CHAPTER 8: THE WOMAN HE SEARCHED FOR

Alexander

I dressed in a navy blue suit, my silky black hair was combed back. I complimented my dressing with a black shoe, making me look smart and presentable.

I fetched my suitcase and arranged my things in it; my phones, jotter, a pen and my cheque book. I was so sure I'd be making a lot of donations there today.

My wristwatch made a chime, notifying me of the time. The driver must be down, waiting for me. I checked out of the hotel with my things and dropped the keys at the reception.

"Morning sir," the driver approached me with a smile, reaching for my bag and my suitcase.

"You know my schedule this morning, right?"

"Yes sir, I've been briefed," he responded, bowing slightly.

"Good, let's go."

The drive to Carlton's College of Art was roughly a 30 minutes drive from the hotel.

I saw the driveway filled with cars of prestigious people and students flocking around. Instantly I concluded that it was a big event. The car was ushered into a private packing space.

I stepped out with my suitcase by my side, straightening my suit and looking around.

"That's Alexander Pierce," I heard someone shout and immediately students flocked around me, handing me sheets of paper to sign autographs.

Luckily for me, the security men cleared the way and escorted me to the hall. I settled down at the section reserved for us.

"Look who we have here, if it isn't the billionaire Alexander Pierce," I could recognize that voice from anywhere, my biggest rival in New York.

"Hello James," I replied, wearing a menacing look. "The program's about starting, you might want to place your ass somewhere in order to prevent you from falling."

I taunted him with his disability just to get him to stop talking. Not nice of me, I know but he was always everywhere I was, always trying to compete with me, even after the stats showed everything clearly.

I heard him grunt before he settled down in the seat beside me.

Everyone settled in the hall and a short heighted man with a petite figure walked on the stage. His bald head came into view and the glasses on him complimented his looks.

"Hi everyone, my name is Michael Brown, the director of Carlton College of Arts. We want to say a big thank you to everyone who honored our call even despite their busy schedules. It's an annual event and this is the first time we would decide to extend our invitations far and wide. To the big men and women, the businessmen and women, the billionaires and the one who holds the reins of our environment; we say a very big thank you."

A round of applause ensued from the background, the only thing on my mind was to finish as soon as possible and go back to my normal life.

"Thank you so much," he continued. "I present to you one of Carlton's finest lecturers. 7 years ago, she joined us in this fine college as a student and she has tremendously stood out, making us forced to retain her as one of our lecturers. Today she will be anchoring today's programme, please give it up for Miss Melissa Dawson, a round of applause please."

The hall became rowdy with students shouting with joy and making the hall echo with their resounding claps. I relaxed in my seat, trying to believe that another woman just bore the same name to the woman I have spent all my life looking for.

But as soon as she walked on the stage in all her glory, smiling and waving her arms to the crowd, every defense of me fell. 

Standing on that stage was the woman that drove all my nightmares away.

She spoke into the microphone, the spotlight fixed on her beautiful fair face. 

"Oh wow, thank you so much. I had no idea I was a fan of many," she said, smiling, making the students burst into laughter.

Even after 7 years she still looked beautiful, my eyes watered on their own as they wouldn't shift their focus away from her.

"I am so glad to be here in the midst of all the big men and women. To the director of this great college, thank you so much for believing in me 7 years ago. For believing in me when I, myself saw nothing but failure within myself."

She directed her gaze to the director, who threw a thumbs up in the air for her.

"And to my best friend, Jane, thank you so much for being there for me. I love you so much," she said.

"I love you too," a voice answered from the back, amidst the crowd.

"And the last but not the least people who mean everything to me. Without them, I refuse to believe that I wouldn't have attained this position of mine. To my babies, my triplets; Aiden, Albert and Aurora. I love you so much my angels."

"We love you too mama," 3 voices clashed with one another from the background.

My head couldn't take what was happening.

Was she married? Did she remarry someone else after she left? But her name is still Dawson, she even refused to acknowledge that she was married. She still used miss and her foster father's last name. What could be happening.

My thoughts conflicted with one another and I prayed silently that the event be done as soon as possible so I'd have a chance to talk to her. At the same time, my inner self fought with me. Was I ready to face her? Would she grant me an audience? 

Knowing that she had kids was enough to destabilize me more. This was the first time in my life that I was scared, trying to talk to a woman.

I was temporarily disconnected from my surroundings but immediately I heard James' name being called, I figured out that they were honoring dignitaries. He stood up and waved for the entire crowd to see him while being accompanied with clapping.

"Al-Al-Alexander Pierce," she stuttered and looked up, wanting to confirm her suspicions too. 

Her eyes showed fear, just like the one from years ago and I doubted within myself if she was ever going to be ready to see me.

I stood up, arranging my suit. Our eyes merged and she staggered back a bit.

I waved to the crowd, bowing and giving my most genuine smile simultaneously before settling down.

She couldn't take her eyes off me and I just couldn't do the same.

"This was really going to be a long day," I sighed, saying to myself.