told my three year old son over the phone. I am now boarding a plane  on my way to Zurich for a business trip. And no, this is not some old cliche stories wherein a girl got pregnant and is now trying to move on. My husband died almost 6 years ago from cancer. He was my soulmate and my best friend. I was so devastated but I have to fight for my son. I am Kaitleen Guzman Javier, 27, a business woman and a single mom. And. yes, I married early with the love of my life. Loud and proud. I was awaken from my great reverie when i heard a child crying. I am on a first class accommodation and normally, there are only two to three passengers in this class. I stood up and approached the kid. "Hey baby. Why are you crying? Where are your parents?" I asked her while gently patting her back to make her stop crying. "I don't know miss. I just went to the loo and I don't know how to go back." "Don't worry, I'll help you find them. What's the name of your parents so I can have them paged?" "I'm with my dad. My mom and dad are not together anymore. His name is Jake Elliot." "Okay. Hush now baby. I'll help you. Okay?" She just nodded her head while wiping her tears away. I approached the flight attendant and helped the kid find his father. Looks like her dad is asleep and didn't even notice that his daughter is missing. I can't see his face clearly because he is wearing dark shades and a cap.  Tsk. I did not come near their seat and just waved at the little girl.  She gave me a flying kiss that made my heart melt. If only my husband is alive, we could've had a baby girl just like the pretty young girl I met earlier. When the plane landed, I immediately took my suitcase and look for my driver. It's still 2 in the afternoon and I want to grab some chocolates first. Those are really my weaknesses and fortunately, Zurich is the haven for the best chocolates in the world. Swiss chocolates are simply the best.  I will be staying here in Zurich for 3 months until I settle everything for the new resort project I just started in Phuket. My business partners are mostly Swiss. Only two of us are Asians. The other one is Philip who is half Filipino and Half Hong Kong National. He is a very good friend of mine. He is like a brother that I never had. Well, I'm an only child and so is he. Maybe that's why we found a sibling in each other. He is extremely good looking. No doubt about that. Those chinky eyes, fair complexion, pointed nose, broad shoulders. And, damn those 6-pack abs that every woman will drool.  But never in a million years will I find myself romantically attracted to him. We just finished our project in Cebu, Philippines and now, we are planning for the second branch in Phuket. I am into real estate and hotel-resort business. I spent all my time in my business and my son after I lost my husband. If not for this and my son, I could've committed suicide. I was walking when I saw a familiar figure. The little girl who was crying on the plane earlier. I approached her because she seems to be lost again. I think she wants to buy something from the pastry shop. She is just staring intently on the cakes displayed from the outside. "Hey, where's your dad again?" "Oh! Hi miss. Uhm --I just wanted to buy some cakes and I saw this pastry shop but I don't have money." "Where is your dad? You should not walk alone without your guardian baby. You might get lost again or someone might take you away." "I'm a big girl already Miss. And we are staying in that tall building over there." she said while pointing at Le Bijou. One of the most expensive apartments in downtown Zurich where I happen to be staying as well. "Really?We live in the same building. Come. I'll buy you the cake you want and then I'll walk you home." "Yay! Thanks Miss Pretty." She exclaimed with matching puppy dog eyes. I smiled and say "No problem little girl." "I am not a little girl Miss Pretty. I'm already seven and my name is Elli." I chuckled. I bought the cake she wanted and I also bought some chocolates for her. She told me that she's staying at the penthouse just right in front of my unit. There are only two penthouses in the building and I bought the other one during my second visit since I am always here almost a quarter of a year. After all, Zurich has become my second home. When we reached their apartment I heard someone yelling. "Finde meine Tochter. Horst du mich?" (Find my daughter. Do you hear me?) I knocked three times even though the door is slightly open. I can see a man on his phone walking to a fro. "Entschuldigen Sie bitte. Diene Tochter is hier." (Excuse me sir. Your daughter is here.) He turned around to face me. Good God. He looks like a Greek God from Mt. Olympus. He's just on his boxer's shorts with totally disheveled hair which makes him look even hotter.  I swallowed hard. He suddenly walk past through me and hugged his daughter without even taking a glance on me. "Hmmp. Such an obnoxious man! Just because he's hot. Tsk" I said to myself. "Eli. I told you not to go out without telling me right? You scared the hell out of me daughter." I can see frustrations in his eyes. "I'm sorry daddy." Elli said while sobbing. "It's okay. Just please don't do it again okay?" "Uhm. Okay daddy. I promise. By the way, this is uhm-- Miss Pretty." She glanced at me. "Sorry I forgot to ask your name Miss Pretty." "It's okay Elli. It's Kaitleen baby gir--I mean little lady." I replied chuckling. She faced his dad again. "She walked me here Dad. look! She even bought me my favorite cake and some chocolates. She's also the one who helped me in the plane. remember what I told you?" He faced me and stared at me intently. Gosh I felt like my knees are trembling. Erase. Erase. I'm married for pete's sake. "I'm Jake. I am Elli's dad. Thank you so much for helping my daughter. I owe you a lot." He said extending his hand. "No biggie. Just take care of your daughter." I tried to maintain my serious face even though my chest feels like it's going to explode anytime. I really felt like a teenage girl seeing her crush for the first time. "Yeah. Uhm, I cooked something. Please join us for dinner. I was actually cooking earlier when she went out That's why I didn't notice her leaving the apartment." He said a bit frowning. "Thank you but I have to bring this to my unit." while raising the paper bag full of chocolates and my small luggage. "I am just living next door." "I insist. Please?" he pleaded. I gave out a sigh and then nodded my head lightly. I was a bit shocked when held me hand and pulled me inside their unit. I can't do anything but just to follow his lead. I looked around amazed by the interior design of his place. It was a different shades of gray and blue. All the furniture and fixture where carefully chosen. Everything seems to be modern. He guided me to the table and pulled a chair for me. "Sit here. Wait for me while I prepare the food. And Elli, change your clothes so we can eat." I was just staring at his broad back while he is still busy preparing the food. I was taken aback when he suddenly faced me with a huge grin on his face. "Did I pass your standards?" "Tsk. Whatever." I rolled my eyes on his trying to hide my embarrassment. I feel my cheeks burning as I tried looking away. I heard him chuckle at that. He turned his back again to continue what he's doing. "So, what are you doing here in Zurich? It's so unusual for a Filipina to be he here." He said. I think he's trying to ease the awkward atmosphere. "You know I'm a Filipina?" "Yeap. Quite obvious though you look like of a mix blood. So my first question?" "Well, I'm half Spanish. And, I'm here for business. I've been to and fro Zurich for the past 5 years. How about you?" "We're on a vacation but I also finished my college in Geneva." "Oh! Okay." The dinner went well. We talked about a lot of things. I found out that he is also a business man and he is into destination Management. And guess what, he's the son of the former Philippine President from another woman. He is from one of the most prominent families in the country and who would've thought I'll be having dinner with him here? "Thank you for the dinner. It's so unusual for men to know how to cook but you cook very well." "That's what I learned to do from living alone away from home." "Anyway, I gotta go. I still have to fix a few things." "Thanks again. You have my number. Let's keep in touch. See you around." Yes. We exchanged phone numbers. I mean, it's not really a big deal right? I was grinning like a mad woman while walking towards my door step.