Chapter 2

" Listen man, you need to loosen up, constant work will do you no good"

Ryan rolled his eyes at his brother, he shuffled through his wardrobe bringing out a file.

"Can you help me with this?" Ryan handed him the file without waiting for answer, he walked back to his desk and resumed working on his PC

Valentine, his brother wasn't one to give up easily, he dropped the file rushing to sit on the table towering over Ryan considerably even though he was younger.

"I was hoping we could visit this club I have in mind" Valentine grinned waiting eagerly for his brother's response

" You know we can't be publicly seen leading such kinda life huh? If you so badly wanna get laid then make it discrete" Ryan was being sarcastic, he thought his point had gotten across until " exactly, that's why we are going to a lower class one, only men who hardly have enough to feed visit there, I mean we well blend so well among those paupers "

Valentine chuckled scrunching his nose in the process

"I'm so not ready for that, you go alone and have a nice time"

"I can't go without you, also, if you go I promise not to tell Dad about Serena"

Ryan's eyes widened, he stopped to glance at his brother who smirked mischievously

" What about her"

" Ohhh.. I'm just gonna tell him you broke up with her I'm pretty sure he's ready to hook you up with another of his high class women he has in store for you"

Ryan said nothing after that, he couldn't risk his dad setting him up with ladies he deemed for his standard, Serena was definitely one of them

" So, is that a yes" Valentine asked his face lighting up with victory

" It better be as discrete as you make it sound"

Valentine pumped his fist I to the air victoriously

" Tomorrow, brother, we will paint the city red! By tomorrow!"

Ryan shook his head, hoping for a miracle to bail him.

.

.

"Where were you Sarah?"

Sarafina dropped her gaze to her dad's shoulder where she was gently massaging, she applied a bit of pressure feeling his muscle relaxing bneath her finger

" I went to visit Amber" She replied. Her dad raised his head so he looked directly at her

" It's been a while I saw her, can't believe she forgot about me" he pouted playfully, Sarafina chuckled at his antics leaning down to resume her massage through his neck

" I will be sure to let her know"

The vibration from her mobile phone made her reach for it, she frowned at the caller's ID, it was quite unfamiliar

"Hello, This is Sarafina, may I know who's there" Sarafina introduced, her palm rested idly on her dad's shoulder trailing lazily on it.

"Your voice sounds as sexy as it used to, God! I missed it"

Sarafina didn't need to be told twice who that was, she pressed the device closer to her ear to avoid her dad listening, she didn't want him to bother himself

She thought for a while but decided against saying anything, she hunged up throwing the phone a bit farther from her, it landed on the cushion safely

"Is that Amber?"

"No dad, let me get you some water" it was a lame excuse to change the topic and escape, her dad caught up immediately, he glanced at her phone wondering who called.

"You're just like your mother, so easy to read" He said smiling fondly, in his eyes one could clearly see the look of nostalgia swirling around. He had taken trip down memory lane

Sarafina's attention turned to him, she crouched down to his height on the wheel chair, placing a palm over his dormant legs

"Dad, what was she like, I mean.. mom"

Sarafina swallowed patiently waiting for an answer, she saw the emotions in her dad's eyes, she saw the pain, the hurt and the admiration, she could see the difficulty he was having responding to her

" Like you, Like a rose, Rosella was her her name. You took after her red hair and she was- is so gorgeous" he corrected not wanting to believe she was his past

"What happened dad, why did she leave?"

Sarafina knew the question was a heavy one for her dad but she needed to know, she needed to hear him say it, perhaps it might relief him and grant him a bit of closure

He shifted in his seat uneasily, tapping against his lap, he swallowed dryly, a red colour decorating his eyes. It was a sign of his internal struggle, whatever he wanted to say was taking a toll on him, Sarafina waited, waited for him to adjust to his pace.

And then finally he replied

"She didn't, I let her go..."