Chapter 1

I was having an amazing time here in Paris and I was determined to let it last as long as I could. I graduated from university three months ago after studying Business administration for four torturous years and I was in my reward phase. My dad had asked me to come back home multiple times in the last two months but I refused. I have slaved my way through university to make sure I graduated with a first class in a course that I hated so I was selfishly taking all the break I needed and obviously deserved.

Throughout the three months I have been here, I barely left my hotel room. I went sightseeing and did a lot of shopping the first month but they quickly got boring as fast as they excited me in the first place so now I just stayed in my room most of the time and I was really surprised that I had not gotten bored yet

There really is no need to ask me about friends here in because you won’t find any around me here in Paris. A break was a break from everything including friends and family which is why I had been going solo since I arrived here. No friends at all and not even acquaintances because I could not bear or handle the dramatics that came with friendship at this particular time. It could get too much sometimes especially with someone like me who sometimes forgets to text or call my friends which would make them mad at me.

Today was going to be different from the past week though. The weather seemed amazing for going outside and coincidentally I had a ticket for an art gallery that was holding an exhibition not too far from the hotel where I was currently staying so I could walk there. It should be about 30 30-minute walk which was perfect for me.

I was currently standing on the balcony of my hotel room and watching the amazing city view. It was breathtaking and I could stand here for hours just watching the view in front of me. Well, I do, every day.

You would think that someone who had stayed here for three months would be well acquainted with the environment but you thought wrong. I didn’t know shit about this place.

I took one final look at the amazing scenery in front of me before walking inside the room and making sure to shut the balcony door behind me. You can never be too careful these days. I watch too many crime documentaries to leave my balcony doors open or any other doors at all.

I jumped on the soft bed with a loud oomph and laughed as I bounced on the bed as a result of the force I had used to jump on it. It was fun to do that every time. Thankfully the bed was of really good quality because I was certain that the housekeeper would be seeing dents by now with how much jumping I did on that bed every day

I had a missed call from our butler, Duke but I didn’t bother to call him back since I knew it would be my dad who probably wanted to ask me to come home for the 100th time. He had not called me in over a month to disturb me concerning the issue so maybe he decided he had given me enough time

I glanced at the time on my phone and saw it was about 3 hours before the exhibition started so I decided to take a bath since I had not taken one after I woke up this morning

I took a quick shower and changed into something classy and simple that would not only make me look good but also make my walk comfortable. It was a small exhibition so there was no need for me to dress up.

I looked at my phone on my bed and had a small argument with myself if I should take it or not before I finally decided to leave it behind since I would not be expecting any calls

I stepped out of the hotel and started my walk towards the exhibition centre. It was not far and I knew the address because it was close to the boutique where I usually buy clothes when I need them.

I arrived at the art exhibition gallery pretty late. It had already started when I arrived and I blamed it on my inability to see the beautiful scenery and leave it be. I found myself admiring every structure I found and even regretted not taking my phone along so I could take beautiful pictures.

I thought I had regret at the back of my mind till I entered the art gallery. I was blown off my feet by the amazing art pieces. They were truly magnificent and I should have had my phone on me to capture every single art piece

As a true lover of art and someone who hopes to become an artist someday, not a professional one though but as a hobby, I was entranced by the different artworks and the message they carried.

My favourite piece was of a woman whose smiling lips were sewn shut. I bet to smile with a sown lip would be very painful but there she was staring at me her eyes glittering in excitement but at the same time with tears streaming down her eyes and she was also smiling so wide even with her sown lips.

The contrast of the picture and the story behind it had me truly speechless. I hope to be able to paint something so creative one day. I made sure to have every single art piece etched into my mind

It was a little bit late before I decided to go back to the hotel and this time I took a cab because I was tired and could not walk the distance anymore. It took the cab about 10 minutes to get to the hotel.

I grabbed my phone to check if I had any missed calls but noticed it was dead so I plugged it in. It was a little bit strange because I was sure the phone was fully charged before I left the hotel room

While my phone charged, I decided to take a bath to kill time and also because I felt like dirt with all the sweating I did today. I also ordered room service immediately because I was starving and had not eaten anything yet

When my phone came on, I was shocked to see over 50 missed calls. Immediately I felt panic grip me when I saw the missed calls had been from the house number. I even had some from Duke’s personal line and he barely called me so that was enough to send me into a frenzy

I called Duke’s phone immediately and he picked up on the second ring.

“Hello, Duke, what’s happening, I saw so many missed calls” I spoke so fast as my heart was beating so loudly and hard against my chest

“Young miss, where have you been and why haven’t you been answering your calls, you have put the whole house in a mode of panic” he snapped. He was really angry

“ I didn’t mean to. I left my phone in the hotel room when I went out. I didn’t think I would stay out this long” I explained. I felt guilty for causing them panic especially my dad. He would be in a very bad mood now

“Why would you go out without your phone? We have taught you better young miss. What if there was an emergency and you needed to contact help?” I thought he was mad before, but now he was furious

“I didn’t think correctly. Please forgive me” I pleaded because I should have known better. I should never be this careless

“Don’t try that again” he snapped one more time. I was nodding my head solemnly before I recalled that he couldn’t see me so I mumbled a quiet yes. I didn’t prepare to be scolded tonight

“So why were you all calling me? Did something happen? Where is Dad?” I could not resist asking multiple questions at the same time as I remembered the number of times they called me. It couldn’t be because they could not reach me

“You need to come home on the next plane” He said and I rolled my eyes. I can’t believe he had called me a million times over this

“Duke I am not ready to come home yet, you know this. Tell Dad that” I explained as calmly as I could before I would say mean words

“You don’t have a choice. You have to” I didn’t like the tone he was using. Something was wrong

“Tell me what’s wrong. Where’s dad?” I realized that he had not called me today even with the multiple missed calls from the house number

“Your father…. He…” Duke paused as though it was difficult for him to complete the sentence.

“My dad what? What happened Duke? Talk to them” I screamed into the phone as my panic level started to rise drastically and I prayed deep down that I didn’t hear any bad news

“He is …..” He paused again and I could not hold myself as I stood up from the bed and pushed my dinner aside to pace the room

“Duke stop making me scared, tell me” I practically screamed again. I was getting weak in my knees as fear gripped my entire being

“He is really sick and on his deathbed bed” he finally concluded and my legs gave out