Chapter Four

Arian

I didn't comment because I realized that I have nothing to say. It would have been an epic love story if the boy had married the girl and they lived happily ever after but it's none of my business so we just continue our tour of the place until we get to her office.

"Tea?" She offers after telling me to sit.

"Um... Water will be nice. Thank you ma'am." I reply as I take my seat. I look around the office and sigh, suddenly feeling very exhausted. I didn't sleep a wink last night due to the nightmares I had and the fear that I would never get to leave Mexico in peace but sitting here now - a million miles away from Mexico - I am able to relax and think about what the future would hold for me.

"Here you go dear." She walks over to hand me a cup of water with the coaster.

"Thank you." I receive it, careful not to let my shaky hands spill water all over the floor and I take a sip.

It's silent in the office after I finish my water but I don't mind it. I take out my phone, turn it on and messages begin to come in but I know they're all from Diane because she's the only friend I have. 

I answer all her messages then tell her that I'll have to get a new SIM since I'm in a new country and that I'll call her after I get it so she can save my number.

"They're here." Berta sings one hour later then she bustles out of the office to go and greet the children.

I hear the loud excited noise and look out of the window. There are so many children, ranging from ages three to sixteen and then a few babies. We were many here too in my time but we were not compared to these children. 

I gasp when I notice a particular man in the group carrying a baby and a little girl stands beside him smiling up at him. I can't see him clearly because of the distance but from what I can see, he looks like a foreigner with his cropped black curly hair, a dazzling smile on his drop dead gorgeous face and a body that I know any man would kill to have.

I have had that kind of smile bestowed upon me a million years ago but I can't recall who that person was. My heart lurches in my chest when the man calls out for the little girl who'd finally left his side and is nowhere to be found. 

He called her by my former name; Kareena. Tears spring to my eyes as I remember my biological mother telling my father not to change my name when he wanted to do so many years ago because it suited me. It meant pure and I'd been that until that incident happened just a few weeks later.

I lost both my parents that day even though my biological father died ten years ago on the day I'd been forced to marry Rafael. 

I quickly wipe my tears when I hear Mrs James returning and she is talking to someone but thankfully not to a man because I'm not sure if I can face him right now. I know he's the only man in the group because St Louis doesn't have a male staff - just females.

The door opens and Mrs James walks in with an older woman who is an older version of Mrs James and I suddenly realize that I may have been speaking to Mrs Collins's daughter without knowing it.

"Good evening Ma'am." I rise to my feet.

"Evening dear." Mrs Collins smiles at me. "Sit please."

I take my seat and watch as Mrs Collins sits behind the desk while Mrs James takes the chair in front of her mother.

"My daughter told me you just arrived from Mexico and you're looking for me. How may I help you?" She asks.

"Um... I just need your help finding a place to stay until I can get a job and rent my own apartment." I tell her. "I... I just got separated from my husband a few weeks ago and I have nothing. This country is the safest place I can be right now but I'm all alone."

"Berta briefly explained your situation to me." Mrs Collins says. "I sympathize with you, Arian. It must not have been easy going through what you did."

So many times, I wanted to end it all but something kept me from doing so and when I met Diane... just a tiny bit of my self confidence came back. I still cower in fear of Rafael's name but I know that it won't be for long. I'm going to own up to my new name and become strong.

"There's a vacant room in the staff quarters. You can stay there for as long as you want." She informs me. "Why does it feel like I know you? Your eyes..." Her voice trails off. 

"Um... I was an orphan here twenty years ago." I say. "My name was Kareena."

Mrs Collins gasps and places her hand on her chest as she stares at me in shock. "Kareena? Kareena Macavinta?"

"Yes ma'am."

"Oh my God." Mrs Collins breathes.

I know I look different. I'd suffered second degree burns after our apartment caught on fire and it had been all my fault. My mom died in the fire and my father grew to hate me because I took his beloved wife away from him so he dumped me here without looking back and I never once blamed him.

I'd gotten a beautiful face after my surgery years ago but my last altercation with Rafael when he kidnapped me left me with a scar running from my temple down to my cheek and another just above my left eye. He'd used his beloved knife to mark my face so I'd never forget him and in his words - no man would ever love a scarred woman.

I watch in surprise as Mrs Collins gets up from her seat, skirts the table then comes over to hug me. She hugs me tighter than her daughter did and it made me realize why I used to think of this place as my home.

"You're safe now my dear. Welcome home." She says. "No harm will come to you here."

"Thank you ma'am." I smile at her then her daughter. "Thank you so much."

A knock sounds on the door and we break apart as Mrs James walks to the door and opens it.

"Mr Cruz!" Mrs Collins beams, looking at someone over my shoulder.

My heart skitters in my chest when I turn around and come face to face with the sexiest man alive. His hair is so black, it looks blue and his eyes - don't get me started on his eyes. They're the loveliest shade of blue - like the sky. I guess he should be about 6ft 4 because I have to crane my neck to look up at him.

He is dressed in a light blue polo shirt, paired with black jeans and black expensive shoes that'd give Rafael a run for his money. I almost sigh dreamily staring at him until I catch him staring back at me and I turn around.

"Leaving already sir?" Mrs Collins asks.

"Uh... Yes." He replies in an equally sexy voice. "It's been a long day and I have to get Kareena home."

"Thank you very much sir for everything." Mrs James says. "From the looks on their faces, I can tell that they had a blast."

"It was fun." He agrees. He glances at me again. "New employee?"

Mrs Collins looks at me then. "Oh no, she's just here to stay for a while. She's a friend of my family." She answers. "Arian, meet Mr Gabriel Cruz... He's the brain behind everything that's happening here at St Louis. Mr Cruz, meet Arian Macavinta."

"Nice to meet you, Arian." He holds out his hand to me.

I hesitate for a brief moment before I shake his hand. I feel the electric shock that races up my arm and then encompasses around me and from the look on his face - I know he felt it too. 

"Likewise Mr Cruz." I withdraw my hand immediately. "It's a wonderful thing you're doing. Men like you are very rare."

"It's no big deal." He shrugs it off. "I have to go. It was nice meeting you."

I nod. "Goodbye Mr Cruz."

His lips curl up in a half smile. "Goodbye kills the hope of ever meeting again. I'll see you around Arian."

I know I've heard those words before but I don't know where. His name sounds familiar to me and not just because he's a famous person but I've heard it before now. I just can't seem to recollect where.

"I'll see you around then Mr Cruz." I say.

"I'll walk you out Mr Cruz." Mrs James says and follows him out.

"Come, I'll show you to your room." Mrs Collins walks ahead of me out of the office and I quickly grab my bag and follow her.