72BENEDICTTwo years ago…“I can’t have that now.”I click my tongue as I scan to the next page.“No.” I said firmly as I talk to someone over the phone as I was signing papers over my desk. “No Hans, report to me this Friday about the new because-effective plan. I need to see the record before you decide without me knowing it.”I look up at my secretary, “Update me about my sched.” I instructed.“Two meetings this afternoon Mr. Styles and the Arabian investors are arriving tonight at 8pm. I have already booked everything for them. The service car, hotel, restaurant and such.” She reported.“Good. Hans stop. I told you already, I have read it. I don’t like it. Change it. If I cant see your new report by Friday then I have to fire you and your team. Go find a new plan and work for it. You hear me?”I hang up and handed my secretary all the files I finished signing. Shit my hand and wrist feels tired.“Anything else?” I asked her.I have done three meetings this morning though I still

74THEAI didn't understand what I felt when I saw Benedict carrying that little girl on his arms with a woman standing close to him. It was the most unexpected thing to see after what happened that day when I saw him for the first time after two years.It was something I wanted to have with him. A family. A child. Us being husband and wife.I sigh.There were so many questions. So many and too many of them filling my head.Who was that woman? Who were they? Why were they together? Who was that child? And whose child was that? Was that Ben's? My mind filled with so many unanswered questions coming out of nowhere and all of a sudden I felt betrayed all these years.Was that Ben's family? Did he hide them in secret? Didn't he want anyone to know about them? Or didn’t they tell me anything about his past?“You alright?” Kylie nudges my side.I clipped my jaws together and stared at my friends who looked worried after what we all witnessed. I nodded subtly.I hated how he acted that he di

76T H E A“You’ve been looking sad the entire time since we got here.”I pulled my head up to hear Sebastian’s voice. He smiles calmly but I wasn’t in the mood to join the others. We’re all here now and everybody seems to be merry.“It’s Christmas.” He says as he sits next to me.I half-smiled.“And everyone’s downstairs. Why you’re here alone in the library?” he asks.“it’s warmer here. And… I wanted to see how many books they have.” I reasoned.Sebastian smiles. “Come on, everyone’s looking for you.”If everyone includes Benedict then I would be downstairs joining but he’s skipping this get-together because he needed to be there for his dad and mom. Bethany isn’t here too which makes things awfully quieter. I sigh inwardly and I have never talked to them since that day. It’s been almost three days since Benedict and I talked. I could still remember how beautiful that day was yet how we left things undone.I stand from my seat and Sebastian’s face lit up. “Now you want to party.” He

78BENEDICTShe look tensed.But why? What happened while I was away?It's as if something is troubling her mind and she doesn’t want us to know what it is. My brows creasing as she keeps fidgeting her fingers on top of her lap and how she’s avoiding to look me in the eyes. She’s nervous. And she’s scared.Of what?“You can tell us, Thea.” Khaleel reassures her.“Yeah. You don’t have to be scared of Sebastian.”I watch Thea as she bows her head down and shakes her head sideways. “You… you don’t understand.”“Then you gotta let us understand.” I tell her.She shakes her head again. She is hiding something but what could it be? Is it related to Sebastian? Or is it related about something else?“What happened that night? During the party. Right when I left you with him.” Khaleel asks eagerly.He stares at her impatiently. “C’mon Thea, you gotta say it!”But Thea just kept crying and covered her ears with both of her hands.“Thea…” I console her.She shakes her head and breathes heavily.

80BENEDICTI stare at Thea, and she has been looking out of the window for minutes now. I know she still has a lot of things in mind with what has happened lately and I’m sure she’s tired of thinking about it too. She has talked to Khaleel and I have had talked to him too. Despite her past, we wanted to keep it to ourselves than letting the others know about it. They wouldn’t understand what she went through to survive and it isn’t our story to tell.I have asked myself a couple of times why she had to choose such job but then I didn’t have the courage to ask her. I don’t want her to feel bad about herself and the more I ask about her past, the more she would think it bothers me.Honestly, it has been in the past and we all have had done crazy shit a thing or two. All of us deserves a second chance and women like Thea who strives hard to change herself to become a better woman deserves more than that. I am proud of her and she knows it.A smile creeps on her face as soon as I rubbed