Chapter 2 FIRST LOVE

It was a chilly December night but I took no notice of it as I drove home from Lagrand Hotel in uptown New York. What started as a normal day took a trendy turn at about 9:00 a.m. I received an unexpected call. Benny was in town. I was shocked because I had tried to get him to come over to New York since we met six months ago. I offered to pay for his flight and all his expenses but he was having none of it. He told me that he would come over but of his choosing and he would pay his expenses. I wondered how he was going to do it. Benny was a hard-working fish seller in North London and he told me he had saved some money which he planned to use to come over to New York to see me. I wonder if it was pride or ego that was at work. Why did he want to waste his savings when I could conveniently pay? I offered to pay but anyway, I had stopped worrying about it so imagine my shock when he called me that morning telling me that he was in New York. I thought it was a lie or scam but he gave me his hotel room and the hotel number. I was busy at work in one of my father's posh offices at the Trump Towers. I quickly excused myself telling my assistant that I needed to go see some business person I was trying to convince to give us a contract. He gave me a quizzical look as if to say what business person and why don't I know about it? I quickly switched off my phone and my pager as I made my way to the hotel.

The receptionist confirmed that Benny was in the room and he gave me directions. I took the elevator and got to his room. I knocked on the door. He was expecting me. He was in his bathrobe with his bare chest blazing out. I was too surprised as I admired the curves on his chest. how did you get here and why didn't you tell me you were coming? I enquired. He answered me with a kiss on the forehead and swept me up in his arms. I felt my heart beat as he smelled my perfume and planted another kiss on my neck and that was the last thing I could remember. Some minutes later I was all cuddled up in his arms and he was telling me how he loved me and wanted to spend the rest of his life with me. I could barely hear him. The thrill of the exhilarating sex we just had was all I could think about.

Benny was excited. He didn't imagine I was a virgin and he was surprised and asked how a billionaire's daughter like me with the world at my feet could still be a virgin at the age of twenty-four. I laughed as he planted another kiss on my head I was in dreamland this was better than I had ever imagined as I looked into his eyes I swore to myself that I would love him forever.

We ordered lunch and ate indoors and we talked and talked and talked about our plans, our future, and our kids. I was excited listening to him as he talked about his business and his plans for the future. Hearing him you will not imagine that he was born into a poor family and uneducated. He had all the business acumen of a billionaire. You will fit well into my family I thought. We had sex some more and then I slept off in his arms I woke up at quarter to 7:00 pm and I quickly put on my clothes telling him that I was going to see him the next day. I imagined that my assistant and everyone would have been looking for me by now as I drove home in the chill I was feeling quite warm inside this was the best day of my life and I was praying it would not end. If this was how life was going to be with Benny I would sign up for it a hundred percent

I turned into Franklin Boulevard and the street was parked full of cars unusual for this time of the night. There seemed to be much hustle and buzzle. I wondered why there were so many cars around was there a party that I didn't know about I had not received any invitation which was unusual as my family's presence was always sought at any party in the estate. My mom and dad were away at the ranch in Texas so I was quite giddy but I noticed that there were police lights at the front of our house. I could see my assistant's car blocking the entrance of the driveway and he was talking to some policemen at the front. I quickly came down fearing the worst. Had happened to the maids or was there a burglary? on sighting me, Harry my assistant quickly left the policemen and ran towards me. he hugged me and I pushed him away wondering what was happening he told me that everyone had been looking for me and that they had tried to call me several times but I was not reachable I remembered my phone and pager I had switched them off when I went to see Benny. I mumbled an apology and asked him what the problem was. was it me everyone was looking for? he looked at me with sad eyes and said you've not heard? I said no so he held me and shepherded me past the watching crowd of neighbors and everyone else. I got inside the house where my father was seated on his favorite chair facing the fire the bottle of wine was in his hand I was surprised because he had quit drinking about three years ago. He looked up as I came in and stood up with tears in his eyes he had been crying. what is the matter and why is everyone gathered here I asked and my assistant helped me to a chair and said to me you need to calm down for your mom has passed on. The news hit me like a thunderbolt I collapsed immediately and woke up three hours later in the hospital. My dad was by my bedside my assistant had not gone home. I asked what had happened as I struggled to recollect my memory then I heard the words again my mom had passed on. I screamed and asked how did it happen.

My dad took my hand and explained the circumstances. He had left to go to town and when he came back he found the servants by the door dead they had been shot. He quickly dashed inside to the bedroom where he found my mom dead on the bed. Her hands were bound behind her. She had been raped before life was snuffed out of her and the police were investigating. My world was shattered my mom was my best friend she understood me in a way nobody could. I had spoken to her about Benny in confidence and she was skeptical we all knew that my father was not going to accept him because of his background but she encouraged me according to her love conquers all. I was discharged that night because the doctor said I needed to stay in bed for some days to recover so I got home. picked up the phone and called Benny. He wanted to come over immediately but I asked him not to because I didn't know what to tell my dad and this was not the time nor the occasion. We spent the night talking on the phone and then he promised to call me back later in the day.