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“Pamela darling, mummy, and I have an important announcement” Mr. Christopher Darrel inform his young and only daughter.
Pam sits straight in her seat, darting an anxious gaze between her parents. What is it now? She muses. The last time the duo had an important announcement was when they told her of the passing of her beloved grandmother.
Nana was a special person in Pam’s life. She still misses her grandmother a lot. Being the only grandchild of Nana’s, she was the apple of her eyes, and she had stuffed her with as much love and attention as she could. And now, she misses her and all her wise sayings, she was indeed a sagacious?woman who had smart answers to every question she asked.
“Pam, what do you feel about that?” Her Mum asks with the fork full of veggie salad, halfway to her mouth…….. Interrupting Pam’s brooding.
“Mum sorry I missed the big announcement,” Pam responds sheepishly
“And here I thought you will be elated by the news,” her mum smiles, looking at her daughter straight in the eyes to gauge her expression and hoping their news will restore her daughter’s bubbly demeanor, which seems to have been lost since Nana’s passing.
“Mum is just trying to say that, a distant relative is coming to stay with us, both her parents were involved in an accident and we are the only family she has got” Mr. Darrel explains to his daughter, taking a sip from his glass, with his eyes level on Pam.
“That’s so sad! I’m so sorry for the poor girl, I can’t imagine losing both of your parents in one day, I mean I’m still kind of mourning my Nana even after all this time.” Feeling empathy for the girl she is yet to meet.
Mr. & Mrs. Darrel exchange looks of mutual understanding, glad at the compassion expressed by their daughter and of her acceptance of the coming change. They know that the news will not faze their daughter,?that’s how sweet Pam is,?no selfish bone in her.
“But Dad can you tell me more about this relative of mine?”? Pam asks, giving little attention to the food on her plate.
“Well, her Mum was my cousin….… and she is a few years older meaning you guys have to be good sisters to each other. I remember her to be a smart and cute little girl, just like you, and I trust you will be nice to her Pam…..”
“Dad… in case you have not noticed I am not so little anymore.” She says, her mood perking up at the news of a Sister, that’s all she has ever dreamed of, a sister to share her feelings with.
“But you will always be our little girl.” Smiling, Mrs. Darrel responds to the banter between father and child. Both of Pam’s parents take immense pleasure in teasing their 17-year-old daughter since she goes out of her way to assert how much she has grown.
“Please! Mum, not you too, woes of being a one and only child.” She mutters under her breath standing, pushing back her seat, and throwing her hands up in feigned mortification, before picking up her plates to walk out of the dining area.
“Did you say something?” Her Dad asks amusingly, causing both parents to burst into laughter at the expense of their daughter.
“Come on Dad!!!? Please can you just stop now?” She hollers from the kitchen smiling.
Pam is fortunate to have her parents, she didn’t know what she will do without them, which is why she is sorry for the girl, she promises to make her feel so much at home, that she will have little time to miss her parents, plus it will be fun to have a sister she can roll out with, she hopes that the girl is as cute and nice just as her Dad recounts…………
Nadia Simon feels drained from all the tears, her face swollen from the weeping, and her head pounds as if a concert is on-going right at the center of her brain. She feels so lost and all alone in the world.
If anyone told her some months back, that she would have to travel cross country for her college education she probably would have laughed in such a person’s face, but here she is doing just that, which goes to confirm the saying that- life is just unpredictable.
She disembarks from the plane, slides on her sunglasses, to hide the dark circles under her eyes, her blond mane in a ponytail with escaped tendrils teasing her forehead and her nape, oblivious to the attention she attracts from travelers.
She has such an effect on people, though at the brim of adulthood, she already has all the necessary curves in the right places and a face just as beautiful. Many girls envy her and some want to be her friend. But Nadia herself is so unassuming that she does not even realize her charm.
To anyone looking, she is an epitome of beauty, class, and elegance, but she is like a pack of dominoes in pyramids cascading in a free fall on the inside. She misses her parents, home, friends, and everything about her former life. She feels like running back to the plane to take her back to her home. A tear rolls down under the eyeshade she wore to hide her swollen eyes, she caught it with her finger, flicking it away as she stiffens her spine in determination to meet whatever life has in store for her.
Bring it on!!
Pushing her luggage along, she rummaged through her carrier bag to get her phone, which was still on-air mode, activating her phone she pushes her shade up into her hair to get a good look at the pictures Mr. Darrel sent to her. She checks through her gallery to get a good look at Mr. Chris Darrel and Pamela. Both of whom have arranged to come to pick her up from the airport.
Nadia felt a pang of envy at the three happy faces beaming at her, the family looks well-knitted and she hopes that she will soon be a welcome addition to the already beautiful set. Her eyes tearing up again at what she has lost.
She has always been an only child just like Pam; she prays both of them to find a sister in each other.
She feels the cool breeze on her face as she steps into the cool evening, New York at this time of the year is cold and a little windy, from what she saw in films and read in books. Everything is at a fast pace.
She has never had any reason to come to Manhattan before now.
“Hey! Nadia” Pam calls to her. She saw her picture and marveled at how gorgeous she looks, so it is no surprise she recognizes her immediately.
Nadia sees the girl eagerly waving, with a smart-looking middle-age man beside her; she knows it must be Mr. Darrel and Pam even before she gets to them, pushing her sadness away for later; she placed a plastic smile on her face and moved briskly to meet her new family or should it be what destiny has for in-store her.
Andrew Sebastian has never been spellbound by anyone as he is now in all his 28 years. The girl beside him is absolutely gorgeous; she has the leather combination of beauty, elegance, and innocence that is something uncommon in his circle. But the girl looks to be unaware of him, not in the way most ladies are anyway. She was cordial but not overly so.
He is used to girls drooling over him and bending over backward to get his attention, Thanks not only to his attractive looks but also to his wealth. Being the only heir to the Sebastian empire and given his looks, he automatically becomes a life magnet to attention especially from the opposite gender, maybe a little from same-sex, which is somewhat amusing, if he were gay, and oh also a lot of attention from the Media.
Ignoring and managing attention has become visceral to him. What is not natural is being the one receiving the blind eye! Thinking about it is making him boil with anger. Though it took him every ounce of his will power, he was determined to ignore her. And he is not going to allow anyone to dampen?his good mood.
Drew’s long stride eats up the distance to the Limousine waiting for him. He is happy that finally the oil well deal is settled, and it is a cause for celebration. He had to go for closing himself, the company cannot afford to send a proxy, not even Leonard, his competent assistant; he does not want to leave anything to chance.
?The Sebastian Corporation is partnering with the Saudi Emirates in drilling and refining of crude oil that will be exported to developing countries. Finally, he can celebrate the conquest of yet another business deal, making his parents more proud of the man he has become.
He left for the Dubai Emirates in his private jet, but there was a last-minute contingent fault to the air machine that would delay him by a few hours, hours he could not afford, Hence decided to take the only available seat on the plane heading for DC for some urgent business meeting, before boarding a connecting flight back to his home in Manhattan,
Once again the innocent temptress creeps into his head, he pushes her thoughts off his mind, checks his diamond wristwatch, to ensure he is in time for his briefing with his executives.
Drew makes an image of a young aristocrat, his raven black hair, tousled from his hands raking through them, his lean and lithe frame exuding virility fills up his expensive navy blue suit complementing the deep blue set of his eyes, framed by thick and smooth arched brows. He presents a picture-perfect for a business magazine.
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Nadia ignores the warning signs her body gives, having being deprived of sleep and food. She hastens her step to meet her hosts, but the wave of nausea and lightheadedness swamp her before she takes a step further, she falls and slides into oblivion.
?Drew watches the lady a few meters away from him staggers and falls. He launches forward, his years of constant work out paid out as he rushes to cushion her fall, holding the poor lady, her head gently cradled on his bent knees. The crowd was curious about the unusual happening.
Drew keeps barking for water and ordering a 911- call. Chris Darrel and Pam close the rest of the distance to help poor Nadia.
Pam immediately provides a bottle of avian that was sprinkled on the still unconscious Nadia, the cool water on her skin shocks her back to consciousness making her blink her eyes open.
In her unconscious state,
She could hear the bark of a voice similar to an angry thunder, and then the splatter of raindrops as she lay on the flowered field, then her eyes flutters open to the deepest set of blue eyes like a midnight sky, looking down at her in concern.
Was she dreaming? She thought
“Thank God!!! What a relief” Sebastian stares in concern at the unconscious beauty, in his arms. She is the innocent-looking beauty, who shared a seat with him on the plane. She blinks her eyes like melted gold looking up at him in confusion. Drew reaches into his suit jacket and produces the ever-present energy bar from his suit pocket; he gives it to her to munch on for needed energy.
Nadia’s first reaction was a protest. Her action ignites his already simmering anger thinking how anyone can be careless with her health to the point of dropping unconscious in an airport terminal?
“It’s neither a poison nor a love portion, just a good old energy bar to supply you with needed strength” he snaps at her. Feeling irritated for no just cause
Looking around her mortified how her body decides to betray her in a public space, she spots Pam and Chris, the only two faces she can identify from the earlier pictures looking down at her. “You must be Pamela. I’m sorry we have to meet under this circumstance.” She jokes despite herself; a small smile plays around her full pink lips, her voice, sounding hoarse from dehydration. She sits up gently, reaching for the bottle of water, she takes a sip.
“Not to worry my dear, I’m just glad you are ok” Chris and Pam fall in love with Nadia immediately.
“Well, will you take the bar, or I have to force it down your throat?” Drew demands in a tone she can’t defy, angry like he never was, the nerve of the girl acting like he is not even visible. He does not know why he suddenly feels protective of her, was it because they shared a seat on the plane or something more? Whatever it is, he doesn’t feel like analyzing.
Nadia directs her gaze to him, looking skeptical but takes the bar from him.
The crowd disperses, when all seems well with the lady, Leaving Sebastian Pam, and Chris.
Drew stands from his squatting position to his full 6ft height, “I should be on my way”
Darrel stands leaving Pam to see to Nadia and looking at the kind Man towering over him in appreciation. Thank you, Mr.…….
“Sebastian” Drew supplies.
“I really appreciate your help today,” Mr. Darrel says to the kind stranger.
Drew grows impatient as he checks his time wondering if he will be at the office in time to give his briefing.? He warmly bids Mr. Darrel. “Take care of your daughter; she probably needs a lot of rest.” He says, assuming Nadia to be the older man’s child. And that’s that protective instinct again. For God's sake, is it his problem to be advising the man to take care of his daughter as if any father needs that advice in the first place?
Nadia’s gaze kept darting to the Man who just rescued her. How hot, can a man look? Come on Nadia, get a grip!! Your brain must be fried from lack of water, food, and adequate rest.
“Are you alright?” Darrel enquires about his new ward.
“I’m feeling better now.” She responds as they make their way to the waiting car. But Nadia’s eyes never left the retreating figure of her hero. She hopes one of these days, if fate permitted them to meet again, she can repay his kindness.
