Chapter 3 Soul mate

***Mr. Adeniyi***

I've been standing in the back watching this gloomy scene for more than five minutes now.

Silvia is spying on my son, swaying. Curiously, she had gone to fetch me something in the kitchen. And meanwhile, I was waiting for her like a cuckold in my bed.

How could I keep my cool for five minutes?

It's a natural trait I have.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

She turns around and starts stammering.

"No, honey....je"

"You what? Spy on my son while you're in your underwear and making sleazy gestures? Is that the behavior of a woman who cares about me? You want the father and son?" I asked with anger in my voice.

"I was going to the kitchen and then I...." she continued

"The kitchen is on the ground floor. We were on the second floor in my room. And you end up on the third floor? You've got the house under control. You've been here for more than five months," I said.

She walks over to me and puts her hands on my cheeks.

At the same time, Chaz stands in the doorway and stares at us. He looks like he's wondering how I can be so fooled.

"Honey, you're the only one I love and you know it," she says as if she's trying to defend herself to a jury.

I still think about all the wiggling she did during her five minutes.

I take her hands between mine and look her straight in the eyes.

"You and I are done. Pack up your stuff and get out of my house. You can keep the car and everything else if that's what you're afraid of. I really loved you but you played with my feelings. I don't want to see you anymore," I said with anger in my voice.

I rush down the stairs while she starts to cry. I hear her ask Chaz to say something to me so I can reconsider.

I sit down in the main living room with a glass of whiskey in my hand.

I'm not one to whine but this girl I really liked. Besides, I'm fifty-three years old.

I feel Chaz come and sit next to me on the couch. He doesn't speak right away. But I feel him sympathize.

Silvia goes down the stairs, pushing her suitcases angrily.

When she reaches my level, she stops and stares at me.

"So this is how you throw me away?" she asks

Faced with my silence, she gets even more angry.

"Anyway, I'm not losing anything. What was I going to do with a man as boring as you. You used to spend your time talking to me about your business from morning to night. You're just doing me a favor and I'll find a much better one than you." She adds.

I remain silent. She turns on her heels and walks out of the house, slamming the center door loudly.

I received all her words like a stab but the truth even if it is bitter is always better than living in a sweet lie.

I feel Chaz's hands on my shoulder for comfort. He who doesn't usually drink allows himself to have a drink with me.

"Your agent will kill you if he finds out you've been drinking, son," I say between sips.

"How will he know? Besides, it's only one drink," he replied.

I smiled at him.

"Dad, you're fifty-three. And she is what? Twenty-four years old?" he questions with a tone filled with dismay.

"Don't abuse Chaz, she's twenty-nine." I replied.

He sighs at the helplessness he is subject to. I know he would have liked to do more, but he is incapable. He just stares into the void and takes part in the discussion.

***Chaz***

Silvia just dumped my dad in front of me. She didn't even feel sorry for him. She said words to him that were as hurtful as they were poignant.

And yet my father really loved her. You could see it in the way he looked at her. I feel sorry for Dad. The only comfort I am able to give him is to talk to him.

We talk about my past season. My dad is a soccer fanatic so he tells me what improvements I could make. He also congratulated me on how far I have come.

These are the moments I love. These moments of frank discussion between men. I love seeing him so carefree and talkative. Usually he is too busy with his business.

Suddenly, an object falls to the floor. It's an engagement ring box.

"Wait dad, am I dreaming?"

He stoops to the floor and picks up the object and answers me between sighs.

"No son, I was going to propose to her" with a voice tinged with regret.

I didn't think he loved her that much. It is true that he has the habit of bringing home many young women. But I had no idea that he had real and strong feelings for this girl, especially since this is the first time in ten years that he has proposed to one of his girlfriends. If I hadn't seen that ring on the floor, I could have sworn he was desperately looking for love as usual.

Silvia had every chance but she decided to screw it up. Anyway, she never loved him so it's not a loss for her. Only my father suffers in this story.

"Why are you putting on that sad face? You should be happy for me. Thanks to you I avoided the worst mistake of my life." he said

"A bigger mistake than the one you made with mom?" I asked

He freezes and becomes silent. I know this is a very sensitive subject for him. Besides, we never talk about it.

"I'm sorry," I say in apology."

We never talk about Mom. She was Dad's greatest love and also his greatest disappointment. It took months for him to get over it. And even years later, this story remains a shadowy area he won't allow himself to enter.

I decide to go to sleep while Dad is still in the living room drinking.

I worry about him, but I know that no pain will ever be greater than the one Mom inflicted on him.

I walk up the stairs and before entering my room, I glance at him. I can't help but ask him:

"Dad, are you going to be okay?"

"Yes son, don't worry about me. I'm a strong guy. And don't forget that you are the child here" he said with a touch of humor.

I smile and go back to my room.

The next day

***Diana***

I just left my house to go to work and I don't see any trace of Denichka. It is not in her habit. I go back to her house to look for her.

"Hello," I say as I open the door to her house.

It is her father, Mr. Fernando, who welcomes me. As usual he is always smiling and talking.

"Diana, what brings you here?" he asks cheerfully.

"I was on my way to the hotel and I didn't see Denichka anywhere", I answered.

He explains to me that she is feeling a bit ill this morning. I go to the room. Denishka is lying down and a little pale.

"Oh, my beautiful one! What's wrong?" I ask as I sit on the edge of her bed.

"It's nothing serious. I didn't digest what I ate yesterday well. I have a bit of a stomach ache but I'll be fine" she answered.

I ask her if she will be able to come to work but she thinks she will come in the evening.

I feel sorry for her. It hurts me to see her like this. But as she said, she is already feeling much better because of the medication she has been taking.

I decide to take my leave of her.

"Come on, I'll see you later sweetie! Take care of yourself" I say as I give her a kiss on the front.

"Thank you" she answers in a small voice.

I walk out of her house with a sigh.

I can't help but think of Madame Vera. She loves this kind of situation where she spends her time reciting a long sermon.

I pedaled my bike and a few streets before the hotel, I ran into him. My heart starts to beat very fast.

"Hi beautiful, come I drop you in the car" he says

"Yuz, I'm late for work. See you later" I answered with difficulty.

I pedal my bike without looking back. I hear him yelling behind and calling me but I don't answer.

Ah Yuz! We had a one-night stand. I thought I was in control of my feelings, but I quickly became attached to him.

I was surprised by the way my feelings turned out but I had no control over it and it scared me to death.

Yuz comes from a very rich family and I am just a simple housewife. He regularly came to the hotel with his friends. I often cleaned his room and that's what happened.

Yuz didn't use me, on the contrary I let my desires run wild and I thought I was in control but I was wrong. I was attracted to him physically. We seduced each other.

Besides, what would a man as rich as him want from me? Since I knew how I felt about him, I've been pulling away from him. That's what I do best: walk away.

Of course, Denicha is my best friend, she knows everything that's going on. Well, she only knows part of the story. She knows what happened between us but I didn't tell her my feelings for him.

I am a strong person. I like to have control and power over everything. So it's new for me to feel weak and powerless in this situation.

I let my thoughts run wild until I found myself in front of the hotel. I can feel my throat getting knotted up. I can't accept it in my heart but the truth is that I am madly in love with Yuz.

I quickly wipe away a tear that escapes from my eyes. I park my bike and head to the service entrance to put on my uniform.

Madame Vera asks me about Denishka. I inform her that she is a little bit sick but that she will come in the afternoon. Strangely enough, all the jibes she threw at me did not make me hot or cold. I was scattered in my thoughts. All I could think about was him. He is the only thing that softens me, me who is usually strong and hard of character.

Madame Vera finally left me. Certainly because she noticed that contrary to the other days I do not answer her.

I finish getting ready and I start my work. Quite a day!

The evening

***Chaz***

I spent the day working out and practicing on the soccer field. My personal trainer managed to free up time for us to work for about two hours.

Then I had a chat with Yuz. He kept telling me that we should go out. I'm a homebody so he kind of forced it on me.

Lying on my bed, I follow a soccer game on TV. I hear loud horns. It's probably him. I'm already primed so I just turn off the TV and get out.

He pokes his head through the window.

"Hey buddy!" He says with a wide smile.

He's as outgoing and cheerful as ever.

And of course the music is so loud we can't even hear each other.

He starts to roll.

"Where are we going?" I ask, turning to him as I put on my seatbelt.

"To the number one hotel in all of Bali" he answered with that joy that only he has.

Oh, no, I thought inwardly. I wanted to go to a place where it wouldn't be too crowded. When you're a celebrity, it's hard to go out without meeting people who want to spend some time with you. So the only intimate time you can have is at home.

A few minutes later, we arrived. Yuz knows me well so he goes through a private entrance with fewer people.

We sit in the VIP bar to have some privacy.

"So, tell me everything. What's been going on lately?" he asks me.

"You know, nothing extraordinary..." I say between two sighs.

"Good evening, gentlemen, here are your two gin and tonics that you ordered" says the beautiful maid as she places the tray on the table.

Her voice is so cool and soothing.

I turn my gaze on her and see a girl of rare beauty.

I am immediately immersed in the depths of her eyes.

It's not just her beauty. She gives off something indescribable.

"Thank you!" I stammered.

I had just met the one who was going to be my soul mate, my better half, the mother of my children. And I know that deep down I had already known it.