Chapter 3 Tragedy

I couldn't wait to get back to Santa Monica.

I had quickly concluded my business meeting with the Mayor and had to be driven back

immediately to the beach. My heart raced as we drove. I had to deal with so much questions. My earlier excitement had given way to guilt. I wasn't the type to feel guilty, but a stranger had my heart caged, it seemed.

What would she think of me? A wolf who took advantage of her drunk state to devour her?

"But we were both drunk," I thought to myself. That's enough reason not to feel guilty, but would she understand? I didn't think she was going to believe me. Well, it's useless being worried over what I can't control. I'll explain myself when I see her, after all, I didn't run away.

I headed straight for my room when I alighted from the van. "Wait for me," I said to my men.

"Excuse me, Sir," the lady at the front desk called my attention, halting my exit. "Yes," I halfheartedly replied, impatient.

"Your key," she said, handing it over to me. "A young lady dropped it. She said you were gone."

"Oh. Did she drop any message or note with you?." I didn't even know what to say. I was shocked.

"No. She left hurriedly. She didn't seem happy."

"Okay. Thank you." I collected the key and rushed to my room. I wanted to be sure she didn't leave any message as the lady had said. I went in and scanned the entire place, looking for anything that looked like a message from her. Disappointed, I went back to the lady.

"Here," I said, giving the key back to her. "Do you know where she came from?" "Yes, but I can't divulge that information to you."

"Why?"

"It's against our policy."

"What if I'm an undercover agent, investigating her?." I adjusted my posture to suit my new profile.

"Are you?," she asked, unconvinced. That was a wrong thing I said, for, my appearance and countenance betrayed me.

"What happens when I slip $300 into your palm? Not waiting for an answer, I gave her the cash. I guess that was the only language that could throw to the dustbin whatever policy she was talking about earlier.

" New York," she said.

"Thank you." I stepped out, satisfied that I didn't lose out completely. At least, she was in my territory and, I was not going to stop searching until I find her. Quickly, we drove to the airport, ready for another gruelling six-hour flight back to New York City. Our business in Los Angeles had been concluded.

*​*​*​*

I couldn't get her off my mind. Every time I slept, I dreamt of nothing but her. Her face had become my eyes. I was shocked when I found out she was a virgin before our tangle the previous night. That's very rare in America. I had enjoyed her body, so much that I wanted more.

I was worried. I needed to look for her, but I had no clue how and where to find her. The only picture I had of her was in my head. Well, it's something. Being one who loved and lived arts, I could translate the picture in my head on a drawing board. It took me three days, but I eventually drew what I was sure was the stranger who had got my heart racing non stop. I gave it to my men with the instruction to look for, and find her at all cost.

Days turned into weeks, but there was no sight of her in New York. We had driven to every known place in the city, including the beaches, since I met her at one in L.A. I was already getting frustrated and tired if searching when I had my lucky break.

Two of my men had gone out to take care of business when they sighted her at the mall.

"Keep an eye on her. I need her location and every known information about her," I had told them. They kept following her for days until they had enough information.

I was finally ready for another meeting with this stranger. No lady had ever had my heart messed up, not even my girlfriend, Julia. Since I knew her routine, I had scheduled to meet with her at the mall where she worked, the following day.

...But tragedy struck...

My father had finally succumbed to his sickness. Though we had all expected it, it was devastating. Not that we were kids, but we were so hurt. His death seemed to hit me more. I had to take over the family's business. That seemed an easy thing, except that we were more than the furniture making family we had come to be known for. I wasn't ready for the other part of the Brandons' merchandise. I felt I still had a lot to learn from my father. He wasn't the perfect father, but the way he grew the Brandons was very remarkable. I have never seen a man who could pull his enemies to his side. He was so smart, a combination of good and evil.

I couldn't afford not to carry on with his business legacies, whatever they were. Our rivals had taken advantage of his demise to try to pull a level ahead of us.

"You cannot let them win. We have always set the standard...and we can't do less. Raise your stakes; raise the bar higher!" My mother had said to me. Though she didn't say it, I knew she

was worried I would crash. Not that she didn't believe in me, but she knew my luxurious lifestyle got me distracted.

I was determined to prove her wrong! I swore to raise the bar even higher!

But is it possible to forget the one who makes your heart race non stop!? Time will prove me!