Set me free - Episode 58

 

Michelle:

"What are you doing?" Rory comes into the room and I breathe a sigh of relief. 
"Where have you been?! I've been waiting for you." I finally finish arranging my suitcase properly. I never really brought anything out aside the lotion and soap Rory helped me arrange.  I thought I'll be staying longer.
"Are you okay?" I jerk out of my somber mood and put a huge smile on my face. My face actually hurts from smiling that big. 
"I'm good . It was just a dream. I'm awake now." I quote William's words and it doesn't sting lesser. Rory eyes me down.
"You look like hell." He points to the bag under my eyes.
"More reason why we should leave this country. When's our flight." I pretend to zip the already zipped suitcase to prevent Rory from seeing me break down again. I hand shake with the memory of last night. Sleeping beside William and his daughter. It really was a dream. 
"Tomorrow."
"What?" I look up at Rory.
"Our flight's tomorrow." Rory wince at the look of horror I throw him. I can't stay here  any longer. I already told William I was leaving

All episodes of this story can be found here >> https://www.ebonystory.com/story/set-me-free

. Not that he'll care anyways.
"I told you to book the flight for today!" I yell.
"Hey, calm down. It was too late last night. All planes were packed full. We have to wait till tomorrow." He says.
"Ohhh." I grumble and fall onto the bed. I kick my legs out in a tantrum.
"We can do something fun to while away the time." Rory suggests. I just shake my head and curl up in the bed.
"I'm in no mood for fun, Rory. Just let me sleep till our flight tomorrow." I say.
"Please." His voice sounds so different from the usual confident Rory I know, I study him briefly.
"What's with that look?" I ask him. He smiles sheepishly. Just want to guilt you into following me out for sightseeing." He says.
"Rory, I really can't." His face falls and I feel bad. He's been too much of a help to me. I owe him too much. I sit up on the bed.
"Where do you want to see?" I ask.
"Can we start from where you grew up?"
"Nothing much to see there. Let's visit a zoo or park." I suggest. 
"Just humor me for today, Michelle." He takes my hand. He's acting weird.
"Alright. Let me pick my bag."
"Thank you." Rory hug my back suddenly, I freeze.
"Are you okay?" I have to ask.
"Just thankful that we met. It's been an unforgettable experience with you." He says. This strangely sounds like goodbye. I turn around to hug him properly. 
"You look like you need a good hug." I say softly staring up into his eyes.
"I need you to smile as well." He says. I frown instead. His fingers trace my lips before pulling them into a smile. 
"Perfect. Stay like that for a moment." I maintain the awkward smile and i'm caught off guard when he takes a picture of me.
"Hey! Why did you take my picture."
"Let's go now. I want to sightsee." He grabs my bag and rushes out of the room before I can even wrap my head around his behavior.

William:

"Mom! Shut the windows!" I groan and turn in my bed as the bright sunlight threaten to blind me. It's been twenty six hours, twenty minutes and a few seconds since I found Michelle's note saying she already left for the states. I've not gotten out of bed ever since the airport. I haven't slept a wink either.
"You are going to be late for your meeting!" Mom snap. What meeting?
"Don't tell me you have forgotten about the shareholders meeting." I just curl up in Aurora's bed. It smells more like Michelle.
"I don't care about that, mom."
"William---"
"it's over mom. She won." I turn my back to her.
"You can't mean that. That woman stole everything from you! She is the reason Michelle isn't here right now!" Mom snaps. I don't turn around still. I wrap my arms around my knees.
"Would you let her take your father's sweat?"
"A father who was never there for me?!" I angrily get off the bed. 
"He never got a chance! Because of that woman and also me, for being weak and not trying to fight for you." I scratch my head in frustration.
"You can't let her win son!" Mom yells. I hate her too but what can I do?
"Mr Gabriel is just like that. This is all a game I can't win." I say. Mom comes to my side.
"You are my son. You've got this. Forget Mr Gabriel. Diane has this all in a bag. She says you just have to go to the company. That woman is going down today."
"What about Michelle?" I can't help but ask. My heart can't stop yearning for her.
"You have to go to the company to get your answer to that." mom pat the suit she has prepared for me.
"You've got this." She says. I feel like I don't though.

Michelle:

"WM holdings. This isn't the airport Rory." I point out when he pulls the car beside the huge building. There are a few police cars too.
"Come on. We are just making a pit stop." He says as he opens the door for me. 
"You've been acting so strange." I say. He takes my hand and help me out of the car. He doesn't say anything. He walks me silently to the entrance of the building.
"Thank you for yesterday, Michelle." He smiles down sincerely at me. I manage a smile of mine. Yesterday did help take my mind off William. Shit! I just said his name. I'm ruined! Would I be able to survive without him? We get to the entrance and Rory stops.
"Shoot! I left important documents in the car. Can you go in without me? I'll be right behind you soon." He says. I begin to protest but he pushes me inside. 
"Take the first elevator by your right!" He calls out to me from outside. I wrinkle my brows but take his instructions. I find the elevator pretty quickly. The building looks empty. I shrug the weird feeling out and enter the elevator. shoot! I didn't ask Rory what floor I should stop. I fish my phone out to call him but it slips out of my hand. Why am I so jittery this morning?!  I manage to catch the phone before it hits the ground. The elevator tings open. I slowly look up to find Aurora smiling up at me.
"Aurora, what are you doing here!" Is your father here as well? 
"Hi!" She squeals. She takes my hand and pull me out of the elevator. She suddenly starts running away from me before I know it.
"Hey! Wait!" I notice she left something in my palm. It's a box of chocolate.
 
FOLLOW ME. 

 Okay? This is weird. My curiosity makes me increase my pace after the little girl.
I round a corner and my mouth hang in shock. There are roses scattered all over the floor. I walk slowly into the next room. Rory, Aurora and William's mother all hold pink cardboards with words inscribed on them. 
PLEASE. SUPPORT. DADDY. 

Aurora hurries to my side and hands me a box.
"Give it to daddy. He's in the next room." She says.

Read " Star-crossed " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I look up at the rest people in the room. William's mother is beaming up at me. Rory smiles.
"Go on. He needs you." Rory says. A sob leaves my throat at this. I'm overwhelmed. Not with sorrow though. 
"He says he wants you more than this company. Please." William's mother says. I don't listen for more, I turn on my heels and run out of the room. I need my man. Now.