Chapter 3 Ch. 3 - SEEING HIM AGAIN

VALERIE

(FOUR YEARS LATER)

"Good morning, world." I was used to that, always greeting Mother Nature. It was a way of saying I appreciated everything I had in my life.

I looked at the wall clock. Oh Shit! I was going to be late to work again.

"Shit! I'm late!"

I raced to the bathroom and had the quickest bath, and soon, I was out. I wrapped my towel tightly around me. The warm bath had relaxed my muscles, but my mind was still foggy from the events of the previous night.

"Joan will reduce my salary. Oh damn, I am jinxed." I complained. This wasn't the first time I would be late to work, and when my boss finds out, she always pulls the punishment from my salary.

It was hard trying to adjust to life after imprisonment, especially when you've got no family or a means of livelihood. I did three jobs, worked as a nanny before securing a job in a decent place this year.

"Cruel world." I echoed.

Just as I was buttoning my shirt, I heard the unmistakable sound of glass breaking. My heart skipped a beat. I frozed, my senses on high alert. Who could be in my house?

I didn't think twice before grabbing the baseball bat from behind the door, my hands trembling slightly. I slowly made my way to the kitchen, the bat at the ready.

As I entered the kitchen, instead of seeing a big guy trying to steal my old fridge or the fairly used toaster I got two months ago, I saw a small, blonde girl standing on her tiptoes, trying to reach the cookie jar on the counter. She couldn't have been more than four years old.

And then it hit me like a ton of bricks. This little girl, she was mine. A product of that reckless night four years ago. The night I had tried so hard to forget.

"Daisy."

The little girl turned around, her big blue eyes locking onto mine. I don't have blue eyes; it was certainly from her father, but sadly, I had no idea who he was. She smiled, and my heart melted. I saw myself in those eyes; I saw the innocence and curiosity that I had once possessed.

I took a step forward, my legs trembling. "Hello," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

The little girl giggled and took a step closer to me. "Mummy?" She asked, her voice uncertain.

I nodded. "Yes, baby. Mummy's here."

"I want a cookie."

"I'll get it. Are you hurt?"

She shook her head and I handed her a cookie. She took a bite of the cookie and looked at me with a serious expression. "Mummy, I saw the government on TV," she said.

I smiled, correcting her gently. "You mean the governor, sweetie?"

Daisy nodded, taking another bite of her cookie. I watched her for a moment, savouring the simplicity of the moment. But as much as I wanted to stay in this peaceful bubble, reality intruded. I glanced at the clock and realised it was time for Daisy to get ready for daycare.

That was all I could afford at the moment. I would put her in a good school when I had saved enough.

"Okay, baby, time to get ready," I said, trying to sound cheerful.

Daisy's face fell, and she looked up at me with pleading eyes. "Do I have to, Mummy?"

I nodded, feeling a pang of guilt. "Yes, sweetie, you do. But I'll be here to pick you up after work, and we can have a special afternoon together."

Daisy sighed, but nodded resignedly. I helped her down from the chair, and we headed to the bathroom to brush her teeth and wash her face.

I dropped Daisy at the daycare and made my way to work. I was a seamstress in a big fashion company. I did get one of my dreams to come true. I was working in a company that specialises in sewing wedding dresses. Although I was a minor seamstress, one day, I will build my own company.

I got to work and luckily, my boss, Joan, wasn't in her office. In fact, the seniors were not around. It was when I began to settle down that a colleague came to tell me that there was a campaign for a popular politician and everyone had gone to see him.

Christina, my colleague, snorted, rolling her eyes, "All the women are head over heels for him, and girl, he is hot!"

I nodded, not looking up from my desk as I organised my papers. Christina switched on the TV, and the sound of the politician's smooth voice filled the room.

"My fellow citizens, we are at a crossroads today," he started, "We have two options: either we clear a road or we stay on the same old path of inaction - a manner that puts our communities, families, and kids' needs first."

I smiled to myself, still not looking up from my desk. I had heard it all before - the charm, the charisma, the empty promises, that's all they can do.

"We need a leader who will fight for us," the man continued, his voice dripping with sincerity. "A leader who will stand up to the special interests and corporations that have held us back for too long."

Christina sighed, shaking her head. "He's got a silver tongue, I'll give him that."

I nodded in agreement, still arranging my papers. I had no intention of getting caught up in the hype surrounding the man. I had more important things to focus on.

"You know his name?" Christina asked me.

I looked at her now, but not at the TV, "should I?"

"His name is Kurt Nelson."

"Oh..."

"And what's so special about him?" I asked.

"He's rich, single and old."

"Old?"

"Yeah. People say he's fifty, but girl, that man looks like twenty-seven." Christina said.

I smiled. She must be exaggerating. But who knows? He could be what she said he was.

"VALERIE HERMAN!"

Christina and I looked back instantly and repositioned ourselves when we saw Joan. She was dressed in an extravagant way as usual; shiny eyebrows, red lipstick, flashy gowns and an exquisite hat.

I wondered what it was about this morning. Christina quickly scurried away, not wanting to be caught up in whatever mess Joan might want to put me into.

"Good morning, Miss. Brooke."

"To my office." She said and was walking away.

I sighed and sat down for a while before going to her office. When I got there I was taken aback by the presence of a stunning woman with piercing green eyes and long, curly brown hair. She was pacing back and forth, her phone pressed to her ear.

"I am telling you, Kurt Nelson is a breath of fresh air. He's the leader we need, and I'm so excited to support his campaign," she said, her voice filled with enthusiasm.

"Hi, I'm Valerie," I said, smiling at the woman.

But instead of returning my greetings, she turned to me with a scowl. "Can't you see I'm on a call?" She snapped.

I felt taken aback by her hostility, but before I could respond, Joan looked up from her desk, where she had been quietly observing the exchange.

"Valerie, thanks for coming in," she said, her voice neutral. "Please, have a seat."

I sat down, trying to make sense of the woman's behaviour. Why was she being so nasty? And why was Joan not doing anything to intervene? Well, that is what I get for being a minor seamstress here. If only I could land my first client.

As the woman finished her call, the toilet door swung open and my heart skipped a beat when I saw someone I prayed to never come across again – Simon. The same Simon who had sold my house and spent all my money while I was in prison.

He was standing right in front of me, flesh and blood and he was unreachable. I couldn't believe he was the one. "Simon..." his name died on my lips.

Before I could process what I was seeing, the woman walked over to Simon and kissed him intimately.

Wow! The hurt came all over again and I wanted to crumble but I just had to be strong. It was over now, I shouldn't care.

She then turned to Joan, a sly smile spreading across her face. "Is she the one who's going to sew my wedding dress?" She asked, her eyes glinting with malice.

Joan looked at me, "Yes, she is."

It felt like I was dreaming. Simon, my ex, was marrying this woman? And I was supposed to sew her wedding dress? The irony was not lost on me. I couldn't believe what I was being asked to do.

If it was any woman out there, would she be able to do this?