HEARTSTRINGS

CARINA.

Thursdays are always very hectic for me as I always have to work overtime because more people come in the restaurant on this day. 

More customers come here because we have a special delicacy, a special recipe made by me. It used to be my grandma's secret recipe which she passed on to me. 

Everyone has tried to know the secret but I never gave it out even to my family members. 

By the way. My name is Carina Leslie Dawson. I'm a young Burnett, twenty-three, a cook and a single mom to my beautiful angel Fiona.

 

   Fiona is the love of my life, she's six now and she's doing very well in school. She's everything to me and I'd never let anyone take her from me. I may have given birth to her under strange circumstances but I've gone past that now. 

I just can't wait to get home and see my baby. I live in a remote area with my parents and little sister with my daughter. We are not rich but I'm trying my best to make sure my daughter gets the education I never had. 

      "Its finally over." I said with a huge sigh of relief.

      "You've done a really good job today Carina. Thank you so much for always doing this on Thursdays." My boss Mrs Duke said with a huge smile plastered on her face. 

I smiled. "Its nothing madam."

After a while, I took a taxi home. I walked to the house and was received with from a warm  hug from my princess. 

      "Whoa darling. How are you doing?." 

     "Fine Mommy. How was work?." She asked as we walked in. 

I yawned. 

      "You must be very tired. You look so worn out. I've prepared a warm relaxing bath for you. All you need to do is get in, take your bath, have dinner and go to bed." She said.

 

I can't help but smile sometimes. I really have a wonderful daughter indeed. I'm proud of her because she's a blessing to me. 

Even if I'm not with her father who I don't want to talk about, I'm glad being her only parent and that she's mine alone. 

      "Thank you so much sweetie. You're the best daughter in the world." I kissed her hair. 

We entered the house, Mom and Dad are in the living room watching TV. Fiona took my bag to my room while I sat down on the sofa facing my parents. 

     "Hi Mom. Hi Dad. You said you wanted to talk to me earlier this afternoon mom. What's it about?" 

Their faces looks so serious. I wonder what's wrong now. 

      "Darling, we want to discuss something slightly alarming with you." Dad said.

They stretched a paper to me. I read it with wide eyes. Oh God! This is not happening to me. Tears built up in my eyes. 

     "Its really getting serious Dad. What do we do now? We can't just let Rosa die like that. I can't hear it if anything happens to my little sister." I lamented in tears. 

Rosa is too young to be going through all this. She has leukemia and its at its critical stage. She's just seventeen, this can't be happening to her. She's had this since a few years ago. She needs to be treated, she needs urgent care so it doesn't lead to her demise. 

      "She fainted at school today and her friends rushed her to the clinic. But then she was taken to the hospital since she wasn't responding." Mom explained. 

       "So the doctor called us and showed this test results. She needs to be treated immediately and it involves a lot of money. You know we don't have enough, how are we going to save her life Carina?." She had begun to sob while Dad consoled her.

      "How much is the amount needed?." I asked trying to be strong. 

Crying won't solve anything. We need to save my sister's life. 

Chemotherapy and Blood transfusion is the first thing in line now, at least from what I know.

     "About $80,000 for now. We don't know what may come up next." Dad replied. 

That's quite a huge amount of money. 

How am I going to get that large amount of money? I don't even have up to $1000 in my account at this moment. What am I gonna do?

      "Its okay Mom. Rosa is not going to die. I'd do anything I can to save her life. We're going to find a way. Don't cry anymore Mom." I told her. 

     "Who's crying Mommy?." I heard my daughter ask. 

She looked at everyone with a confused and questioning face. 

      "No one darling. We're just talking about something important." I lied with a fake smile.

She frowned. " I heard you talking about Aunt Rosa. Where is she? Is she sick Mommy? Is she going to die?." 

I hugged her. "No dear. Don't say a thing like that. She's going to be fine. She's just feeling unwell. Come on dear. Let's go to your room, you need to sleep early so you can get to school early tomorrow. Have you done your homework?" 

     "Yes Mommy. I did that soon as I came back from school." She replied as we walked to her room. 

     "Goodnight Grandma and Grandpa." She yelled.

I checked her homework and made her lay on the bed. I watched her sleep after we did a prayer together. I kissed her and switched off the lights. My poor daughter is worried about her aunt, so is everyone.

I took a bath and laid on my bed after changing. I didn't feel hungry anymore, all im thinking about is a way to get enough money to save my sister's life. I have to go the extra mile to do this, I don't have a choice do I?.

        DRAKE

     "You're fired." I said to the new cook mom employed for me.

I'm not interested in cooks who can't meet my expectations. I am expecting something unusual and something I've never tasted before. I'm tired of the same old way of cooking and preparation besides this one is too stupid. I asked her to prepare a simple coffee, with no sugar. She added a mountain of sugar. How am I supposed to take that? 

She's clumsy and to top it all she's ugly and that's a big problem for me.

My name is Drake John Sunders. I'm Twenty-eight and a very successful multi billionaire. At a young age, I'm the richest person at my age. I know a lot about business and I make my money from the numerous businesses I have.

I also have a gang of my own and a lot of competition. Some are allies while others are enemies. 

My family are the most important people in my life, and women? Well they're just a thorn in my flesh sometimes. But they're useful to satisfy my other physical desires.

I haven't seen a woman that would make me a stupid guy in love. That can't happen.

   She went down on her knees.

     "Sir please, please I'm sorry. Forgive me sir and I'll never make that mistake again sir I promise. Have mercy sir." She pleased in tears. 

      "Your services are no longer needed. I'm gonna settle you with $100,000 so just leave. I don't wanna see you here when I get back." I said and walked out ignoring her pleas.

I live in a big mansion and I have a lot of employees but I choose to have a personal cook. I still haven't found someone qualified enough. No matter how much they're qualified, I still don't find them good enough. I don't know what's wrong with me too. I decided to go out without my bodyguards or driver today. 

I got to the office and received a call from my mother. She must have received the news. 

     "Yes mother.... I know you want to talk about the cook. I don't want her services anymore. She can go." 

      "When are you going to stop doing this nonsense Drake?." She scolded. 

I guess she must be fuming by now. 

     "Mom I have to go attend an important meeting. We'll talk later. Bye mom." 

     "I'm not done..."

I hung up on her. Mom can prove difficult sometimes but I love her. 

I attended a few meetings before driving out of work. I am going to meet with one of my whores before going back to work. I really need to relax and play a little. 

My car suddenly stopped. What the heck?

I got down to check it. I had a flat tyre. How the hell did this happen? I went to the car to take my phone and call my driver when I saw something unusual. 

A gun pointed at me. 

What the f**k???

Who's this?

I can't believe my eyes, does this bitch knows who I am and what I'm capable of doing? She's too beautiful and innocent to be doing something like this.

    "On your knees jerk!." She yelled and cocked her gun. 

I guess today isn't exactly my happy day. I have to do what she says to avoid my brains being eaten by vultures even though I know she can't do it. 

She looks fierce though. 

I like her. 

.