Chapter 16

It's been almost one year now. In a few more weeks they'll be crossing over to another year and still, nobody knows where Rachel Smith is. To say I'm baffled is an understatement. I am beyond stupefied. The first few months of her disappearance, his mother had assured him that she just wanted to cool off for a little while and that she would be back in no time but not a word from her ever since he had been searching for her. His fame and power were starting to mean less to him because as common as finding someone who travelled out of the country, he couldn't.

It felt like life was against him if it makes any sense. First, it was his wife and son, now when he decided to find happiness again, it suddenly disappeared in the twinkle of an eye. At least there was something still lifting his spirit from time to time and that was the opening ceremony If new hospital wings that were funded by him. The joy on the faces of parents who don't have much to travel out of their country in a quest for medical attention for their children. His Jet was set to leave first thing in the morning to get to the event in time for the opening.

It was a small city, one that didn't get much visitors. It was a place one could go to when he or she wanted to hide from their problems. He arrived at the St Dominic Hospital just in time. Over time, he bonded with the M. D of the hospital because of his zeal for his patients. These days, most people were just after the money.

“Good day Mr James. It is good to see you. You have put smiles on the faces of these parents. We are grateful for all you have done. I'll have one of the Paediatricians join us for the tour before the program commences. She is one of our best hands. In the meantime, we have booked you a room with a view of the Bathina lake.” Jack said.

“Please call me Aiden. We have passed the formality stage and I love the sound of that. Let's not waste any time, I want to take that tour.” he said.

“Dr Smith is on her way. She will be here in no time.”

While they were waiting for the doctor, he used the opportunity to go through some documents on his tab that needed to be signed.

He attention was fully on what he was doing that he didn't even hear the doctor knock and come in until she made a statement.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, I had to do a last-minute ward check.”

He knew that voice anywhere even in his sleep, he still would recognise it. The voice that haunted him day and night. Had he finally gone crazy because he knew he was slowly approaching that phase? The voice he had long to hear all these months. He raised his head with the speed of lightening to confirm he wasn't daydreaming. Their eyes met each other and that's when everything paused. It felt as if the globe stopped it's rotation. All he could hear was his heart beating fast.

She was wearing a dark blue button-down suit dress that stopped inches away from her knee. He couldn't fully access the dress because of the lab coat she had on. Eleven months and some weeks and she had changed. She had on a straight hair with an aligned cut that stopped just a little above her shoulder. She was wearing one of those killer heels that seemed to have cost a lot. She was looking so sleek like she stepped out of a business magazine. Her make up was so moderate yet she would attract every man in this hospital with just one look. She looked a little thinner than the last time he saw her.

Was it his imagination that was playing tricks on him because he was starting to lose his mind? She didn't even act like she knew him. Could he be mistaking somebody else for her?

“Is something wrong Mr James? You seemed to have spaced out because you didn't respond to my continuous call.” Jack said.

Of course, everything is wrong. He had searched for her like someone in search of his life and here she was all along hiding in Bathina? Who would have thought of all places to run to in the world, someone will choose Bathina. Did she lose her memory? She didn't even give off any sign of recognition. He was going to wait till the introduction to be sure it was his Rachel.

“I apologise I was carried away. Please go on.”

“Mr James, please meet one of the best hands at St. Dominic Hospital, Dr Rachel Smith. Dr Rachel, please meet Mr Aiden James the man funding the hospital project.  Dr Rachel will show you around the hospital while I quickly put things in place. The opening ceremony starts in thirty minutes.”

The room was suddenly very quiet after Mr Jack stepped out. If a needle fell on the floor, they would hear the sound.

“Mr James please come with me,” she said.

With four long strides, he got to the door and peeped outside to be sure no one was on the corridor. It was a good thing this office was in a very private space. He closed the door and turned the lock.

“Mr James, what do you think you are doing?”

After a quick survey for cameras, he finally replied when he found out there was none. He gently grabbed her upper arm.

“Don't touch me. Who do you think you are to waltz in here and harass me? The fact that you are renovating the hospital doesn't give you the right to harass its workers. You will leave my hand this very minute and open the door or else I am calling security.” she said.

“Cut me some slack Rachel! I must applaud your performance. You disappear for almost a year to a place where no one can find you without calling or texting anybody and then I find you and you are acting like you don't know me. What exactly did I do to deserve this? You of all people should know better. I had recently recovered and then you just leave like that? Kate was an old girlfriend. I met her at the airport after we had lost contact when I married Sabrina. We exchanged numbers and started talkin...”

“Mr James, I am sorry but I do not know what you are talking about. If you would excuse, I would love to show you around the hospital as requested by the M. D. I would forgive you and act like this never hap...”

He didn't even know what to do to make sure she still remembered him so he did the first thing that came to his head.  He tucked her hair behind her ear to give him enough access to her neck. He gently started tracing his fingers along her neck. It was a good thing she was reacting to it because he was aiming to get her to drop the act.

“Aiden what are you doing? I hate what you do to me. I hate that my body reacts to your touch, I hate you. Stop it, please.” she said with a very hurting tone.

He suddenly felt very bad. All he could sense from her statement was hurt and pain. He hated that he was the reason. Why was she so angry at him?

“Nothing happened between Kate and me. You misread the message. I would never treat you like that, I love you. I have not slept with anybody since Sabrina”

The words were out of his mouth so fast he didn't even think before saying it out. With Rachel, he never thinks.

“I don't care. What we would have had would have been toxic. I'm happy here and I prefer it remains that way. We haven't even entered a relationship and I have gone through all this because of you. Your social class will never even approve. It's two minutes to the opening ceremony Mr James. Please come with me, I'll show you the way.”

“I don't care about my social class! I can move here if you want me to just say the word. I'll do it. Why does it look like you are making up excuses for us to be together?”

“Are you out of your mind? I guess it's the jet lag kicking in right now. You would leave everything and come here? Can you hear yourself? It sounds like something from a comedy skit.”

Looks like her mind has been made up about them he concluded as they made their way to the event.