Chapter 4 She's A Ghost

• CRISTIAN
• The knock on the door snapped me out of my funk. I glanced back as the door opened. It was my secretary.
• “Sorry to disturb you, Sir, but Mr. Joe just arrived.”
• “Send him in.”
• She bowed and left. Seconds later, Joe, my best friend stepped inside.
• “Hey man,” I greeted with all my gloominess and went to sit on my chair.
• He chuckled. “Why do you look like you got hit by a fucking truck?”
• “Wasn't I hit by a truck?” I retorted with an exhausted sigh. Hit. Slapped. Stolen from. Abandoned. By a damn sexy truck.
• “She can't be that big of a deal. Also, I'm beginning to think she's a fucking ghost.” He said, settling into one of my leather seats.
• My anxiety increased. “Why?”
• “Because no one knows her whereabouts, man. The private investigator got nothing. I had some of my friends crash some nightclubs in the city and still found nothing about her. It doesn't help that we don't have a fucking picture of her.”
• “Those people in that nightclub where I picked her from. What did they say?”
• “They don't know anything about her. Turns out she's some part-time worker who comes and goes as she pleases.”
• “They don't know anything?” I sounded like a broken teenager. “Not even her name?”
• “Right. Uh, Nina. That's what they know her for. But man, let's be fucking honest. A bitch who disappears as she does wouldn't give them her real name.”
• He's right. But I couldn't help but hold on to the one thing I know about her aside from her face and body. Nina.
• Nina.
• A fucking sexy dancer who gave me one hell of an erotic night and disappeared with my cash, watch, and necklace. All of that cost nearly a billion.
• Now I want them back. But most importantly, I wanna see her again. For all the fucking wrong reasons.
• She did something to me that night. She unlocked a side of me I never thought I had. A rude, possessive side.
• I swear to God, I'm a very principled gentleman. But that night, I was far from that. Something about all the men in the room ogling her turned me into some possessive beast.
• And I knew I had to have her. At all costs. And I did. But God, I'm struggling to move on. She's stuck in my head. I can't breathe past the thoughts of her. It's agonizing. I need her to undo whatever spell she cast on me that night.
• I need her…God, I fucking need her. Again. One more time. Just to feel sane again.
• “But you know what's funny? Your luck, man. You've got such dirty luck.” Joe was laughing now.
• “What do you mean?”
• “Well, you've never had any bitch since Emily passed away. You've been fucking celibate and the one time you try to have some fun, you end up with a bloody femme fatale.”
• “Tell me about it.” I groaned, throwing my head back. It's been a week of endless thoughts, anger, and regrets. It's beginning to give me a migraine.
• “How about we go out tonight? Get a drink. And you shake off this depressed aura you've got.”
• “No, thanks. My daughter's coming home. I need to be there waiting for her.”
• “Aaliyah? It's been a while since I last saw her. She didn't come home last Christmas.”
• “No, she didn't. She took pity on me and decided to come home this year. I was truly looking forward to having ample father-daughter time with her. But then she had to ruin it by telling me she's coming with a friend. Now I don't feel so excited anymore.”
• “What friend?”
• “I don't know. Some roommate of hers.” I rubbed my weary eyes. “But it's cool. I guess I'll have to put up with the extra guest.”
• “Do you want me there too? I could keep the extra guest company.” He gave a slimy smile.
• “You're a disgusting perv. The kid should be 22. That's almost twice your age. Get a fucking grip.” I said, standing up and grabbing my coat.
• He stood, laughing behind me as I left my office. “C'mon, man. I was kidding. Loosen up.”
• “We both know you weren't kidding. But then again, I don't think the kid will be interested. Alliyah said she's shy and reserved. Definitely not your type.” I pressed the elevator button. He likes them wild and bold.
• “Nah. Definitely not.” Joe scoffed with a disgusted face. “But I still wanna come see Aaliyah. It's been so fucking long.”
• “Sure. You can come. I bet Aaliyah would be excited to see you too.”
• “She definitely will be.”
• We stepped into the elevator, and I took the time to give myself some prep talk.
• I haven't seen my daughter for almost a year. I should look like a happy Daddy when I see her in a few minutes. And that can only be possible if I say goodbye to the thoughts of the little witch who stole from me.
• It's impossible to forget her. But for today and the rest of the days my daughter stays for holidays, I'm gonna try not to think about her…much.