Meeting the Genie
The limo stopped in front of Liberty Hotel. My heart would burst anytime soon. I have never felt so nervous before. What if he won’t be happy to see me? What if tonight will be the first and the last time I would meet him? At the same time, I also feel excited. This is the first time I would go out on a formal date. I will finally be able to meet him, the man who has taken care of me for the last two weeks, the man who gave a me a roller-coaster kind of emotions, some days full of sadness but most of the time, full of excitement and happiness.
A man in his early thirties welcomed me at the entrance. "Good evening, Miss Myers. Our boss is now waiting for you in the rooftop. This way please." He bowed while leading the way using his right hand.
I followed him towards the elevator. As I entered, the man said. "Enjoy your evening Miss Myers"
"Won't you be coming with me?" I asked.
"Someone will assist you when
Flashback.12 years ago, Pacific State University.Being a freshman in university made me escape from being bullied in high school. This time, I was hopeful to gain friends whom I can talk to and share my thoughts with. That's what I have thought.In this school, I was still the invisible girl who didn't have friends. I spent most of my time in the library, immersing myself in books and magazines. During class hours, I would sit at the back, avoiding attention as much as possible. I was just a normal student and I understood why my classmates didn't notice me, I wasn't pretty nor smart, I was just an ordinary student who was striving to pass in each exam and survive each semester.The library is my favorite place in the campus. I was already familiar with the people who were always here like me. I saw them almost every day. While some were studying really hard (You can notice by the number of books on their table and the number of notes they scribbled.),
Is it really him? I haven't been in touch with him for 12 years now, and here he is in front of me, smiling like we just met yesterday. He looks so young for his age, no one would say that he is now in his early 30s. For a CEO, I think he doesn't have much stress. He still smiles a lot, since a while back until now, he was able to keep that smile on his face. His lips are pinkish in color, a sign that he doesn't smoke. He is wearing a shirt and a coat jacket on top, blue jeans and white sneakers. Who would think that this guy can be a CEO, and he is not managing just any company, he is managing the biggest and most famous hotel in the state, including other subsidiaries?He was staring at me as I was also staring at him. I felt a bit awkward. He is now sitting in front of me and he made the space between us closer."Did you miss me?" He finally broke the silence."So, it's really you." I said pouting."Why do you seem disappointed? Were you expecting anot
I couldn't help but laugh with what I heard. "I think that was the funniest joke I heard from you. You're still the same Geoff. You could still find a way to make me laugh. If I don't know you well, I would think you are really serious." I said. Actually, I don't find it funny, I just couldn't think of any reply. Half of me feels happy and excited and it made my heart skipped a beat, but the other half says it's a big lie."That's your problem! How many times I have told you I like you when we were still in college? I always tried my best to be a gentleman to you and I was always there for you. How couldn't you see all the things I did for you?" His voice raised a little. This is the first time he did it to me. Is he really serious?There was a long silence between us. Even the man playing piano stopped what he was doing and left the place. The bartender couldn't also be found anywhere. I guess they left the place as a courtesy, they knew they shouldn't be here.
I thought of rejecting his suggestion of spending the night in Liberty Hotel but in the end, I accepted it. We agreed to take things slowly and he won't do anything that can make me feel scared trusting him more.When we reached the room on the 42nd floor, I was surprised that he already has the key card. He really prepared everything, and he already expected the sequence of events tonight.The room is still decorated with an oriental style of furniture. Everything is the same. I was expecting he would at least prepare something, like flowers or it will be candlelit. I was quite disappointed. The consequence of expecting too much."Do you want to stay here or in the bedroom?" Geoff asked."Anywhere is okay." I said pouting.He looked at me with a smile. I avoided his gaze. I know he would just tease me again. He opened the fridge and got a bottle of red wine. Then he took two wine glasses from the shelf."Could you open the bedroom door for
Geoff and I spent an hour talking on the phone last night. He told me about the life he had in Australia. It was tough but he managed to finish his master's and doctorate degree in University of Adelaide. While studying, he worked part time in a hotel. The owner of that hotel is his father's friend. He was treated like an ordinary employee as part of his training. After graduating, he became a hotel manager in the same hotel for 5 years. He kept himself busy with his work. He wanted to stay there for good since he was free to do anything he wanted and at the same time, he could travel and relax anytime he wants, but his father went ill 4 years ago so he had to come back home and take over the management of Liberty Group. After his father's death, he took all the responsibilities of the company making him so busy. Based on his story, he diverted his attention to other things so he could forget how much he missed me. If he didn’t do that, he would have wanted to come home and lo
Geoff brought me back to the Pines Advertising office before going to his meeting. We sat at the back seat in his Rolls Royce and it was so comforting to just lay my head on his shoulder while we exchange kisses from time to time. I never thought kissing would be this addictive. The presence of his driver didn't stop us to be more intimate and show our affection to each other."I could eat you whole if you would just allow me. You're making me want you more and more." He said."Wait until our wedding night." I replied. We separated with a kiss and promised to meet tonight.Having the contract signed by Geoff in hand, I went directly to Mr. Smith's office. He was smiling from ear to ear when I handed him the signed documents and told me to review the interview notes with the applicants done by my colleagues This will be the start of a so busy life in the office for me.Time passed by so fast. When I checked the time, it is already past 6pm. I checked my phone immediately, maybe Geoff is
As expected, Geoff was furious about what happened. I sent a message to him after Lance left, telling him everything that happened. He called immediately to check on me."Sorry for being busy tonight." It has been the nth time he apologized which I said was okay many times as well. "I should have been there to protect you from him, I should have been the one to talk to him instead of you. And how dare him go to your place after what he did to you.""I'm okay Mr. President. I just want to tell you about it because I don't want to hide anything from you since you are my boyfriend.""And your fiancé, don't forget that. I will do everything in my power for us to get married after two months." He now sounds calmer. Oh my gosh! I miss kissing him!"Can't I really see you tonight? Even just for five minutes?" I asked."I'm sorry baby. I am in another city. As much as I want to see you, I have to check the factory the
Geoff just looked at me. He didn't say anything. I understood that time that he trusts me, and he supports my decision. I feel sorry for him. This time should be my time with him."Hello." I answered the call."Jez! I was already worried when you were not answering the call. I am here in front of your apartment. I have been waiting for an hour now. What time will you come home?" He asked. I put the call on loudspeaker so Geoff can hear our conversation.When Geoff heard it, he turned his back at me."Lance, sorry. I am here in Annie's place. You remember her, right? I was with her when I was at the bar the first time we met. We have to finish some reports tonight." I lied."Where is her place? I can go there. I just want to see you tonight, even only for 5 minutes.""I think I can't invite you here. This is her place, and I can't give her address to anyone. I hope you understand." I was hoping he would just give up. This situation is getting
After almost a month, Geoff finally decided to introduce himself to Athena. I have been preparing her ever since because I know that someday, she would meet her real dad. Colin supported my decision of introducing her to Geoff. They have talked a couple of times about it. Geoff has invited him to have drinks and Colin never said anything bad about him during their meetings."He's a respectable man. He's too different from how I saw him in the past months. You know I had this image of him as a bad husband because of your story, but I think he's just manipulated. He was furious thinking that the woman she loved betrayed him." He said once before we went to bed."He was nice. I guess love can really make us a monster once we got hurt.""But I think I'm the one who benefited in what happened to the two of you. If Ericka didn't say nasty things about you, maybe you and Geoff are still together until now. Then, I wouldn't meet you in Marshville. I wouldn't be your second husband. So, I shou
I felt very light and dizzy. I didn't know what was happening. Everything around me was turning. I could see Ericka's back while she slowly disappeared from my view. Ericka was just here on the rooftop a while ago. She was here mocking and insulting me. I could hear her voice clearly. She was just here."Aaah!" I shouted as I got up. I was dreaming. It was all a dream. I woke up in a familiar room. It's the master's bedroom in Colin's apartment, it's our room.Colin rushed inside the room when he heard me screaming. He hugged me immediately and patted me in the back. "You're here now. You're safe.""Where's Ericka?!" I asked, panicking. "She's dead. She jumped from the rooftop in one of Geoff's hotels.""Where's Geoff?""He called me and asked me to pick you up. He said you lost consciousness. He told me about what happened to you the other night. You should've told me about your plan.""Sorry. Geoff asked me to stay with him. I thought it was best if I followed what he said.""I und
"Eat!" He said with a smile. He put some food on the plate in front of me."What are you planning? Please, I just want to go home. Ericka is the last person I want to see tonight." I couldn't help but feel scared. She is the person I trust the least and her presence means trouble. She has never liked me and the feeling is mutual. The best thing to do to have a peaceful life is avoid her."I won't let her hurt you. Don't worry.""I really don't wanna see her.""Why would you be scared? If you're telling the truth, then there's no reason for you to be afraid of her. Unless you don't want me to know that you are lying.""I never lied to you. Her mere existence reminds me of all the bad experiences I had after marrying you. I don't want to go back to that time again.""Just eat. The food is getting cold." He turned the video on his laptop. It's an English romance movie. I can't focus well on either eating or watching the movie. All I could think of is meeting Ericka and the trouble she co
There were many messages and missed calls on my phone. Most of them were from Colin and some from my mom. I was hesitant at first to call Colin and tell him I wouldn't be home for another night. Actually, all I want now is to be home and hug Athena. I felt so sorry for growing up without a father, but now that I heard Geoff's side of the story, I felt happy that he wasn't that bad of a father after all. I can't say that he wasn't to be blamed for what happened to us though. I didn't want to stay here for another night with Geoff. I can't fully trust him, but I don't have a choice. I need to be nice to him and get his trust, so I would be sure that I could get out of here alive. Ericka is a smart woman, maybe she is part of Geoff's plan of bringing me here. I still need to be careful with what I say and do.With hesitation, I dialled Colin's number. "Hello! My God, Jez where are you?" He answered the phone right away. I didn't even hear the ringing sound on the line."I'm okay. Sorry
"Please, let my hands go, then we can talk. I promise to be honest. I have actually always been honest with you." I was already begging. He could do anything he wants to me without me defending myself. I also want to listen to his explanation about what happened to us since I got pregnant."I don't know what to believe anymore.""I was your wife. You promised to protect and be with me. I have always trusted that promise. I escaped when I felt it wasn't safe for me and my daughter anymore. You saw how violent you could be when you're angry.""You're the one who made me angry!""I didn't do anything. Anywhere I went, I was with Nancy and the driver. You could have asked them what I did for you not to believe me.""They were your allies. Of course they would not tell me what you were really up to.""Nancy did her best to protect me from you, and so did the driver. They saw I suffered because of you.""Ericka told me your plans from the very beginning. She showed me pictures of you and al
Having a headache, I woke up in a small dim room. The curtain covers half of the glass window on the right side of the bed. Based on the light, it seems like it's early in the morning. I immediately got up from the bed, but my left hand was pulled by something. It was tied to a metal which was fastened to the side of the bed. I couldn't see it clearly yet. I could feel pain all over my body especially from my left hand where the metal was tied and my head. A pitcher of water and a glass were set up on top of the side table. The room seems like one of the cheap motel rooms you can rent while on the road. Outside the window, I could glimpse some trees and a view of the sky. I was still wearing the same clothes I had worn since yesterday. My shoes were neatly arranged on the side of the bed. My phone and my small pouch were nowhere. I could finally check my left hand. I was handcuffed with the other end attached to the bed. Where am I? I wanted to scream and maybe ask for help from anyo
The next day, I was so anxious waiting for a message from whoever has Nancy. I was still trying to convince myself that Nancy is just somewhere, calming herself down before meeting me. She would show up in our house unannounced anytime soon and say how much she misses all of us, especially me and Athena. I decided to be on leave from work indefinitely. I kind of blame myself for being so busy that I didn't spend much time with my family, including Nancy. It feels like I abandoned them just because I want to prove something to Geoff and Ericka. I got so busy avenging that I forgot the most important people for me.We also asked for Athena to stop going to school for the meantime. She sounded hesitant about the plan at first since she likes spending time with hwr friends, but later she realized that playing with her toys and reading books at home are more fun.Mom is sometimes suspicious of how I was acting, but I was happy that she didn't ask too many questions. I don't want to make he
The next day, I decided to take some days off to spend more time with Athena. I also would like to wait for Nancy and have a chat with her. We haven't talked for months now and partly I blame myself for being so busy that I never even tried to reach out to her. I never asked her how she is despite knowing that she comes home late almost every night for the past months and she sometimes doesn't come home. If only I tried talking to her, sending her a message or calling her, maybe this wouldn't happen. I still didn't tell mom about what happened and I don't have any plans of telling her.Two days has passed and no signs of Nancy. Her phone can't be reached and she also doesn't respond to messages. I was starting to get more worried but as Colin said, we should give her some space. She also needs time to think. We spent our weekend to an amusement park like what we promised to Athena. It was a happy day, but I can't totally ignore the worry I feel for Nancy. I don't know Cristoff's phone
Cristoff! I haven't seen him in ages! He was not that nice to me either when I was still living with Geoff. If I remember it correctly, the two don't really have a good relationship. I looked at Nancy in disbelief. "What is this guy doing here? Why are the three of you together?" To give her the benefit of the doubt, although I already know the answer, I still asked her that question. I am hoping, although it may sound impossible, that it was just a coincidence that he was with her and Athena."He's my boyfriend." She confidently said. I was expecting her to say more, maybe to explain her side why she didn't tell us about him, but she remained silent after."Since when?" I picked Athena up and carried her in my arms."Long time ago.'"Why didn't you tell us?" I said coldly."For this exact same reason. You will just ask me to stay away from him.""You saw how I suffered when I was with them. Didn't you learn anything at that time?" Cristoff didn't utter any word. He was just there, li