2. PRESENT DAY/ TEN YEARS LATER

“Rise and shine baby girl"

“Mom stops calling me that, I am not a baby, I'm 27 moms, remember?”.

“I know my angel that you are 27, but no matter how old you are, you will always be my little girl”

“Patricia, leave the poor girl alone” my father's voice interrupted us in the doorway, as he ventures into the room with swag, I didn't know he has, smiling

“It's because you've been calling her baby girl, that's why she has refused to marry thinking that she's still a baby” father said as he hugged mom to his side

“Huh!! Whatever dad, you are just jealous because mom gives me attention" I retorted back smiling and pouting at him.

“Baby let's go" he lovingly dragged mom from my room.

I took my bath, immediately my parents left my room and pack my bag. I have been doing this for the past 10 years, coming to spend some time with them, before going back to school then but now I'm going back to work. My dad remarried three years later after I left for school, I now have a loving stepmother and an overprotective younger brother even though he's just seven, he acts like an adult and I adore him so much.

“Good morning sis, mom said to tell you that breakfast is ready," he said smiling

Speaking of the devil, I smiled back and went to hug him

“Okay, little devil, let's go I'm through"

We make our way to the dining table and sat down. Mom was busy dishing our food while dad was typing away on his phone occasionally, he glances at me. He's giving me the creep. I sat down beside my mum and begin to eat; I couldn't help but remember those times when we barely eat three square meals a day.

I'm now a graduate of journalism from New York University, after graduating from the University, I was able to secure a job in one of the prestigious Media houses, Melton media. Where I will be working very soon. My dad now owns a shoe company called Pandora, while my stepmom is a baker. I love my family so much I wouldn't trade them for me anything.

“Angel don't you like the food, you've not eaten anything since," mum said sadly as she looks at me.

“Come on mom, don't be sad, I love it. I was just caught up on my thought, I'm sorry".

“You'll be leaving for New York tomorrow, don't forget all that we've talked about".

“Yes, Dad."

Of course, all that dad and I have ever talked about is how I'm getting old and need a man in my life, blah blah blah, but I keep telling him that there's no man for me out there.

“Stop rushing the girl, Tom, when the right time comes, she will surely get married to the right man," mum said smiling immediately jumping to my defense.

The phone ringing interrupted whatever is it that I wanted to add to what mum said, standing up as I took excuse for my parents, I walk to the sitting-room to take my phone.

“Hello, beautiful Damsel," I said excitedly into the phone because it was my bestie calling.

“Hey, baby!!"Lilian practically shriek into the phone as she couldn't contain her excitement.

“Please do come back fast, you know you need to help me shop for my wedding gown, I can't believe that I will be getting married," she said cheerfully.

I groan inwardly “I will make sure that I come back early,” I told her and she hung up the call after asking about my family.

All these weddings’ things are not making me happy, don't get me wrong, I'm very happy for Lillian but sometimes I feel like life is so unfair. Why does Lillian have to have it all, while I have nothing?

Immediately I walked back to the breakfast table and sat down, I look at mum and smile, I mouthed her a quick thank you. I love the way she defends me; it makes me miss my mum more.

“Dad I will be leaving for the airport very soon, I'll be resuming work next week, I want to go and get things done before my resumption and we still have Lilian's wedding to shop for.

“Okay, when shopping for the wedding make sure you also shop for a man for yourself," my dad said sarcastically to piss me off.

Sometimes I wonder why I put off with a father like him, he keeps telling me to get a man for myself, without even worried if I might be a victim of a wrong relationship.

“Yes Dad, I will make sure to shop for a man to piss you off to".

We banter on and off until my mum stops us from it, then I went to the airport to get home to prepare for my resumption the following morning.

New York City

Michael's office

Michael Thompson the director and CEO of the Thomson Empire was sitting elegantly in his expensively furnished office, awaiting his friend. The office was decorated with grey and silver, the balcony is directly facing the center of New York.

Michael loves to stand at the balcony when he's less busy and stare as people move around going through their daily businesses. Someone once said that in New York you could never be lonely, due to the millions of people there, but right now Michael is more than lonely, even when he's surrounded by two loving parents, two brothers, and a soon-to-be wife.

He still feels like he's lonely, ever since his meeting with Nina he has never been the same, he felt like a part of him was missing, he could still remember the way he felt when was inside her, he could still remember the taste of her on his lips, how can he ever forget? it took all his willpower for him to leave her that morning, it was one of the hardest decisions he has ever made in his life.

“Michael!"

The blonde hair, about 6 feet 5 inches tall man walk to the office elegantly and look at the man in front of him, after calling him and notice that he didn't respond, he calls him again a little bit louder this time.

“Michael!!"

He blinks twice and stares at the person in front of him like he has never seen him before, a flicker of recognition shows in his face as he smiled widely.

“Daniel, I'm so sorry, I didn't see you come in, when did you get back?”.

The blonde hair guy named Daniel is his best friend from childhood, they've been together through thick and thin, and they're still going stronger.

“I'm good, and I just got back now" Danny sat down casually on the chair in front of my table making him sit down in the process, sometimes he behaves as if he owns the office while Michael just the guest.

“Don't tell me, you're still thinking about Lillian's friend."

I rolled my eyes at him without answering, typing through my computer.

“I've told you, let me talk to Lilian, she will help you talk to her, and she__________

“No please don't do that" I cut him short "I don't want Lillian to know anything about it, and I have a fiancée, it was just a one-night thing, this will pass."

David gave me a look that says “I don't believe you" but I shrug it off.

“Anyways, don't forget that you are my best man, and when we are back from Paris, we'll be going for the pre_wedding rehearsal," Danny said as he saw himself out of the door.

I huff and get back to work.

I have been working for the past two hours uninterrupted when my intercom suddenly rings, I pick it up

“Yes. Aurora. I thought I said I don't want to be disturbed"

“I'm sorry sir. But Miss Melton is here to see you and she wouldn't budge when I told her you don't want to be disturbed"

“Alright. Send her in" I drop the call. The smile fell from my face immediately I saw Deborah walking into my office, she was clad in a dark blue skintight jean with a purple flowery top.

She was just coming back from her modeling shoot. Even though she was simply dressed, her face was caked in heavy makeup. She just couldn't do without makeup. That's one of the reasons why I can't ever fall in love with her.

She walks slowly to me and wraps her hands around me, kissing me lightly on the lips as she sat down on my lap.

“Hello, handsome. Miss me?"

I smile “Why will I miss you, Deborah? When I have loads of work here for me to do"

She huffs and stood up from my laps “At least for once in your life, try to act nice to me" she said getting irritated.

I ignore her and went back to typing away on the computer “The only time I feel like there's a connection between us is when we are having sex" She sat down heavily on the couch and cross her legs.

“I don't love you, Deborah," I told her harshly, I'm tired of explaining the same thing to her repeatedly.

“How many times do you want me to say it? I can never love you. I enjoy the sex between us which is why we are still together"

She started crying, I couldn't care less. Is not as if she didn't know, she just thought that I will wake up one morning and fall in love with her. It doesn't work that way and besides, the one woman I'm in love with but can't have is in another country and I don't even know how to reach her. Not that I will want to.

“You are heartless! Michael Thompson!!" She screams and threw the flower vase on my table on the floor angrily.

I ignore her, is not the first time I'm hearing that anyway. My competitors in the business world know that I'm ruthless.

“Aurora! Get a cleaner to come to clean the trash in my office" I drop the intercom as I stood up and regard her buttoning my suit in the process" I have a meeting in the next thirty minutes, will you go home or will wait for me to drop you off?".

“I'll wait for you," she said

I walk out of the office with Aurora closely behind me just as the cleaning lady walks in to clean the floor.

One hour later, I was walking out of the meeting room with Aurora. I couldn't believe how tired I was. Soon I and Deborah were walking out of the company door arm in arm. I open the car door for her to get in while I went to the passenger side and get in. The drive to her apartment was quiet with both of us content in our thoughts.

“Come in for a cup of coffee, Michael." She smiles at me, immediately we go to her house. I accepted and we both climb the elevator to her floor. She went to get me the coffee while I sat down on the couch.

“Here" She gave me a cup of hot coffee and went into her room to change out of her clothes while I sip my coffee silently.

“Michael? Why can't you love me " Deborah said walking out of her room to sit down beside me on the couch.

“Here we go again" I murmur to myself.

“You are loveable. Deborah. The problem isn't with you but with me. In my heart, there can only be one woman and it's not you" I told her truthfully as I held her close.

She sniffles as she tried to fight back tears" But I love you so much Michael” I swipe my thumb gently across her face as I remove the tiniest drop of tears from her eyes.

“I know and I'm very grateful for that"

“What's her name?” She after me after she has calm down.

I smile as I remember that smile on her face and the way she told me her history without hiding anything from me” Nina" I replied after some time.

She looks up to me with lust-filled eyes, the atmosphere changed, she leads me to her bedroom as I roughly undressed her. I slip my finger into her sex to find her ready for me.

I enter her roughly and plunged deep into her, making her scream my name. I squeeze her boobs as I felt the pleasure building in me. Then I come fast in her arms.

Thirty minutes later, she lies down spent on the bed while I stood up to dress, I pick up my car key on the couch and saw myself out of the door closing it gently not to wake her up, and drove myself home.