Chapter Two: Rachael

"Rachael! Where are you coming from at this time?" My mother, Tasia, rushed me by the staircase before I could fall. My head was spinning so fast that I couldn't control it.

"Mum… mum…" I mumbled drunkenly.

"Josh! Joshua!" She shouted my senior brother's name and a heavy footstep followed after a few minutes.

"Mum." My vision became blurred immediately after he stepped in.

I wanted to die after what I experienced tonight.

~~~

"Ouch!" I groaned in pain as I slowly opened my eyes.

I thought after taking a lot of alcohol last night I would completely forget what happened but no. All the memories and the one from last night came rushing into my head like hot adrenaline. Shortly, I started sobbing in pain.

My heart was aching and no matter how much pressure I used in clutching my chest, it wouldn't stop.

"Rachael, are you alright?" My mother stepped into the room and noticed I was crying, she used the napkin to clean my eyes.

"What's the problem?" She questioned anxiously because it was unlike me to cry. It wasn't like I was still a teenager who just grew breasts or something.

"I'm… I'm really happy, my mall's opening was a success." I lied, forcing a smile and she chuckled happily.

"Right? I knew you'd do great, baby." She exhaled heavily. "I'll patronize your mall one of these days." She assured me sweetly before leaving the room.

"Patrick…" I muttered his name sadly.

He knew how much I loved him. He knew that I was hundred percent devoted to our relationship yet he broke it off with me because of common hearsay. Did he ever love me? Can I ever move on from him?

A relationship that we have been together for almost four years, and all our college mates were already calling us a couple because we had plans for it - maybe I was the only one that had such a plan. It was just my wishful thinking.

Days without Patrick were boring and uneventful.

I wished he was still with me, sometimes when I was alone I would cry my heart out. But gradually, time passed and as the popular quote said, time is the best healer.

I started relying on myself and was more comfortable being single.

It was three months already, no news from Patrick and I didn't care.

I could leave without a man, especially since I was busy promoting and minding my business.

"Ma'am." My cashier, Clara, approached me holding the record book.

"You asked for this." She passed it on to me immediately I nodded and placed it on the counter.

"How were last month's sales?" I asked her while flipping the pages.

"We made about $1.9 billion last month." She informed me and I almost gasped in shock.

"What? How come?" I couldn't believe my huge success, I exclaimed in disbelief.

"Your mother is our top client, followed by Miss. Sandra and other popular celebrities." Clara started explaining to me meticulously.

"Aside from $1.9 billion, we have $7 billion sent across by customers for pre-orders. The mayor's wife also sent an extra $5 million as compensation for last time." My eyes widened as she continued explaining.

"This is huge! We have gotten enough income to open another branch." I said enthusiastically and she nodded.

"No doubt ma'am. In the G****e search list, we are among the Top fashion brands." She broke the news to me and I shook my head and marveled to the core.

"How did all these happen? I never knew, I never thought… no, I never imagined." I was lost for words, everything kept me dauntlessly speechless.

"My father will be so happy to hear this. His daughter can make billions of dollars without his aid." I broke out in tears.

"I'm happy for you, Ma'am." She closed the record book. "We have a lot of pre-orders though." She curled her lips and I smiled.

"I can take care of those during the weekend," I assured her with a small smile.

"Boss!" A familiar voice called me and I turned around, it was Sandra.

She approached me elegantly with a smile on her face.

"You're now causing traffic online, huh?" She flashed the headline on her phone at my face and I smiled heartily.

"I can't express how I feel Sandra. Our brand is just four months old and yet we are making billions." I informed her vividly, feeling so proud of my new achievement. "And not only that, my brand is now popular." I spilled bluntly and she tapped my shoulder.

"I knew my best friend would soar higher. I'm happy for you!" She cheered me happily.

"How about a karaoke party tonight? The bills will be on you of course." She curled her lips, with her finger in the air and I chuckled.

"Right. I need something like that too." I nudged her playfully and we laughed.

Sandra and I were so engrossed in the karaoke party that we didn't know how time flew. 

I returned home quite late and was welcomed by its silence.

I skeptically went to my room but stopped halfway when my mother's room door opened.

"Mum…" I called out softly.

"Again?" She looked dissatisfied and I shook my head.

"No. It's Sandra." I rattled out in a low tone and she sighed.

"Rush back to your room, your father is back." She informed me in a whispering tone.

"Wait. Dad is back?" My eyes widened in shock.

We weren't expecting him to return so fast since he had few businesses to take care of abroad.

Why did he return so fast? She didn't respond to me, rather she entered her room again.

I sighed and left for my room. Possibly, my questions will be answered by tomorrow.

"Stop. Right. There." My hand was still on my doorknob, I was about to open my room door when a loud authoritative masculine voice stopped me.

I shivered frantically even when I knew who it was.

"D…. Dad?" Like a robot, I turned in his direction with my face lowered to the ground.

"Where are you coming back from? And who were you with?" He questioned in contempt, urgently demanding a snappy response.