Chapter 97
We were finally done packing the last property we had, and the van was already outside, loading our stuff. As I looked around the empty rooms, a mix of emotions flooded my heart. Tricia stood beside me, tears welling up in her eyes. I reached out and gently took her hand, holding it in mine. "Do you remember, Mona, when we first moved into this house?" Tricia asked, nostalgia washing over her. "We were so happy, thinking we finally had a good place to call our home. And we made it work, didn't we?"
I nodded, a faint smile on my lips. "Yes, Tricia, and now... we're moving to somewhere better," I said, trying to reassure her. But I could see the uncertainty in her eyes.
"So, what am I going to do there?" Tricia asked, her voice laced with concern. "I mean, the building hasn't been concluded yet..."
I squeezed her hand gently. "Yes, I already have an idea. We'll start working on the new place. I asked them to fix the garage, and we'll do some designing there. You can give me a hand, and don't worry, you'll be paid."
Tricia's face relaxed slightly, and she nodded. "Oh, that's okay," she said softly.
Just then, one of the staff members interrupted us. "Ladies... sorry for interrupting your moment, but we should get going now. We don't want to hit traffic."
I looked at Tricia, and she nodded. "Is everything ready?" I asked the staff member.
"Yes, everything is packed up and loaded," he replied.
"Shall we, Tricia?" I asked, smiling at her.
Tricia took a deep breath, and her eyes welled up with tears again. "Yes. Goodbye, house. We'll miss you so much," she said, her voice barely above a whisper.
We all left for Tricia's car, the staff members carrying the last few bags.
Donald placed the little box in the car's trunk and shut it.
"Hey guys. Get in and let's hit the road"
"Yes. Shall we?
We got into Tricia's car and Donald followed the van slowly and carefully to the new estate, ensuring everything arrived safely.
As we arrived at the new estate, the staff were eagerly waiting outside to receive us. Melissa and Thomas, two of our youngest staff members, ran towards us, excited to see us. Melissa wrapped her arms around me, and whispered in my ear, "I missed you, ma'am."
I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her, holding her close. "Same here, Melissa. I'm glad to be here now."
Thomas, who was standing beside Melissa, smiled shyly and said, "Welcome, ma'am. We're glad you're here."
I smiled back at him, feeling a sense of warmth and belonging. "Thank you, Thomas. I'm glad to be here too."
As we stepped away from the car, I took a deep breath, feeling the fresh air fill my lungs. The new estate was beautiful, with lush greenery and a sense of peace that I hadn't felt in a long time. I looked at Tricia, who was smiling slightly, and knew that we were both excited to start this new chapter in our lives.
Tricia was beaming with joy as she explored our new apartment. The three-bedroom unit was fully furnished, and the décor was tasteful and modern. She squealed with delight as she entered her room, throwing herself onto the plush bed. "Oh, Monalisa, I love it here! It's perfect!"
I smiled, feeling a sense of satisfaction knowing that she was happy. The staff were busy unloading our things and helping to move them inside, while we arranged them in their new places. Joshua, who had been running around excitedly, suddenly dropped onto the bed, exhausted. He sat up, scanning the room with wide eyes. "Mum, I love it here. It's nice and smells like dad's house."
He looked up at me with pleading eyes. "Mum, I'm hungry. Mum... are you listening to me?" I chuckled and continued arranging the boxes in the closet. "Yes, dear. Just give me a second. I need to get these things put away. What do you want to eat?"
"Pizza and ice cream!" Joshua exclaimed, his face lighting up.
I raised an eyebrow. "Nah, not pizza again. I'll fix you something nice." Joshua's face fell, and he pouted. "But I want pizza. Fine, I'll tell dad!"
Joshua jumped out of the bed and ran out of the room, shouting for Donald. I sighed, laughing. "Donald did spoil this kid. Ugh! How do I fix him?"
Just then, Donald walked in with a smile. "I think I can help with that," he said, pulling out his phone. He ordered pizza and ice cream for everyone, and we finished up with the house while we waited for our food to arrive.
When the pizza and ice cream arrived, we dug in, savoring the delicious flavors. Later that evening, I had a meeting with the staff at the garage, and we agreed to start working there, creating more designs until the building was completed.
The next morning, Donald and I left for the nearby gym, courtesy of Melissa's membership card. The gym was huge, with state-of-the-art equipment and facilities. I was thrilled to be there, and Donald seemed to enjoy it too. We dropped our bags and I started with cardio, feeling the rush of endorphins as I ran on the treadmill.
My phone rang, and I stepped down to take the call. It was Tricia, reminding me to do some grocery shopping on my way back home. She had sent me a list, and I quickly scrolled through it, making a mental note of the items I needed to pick up.
As I turned to return to the treadmill, I bumped into someone. This time, it wasn't Donald, and my eyes widened as I saw Jayden standing in front of me. My heart skipped a beat, and I felt a rush of emotions. What was he doing here?
I quickly got out of his hand and turned away, my heart racing with confusion. I must be definitely be freaking out, I thought to myself. It can't be. There's no way he's here, in this gym, on this day. I tried to shake off the feeling, telling myself it was just a coincidence.
But then, I heard my name. "Monalisa." His deep, husky, and masculine voice echoed in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. I felt a lump form in my throat as memories came flooding back. Nah, I'm dreaming, I told myself, trying to calm down. This can't be real.
But then, he called out again. "Monalisa!" This time, his voice was louder, more insistent. I turned slowly, my eyes scanning the room as if searching for an escape. And then, I saw him. Jayden James Bruno, the man who had taught me to love and shattered my heart.
My breath caught in my throat as our eyes met. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, all the air knocked out of me. I didn't plan our meeting to be this way. I hadn't prepared myself for the emotions that came flooding back. The memories, the pain, the longing. It all came rushing back, like a tidal wave crashing over me.
I stood there, frozen in shock, as Jayden's eyes locked onto mine. I saw the familiar spark of attraction, but it was tempered with a hint of caution. I felt a mix of emotions: surprise, curiosity, and a dash of wariness. What did he want from me? And why was he looking at me like that?
As we stood there, the world around us melted away, and all that was left was the two of us, suspended in this moment of unexpected reunion. I felt like I was transported back in time, to a place where love and heartbreak had once collided.