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"Even that day we were together, he couldn't stop thinking about you. He'd come to the club often and whenever I looked at his face, I knew then that he was in love with you even though he vehemently fought against it. He told me he would help me out with a loan for my business when I told him my dream of getting a restaurant. He said he wanted me to leave this job and focus fully on myself. I have nothing in my heart but gratitude for him, even when I caused him heartache by splitting the both of you up, he never went back on his promise. Please, Sophie he does love you. Truly, you are the only woman he can think of."
I felt hollow. Then I felt pain in torrents come crashing down on me. I doubled over holding my heart as it threatened to rip out of my chest.
He loves you. The words kept replaying in my mind. I should have trusted him.
"Where is he?" I croaked looking at Maria.
Relief filled her features instantly as she bestowed a grateful smile on me through her tears. "He should still be at the villa I think, he has not left it since the day you left."
"Thank you," I said as I turned away from her, walking rapidly back to my hotel room to make one final call for the night. I must get to Malibu tonight no matter what.
* * *
I struggledwith my luggage as I took the last bus heading to Malibu from the airport. The driver charged an exorbitant fare, but I barely noticed, intent on reaching my goal, nothing else mattered at this moment. I thought of all the words I would say when I faced him but I came up short.
God! I'd missed him so much.
How was I just realizing this?Because you had no room in your heart for anything but bitterness and pain. I wanted to cradle his handsome movie star face once again in my hands. I wanted to hear him call my name with the possessive air he usually used. I desperately wanted him to know that I loved and trusted him regardless of all the happened.
Soon, Sophie. Soon.
* * *
The bus crawledinto Malibu during the early hours of dawn. I picked up my tired self and came down from it in trepidation as I set eyes on the villa. I didn't realize how much I missed this until I felt the prick of tears in my eyes. Walking up the driveway, I was very nervous and hoped that my words would not fail me at this crucial time.
I knocked once. No response.
I knocked again. Nothing.
I tried the door, it was locked. I tried to peer inside but all the blinds were drawn.
Disappointment flooded me and threatened to take me under but I refused to give in. I looked around, located a local. A man who usually tended his gardens. I walked closer and asked him if he knew about the whereabouts of Raymond.
"He left. Two days ago to the big city. He didn't say anything to anybody, but I have a feeling he's not coming back. He paid me for this month and said he would be gone a long time.”
The dull hollow ache came back again. I'd never felt such despair as I felt at this moment. The universe was so cruel. She'd allowed me to experience love only to snatch it back from me like this.
I'd lost him.
I didn't even have a chance to tell him how much he meant to me. The tears were coming down rapidly now and they blinded me.
"Miss, are you okay?" The man asked brows furrowed in concern. I ignored him and walked back to my house feeling my heart tear into a million pieces with every step I took. I didn't know if I could ever survive this pain. I'd always been so confident, sure of myself. Now, all I felt was a strong sense of disconnect with my surroundings and an ache that refused to go away.
He was gone.
Forever.
CHAPTER 16
RAYMOND
As I sat listening to the pilot announce our descent, my thoughts merged into a single goal, and I prepared to come down from my afternoon flight with a new air of certainty. I was going to find a way to make Sophie believe in me once again. She had to see that we were meant for each other. Nothing made sense if she wasn’t with me, she had to see that. I don’t care how far I have to go to convince her, I will make her see it.
The plane arrived in New York on time. As usual, my driver was waiting for me at the gate. I decided to go straight to the office, knowing that I had a busy day ahead of me. It came as a little bit of a surprise for me when we drove out of the airport to see that the skies were gray and the clouds were forming in a cluster. It was summer and even though I’d lived in New York all my life, I’d gotten used to the sunshine in Malibu.
My office was at the top floor and had a fantastic view of a huge water fountain that occupied the square below. I used to be so proud of this place, proud of what I built from nothing. Years of pushing myself to build my empire, dedicating my life to my work and now it meant nothing to me anymore. I know what my net worth is, and so did everyone else in the world after a piece in The Times article was published about me a few months ago.
When it comes to business, I regretted nothing. I’d made hard and fast decisions, took risks, and never let anyone influence me any other way until Sophie. She’d snuck into my life unaware and took me out from my feet until I fell headlong in love with her. The properties, investments and assets which had meant so much to me now felt empty in her absence.
