HEARTS APART

CHAPTER ONE

COLD SWEAT

I woke up suddenly, my heart racing and pounding. It had been the same nightmare for weeks and each time the feeling of despondency was the same and even though the air conditioner was on full blast mode, I was hot and drenched. My nightgown exposed my Arabian shorts and cup-shaped breasts.

I began to ponder the dream. It has been the same one and even the shrink had no idea of the meaning. The psychiatric examination was completed. I was going mad and the doctor recommended a vacation. Money was no object so I landed in the Bahamas where I was currently in beddrumloadrum load of Pills by my side. I reached for the bottle and selected the red and white capsule gulping it down with two shots of French burgundy as I was instructed. The face of the woman came back to me; wrinkled with chopped hair as if a rat had been her hairdresser. She was unclad except for a piece of loincloth around her waist. Her sagging breasts revealed years of aggressive assault by men.

As she walked towards me she smiled. It was repulsive that her two front teeth were the only remnants while her tongue was pitch black and her eyes glistening bright red like the hot flame from the goldsmith's fire. There was disdain in her eyes and suddenly she tried to hug me. I recoiled like a snake whose tail had been touched but instead of attacking her, I ran as fast as my legs could carry me.

I heard her voice behind me as if calling from a hollow spectrum and she was yelling at the top of her baritone voice saying no matter where you run to you will end up like me.

It was at this point I woke up. The time was five minutes past two in the night. The exact time I had woken up each of the fifteenth times I had had these dreams previously. The beep on my phone distracted me momentarily. It was a message from my nine-year-old daughter Anita who was just checking up on me. What a lovely girl I thought.

She must have inherited my mother's kind spirit. I fought back the tears that were welling in my eyes. I'm a strong and very determined woman and if the woman was wrong I would not end up like her.

Slowly I got up, shed my wet shorts and soggy nightgown, and headed naked for the bedroom to run my hot bath. As the water caressed my body, it suited my pain and made my nipples erect. I could feel his every touch and again tears welled up in my eyes. It has been seven years and I could still see him naked with his iron-like penis shooting upwards. His powerful arms grabbed me and melted my Resistance.

At this point, my bravado disappeared and I cried for about an hour. Looking into the bathroom mirror, apart from my red eyes there was beauty everywhere. Men stared at me wherever I went. I once caught my office assistant trying to prevent his penis from bursting his pants on one of the few occasions he was close to me. So close he could smell my Arabian perfume which I bought expensively during a trip to Rome the previous week. I mean who wouldn't want a single beautiful billionaire heiress? I'm constantly harassed with emails and Facebook messages from business associates and fellow billionaires looking for playthings but I had no interest in anyone. I wanted my Benny, the only man I've ever loved and the only man to spread my legs.

I met Benny in a downtown London market where he had a fish shop. I had just completed my degree from Harvard University where I studied Communication and Dispute Resolution. My billionaire father was so proud of me and asked me to name anything I wanted and he was going to grant it to me. I'm sure he was expecting me to ask for a house, a car, or a vacation, which were things girls of my age and status usually crave.

The shock on his face was palpable and easily seen when I told him I wanted to travel to the United Kingdom to North London specifically to see my beloved football club the Red Gunners play their North London rivals the Spursy Spurs and that I wanted to go alone without any bodyguard or chauffeur. I wanted to go as a commoner. I just wanted to have some time to myself. His fear was reasonable; he was a very rich man, the third largest billionaire in the United States of America with his assets in gold and controlling part of the oil and gas business in both the United States Qatar, and Nigeria.

He was always talking about how many enemies we had and how we had to take precautions every single time we traveled but I felt caged and I wanted to see the world for myself. He had given his word and he could not take it back so he reluctantly granted me his permission but for one week only.

Match day was fun and we beat our north London rivals the Spursy Spurs by four to nothing. After the match, I headed downtown north London through the N5 route to the local market. Shopping was my favorite pastime whenever I travel and I wanted to see if there was anything that could catch my attention. Unfortunately, my beauty caught the attention of some hooligans and they cornered me to a section of the market that was deserted.

They brought out their knives and collected my credit card and the money I had on me, One of them asked me to remove my clothes and I was trying to plead with them when he gave me a slap that knocked me to the floor and in a flash he was on top of me slicing off my clothes with his knife. In an instant, my clothes were off my body and I was just in my underwear. He fondled my breasts and was in the process of removing my underwear to gain access to my vagina when from out of nowhere a voice shouted stop.

The three men confronted the intruder but he was so strong and defeated them all. They ran with their tails firmly tucked between their legs. I was ashamed and embarrassed but with his soothing voice, he calmed me down, gave me his t-shirt to wear, and took me to his shop nearby where I could wash up. For a man so strong Benny was gentle and very kind. We exchanged our contacts but there was something about him that gave me restless days and sleepless nights. I didn't realize it then but I had fallen in love.

I returned to the state the next day but I didn't tell my dad the reason why I came back so soon. Benny and I became friends and I wondered if he was the man I had been waiting for as I had refused the advances of several men and had no interest in men beginning from high school even till I graduated from the University. The closest I had come to be with a man was drawing prom night in high school when Danny Boy who was obviously drunk and I had also drunk a few beers myself took me into the garden stripped off showing his penis and playfully rubbed it on my ass.

I believed that my virginity would be for the right man and I was falling in love with Benny.

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.

A month had passed before I summoned the courage to resume work again. My dad disagreed with my decision. He wanted me to take more time off work, which I refused. I needed something to bury my head into, otherwise the pain was becoming too much to bear.

My mom was my world, my everything. The burial had gone smoothly and Benny stayed behind to support me from afar behind the shadows. He wasn't comfortable with that but I convinced him it was the best thing for us. For now, I didn't want my father to get to know him under such circumstances. He returned to London the day after the burial to continue with his business. We stayed in touch constantly round the clock he constantly sending me pictures and I was sending him pictures too many of them nude of course

The lawyers had come two days after the burial and had read out her will as instructed. My loving mother willed all her properties to me and I had five companies dealing with gold, petroleum, and the clothing company it was more money than I could ever need and I could ever spend. Of course, managing those businesses would be time-consuming I chose to keep my mother's workers in place why I continued the work I was doing with my father. however, something was about to happen that would change the relationship I had with my father for a very long time.

Two days after resuming work I came back home late from The office. I took a shower when I got a message from the maid that my dad wanted me in his study. The Large room was still the same as I remembered it although I had not entered it for quite some time. the oak desk, the panel wall, the bookshelves that contained many maps and items I don't even know what they were. he was seated at his desk wearing a top and dressed in smart pants. He barely looked up as I walked in and planted a kiss on his cheek.

Hello, Dad I said you sent for me he motioned to the seats beside him and asked me to sit. He was in a very serious mood I wondered what was up. I knew he was yet to recover from the death of my mom but he had been jovial for some days this seriousness was getting me upset and I was itching to know what the matter was when he cleared his voice and began to speak.

He told me he knew where I was the day mom died and everyone was looking for me but he decided not to say anything to the police or anybody else. I was shocked and I asked him how he knew where I was and he told me that there was always someone watching me every moment. I blotted out instantly even in London. and he said yes but somehow they seemed to miss me after the football match.

I said Dad you promised he was like I know but I can't leave you unwatched there's someone always watching especially now because you are all I have. We stayed silent for a few minutes pondering about what was going to happen next then he dropped a bombshell. Who was that young man that you went to see at the hotel? I told him it was just a friend and he was like a good enough friend for you to switch off your phone, your pager, and ditch your driver.

I looked at him in amazement and I wondered what else he knew he told me that he had Benny checked out but could not find any information about him he also knew that he had boarded a flight back to London. He was watched to Heathrow airport. He wanted to know which business he was into. what his family name was and how we got to meet?

I summoned up courage and told him the story of what happened in London and how I had fallen in love with him. He asked about his family background I told him the little I knew about Benny and his family background Benny came from Kosovo. His family was killed in the war and a sympathetic journalist found him crying at the corner journalist was working with the BBC at the time and brought him home to London and adopted him as her son, unfortunately, she died of cancer five years later and Benny has been alone ever since.

He asked me if I loved him or if I was infatuated he said he had not been able to trace Benny since he arrived at Heathrow Airport. I told him that we had been in communication even till this afternoon then he asked me a serious question. Are you going to marry him? I lied I told him that Benny had not asked me then he said to me what if he asks you I said I had not made up my mind on what to do he then told me that under no circumstances would he allow me to be with Benny who has no history and no family money he's not about to work hard and leave all his proceeds for a nobody to squander besides he notified me that the Emir of Qatar son was visiting New York next week and he had arranged a dinner for the both of us.

He listed the benefits of marrying into a wealthy family. I was stunned I couldn't believe what I was hearing my dad wanted to sell me out to the highest bidder I Bid him good night and went straight to my room forbidden to be disturbed not even for dinner.

Once alone I cried and cried wishing my mom was here she would understand me and tell me what to do. I only wanted Benny and I would not be getting married to the son of the Emir no matter what my father said. While I was thinking of how to defy my father and go against his wishes my phone rang.

It was Benny I tried to greet him as well as I could but he noticed that my voice was shaking and asked me if I was well I told him I was and that I was just missing my mom and he reassured me that everything was going to be alright that he was there for me even in the sun or in the rain.

I left home early the next day to avoid meeting with my father. Even though it was my day off from work I had made no plans to go anywhere. so I headed to Purple Orchard. Situated at the heart of New York, this garden was famous for its many tourists and visitors who came in to relax and breathe in the naturally perfumed air emanating from the three thousand plant species in the garden.

I found a seat opposite some rose flowers and as I admired them I remembered the popular saying that Every Rose had thorns. how apt I thought my perfect life had just unveiled its thorns and I needed to find a way out.