Chapter six

Irene

"What do you mean you saw your daddy?" I questioned Sofia, squirting to her size but her smile was beeming with excitement making me doubt if it was an imagination of her's.

"Yes I saw him and he told me he would be back, he just had to make an important call." Sofia said to me with excitement, I looked up at the CEO who was clearly angry at the little trouble Sofia was staring at and she doesn't even seem to care about any of that.

"Stop saying that, how can you just assume your father was her when you have never seen him before?" I questioned again, trying my best to keep my voice down so the CEO behind me won't hear.

"It doesn't matter mommy, it was him. I know it was him." She insisted.

" Can you please take her out of here already?" The CEO said.

" You heard what the boss just said, we need to leave." I said to her but Sofia who smiles back,

" That's better, that way we would get the chance to see daddy outside. If we stay here we won't be able to see him". Sofia responded pulling me Forward, I waved quickly to the CEO before rushing out because Sofia won't let go of her tight grip on my wrist.

I step out of the Galiano building, feeling a mix of disappointment and confusion. Sofia's insistence that the mystery stranger was her father had stirred up feelings in me that I had long buried. But Sofia's words had sparked a glimmer of hope within me, a hopeful longing for answers that I wasn't even sure I wanted.

As I walk down the crowded street, lost in my thoughts, I accidentally bump into a man at the elevator. His dark shades conceal his eyes, but his cologne scent triggers a memory deep within me. I immediately recognize it – it's the same cologne, it's just too similar but I can't recall where exactly I smelt it from.

"Sorry," I murmur, stepping back and avoiding eye contact. I don't want to raise any suspicions or draw attention to myself.

"No problem," the man replies, his voice deep and raspy. "Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, thank you," I say, my voice slightly trembling. I take a deep breath, trying to compose myself. Benjamin is dead. This man is just a stranger. I need to let go of these foolish thoughts.

But as I steal a glance at him, something in his mannerisms catches my attention. The way he holds himself, his aura of power and authority – it's eerily familiar. Could it be possible? Could this really be Benjamin?

No, I tell myself firmly. It's just a coincidence. I'm letting my imagination run wild. I need to snap out of it.

"I'm sorry for bothering you," I say, forcing a small smile. "I should get going."

Before I can turn away, the man reaches out and gently clasps my arm. The touch sends a jolt of electricity through my body, and I freeze, unable to move.

"Sofia," he says, his voice barely above a whisper. "Is it really you?"

My heart skips a beat. How does he know my daughter's name? Could it be possible that he's been watching her all this time, or he knows her? 

"Who are you?" I manage to ask, my voice barely audible.

The man hesitates for a moment, as if contemplating his answer. Then, he removes his shades, revealing a pair of piercing blue eyes.

"Daddy." Sofia cooed the minute she looked up at him, I pulled her to my Bosom covering her mouth gently.

"I am so sorry for her bad manners." I apologized to the stranger who seemed to already be distracted due to Sofia's affection towards him.

" It's fine….we have met already." The stranger said smiling at Sofia who won't even let go of his legs.

"You see mom, he recognized me." Sofia said, also making me realize that he called her by her name despite not knowing anything about us.

" How did you know my daughter's name?' I questioned.

"She caused a little ruckus just now and I heard her name, don't he be so nervous I am not stalking you either." He said as the elevator opened again and a few workers walked in. I looked at the number of levels and it was already on the last floor.

"Sofia let go of him we would have to leave soon". I whispered to Sofia who shrugged clinging to the stranger while the employees whispered amoungst themselves I had no choice but to stand up and compose myself till we get to our destination and for some weird reason the elevator was extremely slow and awkward.

I can feel the eyes of the employees in the elevator on us as the doors close and we start descending. Sofia, still clinging to Benjamin's shoulder, is giggling and pointing at different buttons in the elevator, oblivious to the attention we're attracting.

"Sorry again for causing a scene," I say, my voice filled with embarrassment. "Sofia can be quite…energetic."

Benjamin chuckles softly, the sound sending shivers down my spine. "No need to apologize. She's quite the character."

As the elevator doors open to the ground floor, the employees quickly exit, giving us a wide berth. Benjamin carries Sofia out of the elevator, her laughter echoing through the lobby. I follow closely behind, feeling a mix of disbelief and curiosity.

Once we're outside, Benjamin gently sets Sofia down on her feet. She clings to his hand, still beaming up at him with adoration. It's clear that she sees him as a father figure, and I can't help but feel a twinge of jealousy mixed with gratitude.

"Thank you for taking care of her," I say softly, my gaze meeting Benjamin's.

"It was my pleasure," he replies, his voice filled with warmth. "She's an incredible little girl."

SOFIA

As we stood outside the Galiano building, I reluctantly let go of daddy's hand. He promised to see me again, and I held onto that promise with all the hope in my heart. But for now, I had to let him go and trust that he would keep his word.

"Goodbye, Daddy," I whispered, watching as he walked away. My heart felt heavy, but I knew that this was just the beginning of our journey.

"Come on, Sofia," Mom called, snapping me out of my thoughts. I turned to see her waiting for me, a mix of emotions on her face. She looked both relieved and concerned, as if unsure of what just happened.

"I'm coming, Mommy," I replied, running towards her. As I reached her side, she pulled me into a tight embrace.

"Are you okay, Sofia?" she asked softly, her voice filled with worry. "That man, he seemed familiar to you. Do you know him?"

I nodded, not knowing how to explain my connection to daddy. It was as if I had known him my whole life, even though we had just met. There was something about him that made me feel safe and loved.

"He's my daddy, Mommy," I finally confessed, my voice barely above a whisper. "I know it in my heart."

Mom looked at me, her eyes filled with both surprise and sadness. She squeezed me tighter, as if trying to protect me from the uncertainties of life.

"Sofia, honey, I don't want you to get your hopes up," she said gently. "We don't know for sure if he really is your dad. How can you be sure of something so unsure, I told you your daddy was on a business trip." For so many years.

I nodded, understanding her concern. I knew that Mom had been hurt in the past, and she didn't want either of us to get hurt again. But deep down, I couldn't deny the connection I felt with daddy. It was something special, something I couldn't ignore.

"I understand, Mommy," I replied, my voice filled with determination. "But I believe that he's my daddy. And I want to find out the truth."

Mom smiled sadly, brushing a strand of hair behind my ear. "We'll figure it out, Sofia. Together. I promise."

And with that promise, we walked hand in hand towards our future. I didn't know what lay ahead, but I had hope in my heart. Hope that one day, I would finally have my daddy by my side.

Benjamin–

How was I able to promise Sofia so easily, I don't even know anything about this little angel but I was quick to promise her. Where could her father possibly be? 

As I walked away from the Galiano building, my mind was in a whirlwind of confusion. Sofia's claim that I was her father had stirred up emotions and questions that I hadn't anticipated. Who was this girl, and how did she know my name? I had no memory of ever meeting her or her mother before.

But despite the uncertainty, there was something about Sofia that tugged at my heartstrings. Her innocent smile, her unwavering belief in our connection – it was all so compelling. And in that moment, as she clung to my hand and begged me to promise to meet her again, I couldn't resist making a vow that I didn't even fully understand.

I found myself walking aimlessly through the streets of the city, lost in my thoughts. How could I have promised Sofia that I would meet her in front of the Galiano building again? I had no idea if I would be able to follow through on that promise. What if her real father showed up and shattered her hopes? What if I wasn't capable of being the father figure she believed me to be?

But despite my doubts, there was a tiny voice inside me that whispered to take a chance – to embrace this unexpected connection and see where it led. Maybe Sofia was the missing piece in my life that I didn't even know I needed.

I reached my apartment and let out a sigh as I stepped inside. The place was cold and empty, just like my heart had been for far too long. Without even realizing it, Sofia had managed to stir up emotions and hopes that I had long buried.

I made myself a cup of coffee and settled down on the couch, my mind still consumed by thoughts of Sofia. She deserved to know the truth, even if it meant confronting painful memories from the past. But how was I supposed to find the answers she sought? I had no leads, no clues – just a feeling deep within me that there was more to this story than met the eye.

"How can I possibly keep my promise to Sofia If I don't have any information on her." I said to myself.