Chapter 11: Football Ball

Megan's POV

Eight Years Later

"Are you happy now, Megan?" Alice asked me, and I was inside my office, looking out the window.

"Happy about what?" I asked as I tried to think what she meant.

"Well, being a successful businesswoman. You made your name, Meg. You are the company's CEO who owns the expensive best-selling perfume in the entire country. You are only new in the business world, three years more or less, but the product of your company is extraordinary," she said, and I smiled at her.

"You could say that I am happy. I became what I wanted to be. I am now a chemist, and I created my own brand of perfume, but since you are my best friend, you know how I feel, Alice," I said, and I could see the concern on her face.

"Of course, how foolish of me to ask you that kind of question. It has been eight years, Meg, and I think it is time for you to have a love life," Alice said.

"Here we go again, Al," I replied as I shook my head.

"I will never get tired of reminding you that you are still young. At twenty-six, you became so successful, Meg. You are still beautiful, and men are drooling over you every time you walk in front of them. You become sexier as time goes by," Alice declared.

"You better stop that, Alice. You know I am happy and content with my life now, but I am still mourning over Abigail's death," I said, and I couldn't stop feeling sad as I remembered my baby girl. When I ran away from home, I never expected to have twins, but my baby girl died after I gave birth to them.

"Megan, it wasn't your fault; besides, you have Axel, and he is a healthy baby boy," she said, and I agreed with Alice, but I couldn't stop thinking about my little girl, and because of Ashton, I lost her.

"Because of that bastard, I lost Abi," I said.

"Hey, it was no one's fault, Megan," Alice replied.

"My baby girl could have had a healthy heart if Ashton didn't drive me away that day. I was in pain, Alice, but I tried my best to pretend I was okay. I was only eighteen years old when I got pregnant with my twins, and I had nowhere to go, and if not because of Gael, I don't know where I would be right now," I declared.

"Abigail could have had a healthy heart if I weren't broken-hearted during my entire pregnancy," I said, and my best friend fell silent, and then she left my office when my trunk line rang. I answered the call, and I talked with one of my clients for ten minutes, and I couldn't stop myself from looking back.

I can still remember the first time we arrived in Megalopre. I fell in love with the place, and I am forever grateful to Gael. When he started solo, he used all my songs, and I never expected my pieces to become so popular nowadays. Even if I insisted he take all the credit, I never expected Gael would give me 50% of his earnings from all the songs I composed for him for the last eight years. I was only thankful for him since he was the first person who offered me help when I was so down and brokenhearted.

"Megan, you were an angel. I earned so much because of your songs, and it would only be fair to give you back what you deserve. You earned every penny you have in your bank account," Gael said when I told him it was too much. After two months of living at his house, I looked for an apartment in the town center because I didn't want to be a burden to him.

Alice stayed with me, and we both looked for a job, and when I gave birth, I already had enough money in my bank account through the effort of Gael. I never expected he had given me fifty percent, and when I reread the contract I signed for him, he stated he would be giving me fifty percent of the earnings per song I wrote for him in return for taking the rights to my songs. And I couldn't stop myself from crying that day when I looked at the figures in my bank account, and it grew higher every month.

I continued studying, and I also asked Alice to continue her studies. I told her to pay me after she found work after her college graduation when she already had a job of her own. But I never expected I could build my own company. I hired her to work for me, and now she is my VP for Sales and Marketing, and she had already fully paid her loan from me, which I only sent to her parents. I felt guilty that my best friend gave up her life in Astikoz for my son and me.

Alice gave up her love life to be with Axel and me. She helped me take good care of my son even though I hired a nanny. When my best friend didn't return to Astikoz, her boyfriend broke up with her, and no matter how I asked her to go back without me, Alice was stubborn and remained in Megalopre with us.

And I wondered what happened between them, and it was only later on that I learned before we left Astikoz, she found out her boyfriend had cheated on her. She didn't tell me anything because she knew I was in deep pain; she bottled up her own pain for my sake. That is why I am so lucky to have Alice in my life through thick and thin.

And now I am living in my own house, and it was Gael's property, the one we lived in the first time Alice and I arrived in Megalopre. It is now under my name. I am just glad Gael informed me he would put his property up for sale, and I didn't hesitate to buy it because it was my dream house. Even if it was too big for the three of us. Alice and I both studied at the same university. I took up a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry while Alice studied BS in Marketing.

I used the remaining money I earned from composing songs for Gael to open a small business after I bought the house, and I never realized the market would embrace my product, but of course, thanks to Gael. Because of him being so popular, he offered to be the model of my perfumes, and then the rest is history. My best friend has her own house now in Majuscule, but most of the time, she stays with us because she will miss Axel.

And now M&A Wonderful Scent Co. is at its peak, and I could tell my life is perfect, but I can't deny the emptiness I felt from eight years ago is still there.

"Hey, we need to go home now, Megan," Alice said, and I shut down my laptop while I craned my neck, and I stretched my legs, and I couldn't believe another day was over.

"Mommy! Mommy!" I heard my son's voice reverberate in the living room the moment I got inside, and I couldn't stop myself from running, and I took him into my arms.

"Hello, Axel! What did you do in school today?" I asked, and he started telling me about his activities in school. I am so proud that I have an intelligent kid, and I could tell he got my intelligence, and I wouldn't say I like it when Alice reminds me that his father was also an outstanding student, and there are moments I wonder where he is now.

He became famous in football after he graduated from college, and I wouldn't say I liked it every time Gael would visit my house. He would watch football, we would fight, and in the end, I would always win, and he would shut off the screen as I reminded him how much I hate everything about football.

"Mom! There is one thing I wish for my birthday," Axel said after we had eaten our dinner, and he was sitting beside me on the sofa of our main living room as we watched his favorite cartoon. He paused the TV screen, and I could tell my son was excited. I smiled at him as he looked me in the eyes. I know Axel is mature for his age, and I love him so much.

"What? Why are you looking at me that way, Axel?" I asked him, and he gave me his beautiful smile that melts my heart, and I hate that I always remember his father every time my son smiles because I can't deny that they have the same kind of smile.

"Promise you won't get angry," he said, and I looked at my son with tenderness as I caressed his face.

"Who says I am going to get angry with you, Axel? Mom loves you, and there is no reason for me to get angry with you. Unless you become a bad boy, when you will not listen to mommy, or your aunt Alice, and uncle Gael, and of course, to your nanny Clara," I said.

"Of course, I am always a good boy, mom," he replied, and I ruffled his hair, while I could see out of the corner of my eye, Alice was listening and watching us with amusement on her face, and I couldn't deny I became so excited to know what my little boy wanted for his birthday.

"You can tell mommy now, Axel. What do you want for your birthday?"

"I want a football ball.." my son replied, and my body turned so cold as I could feel my face turn so pale while I heard my best friend chuckle.