Chapter 2

• SHE worked as a receptionist in the day and bartender at night to keep the 2 bedroom apartment they live in running. They had just moved into this house after selling the bungalow Mr Austin built before he retired from his position as a project manager in a construction company.
• Two months working as a bartender while still at The Red Roof Hotel, she was able to raise funds for her father's operation. He had been living with cancer and Arthritis which made him retire from his job even before the given time.
• Appointments had been made. It was a 4 hour drive from Ohio coupled with traffic, Roseline and her father arrived at the surgical center in Burlington Vermont. With her father checked in and moved to the theater.
• Roseline sat at the vestibule, closed her eyes to say a short prayer. But broke down in tears at the thought of her late mother, she never asked for such a life, being a breadwinner at 23, she had been holding it all together, with her sister Susan far away from home.
• No one knows if she was dead or alive. Her mother died from the same cancer even after getting one of her breasts cut off. She had turned down so many proposals because she worried her dad would die if she ever left him alone.
• She opened her eyes to a young man seated next to her. She adjusted a bit, but the man, unfazed by her demeanor, reached out to shake hands. “Hello, I'm Damian and you? “Just call me Rose ''
• she murmured, feigning a weak smile just so he can let her be. Not minding the grief written all over her. Damain stood his ground (his hand out for a shake). Seeing that the young man would not accept no, Roseline was forced to give in.
• He came with his mom to see a friend who had a car accident although he never wanted to, but was compelled so as to preserve their business relationship with the other family. He gestured to his mother who was speaking with the partner’s relatives. "That's my mum". " Must be nice, she scoffed, " I lost mine already.
• The whole time, Damian eyes was focused on Roseline, being the only son of the famous Shaun Cody (founder of the Codykuch group of companies), he had girls at his disposal but it seemed He’ve never seen such a beauty not even in Plattsburgh NY. Roseline coughed to break the silence as he was still holding her hand while lost in his imagination. He smiled, flaunting his neat strong gums with white teeth.
• “I'm here with my dad, he's in theater as we speak, undergoing a surgery. Sorry I'm not really in a good mood”. Roseline said. “I'm sorry about your dad, he will be fine but you do need rest, you look stressed. You can spend the day at my house in Burlington, I would make sure you are comfortable”. He added. Roseline nodded.
• If only the walls of the bathroom could speak, it would have shared a lot . She never thought she would meet a man in Burlington not to talk of going home with him. But here she is, in Damian’s mansion having the best time of her entire life she forgot to go back to the hospital to check her dad.
• It was a get together party sponsored by the state to promote capitalism. Invitations specially sent to the top companies in the town, Shaun Cody's wasn't left out.
• Roseline wore a black jumpsuit with lace splicing all over to match Damain’s white dress pants, as he instructed.
• Exchange of pleasantries could be held as the hall was filled with exquisite taste, the chairman had called Shaun Cody to the podium and Damian went up to represent with Rose tagging along.
• That was when Rey saw Rose, he has been trying to contact her since he got back to town and all his trails were futile because she was more like a prisoner and can't be seen outside alone. He had followed his father to the party as he heard Shaun Cody's family would come, hoping to see her and luckily his dream was a reality.
• He couldn't hold his excitement when he saw her, although she had changed, he remembered her. Flash of memories filled his mind. They dated for 2 years, he was all about her and so was she, he promised to marry her, he had what it takes then. They were going to make a wonderful couple, and have beautiful kids that would bear her sunny eyes.
• He had closed from work one evening and was walking to his car in the garage when 2 men attacked him. He tried to raise an alarm but they overpowered and muffled him and sacked him up. They drove him to an abandoned building on the 3rd floor, and when he could hold his vision, he saw a tall handsome man seated with a few men standing behind him.
• The man he saw was too good looking to be a nuisance, he knew for sure that the young man was of class but why had he abducted him? Just before he could ask one of the million questions running through his head, the young man brought out a photograph and held it out to his face, it was Rose.
• He warned him to leave her alone. He had plans for her and threatened to kill him if he didn't. Rey didn't want to scare Rose so he didn't tell her about the incident and the numerous threats he kept getting after that day.
• Unfortunately, the young man meant his words and came back but this time he came alone. He has asked Rey for a friendly discussion which he agreed to, after a while of hesitation Rey entered the man’s tinted black SUV as he didn’t want to be presumed scared.
• He was ready to fight it out if that's what the man wanted and they drove off.