chapter 4

[G-Eazy; Kehlani: Good Life] Alexa Three years later, "Ms. Johnson." I look up to see my secretary, Hera, come and stand in front of me. "Yes? Anything?" I said that and smiled at her. "Actually, you have a meeting now, and everyone is waiting for you." My eyes widen because I totally forgot about that meeting. "Oh god. How can I forget about it? Let's go now." I said to take my phone along with the file that was needed for the meeting. We walk out and go to the meeting room to see that everyone is here. "I'm sorry I'm late. Can we start now?" With that, the meeting starts. These days, I've been super busy, and I didn't even eat properly. I need to get some rest after all this. Well, as you know, I have my own boutique now. I started to open my own company, and now here I am. A fashion designer and I are really happy with it. I have almost five boutiques. One is in London, one in Milan, and the other three are in Los Angeles, where my dream began. I started my new life here with all the money I got from my part-time job, and now my income is already stable. I started this business just two years ago, and Thea was the one who helped me so much. Basically, both of us owned this boutique. I studied fashion and design back when I was in university, so I took that as an opportunity to start my own clothing line. It all started with a small shop, and then we got so many requests to open a boutique and all. Thea and I worked so hard to earn money to open our first boutique. We had lots of problems at first, but after a few months, it started to get better and better. All the hard work has really paid off. My life is starting to get much better. The meeting was about my new branch in Brooklyn, New York. The launch will be held in three days, and of course, I feel excited and a bit nervous. ***** The moment I open the door, my babies run towards me and hug my feet. Yup, you heard it right, my babies. I was pregnant with fraternal twins, Gabriel and Gabriella, and of course, that's the other happiness that happened in my life. Thea was the one who helped me through all this. I'm really glad that I have a best friend like her. Now, she's staying in Paris because she got a job there as an interior designer. It's been two years since she moved there, but we still contact each other and met some time ago. I told her to stay with me and work with me on expanding this business, but she told me that being an interior designer was her dream. So I need to let her go. It was hard at first because we needed to be away from each other after everything we'd been through, but I couldn't make her stay with me and not pursue her dreams. "Hello, my love." I hug both of them, then kiss their cheeks. I put my handbag on the table and walked to the living room with them. "So, tell me, what are you doing today?" I ask. "We eat." Gabriel and Gabriella said it in unison, and that makes me laugh because they're so cute. "That's it?" I look at both of them. "We play, sleep, and eat," Gabriel said, and then he grinned at me. Then Dolly, the nanny that I hired to take care of my babies, walked into the living room. "Oh, hey, Dolly," I said, and she sent me a smile. "Umm Ma'am. I haven't shaved them yet. May I take them and go shower?" She said. "If that's so, that's fine. Besides, I want to bring them to the playground. So if they take a shower now, they might need to take a shower again." I said, and then Gabriel and Gabriella followed in happiness. "Are you guys happy?" They both nodded their heads. "Dolly I'm going to change my clothes first. You get the kids ready." She nodded her head, and I made my way to my room too. I picked the casual outfit. I put my hair in a low bun, then walked out of my room. I waited for them in the living room, and a few minutes later, I heard their footsteps running down the stairs. "Mommy, let's go!" They said it in unison, and I walked to see them already standing at the door with an excited face. "Dolly, you can go home now. I can manage. Thank you for today." She nodded her head and took her bag to go home. ***** "Gabriel and Gabriella don't run. Oh gosh." I said this while shaking my head. They're so hyper. I look at Gabriel and Gabriella playing on the playground while sitting on one of the benches there. I smiled, looking at both of them. They're so cute. Gabriel has dark brown hair and brown eyes, while Gabriella has light brown hair and brown eyes too. They actually look a lot like him, and to be honest, I never forget about him at all. The memories of when he kicked me out like a stray dog I will never forget that incident. Just then, my phone rang. I take it out of my pocket and pick up the call. After a few minutes, I close my phone and look at the playground to see if Gabriel and Gabriella are okay. I look around, but they're not there. Suddenly, I feel so anxious and immediately get up from my seat and look for them. "Gabriel! Gabriella!" I shouted, but they're not there. I looked around the whole park but still couldn't find them. Suddenly, my tears came out without any warning. No, they can't be missing. I need to find them. God help me. I wipe my tears and look back at the playground. They're my life, and now they're not on this playground. Where are they? I look around the playground like crazy, and the tears keep rolling down my cheeks. Just then, I saw them at one of the tables near the playground eating ice cream. I run to them and see that they're eating ice cream peacefully. I take a deep breath of relief and sit next to Gabriella. I wipe my tears and look at them. "Where have you guys gone?" Huh? You know, you almost make me have a heart attack." I said that, and both of them just grin at me with their innocent faces. "Who gave you ice cream?" I ask. "Kind uncle," Gabriel said, continuing to eat his ice cream. "Kind uncle? Who's that? Why are you not telling me, Gabriel? What if he is a kidnapper? You might never see me again. What if he brought you both to some unknown places and then killed you? I might never see you both again. This is not safe for you both to follow some stranger, even if they get a bunch of candy or ice cream. You are not supposed to follow people you don't know. Do you guys hear me?" I said, and they both nodded their heads and were still eating that ice cream. I sigh. This is my fault too. I'm not supposed to look at my phone and let them play unattended. "No, mommy, he's good. Sowwy, mommy." Gabriella said to look at me with her kitten eyes. Gosh, this kid knows how to make my heart soft, but still, it makes me feel like I am a bad mom since I can't take care of them. "Fine, this time both of you have been forgiven, but next time don't follow some stranger ever again, alright? This is so dangerous. Hey, listen to me, it's dangerous." They nodded their heads. "After this, both of you take a shower," I said, looking at them. Both of them have ice cream all over their faces and shirts. We're now on our way home. It's not taking too long to arrive at home because the park is not that far; it just takes about 10 minutes by car. I take them out of the car and walk with them inside the house. "Now go to your room. Mommy will be there shortly," I said, and they walked upstairs. I get into my room and put my handbag and phone on the bed, then go to their room to get them clean. "Come here." I take off their clothes and half-fill the tub with water. I love giving them a bath because I can see how much fun they are having. "Mommy! Bubbles!" Gabriella said it excitedly. I let them play in that tub for a few minutes. I smiled, looking at them having fun. I can't imagine if both of them were not found today. I will regret it and put all the blame on myself forever. They are my life and the only family I have by blood. I need to be more alert when taking them out, or maybe I should just bring Dolly along. "Okay guys, come let mommy rinse you." I quickly finish bathing them and take them out of the tub. They might catch a cold if I let them stay longer in that. I wrapped the towel around them and let them walk out of the bathroom. Quickly make the pyjamas. "Mommy?" Gabriel, look at me. "Yes love?" "Hungry," I chuckle. "Mommy will make dinner for you after this. Come wear the clothes," I said. I walk downstairs after I change into new clothes. I cook our dinner, and when it's done, I call the twins to come down. "Sit first; I'll take your bib to prevent the food from falling on your PJs." They take their seats. I look at them eating, and they stuff the food all over their faces. I take a bite with them too. The time is nearly ten now. "Gabriel, Gabriella, let's go to bed now." I walk into the living room and switch off the television. I hold both of their hands and walk upstairs together. "You guys need a good sleep because tomorrow we're going to New York," I said when I set them on the bed. "Mommy, Can I ask?" Gabriel ask. "What is it, Gab?" I replied. "Where daddy? Kind uncle, is Daddy?" He asks, which makes me raise my eyebrows. "Why are you all of a sudden asking me that?" They never ask about Elijah, and this is the first time they do. "I want Daddy." Daddy, be kind and buy ice cream," Gabriella replies. "Ummm, yeah, your dad is a good person, and no, you're not going to meet that 'kind' uncle ever again. that's dangerous. We don't know him at all." I said that even though I don't want to say "good person," I need to talk nicely to these kids. I wish I could say that their father was the worst cheater, arrogant, stupid, jerk, manwhore, dickhead, and asshole I've ever met, but Gabriel and Gabriella were too young for that. "Now, stop talking about it and sleep. Sweet dream," I said, kissing their foreheads before walking out of the room. _____________________________________________