Five Years Later

Aurora's Point Of View

"Star, are you sure about this?" 

"Dad, you've been asking me this all day," I said with a small laugh. 

"Your father is just as worried as I am, Aurora. I know it has been five years but going back to the States? What if he... gosh I don't even wanna think about it." 

I sighed and zipped up my last box. "I know Eduardo is there and everything but don't worry, I've got it under control. It's been five years. What are the odds of crossing paths with him in such a big country?" 

"What about your kids?" Dad asked worriedly. 

"They will be fine. I will protect them with my life. No harm would come to them." 

To make sure no coincidence occurred, I had applied to companies that had no affiliation with Eduardo's company and they were all located in the small part of the city. Parts Eduardo would most likely not step foot on. 

The odd jobs I had worked over five years were not enough to cater to my children. I had little to no savings after all the expenditures. Mum and Dad also tried and even though they said it was okay, I knew it was weighing them down. I was too old to be leeching off them. 

Aside from that, we lived in a small area with low infrastructure. It was like a peaceful resting place for oldies so there weren't many schools or children hospitals around. I needed to give my children the best life they deserved and to achieve that, moving out to a country with better opportunities was the first step I had to take. 

"I pray the goddess will be with you guys. When you land, call us. And not just then. Make sure you call us every day. Every single day. We need to know what is going on with you. Especially our grandbabies." 

"I will, mum. I promise." 

After packing our things, I went to the kitchen to prepare dinner. That would be our last meal before leaving very early tomorrow. Our flight takes off at 6. am. 

"Mummy!" 

I shook my head when I heard Eloise's squeal. Here she comes with her questions. She is the most inquisitive among my kids. She could ask a thousand questions in a day. And I have to answer them. But sometimes...

"Yes, baby," 

She skipped to the kitchen with a big cute smile on her face. "When we get there, will we finally meet Daddy?" 

... sometimes she asks this dreaded question. 

I turned to face her, mirroring her smile. "Of course, darling." 

She pursed her lips and stretched her pinky finger. "Promise?"

I had been getting the same question from the kids, especially Eloise, over the years. It got to the point where I couldn't think of a reply to give them and left them with my parents to deal with. How would I tell them that they were well off without their unfaithful father? 

I locked my finger with hers and said, "Promise." She giggled and I pecked her forehead. "Where is your brother?"

"He is with Grandpa." 

"Why don't you go and play with Grandpa too, hm?" 

"Okay, mummy." 

She gave me a quick peck and dashed out of the kitchen. I sighed tiredly as I leaned on the counter. Till when will I keep making promises I can't keep? 

"They will never stop asking, Star," Mum spoke from the doorway of the kitchen. "And their questions would get deeper as I continue to grow." 

"I know, mum." 

I knew that more than anyone. 

***

Early the next morning, we packed up all our luggage and were driven to the airport by my parents who bid us goodbye. Hours later, we arrived in New York City and boarded a cab back home. 

"Mummy, is this our new house?" Eloise asked as we entered. 

"Yes, baby."

"We'll live here forever?" She asked again. 

"Yes, flower." 

We were back in my parent's old house and would be living there until we had enough money to get our apartment.

I glanced at Dexter, who was looking around in curiosity. Unlike Eloise, Dexter does not express his curiosity. He would rather find out about things himself than voice it out. And he is more introverted than his extroverted little sister. He is more bubbly with his grandpa than he is with me. Sometimes I wonder if there was anything I was doing wrong. 

"Come now, let's go and arrange our luggage." 

I locked the door and I went up to the room with the kids. The house had two rooms. The kids would take one while I occupied the other. We arranged our clothes in the closet, though Dexter and Eloise almost pulled each other's eyes out more than once. 

They left me at a point to go and play in the garden. I used that time to clean up everywhere. I wiped the windows clean and changed the dusty curtains and bedspreads. Once the kids start school, I gotta fumigate the whole house. Only Moon knows what had been growing in here over the years.  

A few hours later, the twins came in bathed in dirt. 

"Mummy, look what I found!" Eloise grinned proudly, showing me the tomatoes she had collected in her gown. 

"I found them first," Dexter argued as he began to pick them out. 

"Give them back!" Eloise whined. 

"That's enough. You two did a great job. I am impressed. Now mummy is gonna prepare dinner with the tomatoes, how about that?" 

They happily agreed and I heaved in relief. Handling these two was not going to be an easy task, especially now that my parents weren't there to help anymore. 

"Firstly, let's get you both sparkling clean."

I gave them both a nice bath and I went to prepare dinner afterwards. Eloise turned in every direction I turned, asking me what every ingredient was used for while Dexter sat at the kitchen table, reading a color book while eating an apple. 

"Mummy, will we go to a new school?" Eloise asked during dinner.

"Yes, of course, sweetheart, I've started doing some digging already."

"New school?" Dexter asked in a low voice. 

"Yes, baby. You don't want to go to a new school?" I asked and he shook his head. 

"Do you think other kids will like us?" Dexter asked, looking up at me. 

I pinched his cheek playfully. "Yes, baby, why wouldn't they? You are the cutest prince and princess I've ever seen." 

Dexter's face lit up as he smiled and at that moment, all I saw was a mini version of Eduardo. Dexter had his father's dark hair and the same shade of grey eyes. 

Eloise on the other hand shared my brown eyes and curly dark brown hair like mine. But still, at some angles, she looked a lot like her father. 

"Mummy, are you alright?" Dexter asked, jerking me out of my thoughts.

I mustered a smile. "I'm fine." I picked up my glass of water. After drinking, I lowered the glass and found two pairs of eyes staring at me. I shuddered and smiled again. "Come on, finish up. It's almost time for bed." 

I watched them eat with sadness in my eyes. Why did they have to resemble him so much? Each time I looked at them, I remembered him and it sent shivers down my spine. They served as a reminder of the past whenever I tried to forget him. 

After dinner, I helped them freshen up before tucking them in bed. I bid them goodnight and pecked their cheeks before retiring to bed.  

I had a job interview the next day and needed to be physically and mentally prepared for it. Lack of sleep wouldn't help me.  

***

After breakfast the next morning, I left for my job interview while Nana, the housekeeper, took care of the kids. I trusted the elderly woman deeply because she had worked with my family since I was a kid. She was like a grandma to me. My parents had also left the house under her care when they relocated to England. 

I finally arrived at my destination, Gomez Enterprise, and proceeded toward the building with my CV in hand. Ignoring the nervous wreck in my stomach, I proceeded inside, silently praying no one recognized me. 

As I walked up to the receptionist, I noticed everywhere was in chaos. The employees scurried around, moving files and typing frantically on their keyboards. I looked around, wondering what was going on. The receptionist who was supposed to be highly composed was disoriented. Papers and files were scattered across the floor while she hurried to pick them up. 

"Is everything okay?" I asked. 

"Oh, yes...yes, everything is fine. It's just the usual morning rush!" She forced a smile and took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, how may I help you?" 

"I'm here for an interview..."

"Shit, he's here already. Come on, follow me" She guided me to the waiting room and vanished immediately.

A few minutes later, a lady ushered me in to meet the CEO. As I walked into the room, I tried to take calming deep breaths to wash away my anxiety. Calm down, Aurora, everything is going to be okay. 

The first thing that caught my attention was the glint of an expensive gold watch on the man's wrist. Thankfully, he was standing in front of the window, taking a call. That gave me time to gather my nerves as I assessed his back profile. 

He stood tall and proud, his dark hair slicked back neatly. He wore a black tailored suit that accentuated his broad shoulders and trim waist, giving him an air of authority. His back was straight and strong, his posture impeccable. 

"You don't understand me right now. I fucking lost all the goddamn deals and partnerships overnight! Right now, I am running mad!" He paused and raked his hair with his fingers. "Something needs to be done, I cannot lose all over again. You need to help me get them back!"

I furrowed my brows but kept listening.

"I know it's that motherfucker. Yeah, I might've said fucking hello and it pissed him off... Believe me, it was just a hello... No, you have to do something. There's gotta be something, anything... Fuck!"

I flinched at his words and he immediately turned around still holding the phone to his ear. I froze and stared at him with unblinking eyes. Without taking his eyes off me, he spoke a few words and ended the call.

"What the fuck are you doing in my office?"

"I am Aurora..." I gripped my CV tightly to my chest when he angrily slammed both hands on the table.

"That doesn't answer my fucking question!" 

Was he truly Ricardo Gomez, the CEO? I wondered as I stared back at him in shock. Seeing how angry he looked, I forced myself to answer the question. I needed the job badly. 

"I'm here for an interview"

Shutting his eyes, he took a deep breath and settled down in his seat. "Get out." He gritted out. 

I blinked, "Huh?" 

"Out! Now! Come back tomorrow, or next week for all I care. Get the hell out of here!" He flared and I didn't know when I rushed out in fear. I ran out of the elevator and rushed out of the company. I was so overwhelmed with fear that I was almost hit by a car. 

The car stopped a few inches in front of me and I shrieked in fear as I fell to the ground. A man stepped down from the car and came to me. 

"Are you okay, miss?" 

I winced. "I'm fine, thank..." my words got stuck in my throat when I raised my head to see who it was. I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me. It was Maxwell, Eduardo's driver. 

"Lady... lady Garcia..." he stuttered, his ey

es wide in shock. Eduardo was in that car without a doubt. Without thinking, I grabbed my bag and ran away, praying to the moon that Maxwell didn't tell Eduardo he saw me.