AllFreeNovel
Share Us
CHAPTERFOUR
AMER
The drive into the mountains is beautiful, but not as beautiful as the woman next to me. I was hoping during this four-hour drive Mara-Lee and I would be reconnecting. Instead, she’s given me the silent treatment. Only speaking when it’s necessary. I’m not saying I don’t deserve it, but I also don’t mind. Everything is planned out and ready for when we get to the cabin. Mara-Lee deserves to be cherished and pampered, and I’m going to make sure that she knows how much I still care for her. I hope over the years that she has held on to the feelings she’s had for me too.
I’ll never forget her last birthday that we spent together. That birthday changed my life.
I look at the box sitting on my desk a thousand times. I’ve never been so nervous in my life. When I picked out this present for Mara-Lee, I thought of no one but her when I saw it. It’s the perfect birthday present for her. We have plans to see each other in a bit.
My family’s get-together is coming to an end, so I leave to meet with Mara-Lee. I get to her house and knock on the door, and it quickly opens. She looks breathtaking. I’ve always had a feeling that she was the one for me, but it’s hard to tell your friend that you’re in love with his younger sister. But I was.
“Amer.” A smile unlike any other forms on her face as she holds the door open.
“Happy birthday, Stellina.” I couldn’t wait any longer to give her the present I picked out, and I hand her the small, wrapped box.
“Oh, thank you!” She smiles, then unwraps the box and removes the lid. “Amer, it’s beautiful.” She holds up the necklace; it has a cross with a heart in the middle, and centered in the heart is an obsidian stone.
“Do you like it?” I ask as I help her put it on.
“I love it. I’ll never take it off.”
“Good. I’m glad.”
I pull her into my arms and kiss her quickly, because I don’t want us to get caught. Not yet. I know I have to do things the right way to get her hand in marriage.
“How was Christmas with your family?” I ask.
“It was good.” She smiles, reaching up to touch the necklace.
“That’s good, I know you all are probably still busy, so I’ll let you get back to it, but I wanted to see you on your special day.”
She kisses me on the cheek, and I leave.
A week later, Mara-Lee was gone. Leaving the necklace on her bed. That moment changed me as a person, and as I went along in life, I realized it changed me as a man. I was kind of naive about the world but losing Mara-Lee showed me what the world was going to be like. That anger and bitterness turned me into the man I am today.
Growing my wealth and power became important to me. Over the years, my brothers and I bought several acres of land. We decided that this land would be the perfect place for a resort and built ten spacious cabins and a magnificent lodge that sits in the middle. The property contains a heated pool, a tennis court, a couple of basketball courts, hiking trails, and each cabin has a hot tub. The cabin we’re staying in is reserved for Danti, Benito and me to use. I’ve never brought anyone here before. Mara-Lee will be the first.
Losing her all those years ago made me see life differently, and I treated life in a different way than I would have if Mara-Lee had been beside me all these years. The businessman I am today came from me learning at a young age that life isn’t fair, and if you want something, then you go after it and get it no matter what it takes. If you have to kill someone, then you kill them. And not with kindness.
Mara-Lee was supposed to be mine, and I want her back in my life. Once I found out that she was alive, I thought she would come to me, tell me what had happened, but she didn’t. I tried to seek her out, but she put up wall after wall, so I gave her time. It’s been long enough, and I’m tired of waiting for her. That’s why I had to put this plan into action, with the blessing of her friends. I hope it works out for us.
After a stop to grab drinks and snacks, I don’t stop again until I get to the cabin. I sent a text to my brother to make sure everything that needed to be finished last minute would be completed before we arrived.
As I turn onto the road to the lodge, I see the road has been plowed. Then I turn right onto the drive that takes us to the private cabin, and the snow has been removed all the way to the cabin. I park the car and move to Mara-Lee’s side of the car and carry her inside.
I knew when I kidnapped her she wasn’t going to be wearing any shoes or have a coat. It’s why I made sure the cabin would be warm, and I bought her some clothes with the help of Finley telling me her size before going to the Fort. I open the large wooden door, and the warm air greets us. I walk through the door, closing it behind me.
The inside is warm and toasty, and a fire is burning in the living room fireplace. I carry her to the fireplace and place her down where she can warm herself.
“Are you going to talk to me or continue to give me the silent treatment?” I ask her as she rubs her hands in the heat of the fire.
She looks up at me, and if looks could kill, I would be dead.
