41

"Mommy, are we going to see dad soon?" Amari asked as she tugged on my hand. I held Amari's hand firmly as I looked out for my driver. A couple hours ago I arrived in New York, Ethan arranged a driver for me to drive me around in New York.

"Yes baby girl. But...Oh there he is. Our driver is here, princess. You'll see dad soon okay?" I looked at the black sleek car that stopped right in front of me. The door opened and a bald man stepped out.

"Miss Malik?" He asked, removing his shades revealing hazel-green eyes. "I'm Todd Collin, you're personal driver."

"Hi Todd, Nice to meet you." I greeted the big headed bald man with hazel green eyes. He didn't look older than fifty. I wished I had other ways to describe him, but at this moment this was the only description I could come up with. He wore a black suit, the ones personal drivers wear, and he had white gloves on.

I ushered Amari inside and sat down next to her. Todd placed all my suitcases in the trunk and then went back to the passenger seat.

"Do you know the address to the apartment?" I asked when he started the car. He looked through the rear view mirror and nodded his head.

"Yes, I got all the information." With that he started driving.

Amari looked out of the window and then looked back at me. Her eyes sparkled. "It's so beautiful, mommy." She pressed her nose against the window to see all the skyscrapers passing by. "D'you lived here?" She asked in her cute toddler voice.

I found it so cute that she could already talk at the age of two and a half. This year she's turning three and she could easily pick up words and phrases. I only need to say something once and the next thing I know she's the one using them.

I took her on my lap and nuzzled my nose in her hair. "I lived here with your dad three years ago."

"Is three years alot?" She asked and then hold three fingers up. "This is three. Is it a lot, mommy? D'you miss dad?"

"I miss dad everyday, princess. As much as you miss him." I whispered softly as I stared outside the window. Familiar places where passing by.

Suddenly my chest tightened. Oh god, Ximena.

I haven't talked to Ximena in three years. I had sent my letter of resignation a couple of hours before I left New York, three years ago. Since then, I haven't heard anything about her. I haven't even contacted her.

I was still in touch with Reina and Luca though. Reina was expecting a baby girl at the end of this year. At this moment she was craving all kinds of food and poor Luca has to deal with mood swings every second of the day. One moment Reina is all happy and chattery and the next she was bawling her eyes out over some random thing.

"But mommy---," Amari's voice woke me up from my thoughts. She was still not done with interrogating me. "Why'id dad never visit me?"

"Baby Girl, that's because mommy is a meanie."

She immediately looked up at me with her big blue eyes. "No you're not."

I chuckled lightly, but then Amari pointed at something outside. "Cake! Mommy, cake. I want cake!"

I looked outside and saw Eclair Bakery pass by. "Do you want cake, princess?" She eagerly nodded her head. I knew she loved cake, all sorts of cakes. Cupcakes, red velvet, chocolate cake, name it and she will eat it for you.

"Todd, Can you please turn around and stop at Eclair bakery?" I called. Todd turned his head around and nodded. "Of course, Miss Malik."

"Mommy are w'going to get cake?" Amari asked excitedly. I nodded my head and she immediately hugged me tightly. "Thank you mommy!" she squealed.

I giggled and kissed her cheeks. "Everything for you princess, everything."

The car stopped at Eclair bakery and Amari and I stepped out. We stepped in the shop and Amari immediately pointed at her favorites. "I want that mommy and that one!" She pointed at the Cheesecake eclair and Macarons.

I chuckled and walked towards the nice lady behind the counter. "Hi, can I please have two Cheesecake eclair and a box of Macarons."

She smiled kindly at me. "Sure, that will be $17 dollars."

I pulled out my credit card and handed it to her. Moment later, she returned back with my deserts and credit card. "Enjoy."

I smiled at her and grabbed Amari by her hand. "Come on, princess. I already bought cake. It's for after dinner okay?"

She nodded her head and hopped happily next to me. I opened the door to exit the shop and my soul almost left my body.

Right in front of me, a pair of bright blue eyes was staring at me in shock. The one person I haven't seen in three years.

Flynn.

Flynn Vasilios P.O.V

"Flynn, can you get some cake for me? Please?" Ximena pleaded when I entered her room. Her room was filled with roses, gifts, chocolates, dresses, and makeup.

"Xim, you're about to get married, can't you at least wait until after?"

"Come on," She whined. "I'm really craving it!"

I let out an exasperated sigh and looked at my Cartier watch. There's still an hour left before the wedding. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and searched for the closest bakery.

"What cake do you want?" I asked, looking up from my phone.

Ximena's eyes lit up. Of course, it would. It always does when food is involved. "Red velvet!" She said happily. "Thank you so much, big bro." She walked up to me and hugged me tightly. I'm so happy she's finally happy and getting married.

"Can I say something?" She whispered, loosening me out of her hug. Her voice turned soft, almost in a whisper.

"What?" I asked as I studied her face that suddenly turned into a sad frown.

"You will not mind, would you?"

"Uh, No. I guess not." I have a feeling where this is going. I haven't talked about it.

"I... really wished Jill was her." She choked back a sob, her eyes filled with tears but she blinked it away immediately not wanting to ruin her makeup. "I miss her, Flynn."

My chest tightened when I heard her name. It felt like someone was choking me. I couldn't breath.

I miss her too, lil sis. I miss her too.

Since the day she left, I thought I was slowly dying a painful death. It literally felt like my heart was being ripped out of my chest when I came home and saw her engagement ring on the counter, on top of all the Polaroid's.

The Polaroid's were wet from her tears and god dammit, I never felt so sick and heartbroken in my entire life.

At that point I realized I lost her.

I wished I had just told her. When I saw the polaroids and the note attached to it, my whole body turned rigid.

Fucking Zoe. She was the one that had send those polaroids to Jill. I mean I would have told her eventually. But it was not supposed to go like that. She was not supposed to run away.

Leaving me behind heartless and in pain.

It wasn't really long after that when Ximena called, crying on the phone. She couldn't even speak properly. "Jill signed her resignation letter. Why?!" She sobbed, her cries turning louder.

Oh, I definitely knew why. It all has to do with me.

"Flynn? I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to bring back memories." Ximena whispered, nudging me softly on my side when she realized I was zoning out.

"You just did." I snapped, my eyes filling with tears. "You know how I feel about her Ximena. I can't talk about her and yet here you are reminding me about her!"

I took a deep breath to calm myself down.

"I'm sorry." She sputtered. "I just... You're not the only one in pain here, okay. It's because of your stupid decision that I lost my best friend. I always wanted her to be here. At my wedding. We always talked about it. It fucking hurts!"

"As if I wouldn't know!" I yelled out frustrated. "I miss her every single day! I can't even live in the mansion in peace without hearing her voice. I send her a letter, because I finally found her and she hasn't even responded yet. I don't expect her to forgive me. Fuck I don't!. But I just need to hear her voice. I just need to hear that she's... doing well. I miss her as much as you do, Ximena. And yes, I did something very stupid and dumb and god, I wished I could undo it, but I can't! I fucking can't!"

Ximena buried her face in my suit. The warmth of her body calmed me down. Ximena was my rock after Jill left. She comforted me, brought food for me, and was my light in my darkest days. "Please get her back Flynn, please?"

I softly pushed her off me. "I think it's too late, Xim. I think it's too late. Now tell me, should I get you some cake or not?"

She nodded her head. Her loose curls shaking wildly as she did that. "Yes, of course. But you have to hurry; the wedding starts in like fifty minutes."