  Catherine

  

      "Kidsss! Dinner!"

  

      A minute later, I hear steps running down the stairs.

  

      "Mom, let me help." Albin, my second born, says as he picks up one of the plates with food.

  

      "Thank you dear." I reply as he leaves the kitchen.

  

      "Adela! Arab! Stop playing and clean up, we're having dinner already!" Albin calls to his siblings. He has always been called responsible or mature for his age.

  

      "Yes yes. Geez no need to get mad ..." answers Arabic, shortened to Arab, the eldest of the bunch, "... we heard Mo— ouch!"

  

      "Sorry Albin, we'll hurry and clean up." says Adelaide, nicknamed Adela, the youngest and only girl.

  

      "You didn't have to hit me you kno—"

  

      "Now now kids, play nice. We'll have dinner in five minutes." I interrupt before this turns into a full blown argument.

  

      "Yes Mommm." The th

  James

  

      Its been a week since Aunt Rose passed away and two days since her funeral. Caught up with assisting with her funeral and other matters, I have left my trusted subordinates to ensure that the company continues to run smoothly.

  

      Now I have to catch up on the many paperwork put on hold these past few days. I lean back and shut my eyes for a few minutes. Checking my watch, I see that it is 11:55 AM. Determined to finish this mountain of work, I ask my secretary to order me lunch as I decide to have work while eating.

  

      Next, I have to decide on the new restaurant design. I look at the pile of folders containing the design proposals from different firms. I grab one of the folders on my desk and begin reviewing.

  

      This restaurant, along with my love of cooking, is a secret that I plan to keep under wraps. Therefore, the hired General Manager hand

  James

  

      "Here."

  

      I look to my lawyer after signing the contract for the property I just purchased.

  

      "Thank you Sir. I will provide a copy to the real estate company."

  

      This is it. My dream taking form. I zone out and remember the space that will soon become my restaurant.

  

      Contrary to common belief, I have an all-consuming passion for cooking. During college, I secretly asked my mother if I can enroll in a few culinary classes. She didn't mind at all and found my hiding of my passion strange. However, she respected my decision so to this day my family is not aware of my love for cooking. So to continue this charade I make the decisions and Stan, the restaurant General Manager, handles all the necessary transactions.

  

      "Stan, have all the architects send their design within the week."

  

      "Noted sir. I would also like to confirm Sir if we will proceed with the taste testing tomorrow?"

  

      "Yes, we'll proceed."

  

      We discuss other concerns and finish our meeting after an hour. Stan takes his leave and I'm left alone with my pile of work. Great.

  

      I begin to tackle the many tasks I have to finish. I focus so much that I am surprised when my secretary suddenly calls me through the intercom.

  

      "Good afternoon Sir, I apologize for disturbing but Madam Evans is here to see you."

  

      I sigh deeply. Trouble.

  

      "Let her in."

  

      I few seconds later Amy Evans, CEO of Red Universe Technologies, comes sauntering into my office.

  

      I rise from my chair and extend my hand for a handshake. She ignores it. Instead, she chooses to come to my side of the desk, giving me a hug and a kiss in the cheek.

  

      "It's wonderful to see you again James. I've missed you."

  

      I force a polite smile on my face and cut right to business. "To what do I owe this visit Ms. Evans?"

  

      "Geez James, no need to be so uptight." She says as she pushes me to sit on my chair. "And that's Amy to you, I've told you dozens of times." She proceeds to sit on my desk, making sure that her skirt rides higher up her thighs.

  

      I sigh internally. Why did I ever sleep with this woman?

  

      "I came here to deliver this." She holds up an envelope which I assume is their proposal for one of our projects.

  

      I take it from her and place it on my desk. "You could've had it delivered."

  

      "True, but how could I miss an opportunity to see my dearest James."

  

      Since our college days, Amy has always seducing me. So I gave in, slept with her but made it abundantly clear the it was a no strings attached kind of night. Why not? She's offering herself plus it may drive her away once she's had her share.

  

      But I was very wrong. Sleeping with her was like I opened a floodgate. Since then, she has been even more relentless in her actions to the point of fighting with other women I've slept with.

  

      "Amy, you know I have a girlfriend." Amy is also another reason why I agreed to Krista's arrangement. As they say, hit to birds with one stone.

  

      "Ah yes, Krista, how could I forget." She says with a hint of venom in her voice. "Well, doesn't matter. You know who can truly rock your world love." She says, giving me a wink with fingers slowly caress my jaw.

  

      Brrrrr. Brrrr. Brrrrrrr.

  

      Thank God for whoever is calling me right now.

  

      "I should take this call Amy. You know your way out."

  

      "Yes yes. I'll go ahead. I have a meeting in ..." she pauses as she looks at her watch "... an hour. See you love." She steals a quick kiss on my lips then walks out of my office.

  

      I sigh again, feeling very drained from our encounter.

  

      Brrr. Brrrrrr.

  

      Without looking at the caller, I answer the call. "Edwards."

  

      "James" I hear my bestfriend's frantic voice from the other line.

  

      "Lucas, what's wrong?" Lucas is Aunt Rose's son and my best friend since childhood.

  

      "Mom, she's ..." I feel a cold shudder run through my body.

  

      "Lucas, breathe. What happened?"

  

      "Mom, she's ... we're in the hospital."

  

      "Why? What happened? Are you guys okay?"

  

      "Mom ... she's been in a car accident."

Catherine
  
      "Kidsss! Dinner!"
  
      A minute later, I hear steps running down the stairs.
  
      "Mom, let me help." Albin, my second born, says as he picks up one of the plates with food.
  
      "Thank you dear." I reply as he leaves the kitchen.
  
      "Adela! Arab! Stop playing and clean up, we're having dinner already!" Albin calls to his siblings. He has always been called responsible or mature for his age.
  
      "Yes yes. Geez no need to get mad ..." answers Arabic, shortened to Arab, the eldest of the bunch, "... we heard Mo— ouch!"
  
      "Sorry Albin, we'll hurry and clean up." says Adelaide, nicknamed Adela, the youngest and only girl.
  
      "You didn't have to hit me you kno—"
  
      "Now now kids, play nice. We'll have dinner in five minutes." I interrupt before this turns into a full blown argument.
  
      "Yes Mommm." The three answer in unison.
  
      An hour and a half later, we're all seated in t

Chapter 7