Chapter twenty two

Alison walked outside the reception floor with Paige, which housed a lounge and a minibar. She and Paige waited for a woman and her child to use the entrance revolving door, moving to the side for them to pass, the woman looked at her gratefully appreciating her kindness, she only smiled at her and waved at the little boy who smiled back at her. Her heart tore into shreds, she missed Samantha so much, calling her and checking up on both her grandmother and Lily every day could not suffice the emotional hole digging in her heart.

She missed Samantha's naughtiness, her mischievous smile and her endearing laughter. She wished she was the woman who just passed with her son, holding Samantha in her hands, with Samantha beside her she would have seen each nook and cranny of the hotel. Sam was adventurous unlike her, who stays locked up in her suite only working, eating, sleeping and working again.

Calling Samantha every day, and checking up on Grand Karen at equal intervals, she was happy Lily was doing a good job taking care of both of them.

This morning call has her ears filled with the adventures the trio are up to, they went to the park yesterday and Sam said she went on a lot of rides and played funny games, Gran Karen could not help but be worried about her, she assured Gran about her safety and how well she is. Without doing that the old woman would worry her head off.

The little clang of Paige heels on the marble floor brought her back to reality, she stepped down the last step of the hotel's entrance stairs, Paige walked beside her a little file bag resting on her arms.

"I have noticed you have a sad expression on your face. You seemed a bit sad," Paige said, intending to find out what the problem might be.

Alison drew a sad smile on her face, facing Paige momentarily, "I am sad, that's true. I miss Samantha a lot and can't help feeling guilty." Paige managed to release her hand from the file she was carrying and soothed Alison on her shoulder comforting her.

"Alison you are a mother, feeling guilty is one of the things you are forced to experience. I know how sad you feel about Samantha and how bad you missed her, but always remember she has her Greatgrandmother and a very sweet Nanny with her, I am sure she is doing fine."

"But I am not... I am not feeling fine without singing Sam her bedtime songs or reading her one of my homemade night stories. I miss my daughter terribly," Her sad voice pierced Paige's heart, she hasn't experienced motherhood yet she doesn't know how Alison feels but she empathised with her.

Who she missed terribly was her fiance, who way made it his duty to facetime her each day, so it was almost similar to seeing him every day.

"You know I always facetime Spence we use our evening time together talking on Skype, and sometimes I feel he is there with me, maybe every night you should always sing Sam her favourite night songs so you won't feel so sad without her," Paige suggested.

"It sounds like a good idea, I would do just that, hearing her sweet little voice every day just breathes life into me and gives me hope every morning. I am once again reminded I am doing all of this to create a future for her."

"You know I admire you, you left no room to let your past eat its way into your presence. You made Samantha feel you are enough, you played the roles of a father and mother, given how Richard ruined you you didn't let that deter you."

"I simply didn't let Richard define who I am, I created an even better version of myself for my daughter. Sometimes deep down I wish I can give her all she wants including a father. I don't ever want her to feel she is different from every other child," she paused weighing her words. "Sam is growing up now, and she is becoming a very intelligent girl who is becoming aware of her environment, what would I tell her if she see some of her mates with both parents and notices she only has a mother and great-grandmother with no male in her life. I would feel so helpless then because her father found it deemed to abandon her and her mother." She ended her words with a bitter taste in her mouth any time she talks about Richard's it stirred up emotions like anger she tried burying all these years.

"I don't know your ex-husband, but I wish you would get over his actions and move on, maybe find love again," She said noticing how Alison steeled her body, her face turning pure blank.

She moved further, wishing she could add more sense to Alison about her feelings for Leonardo. Just yesterday she met Mr Leonardo herself, she saw the love in his eyes for Alison and what she saw in Alison's was fear.

Fear of being hurt again or left, once she overcomes those fear, she is certain Alison would love again and only Leonardo can prove to her, he truly loves her and has no intentions of leaving her.

He just needs to prove to her his love is true and boom! Their love story is formed.

"Alison, learn to forget about the hurt in the past and maybe have hope or a change of mind now in the present. Just give yourself the chance to love again, not every man is like Richard and once you give yourself a chance to experience love again, you would also find someone ready to love you back as equally."

Alison tried so much to ensure Paige words were not affecting her, but they were at least in the real sense. They were bound to affect her, with her every word she kept on thinking back to Leonardo.

What if he is really serious about her? Should she give him a chance?

Would he also hurt her, or sincerely love her as he claims?

No, why is she having these thoughts, she doesn't even feel anything for Leonardo for her to want a real relationship with him. He is her freaking client, not only that he wasn't just her type.

Then what is your type then? Her sassy mind questioned.

Well, she can't answer that, she shook her head of any thoughts brewing about Leonardo, she resolved to stay clear from him physically but, her mind would let her stay a minute without thinking about him.

A familiar black sleek car arrived in front of them, that doesn't look like the Uber they ordered.

Surely, an Uber car can't look this cool, the car looks expensive, the tinted glass gleamed in the sunlight, while the car's surface sparkled endlessly in the sun, the driver's car door opened and Alison found herself thinking. What if it's Leonardo? This car looks very similar to the car he used the other day to drive her to the site.

Oh my God! She exclaimed inwardly, before he comes out of the driver seat, she would have to leave this place.

"Paige, I am sure this isn't the Uber you ordered," She asked wanting to confirm.

"Yes, but an Uber can't look this..."

"Oh my... Alison what if, it is Mr Adriano our client?"

"Then we must leave, come on let's go," she walked briskly away from the little stand, prompting Paige to follow hesitantly.

"Alison, what is wrong with you he might offer us a lift to the office," Paige said trying to get her to stop, she looked like she was going to start running very soon. Why was she avoiding Mr Leonardo?

"Alison!" Paige called getting Alison to stop, while she tried to catch her breath.

"Why are we running like criminals... And besides, the Uber is late and we are going to be late to the office." Alison walked back to her checking her wristwatch.

"We would take a taxi or use the public transport."

"What? No... I am not doing that, we might get lost we hardly know anywhere here."

"I am sure there is no way we would end up lost, there is something called GPS. Either that or I am going alone," Alison threatened.

"Good day, Ms Paige, Ms Alison," A man said interrupting their petty argument, lifting his hat off to greet them.

He bowed his head slightly to gesturize his greetings.

They stared at him in a quizzical manner

He looked familiar to Alison, but she can't recall, "Oh my Garrett, how are you it has been a long time since I set my eyes on you." Paige greeted responding to his greetings.

A smile of gratitude on her face, she seems to know him and he isn't acting like he just met them for the first time today.

Did she forget, he called them by their names? He called them by their names how could she forget that?

"Alison this is Garrett, he is the guy that drove us from the airport to the hotel," Paige said noticing her struggle in recalling him.

Recollecting she gave a smile, "Good day Garret, how may we help you," she said.

"I am to be your driver from now onwards, I would drive you anywhere you are to go to. You and your assistant." He muttered.

Alison passed a glance to Paige who seemed equally surprised as well.

"Erm... Why are you doing this? Don't worry about it we can always manage on our own."

"No Ms Alison, I have been ordered to do this, and I am at the risk of losing my job if I don't follow Mr Leonardo's orders. So please you have to come with me." He pleaded.

Hearing the name Leonardo made her ears tingle. Leonardo had this done due to his confrontation about her safety last night and now he is assigning her a driver.

She really wanted to have a word with him about this and express her displeasure but it might be his trap to lure her in to speak to him.

She promised herself to avoid him.

She just have to find another way to tackle this, she looked once at Garret pleading eyes, "Paige let's go with him, we are quite late."

She knew how wide the smile on Paige's face

was, "To be sincere I was ready to leave without you, at least Garrett is the one taking us in this beauty." She referred to the car, "And who am I to say no."

They both strolled into the car, with Garrett opening the door for them.

He closed it immediately they are settled in, and walked to the driver's door, got in and drove out of the hotel's premises.