chapter 15 lost

Mav

After a tiring day of shifting apartments, and controlling myself from killing Taylor, when he went after setting furniture. I decided to sleep for a few hours. when I woke up, the sun had already gone down. I got ready for my work and was about to leave when I got a call from Rob.

"Hello," his familiar voice said

"Yes boss," I said

"Come over, let's have a drink together," he said, and then his voice went off followed by some whispers.

"Rob...??? Hello..?? You alright??"

"Hi It's me," a female voice said

"Who me? Where is Rob?"

"I am here son, this was Abby," Rob said

"Wait am I on speaker? And who is Abby?" I said as I took stairs down after peeking into Britt's apartment.

"My daughter!" Said Rob and "he forget me, how can he forgot me Dad?" said Abby.

"Come here to the office if you can?" Rob said while laughing.

"I can't, supplies arrived today so I need to take a look," I said as I started to walk on the road.

"Okay okay then we will come," Abby said

"You will come, at what time?" I asked.

"Just ring me before you close," Rob said

"Okay," I said and hung up.

The night was busy me and Ted were stuck in store maintaining and counting the stock, this was such a bizarre that they have never kept any record of liquor or anything in the past. And this club has been running for around 15 years. After hours when we were almost done. Maya came in to check. With drinks in her hand.

"It's empty out there still," she said with a sigh.

"Still better than before," Ted said.

With time I am realizing it is not Ted or Maya who managed the club wrong way, it is the resources and plans which were never part of this club. Hence the reason why this club never stood in charts.

"We will close a bit early tonight" I informed Ted and Maya

"Why?" Maya asked

"Rob will be here to discuss somethings about the club, you guys can leave early if you want. I'll close" I said as I took sips out from my soft drink.

"Shut up! We'll stay" Maya said and went out. And I received a call from Rob.

"Sup?" I said

"Come out," Rob said

"I thought you will come in," I said

"I will later, right now we are hungry let's go and eat something," he said

"Be out in a minute," I said and went out

I saw Rob standing in front of his limousine, smiling big.

"Increase my pay, you owe a limo," I said as I went for a handshake and he laughed at me.

"Hello to you too," he said.

"Where is Abby?" I asked him.

"Here!" she said as she hugged me from my back and I tried to free myself.

"Woooo grew up," she said.

"Hello to you too," I said as I turned to see her face. She just feels like an adult version of herself. Same red curls, same physique, same voice, just turned a little taller.

"What is the secret behind this handsome face," she said and poked a finger in my stomach

"How come you are not changed at all except the height," I said and we all laughed.

" I am hungry and I don't want this old man at our first date," she said with a pout, which made me smile and nervous at once

"Date?" I said and looked at Rob who just smiled.

"Let's go fast," Rob said with a smile.

We went to a nearby restaurant which was open at that hour. And ordered the food. Chatted about good old times, Abby was all over me. Not in a good way. Years back it would have been different situations. But not anymore. I am not the same man I was before plus she is the daughter of my Boss and I never saw her that way. Moreover, my heart belongs to someone, someone who stole my heart long back and not returning it back.

Abby drank a lot, and I was surprised at her capacity. Her drinking constantly reminded me of Britt. Britt's drunk smile. Me and Rob, We talked a lot about the club and how many things need the change. I needed his approval so he can provide me funds and I can begin my real work. There is a lot that can be done with that club. It is a classic case of failed management and a lack of services.

"Shall we go back to the club and see?" I asked him

"Maybe tomorrow, look at her, you gotta help me in taking her back to the car," Rob said. Again, again he found an escape. Abby stood up in her dizzy state.

"Let's go to the club, it's been years I haven't been there," she said and I couldn't thank her enough.

"No no I am not taking you there in this state," I said mocking her.

"As if we are going to church," she said and sat next to me. And I moved away. Rob looked at me with sorry eyes and smiled.

He needs to control her daughter!

"Let's go then," Rob said.

By the time we reached the club, it was almost morning. I felt bad for keeping up Maya and Ted for no reason.

I checked my phone to see the time it was around 5:30 in the morning there were 2 texts from Maya which 1 said.

*don't come back Britt is here* which left me to confuse and 2nd one said

*come in from back door*

So I called her, she didn't pick the call, so I called Ted.

"Where are you?" I asked him

"Still counting the stock, there is a big mess that happened in past, you need to take a look," he said.

"Britt is still there ?" I asked him

"Britt?! Wait let me check" he said

.

"Yes she is here but she is leaving in few minutes," he said.

"Damn it! Rob and his daughter is with me" I hung up

We entered from the back door.

"Why are we going in from the back?" Abby asked me

"So we can directly go to the store to see the stock and blueprints," I said

"Okay, work freak," she said smiling.

We went in and discussed everything, I kept an eye at the door and sent a text to Maya if Britt is gone or not.

"I need money for this club," I said to Rob

"Why,?" Rob said

" as you can furniture need to change, interior need change, we need a new menu plan, more worker, new lightning, new almost everything," I told him.

"How much money do you want?" He asked me and squared his shoulders, no more uncle Rob I knew, he was now 100% my boss.

"I have to time, I'll tell you the whole budget by next Wednesday, with final designs and everything, okay?" I asked him

"Okay done," he said and walked toward the door and went out

"So it looks like it's just you and me then," Abby said.

"Let's go out I'll buy you drink kiddo," I said

"Geeeee.. kiddo, really?" She said and walked toward me, leaned toward me, and ran her hand all over my chest.

"Are you single?" She asked.

"You need to calm down kiddo," I said, she cringed and I laughed. We went out and Britt was gone. Thank god.

But Taylor walked in with a girl.

"Why you never pick up my calls" he shouted from near the door.

"I was busy, Rob is here, and this is Abby, Rob's daughter, Abby This is Taylor my friend," I said pointing in the direction where Rob was sitting to shut his mouth before his dumbass blare something stupid.

"Hi, Abby! This is Genna" Tay introduced the girl. Completely ignoring me.

"Well I'll see you in the evening," Tay said.

"No no join us for drinks, Mav is paying," Abby said.

"Really Mav is paying, I am down," Taylor said and I wanted to punch him so bad.

We sat down, Abby sat really close to me, Taylor and Genna sat in front of us, Rob on the left of me. Abby's hands were all over me, I never saw her more than a friend, Tay gave me looks.

I moved a bit away from Abby but she was all over me. I tried to push her hand away but all were failed attempts.

The first round of drinks went really fast, Ted brought more drinks, I turned around to see when I felt a tap on my shoulder. And saw Britt standing.

We both had the same expressions - Shocked

Then her eyes moved to Abby and then Taylor, she clashed with Ted and ran away.

"Britt stop!" I shouted

"I will see you tomorrow Rob," I said as I stood, and Maya came with a phone in her hand.

"She must have come back for her phone," Maya said with panic. I snatched it from her and Abby held my hand.

"Who is she?" She asked me.

"His love," Tay said

"I need to go, so sorry Abby," I said to her and ran back to the store to grab my keys, Maya followed me "she is kinda drunk be careful"

"She is what?!" I asked her

"Yeah she was drunk when she came in then, we had more wine she brought," she said following me.

"Damn it Britt and her wrong timings, take care of Rob, make sure they leave quickly," I said as I walked out of the back door.

"Listen," Maya said as I sat in the car.

"What say fast," I said

"When we were talking... I felt.. Like she blames herself for this bad break up" she said with hesitation.

"Nooo why?" I held my head in my hands.

"Right now go find her, she is drunk, angry, and probably crying somewhere," she said and moved back.

I hit the accelerator and searched for her, on the way home, couldn't find her. She went to her apartment asked security she didn't come back. The where she went.

I searched for her, went back again to the club, in the hope that she might have gone back to search for her phone. She didn't.

I looked at every road, and the cafe opened at that hour. Couldn't find her.

So I came back home and stood in front of the main gate. Then I thought what if she entre from the backdoor, so I went up and stood in front of the elevator.

Sat down with her phone in my hand.

I pressed a button a picture of the locked box which said "wishlist" popped up on the lock screen.

It was 7:03 am, I swiped on screen and it unlocked. And a smiling picture of Britt came on the home screen. Britt in a blue sundress with a big hat with a flower on side of it, smiling, sunlight falling in her face, her eyes squinted a little and a bunch of sunflowers on another hand.

I remember I took this picture on our first date. She looked like a walking dream of me that day.

And now when I look at her, her pale skin, sad eyes, wrinkle, her smile which looks forced I just want to hug her tight.

"Where are you, Britt?" I asked to myself. Where am I supposed to find her?

I looked up and doors to the elevator open and there stood Britt with her head down, Shoulder slumped down.

Without thinking much I held her hand and dragged her to my apartment. And made her sit on the couch.

"Where the hell you were?" I asked her.

To which she looked me into eyes, making me die thousand times, her red and swollen eyes told she had been crying, wine reeking from her breath told me this is all my fault. She was not this, she was never this, her dead face made me realize she fought worse battle than my sufferings of Rehabilitation Center.

She stood up and left the with words which made deepened the wounds of my heart

"When will this pain stop Mav?"

I wish I knew the answer when I am still trying to hold her. So I followed her out to her apartment, she looked tired she entered inside and stood with the support of the kitchen counter.

"I need sleep, you need to go," she said

"No I am not going you sleep, I'll keep quiet," I said and stood my ground. She moved took out 2 water bottles from the refrigerator, gave me one gulped down her own and went to her bedroom.

"Leave when you feel like going, I am sleeping," Britt said

"Britt. Talk to me" I said standing at the door of her bedroom.

"Look I am too tired for talking, you want to go? then leave. Do you want to stay? then keep quiet" she said and slide down under her quilt.

I stood there, for minutes, as she fell asleep, then I moved in and sat next to her, on the floor. I touched her cheek with my fingertips, and she turned her back to me.

"Don't!" She said.

I need to go, do I want to go? No.

So, I did what my heart told me.

I took off my shirt and slipped under the quilt. Away from her.

"What do you think you are doing?" She asked me with her eyes close.

"Keeping quiet," I said, expecting a kick any moment now. She pulled out a pillow from under her head and kept it in between us.

"Leave before I wake up," she said and turned her back to me.

"I am not planning to go soon, good night," I said.

After minutes of silence, I removed the pillow from between us and slid a little closer to her and kept my hand on her shoulder. She didn't resist, neither she shouted, her breathing became shallow after a few minutes, and small snores started to fill in the room. I stared at her back for minutes or hours I don't know Until my eyelids became heavy and I too fell asleep. Holding her.