Chapter 47

A Q U I L A

Aquila stares at the door and Atiya disappears into the building. He wanted to follow her and beg her forgiveness, but he knew she needed space. He hurries back to the banquet hall and locates Georgia. "Can you drive Atiya home?" he asked. She glanced at him and nodded. Luckily she didn't ask any more questions. When she left her room, Aquila went to Raquel . She sat relaxed at the table. "What did you do?" he asked, sitting in the chair next to her. She sighed. "What are you talking about Aquila ? I said what I needed to say," she laughed. "Did you really think it would work out between you two? She's a baker."

Aquila slammed his hands on the table. He was fed up with his mother. "She is the woman I love. I thought you understood this morning. You don't."

Raquel 's lips trembled. "But she will bring you down. She could be so much better without her."

Aquila looked at her mother. "You're wrong. She makes me a better person. Without her I'm nothing." He swallowed. "If you were taking care of me, you would know. Instead, you would only see what you wanted to see. You can't get over the pain. "He stood up. "I'm tired of defending your actions. Rose would be embarrassed.

Raquel opened his eyes wide. "Why would you say that?" Her previously confident demeanor was replaced by a sobbing woman. Aquila ' confidence wavered. "I love you mom, but I'm tired of making excuses. I just want you to realize that I don't want anyone in my life but Atiya ." He put his hand on Raquel 's shoulder and paused. "If you can't see it, that's it."

He turned and went to the cloakroom to get his coat. He waited outside Georgia until she returned, then instructed her to get into a limousine and take her to her suite. It felt like an eternity before he stood in front of the bakery and knocked on the door. Atiya had to answer. She had to. There was no way she could let her go without knowing the full truth about her. All the shop windows were dark, but the apartment was lit. they were there "Aquila ?" April 's voice cut through the darkness. "April ?" he asked, spinning round and round. She was standing in front of her apartment door with her blanket over her shoulders. "Is she okay?" he asked and went to her. April 's lips frowned her. "She's broken." Aquila ' heart was pounding in his chest. He hurt her. "It was my fault," April said. "I told you to keep it a secret. I was wrong."

Aquila shook his head. "No, I should have been honest from the beginning." He put his hand in his jacket pocket and said, "She doesn't want to see me, does she?"

April 's gaze wandered to one of the apartment's windows. "No. She doesn't want to see me either."

Aquila put his hand over his face. What a huge mess it turned out to be! His throat tightened at the realization that he had lost the only woman he truly loved. "What should I do? April , I can't afford to lose her."

April stared at him. "Are you serious?"

Aquila nodded. "Now she needs time."

"I can do it."

April reached out her hand and touched his arm. "She may take some time."

He swallowed. "I will wait as long as she needs me."

April stared at him and nodded. "You'd be better off going." She wrapped her blanket tightly around her shoulders. "I'll keep in touch, okay?"

Aquila nodded. He tried not to fall. He didn't want April to go through that door. He didn't want to give up hope that Atiya might decide they were indeed the right people for each other. So that she could run down the stairs and into his arms. But when the clatter of doorknobs filled the still air, he knew that would never happen. His heart felt like it was being ripped out of his body as he turned and walked towards the limousine. He stood in front of the open door and turned around to look up at the lit window above the store. If he could go back in time and change what happened, he would. He will never lie He would have been honest and hoped she would forgive him. Now all he had left was his lonely life. And Raquel . He moans as he sits in a leather seat and slams the door shut. He will never be able to return to his original state. Not after he got a glimpse of what true happiness is. He crouched down and told Georgia to take him home. He backed off when she left her curb. Regret flooded his soul. If he felt that way how would Atiya feel?He cursed himself and clenched his fists. He promised her to carry her burden, and now? He just added something to them. He rubbed his face as he watched the light fly by. Her only solution that he could come up with to ease her pain crossed his mind. He pulled out his cell phone and dialed a lawyer's number. He was going to do this one last time and then stay out of Atiya 's life forever.