Chapter Two

Aviva Arroyo frowned as she listened to her ex husband brush off her concerns over their daughter’s failed relationships. She knew Vincenzo Arroyo loved his first daughter Isabella very much and didn’t want to see her hurt but he had his other children to worry about too and Izzy was the only one she had and besides a man’s love for his child couldn’t be compared to a mother’s love.

Her beautiful strong daughter had just been dumped by another man – the third fiance in four years and her girl was devastated.

“She’s refused to see anyone.” Vincenzo replied when Aviva asked him if he’d gone to see her. “Her assistant told me she’s been holed up in her room for days.”

“What she needs is a new environment. I’ve been pleading with her to come pay me a visit but she changes the subject every time.” Aviva huffed. “She’ll like it here in Nigeria.”

“I never did so how could she possibly like it there?”. Vincenzo drawled.

“The last time you came here was two decades ago Vince. Everything’s changed now.” She snapped.

Vincenzo let out a sigh. “I have to go Vi.”

“Please force her to see you. Camp out in front of her door if you can.” She pleaded. 

“Sure sure.” He muttered distractedly. “Take care of yourself Vi.”

“You as well Vince.” She hung up.

She first met Vincenzo Arroyo when he came to Nigeria on a business trip and lodged in the hotel she’d been working as the manager. He’d been three years her senior but she hadn’t minded and fell for him at first sight then he with her at the end of his two month stay in Nigeria.

Six months later he returned to ask for her hand in marriage from her parents and of course they’d agreed. They did the traditional marriage which up to this day still made her howl with laughter whenever she watched the video recording of it and a week later church wedding and then she found out she was pregnant.

They travelled back to Mexico and she met his family. At first his mother hated her but soon warmed up to her when she cooked jollof rice, salad and chicken for the woman to eat and up to this day – ten years since the divorce she and Vincenzo’s mother whom they called Abuela were still good friends.

Luckily for her, she and Vincenzo didn’t get into a terrible fight over who’d get the custody of their fifteen years old daughter at the time. Infact no one knew about the divorce until Vincenzo made it known to the world during an interview on National TV that he was no longer married to the beautiful African queen Aviva.

He’d settled her with an estate worth five hundred million dollars, fifty percent shares in his companies and a private jet for her personal use which was all she’d agreed to and nothing else and they’d remained friends.

Aviva’s phone rang in her lap and she looked down at it, frowned when she realized who was calling and picked anyway. Her good heart couldn’t let her turn away someone in need.

“Yes Paul?”. She said. She referred everyone who needed her help to her assistant and nephew Paul and in turn he made sure to select the ones who were really in need of her help – like a life and death situation.

“Aunt, There’s a Mrs Obaseki waiting at the gate to see you.” Paul replied.

“I’m not in the mood to see anyone right now Paul. What does she want?”. She asked in a bored voice.

“The usual.” Paul drawled.

“Well have the maids get her something from storage and give her some money then send her on her way with my apologies.” Aviva said.

“Yes Aunt.” Paul said.

“If anyone else asks, I’m not home.” She told him.

“Yes Aunt.” 

“Take a day off tomorrow Paul. Go see your girlfriend or something.”

Paul chuckled. “I don’t have a girlfriend Aunt.”

“Boyfriend then?”. She teased.

Paul gasped in disbelief. “Aunt! I’m not gay! I’ve just not found the one.”

Aviva laughed. “I know. I’m just playing with you Paul but seriously go out tomorrow with your friends and have fun.”

“Can I take the Porsche then?”. He asked hopefully.

“Sure but if you scratch it, I’m going to have Vincenzo come after you with his shot gun.” She joked.

“I’ll bring it back in one piece.” He promised.

“Tell me when you’re leaving tomorrow so I can give you some money.”

“I will. Thanks Aunt.” He said and hung up.

Aviva sighed with a smile on her face. After she got married to Vincenzo, she’d helped her siblings out with whatever they needed, however she could help and now she’d taken her nephew under her wings… well she genuinely liked Paul because he was more obedient than his other cousins and siblings and very brilliant. He was twenty two years old and majored in business administration at Trinity University.

Aviva checked her phone again and hoped that her baby girl would call her soon.

~~~~~~

Isabella groaned when she heard a knock on her bedroom door then her assistant’s voice drifted in through the door to inform her of her father’s arrival.

She’d had a pity party yesterday to console herself and had finished a bottle of whiskey in her bedroom and now she had a terrible head splitting hang over.

“Miss Arroyo?”. Her assistant called.

“Go away Maddie.” She ordered. “Or you’re fired.”

She heard Maddie’s retreating footsteps and sighed in relief but a few minutes later she heard her door open and then close.

“que te estas haciendo a ti misma Isabella?”. Her father demanded angrily.

“vete Papà.” She mumbled.

“It’s been days.” Vincenzo snapped. “I didn’t raise you to be this weak Bella.”

Isabella said nothing and covered her head with her blanket.

“Isabella Maria de la Soledad Arroyo!”. He bellowed as he yanked the blanket off her body and cursed when he realized she was only in her underwear. “M****a!”. He turned his back to her.

“Papà!”. She whined as she gathered the blanket close. “I’m up!”.

“Put some clothes on and meet me in the living room.” He stormed out of her room.

Isabella slowly got up from the bed and wobbled to her bathroom to take a shower and aspirin for her headache. Thankfully she wasn’t the sort of lady to throw up all over herself. She was just like her father in that aspect because he was not a lightweight when it came to alcohol.

She had her bath, brushed and dressed in black yoga pants and her Harvard university sweatshirt then she went to meet her father in the living room but found him in the kitchen instead.

“Eat.” He ordered pointing at the food on the island.

Isabella didn’t want to argue when she saw his closed off expression and did as he said. It was bacon, eggs and toast and orange juice.

“Now that you look much better…,” He paused and sat down. “Want to tell me why you refused to pick your mother’s calls? She’s breathing down my neck and whatever she wants gets done.”

“I’ve not been in the mood to talk to anyone.” She muttered. “Even now.” She glared at him.

“You’re strong Bella, you’re my daughter and I didn’t raise you to always feel sorry for yourself every time something of this sort happens. You move on.”

“It’s so easy for you to say Papà.” She snapped. “Nobody knows how I feel. It’s not that easy to act unaffected by what happened.”

“I know that. I experienced the same with your mother but look at me now, I’m happy again because I decided to move on.” He told her. “You’re allowed to hurt princesa but not so much that you’d cut your parents out of your life. Your mother and I are very worried about you.”

Isabella sighed. “Lo siento Papà.” She apologized. “I promise to call Mom today and let her know I’m okay.”

“That’s my girl. Now eat up, you’re all skin and bones.” He joked.

Isabella rolled her eyes and laughed. She felt marginally better now having talked to her father.

“Thank you for coming by Papà. I know you’re a very busy man.”

“Not too busy for my sunshine.”

She grinned and continued eating. Twenty five years old going on twenty six and she still relished the endearments she received from her parents. Life was good.