Chapter 10: Meeting Adam

“That night, I had some money on me. It was for an assignment. A contract for the new company I am working with. I didn’t want to spend the money. I expected that in the matter of a few days, they would make more money to replace that, but it didn’t happen. Right now, my bosses are asking for the money.”

I felt a breath close to me and turned back. One of my bodyguards, Calvin, guiding the main entrance, was standing right next to me.

“What are you still doing here?” I raised a voice at him with blazing eyes. “Find something doing! Just leave!”

“Sorry ma’am.” Calvin replied with his head bowed. He was another annoying worker like Oaklyn.

“She said leave! It’s better you go in and shut the door!” Chris intervened. “Stop embarrassing me like this, especially in front of your workers. What kind of nonsense?!”  He turned his anger at me as Calvin left.

I just watched him silently with a glare.

“Well, that’s not why I’m here.” Chris’s voice dropped from the look on my face.

“As I was saying. My bosses are asking questions. What I’m shooting at is, can you give me some loan? I’ll pay you back.”

“How much is the money?” I asked him.

“Let’s just do it 50% of what we spent.” He suggested with a nervous laugh. “You remember you ordered for a bottle of Chateau Lafitte, not me. I don’t mind because I want the best for you and I can give you anything! Even spending my last cash on you.”

“Please, how much do you want? Send me your account number, and I’ll do an immediate transfer.” I snapped my fingers at him, pissed at his sudden sluggishness.

“I still have the receipt here.” Chris deepened his left hand into the side pocket if his clean blue jeans. Pulling it out by showing it to me. Here it is, it’s just $300,000.”

“What is your account number?”

“Here it is.” He scoffed, pointing at the paper that was fairly faded on the sheet.

“You came with your account number written?”

“That’s because I don’t know it offhand.” He joked. I wondered what was funny. “I am a very occupied man and the only numbers I know are my age and phone contact.”

I scrolled through my inbox and transferred the money.

“I’ve sent you the money so you can check your credit balance on your phone.”

Shocked to the bones, a full smile of gratitude graced his chapped lips. “Umm, thanks so much. I’m truly grateful.”

“Can you just check your phone to be sure about it?” I snapped at him in irritation.

“Thing is that, my phone had some fault and I haven’t had time to go fix it.” He explained, stammering while flashing a ridiculous smile at me.

'How seductive? It’s the fifth time of asking me for money in just 2 weeks that we met. It’s crystal clear that this Chris guy is a gigolo, a male gold digger, a kept man. Too bad I fell for his charms, hoping he’d be supportive and a hard worker. Chris was a smooth talker, after all. All I'd been doing since we met was taking care of him financially. The last time, he cried, that his cancerous mother was dying. I had to send him $500,000 for her treatment and hospital bills. The other day was his car’s endless issue, and before then was, he said he got involved in an accident. It’s as if I’m being played. I can sense it already. Whether on the phone or when we meet, he hardly talks about his personal life except his life complications wrapped up like an old, mumble-jumble, sewing thread. Chris isn’t with me for love, but for my cash!'

“Once you fix your phone, find my number on your contact list and delete it! Consider this the end of my business with you!” I spelled out to him, clearly. “Get off my property!”

“What? But, we've just started, Evelyn. Come on, this isn’t a big deal.” He pleaded.

“Leave my house right now else. I’ll have the dogs released to chase you out!” I barked at him.

“No, no.. Don’t do that.” Chris scoffed, taking a step away. I watched him run without being chased.

A hot breath escaped my mouth and I could feel my heart burning down with hate for him.

“How can he play me again? How can he fool me? I would never love again.” I told myself, remembering the night my true love died. “Haven’t I given love a chance? I’m so fed up... What would I do to find someone like Daniel again? Even though it was arranged, Dan loved me genuinely... Not for money or even the contract. He loved me for me even though that was not the reason we got married, but it was the reason we stayed together in love and happiness. A reason that would have lasted forever.”

After Daniel died, my dad helped him manage his properties and made sure I attended the best business school in the country, to be well groomed and qualified to seat on his chair and take up such roles as running a flourishing company. It was ten years after Daniel’s death that I also lose my dad to the wicked hands of death. He’d always been having high blood pressure ever since I was a kid. I think that was because he lost my mum and he was going through a lot. He was about to lose his company when he gave me out for marriage at 16 and I understood. When you go in search of honey, expect to be stung by bees. That was one enormous sacrifice we made. And despite going through a lot, I also lost my dad.

After his death, I merged my dad’s business company with Daniel’s housing company. Managing the both together till hopefully, Hazel gets of age to inherit Dan’s properties, after university as she’s my next of kin. At this point of my life, I do not need a boy-toy or a loser around me. These are the things that the only two powerful men in my life struggled to build with their blood, sweat, tears and sleepless nights they’ve shared over the years. And it mustn’t go to waste.

With a taste of bitterness lingering down my throat, I pushed the door open and unintentionally bumped on someone. Almost slipping with the heels of my boot, the stranger held me back. His chilly champagne splashed on him, but he quickly let go of my arm when I gained stamina.

“I am sorry... I wasn’t looking.” he apologized at once.

“That’s fine.” I replied, almost touching him to check if he’s alright. “I’m sorry.” Saying the words made me realize how strange it sounds to my ears. It’s been ages since I last used those words. They’d been nothing to apologize for.

An exasperated sigh escaped me, trying to forget what just happened with Chris and smiled to the stranger.

“What a pretty smile? Well, do you have a name or can I call you mine?” He muttered speechlessly and nodded his head like an unpowered robot, staring at me. At my lips.

“What?” My eyes furrowed at him. His delicate pupils watched mine as if watching a collection of stars. “What do you mean?”

“I’ll call you Mine then. True love starts with friendship. Would you be my friend?”

“Friend?” I went puzzled again.

“Sorry, are you Hazel’s cousin or friend?” He asked.

Gazing at him, there was a look of recognition in his grey eyes. “No... Have we met somewhere?”

“No.” he replied, trying to connect the dots. “I just saw your portrait earlier... You must be from Columbia University, then.”

I looked up, giggling at his thought and straightforwardness. Why would he even conclude that without knowing me? “No.”

“Wow, okay.” He sighed, cutting out of it. “You look gorgeous in that gown. Like a hot chocolate. Sorry, can I have your phone? Let me check something on your phone.”

"Um.. Are you part of the invited guests at this party?" I asked, handling him my phone. He texted his contact with it, saving it with 'Adam'.

“Uh, well, yes... With my friends.” He dialed his number and confirmed it rang through his wireless Bluetooth earpiece before handling me back my phone. With two fingers brushing through his clean shaved beard in pride. “So that’s my number.”

My lips pulled down as I held back the urge to laugh. He must take me for his age mate or something. It’s awkward. He’s definitely a student at my daughter’s school. I figured out.

“So, when can I call you? You’re... Mine, right? I didn’t get your name.”

Since he named me, I didn’t think that was necessary.

“I’m... “ The door opened, making us turn in the direction.

“Oh, Mrs Beckett!” It was Noah and Felix. “Good evening, ma.” they greeted with a respective bow.

“Hey, I know Hazel hasn’t introduced us in person, but are you guys having a good time?” Noah must have seen my photograph a thousand times already, I guessed as he recognized me at once.

“Yes, sure.” They smiled, watching the shocked reaction on Adam’s face.

“Mrs Beckett? As in Hazel’s mum?” Adam gasped, almost audibly, as if it was impossible.

“Are you leaving already?” I asked the guys.

“No, not yet.” They replied at once.

“We came to check on our friend, knowing he might have lost his way in this gigantic house.” Noah explained.

“Everything looks majestic, you have a pretty home.” Felix added, dragging Adam behind.

“Okay then, have fun, boys.”

It still startled Adam while they dragged him along with them. From the look on his face, he never expected me to be Hazel’s mum. Was that so impossible? I pondered. Well, I married early. I smiled to myself satisfyingly, closing the door behind me while going inside to join the party. I mustn’t miss any of it.

“Calvin!” I called, and he ran to me. “Make sure you secure this door.” I hissed before leaving.

It was 'Birthday' by Katy Perry playing in the background. Hazel was having fun, thrilled with her friends. Ambling through a wall of young adults, I started with appetizers and grabbed a glass of champagne. Watching Hazel leaning on Noah, I noted he was truly her boyfriend. Their eyes glittered in the night light. They were really in love. It brought up the memories of the last night I had with Daniel... On my 18th birthday party.

I walked towards a tiny, martini table.

Just then, I signaled to the m.c, and he stopped. Holding a mic to give my princess a little birthday talk, the guests went quiet.

“Welcome everyone, and thanks so much for attending this event. As you all know, I am a straight-up boss and I love my job so much. But my favorite thing in the world apart from my job is being with my daughter. As time goes by, I realize I really want to spend more time with Hazel whenever I can. We’re all so busy, so crazy, and the days go by so fast, so this, to me, is to happy days ahead.” the crowd applauded, and I softly giggled at her. She was blushing with both hands covering her face. Hazel is so fragile hearted, I bet she was crying right now.

“Cheers to a new age, Cheers to abundance!”

“Cheers!” Others lifted their wine glasses.

Somewhere around the corner stood the dining table filled with a variety of wine, delicious snacks, fruits, and appetizers. The dining table is a beautiful oak colour in front of a large piece of artwork.

And the music continued. Joining the dance, Hazel came up to me and reintroduced us. We joked about the meeting earlier and it delighted her. I left them to meet Somidah. Warning her not to take much of alcohol.

Hazel looked up at Noah, and his eyes met hers. They blushed silently, turning away as if they could feel my eyes on them. Of course, I was watching them. Everything about the both of them reminded me of Daniel. However, another eye couldn’t leave me at that moment. Adam’s. I just pretended to be absentminded, enjoying the party, but he couldn’t take his eyes off me.

Hazel invited almost all of her close friends and some also invited others. It surprised me that many of her course mates attended. Apart from the ten of them, there were 30 other people present on the occasion. Hazel did not know most of them personally, but her guess was that they would be mostly students from her school, neighbors, and my workers.

Later, Hazel introduced me to her other friends and to some of her course-mates. It astonished them seeing her white coated, rainbow coloured, enormous birthday cake. There were 21 candles of different colours were lit around the cake and it redecorated the entire house for the occasion. Spelling Hazel, she made a wish and cut the cake. Anybody could say that some occasion was going on in this house knowing nothing.

The guests sang her a birthday song when Hazel cut the cake. Congratulating her and wishing her a prosperous life ahead. Then everyone ate, took pictures and had a splendid feast. The food were delicious and good. After so much eating and dancing, I walked upstairs. Leaving Hazel and the rest to enjoy the rest of the night.