LUCKY GRACE

“It’s over.” He said with a stern voice. His face was emotionless despite the weight of his words. He stared at me blankly like a piece if paper left untouched on the table.

I felt like I wore a triple extra small dress as I felt myself slowly loose an air to breathe. I wanna faint! I wanna shout in disbelief and I wanna kill him right on his seat.

My fiancee has the guts to dump me? Really? He dumped me on our anniversary?

“You’re joking sweetheart. No need to pull out some stunt to do your surprise.” I uttered with a smile as I continue to eat my food.

“I’m not joking. You should know that.” he said as he pick up his fork and eat his food seriously.

I felt a sweat run through my spine despite the temperature in the restaurant where I book a table for our anniversary dinner. He seems really serious with his words and I’m starting to believe it. No! I’m getting convinced now.

I felt like I choke to death as I realize what’s happening. “I can’t breathe.” My head shouted. Pain strike me as tears suddenly fall down my cheeks. I wipe it as quick as I can so no one would notice especially the man causing it but I’m not as quick as I thought I am coz he saw it and it doesn’t change his demeanor.

Wow! He’s so cold and it hurts me so much realizing that my brother is right after all. He doesn’t love me for real.

“Why?” Is all I can utter looking at him intently in the eye while tears fall down my cheeks. I wipe it away coz honestly I started to hate myself for crying over him.

He put down his spoon and fork, wipe his lips with the napkin and stared back at me blankly without speaking a word but look down after a while.

“I’ll be unfair if we’ll continue this. I’m not the right man for you.”

Am I hearing it correctly? Unfair? I can’t believe this man. We’re engaged and yes it’s truly unfair?

“Did you really love me Aaron? I want an honest answer. Don’t dare lie to me!” I want to strangle him right at this very moment. He’s full of his god damn ego like he own the world.

“You want to know the truth? Fine! Maybe yes but I met someone and I love her more than you. Satisfied?”

“That simple? You’re dropping everything we had just because of that girl you meet? How about our plans? How about the marriage” I ask him though I felt like I was hanged upside down almost choking to death.

“I’m sorry Grace. I’m really sorry.” Is all he can say. I watch him call the waiter, took his card and give it to the waiter to settle our bill.

My hands were shaking as I grab the napkin on the table and hold it as tight as I can. I need something to hold on or I’ll break down. The waiter came back and hand over his card with the receipt.

“I’ll take you home.” I heard him but didn’t register.

I didn’t move even an inch. I stayed in my seat for a while until he got up and hold my left arm supporting me to stand but I didn’t follow. My eyes focused on my ring finger. I’m wearing the diamond ring he gave me six months ago when he asked my hand for marriage.

My hands were trembling but I gather all my remaining strength to take off the ring from my finger and put it on the table. He watch me as I pick up my wallet and walk straight out of the door without looking back.

I breath some air when I was out of the restaurant. I took my phone and called Russel to get me.

I want to cry all the pain out right there but I know I can’t stop it if I started it so I tried hard to contain myself while waiting for the car.

“Please let me take you home.” he was standing at my right, just a few inches away.

“I can manage to go home alone.” I don’t want to look at him.

“You’ll understand soon why this happened Grace.”

“Don’t expect me to understand your decision and I don’t want to see your face ever again!” He knows I mean everything I said.

Russel saved me when he parked the black SUV in front of the restaurant. He went out of the car to open the passenger door for me which I took as a refuge. He give Aaron a look full of anger but Aaron focused on me.

I know Aaron is watching me left without taking even a single glance at him. I don’t want to see him nor hear his voice ever again.

I pour out all the tears I’m holding up inside as soon as we left the resto. I don’t care if Russel see me in that state. I just need to pour it out or else I feel like I’ll explode.

He’s just silently driving to somewhere I don’t know. I know we’re not going home with the look of the road we are taking and I trust him enough to take me to a place I know he thinks is where I should be at this very state. He’s been my companion since mom died when I was thirteen and Dad was busy with the business.

He slowed down on 5th street where I face an ice cream store. The signage says “Coolers” and I slowly realize that it’s my favorite ice cream store where mom used to treat me after a long day in school. I’m still silent at the backseat while he is not saying a word too.

“Is this really what I need right now?” I asked. He nodded without looking at me. I know he knows what’s best for me aside from mom and dad.

I compose myself and went out of the car when Russel opened the door for me.

“Please...” I pleaded and he nod as he guide me inside the shop. Russel knows me well enough to understand my gestures and even a single word I say.

He is the younger version of my dad. Silently strict but I know he loves me so much like my parents do.

He let me settled on a table at the left corner of the shop where less customers were around. I felt a bit relax now as I enjoy the smell of ice cream inside the shop. Death by chocolate is really the death of me. I can’t let the day pass without any amount of chocolate as my energizer.

I look around and find young couples and a group of friends enjoying their ice cream cup. They seemed to be happy with their lives while I am at the point of suicide right now with all the pain I felt inside.

I love Aaron and I once dreamt to be his wife someday but all of those dreams were fading now. I know it won’t happen ever even in my dreams. He seemed to be really into that woman whom he said he fall in love with that he even throw everything that we had together. Everything that we planned together and everything that he promised me.

“You’ll regret one day for causing me all this pain Aaron.” I told myself with clenched jaw as I watch Russel coming with our order.

“We must be home in 20 minutes. Your dad called.” He said as he settled opposite to me and hand in my ice cream.

“Then you got a race challenge. Win this time Russ.” As I start to dig in my cup with a big smile.

Russel started to eat as fast as he could. He always loose every time we do this. He got a bad tooth and can’t bear cold food. That’s my advantage but he never complain every time I do this to him. He just want to make me happy and that’s why I adore this man so much.

Just like the past race, I win over Russel and he ended on the passenger seat of the car when I claim my price of driving the car home. I can’t drive on my own. That’s a strict rule of my father when my mom died in a car accident. He was traumatized and never allowed me to drive on my own even if I’m 28 now.

I felt better after having ice cream with Russel and even better when I set foot on the wheel. But still I didn’t forget what Aaron just did tonight.

I stop the car a few meters away from our gate and we change seat. I can’t be caught driving or else Russel and I will be both grounded.

“Feeling better?” He asked as he drove the car the moment I settled on my seat beside him.

“Better needs a lot of effort. But I’m good. Thanks to you Russ.”

He didn’t say a word after he heard my answer. He beep twice and the gates opened for us. Lander gives a salute to Russ when we passed by him at the gate.

Lander is my Dad’s personal driver. Energetic, trustworthy and reliable. He is always careful while driving coz he knows how particular my father when it comes to safety.

I wonder why we have to hurry home. I haven’t asked Russel when he told me. Anyway, I don’t have time to ask him why coz Dad’s waiting for us at the door. Something’s happening.

“Russ, what’s happening?” I ask Russel which he answered with silence. He’s out of the car and went to my side and opened the door for me.

“Don’t worry, everything’s fine.” He said before I went out of the car. He knows I can’t bear another shocking and painful news tonight after Aaron.

“Hi Dad!” I greeted my father which he answered with a hug.

“Russel said we should be home immediately. Why is that?” I ask.

“I have something important to tell you sweetheart.”

“Important? You’re getting married?”

“No. I’m married. How can I get married again?”

“Dad, mom’s going to understand if you wanna settle down again with Aunt Cristy. She wants you to be happy.”

“I know sweetie but you know I’m not going to marry again. Cristy and I were happy together even if we’re not married.”

“Then what is that important matter that you wanna tell me Dad?”

“Let’s talk inside sweetheart. Come on.” He lead me inside the house with his arm around my shoulders. I felt uneasy with what he is going to tell me.

He lead me to his office at the right wing of the house. It is his library which he uses as an office while he is working at home. My father is my role model when it comes to his love and dedication for his work.

He manage our business for 28 years since he took over the business which my grandfather started. We are into construction and hotel business. My father managed the business very well after he graduated and became a licensed civil engineer and had a masters in business at New York University.

He joined the company and made it flourish with ten branches in different cities. I always told myself I can’t follow the footsteps of my father being the CEO at the age of twenty eight and the President at the age of thirty two.

He personally handle the two companies as the President and trained us to lead. He had a handful of every duties to manage it especially when mom died.

“What is it that you wanna tell me Dad?” I dare to ask when I settled myself on one of the chairs in front of his working table.

“Hope you had a great evening sweetheart.” He seems to read what’s written all over my face.

“Is it trouble you see?” I ask sadly which in fact I know the answer.

“Yes it is. And I hope I am on the right timing to ask a favor sweetheart.”

“Anything Dad. As long as I can.” I gleefully answered making myself happy despite the heartbreaking encounter I had a while ago with Aaron.

“I want you to be the next CEO of 4G Hotels.”

I was shocked with what I just heard. I didn’t expect that. I finished Business Management and had my masters degree but didn’t expect I’ll be a CEO at this age. I know Dad became a CEO at the same age but he’s best at what he do.

“Why? How about Aunt Claire?”

“She’s leaving for the Philippines. She needs to be there for some important matters.”

“Are you sure you want me to take over Dad?”

“Why did you ask that? Don’t you believe in your abilities sweetheart? You’ll be a great CEO.”

“Why me Dad?”

“And why not?”

“You can ask Gregory.” I know he’s the only other option since Grunt is a doctor and Gustav is a lawyer and doing free service for those who are incapable of paying a lawyer for themselves.

“Greg will be handling 4G Steel and you know he’s planning to settle down. We can’t have all his time like before.”

“Can I do it Dad?” I still hesitated.

“Of course sweetheart. Being with me for almost 6 years is enough for you to manage the business. I know you can do it.”

“Oh my God Dad. I still can’t believe this.” I breathe deeply fanning myself with my right hand. That’s what I do when I’m nervous.

“You can do it. Believe me. You’ll do great sweetie.” He assured me and give me a hug as he tap my back to make me feel relaxed.

This is real. This is really happening. I guess I have all the luck in one night. A great heartbreak and a shocking news with a very challenging role in the coming days, or shall I say “day”.

“Tomorrow, you’ll be the new CEO. Better sleep tight tonight and tomorrow you’ll be sitting in your new office.”

“Tomorrow Dad? Immediately?”