Chapter 5 A glorious moment...

The air in Kensington always had a serene and refreshing feel to it. The cosy cafes, lovely restaurants, and lively boutiques blended perfectly.

Soter took in the whole scene as he waited for the Ferdinard brothers at the Gore Hotel, they were five minutes late for the meeting, and he was losing patience already. He had two other meetings to attend, and a pile of files on his table, waiting to be sorted out and signed.

A delay like this was one he did not appreciate.

He looked out to the street through Gore's floor-to-ceiling window. It was a bit sunny outside and the street bustled with life. He saw a man hurrying on the sidewalk, a lady cycling, a man in rags staring into space, and a guitar player singing to the words of Travie McCoy, I wanna be a billionaire so fucking bad, buy all of the things I never had..., quite ironic compared to the man's current state, but not impossible, Soter thought with a chuckle.

The man in rags reminded him of his wounded past, a lonely child on the streets of Kensington.

He could remember begging in front of this same restaurant he now sat comfortably in, with staff super ready to please the popular billionaire.

He could remember clearly how he had gotten there.

He had been a happy child living in Weston-Super-mare. His parents were wealthy and they had everything they needed. Until his parents wanted a divorce, they had been married for 10 years with two kids, Soter and his sister Marie, and suddenly they woke up one morning and decided it was time to split up the family.

Soter had been only 15 back then, and his sister 19. It had been devasting, especially since his parents had fought for custody of Marie but not him.

Growing up, he had always been left out of many things. Marie was the perfect daughter and he was the black sheep of the family.

He had never cared about whether or not he was loved, but that day was different.

He was just returning from a volleyball game at a friend's house, on reaching home, he could hear his parents fighting as usual.

I'll take Marie with me... his mom had said, anger livid in her voice.

No! I won't let you take my daughter with you, I'll fight you to the last... His father's angry voice retorted.

She doesn't need a man like you as a father, his mother said.

At least a father like me can save her from a mentally ill mom, his father fired back.

What did you just... So no one wants me, Soter said, intercepting his mother's rebuke.

They both turned to stare at him, but he couldn't fathom the expression that played on their faces. It was one of shock and irritation.

For a moment he felt dizzy and staggered a little. His mom rushed to his side, Soe, are you okay? She asked.

Let go of me! Soter screamed. I hate you both! I hate myself! I hate it here!

He stormed out of the house, running out of the gate, out of his neighbourhood, out of his little town... Sometimes he wondered if he would ever stop running.

For months in his dreams he heard his mother's voice screaming his name, begging him to come back. But he had never gone back, he never saw his family after that day.

He had somehow found his way to Kensington begging for food and water, and sleeping on doorsteps. After a month on the street, he fell ill. He could remember clearly the trembling he felt in his chest, the pounding headache that blurred his vision, the stiffening sensation he had felt all over his body, and the tears that fell freely from his eyes.

He had remembered begging for death and asking God to take him to the world beyond. But when death came he was scared, he fought fiercely to keep his eyelids open, to stay conscious. He had heard stories that when people were about to die, it started from the closing of eyelids and finally drifting to nothingness.

The memories of those stories tormented him at his very last hour, and so wrestled with the last ounce of strength in him to stay with the world.

He was almost on the verge of giving up when he felt a strong hand lift his cold, emaciated body off the cold sidewalk.

You're fine my boy, he heard his saviour say. You'll live and conquer.

Indeed he did live, conquering everything that stood before him and the life he wanted, until he became the Soter he wanted to be... or rather the Soter he had thought he wanted to be.

Good morning Mr Soter, Gomez, the eldest of the Ferdinard brothers, said. Interrupting his reminisce.

Soter checked the time on his Rolex, it was 11:30 a.m. He stared at Gomez, annoyance written on his face.

I'm sorry Soter, Gomez said. You know we just finished a meeting, and I had to rush down here, with the traffic and all, the situation was quite beyond my control. Matteo and Leonardo couldn't make it, so we'll just do the signings without them.

It's fine, Soter said, suddenly feeling exhausted. Let's get over it already.

They were done signing the documents and shaking goodbyes when he saw her walking through the Gore.

She was with a dark, tall woman. The woman must have said something hilarious because she threw her head back laughing.

The moment was glorious, it was just a tiny moment, a simple action lasting just a few seconds, yet to Soter it was magical.

Soter stared at Raina, he wondered what was wrong with him, he felt as if every bit of her attracted him like a magnet.

You belong to each other, his inner voice whispered.