Everything was bright and everything was sore.

My throat was drier than a desert.

I struggled to open my eyes, but I managed to after some time. I was well aware of the beeping around me, and I looked around the room and found my best friend asleep in one of the chairs, making me wonder just how long she'd been sitting there.

I reached for the button on the side of my bed and a nurse came rushing in seconds later. Her entry woke Lana up as she came over to check on me. She handed me a glass of water, before leaving to get my doctor. I faced my best friend and was worried when I saw tears in her eyes.

"Hey, what's wrong?" I asked.

Besides the fact that I'm in a hospital bed.

"Don't ever do that to me again! You're a moron, but you're my moron to kill ok?" she said, wiping away her tears.

I frowned. "What happened?"

"We thought your heart stopped beating because you had such a low pulse. Ingrid and I arrived just as you went down and we immediately drove you here because we figured an ambulance would take too long. We got here in four minutes and they were able to jumpstart your heart. From the tests they performed, it turns out you might've been right about being drugged, except you were poisoned too. They found traces of ecstasy, weed, heroine and they're still running a test on the poison they extracted from your blood. I know that the last time we spoke, you weren't really clear on this, but can you remember anything from that night Cuba? It's really important," she told me.

I was about to tell her that I still couldn't remember anything, when the doctor walked in. He introduced himself and told me everything that Lana had just told me. He further went on to tell me that my blood had been sent to the labs for extensive testing since the hospital couldn't quite pinpoint anything.

The whole thing seemed unreal to me, until I realized that someone actually tried to kill me. "How long have I been here for?"

"Three days," they informed me.

"My grandfather," I whispered.

"What?" Lana asked

"I will come back later," the doctor said before leaving.

"I called him, the day I passed out. I told him I was coming," I told her.

"Cuba..." she trailed off.

"When can I leave?" I asked.

"Cuba, you're still too weak. You almost died," she reminded.

"My grandfather is dying! He's holding on just for me!" I shouted, making the beeping accelerate.

A nurse rushed in and did something that knocked me out. I woke up again hours later, and this time Lana and Ingrid were in the room talking quietly. My muscles were still sore, but I needed to get out of here. I needed to go to Paris and see my grandfather.

"Whoa, whoa, whoa! Where are you going?" Ingrid asked as I pulled the needle out of my arm.

"I need to get out of here," I told her.

Lana sighed. "Cuba, you're too weak to do anything. If they see you trying to leave on your own, they'll have you admitted as a danger to yourself. Let us figure out a way to get you out of here as quickly as we can. I promise that we're trying to come up with a solid plan."

"Where's my phone?" I asked.

Ingrid handed it to me. "It died, so we charged it for you, but we couldn't switch it on."

"I know," I said before switching it on.

My phone has sensitive information on it, so I had it tweaked to ensure that I would be the only person able to switch it on, let alone work it. I switched it on before it was flooded with messages. By the looks of things, Ingrid tried to keep my hospitalization under the wraps as much as she could, but even I understood that there's only so much she can do.

I had a whole lot of missed calls from Paris, and I ignored all the other messages and instead went to the voicemails from my grandfather's home phone. My heart sunk as I went to click the first message I received from it. I waited for a few seconds before the message started.

It was the angelic voice.

"Hi Cuba. My name is London and I've been looking after your grandfather for a little over a month now. We spoke briefly on the phone yesterday. Today his nurse came through and she's made me aware that he unfortunately doesn't have much time left. He'll be lucky if he makes it to the end of the week. Please come as soon as you can."

Just her first message had dread settling in me as I played the rest of the messages.

"Hi Cuba, it's me again. I'm not sure if you received my first message, so I'm trying you again. Your grandfather is very weak and doesn't have a lot of time. Please try and come as quickly as you can. Thanks."

"Hi Cuba, it's London again. Please check my other messages."

"Hi Cuba, it's me again. I'm getting a little worried here. Your grandfather mentioned that you were coming, and based on everything he's told me about you, I'm guessing that it was a big step for you to make that decision, so I'm wondering if you're ok. Please just send some signal to show that you're receiving these messages."

"Hi Cuba, it's London. I really don't want to come across as a pest, but I really am worried that you won't make it in time. I'm also worried that something might've happened to you, and that will kill him quicker, so please get back to me as soon as you can."

"Hi Cuba. I'm sure you know who it is by now, if you're even receiving these messages. Today was a bit touch and go and there were moments when I was sure we were losing him. I really wish you were here. The pain in his eyes every time I tell him that you haven't arrived yet, breaks my heart. I'd like to believe that you really wanted to be here, so I'm praying that you're at least ok where you are."

"Hi Cuba. So my parents arrived earlier today and they're sitting with him now as we speak. They're old friends of his, and they've asked me to try you again, though they really didn't even need to ask. I was going to anyway. You know why I'm calling, and honestly at this point in time, I don't even think you're getting my messages at all, and that breaks my heart because I don't know how you'll be feeling when you finally do. Call me."

There were two last messages, and I just knew that bad news was coming.

When she sniffed, tears rushed to my eyes. "Hi Cuba. So last night, your grandfather passed away. I don't even know what to say to you. I've been crying for hours and everyone has gone to bed and I'm just sitting here thinking about you. I can just feel it in my gut that you're not ok where you are, and I pray that you make it through whatever it is going on with you. Your grandfather loved you so much, and there's nothing more that he wanted to do than you show you just how much he loved you. He wanted to see you one more time and make up for the words he said to you the last time he saw you. I'm crying because an amazing man has died, but I'm also crying because you guys never got to see each other. It's so weird because it feels like you're my family too, and I've never even met you. Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that he passed, and I'm so sorry Cuba, I really am. I tried my best to take care of him. I hope you believe that much."

The tears were freely flowing from my eyes as I clicked on the last message, which started similarly to the last. "Hey. It's me again. I know you couldn't make it in time to see him for whatever reason, and he asked Francois, his lawyer, to ask me to arrange the funeral. I've decided to make it three days from today to give you enough time to at least make it to the funeral. A part of me hopes you'll have received my messages by then, so I'm crossing fingers. Ok, bye."

"Cuba," Lana said softly as my phone fell into my lap, and that's all it took for me to break down.

She embraced me, letting me cry into her chest as I let it all out. When I lost my parents and grandmother, I was shattered, but my grandfather's death threatened to be the end of me, especially since I wasn't even able to see him before he died.

I felt hot rage searing through my veins as I thought about why I missed the funeral to begin with. I went out and was drugged and poisoned, all because I refused to listen to Lana. If I'd listened to her, I would've been out of this place and would've been able to spend time with my grandfather.

We could've spent his last moments together.

My only comfort was that he died being taken care of by a caring person. I don't have to meet her to know that London is a wonderful person. She clearly cared greatly not only for my grandfather, but for me as well.

And she doesn't even know me.

"I'm so sorry Cuba," Ingrid said lowly.

"What are the rumours about that night?" I asked, my voice coarse.

"Are you sure you want to know?" she asked.

I nodded. "I need to know what was so great that I missed going to see my grandfather before he died."

"Well, it's been reported that you were beyond outrageous. You were seen performing multiple dares, making out with multiple women, you paid for everyone's drinks in the club and it's rumoured that you were trafficking drugs. The feds are looking into it, but so far they have nothing that sticks, and with Emile having disappeared, they don't have a starting point. Everyone sort of knows that you're never the one who arranges the nights out, so they're looking into him before coming for you," she explained.

"Am I allowed to leave the country?" I asked.

She nodded. "Since they haven't come to arrest you or anything of the sort, nothing holds you here, so I'm pretty sure you're free to go. If anything happens, I'll have them talk to me about it."

"I want to get a PI to investigate the events of that night for me. I need to know what happened. Someone tried to kill me and I have to find out why," I told them.

"I'll have someone on it within the hour," Ingrid said, to which I nodded thankfully.

"When did he pass?" Lana asked.

I checked my phone. "According to this voicemail, he passed yesterday. London says she's going to have the funeral in two days, and I know I won't make it, but I need to go Paris still. I need to find peace."

"Who's London?" they asked.

"According to one of her voicemails, she's the woman who's been taking care of my grandfather. Her parents are old friends of his, so I'm guessing that's how they know each other. I spoke to her briefly when I called him to tell him that I was coming. The thought that he died with a broken heart, it just..." I trailed off, a lump in my throat.

"Shh, rest Cuba. Ingrid will arrange that PI for you while I go and try and get you out of here as soon as possible. I'm going to call my father and arrange a jet for us and we'll fly out as soon as you're discharged, ok?" Lana told me.

I felt like a little boy as I nodded, but I didn't care because she was taking care of me. If anything, in that moment, I felt like she was the closest thing to family I had left. All my other relatives are too far and I don't have much of a relationship with them anyway.

I fell asleep to my best friend singing me a lullaby, and I dreamt of my parents and grandparents. My parents didn't say anything in the dream, but my grandparents did. Much like he had over the phone, my grandfather told me that he loves me, while my grandmother told me that it's time for me to settle down.

Except who'll settle down with someone like me?

"So, I managed to get the doctor to discharge you, but the condition is that Ingrid and I travel with you to Paris and that we take care of you. We're supposed to keep watch over your temperature, and you're not allowed to strain yourself," Lana told me hours later.

I nodded. "When can we leave?"

"We're just waiting for Ingrid to come back from the office. She's going to pass by your place and get you some clothes too," she replied.

"Thank you Lana, for everything," I told her honestly.

"You're most welcome peanut. You know I'm only looking out for my idiotic brother," she teased, making me smile.

"Has Sofia been here?" I asked curiously.

She shook her head. "Last I heard she was shopping up a storm in Milan."

"I don't have a single message from her, so I found it strange. What about Emile? What's the story with him?" I asked.

"Like Ingrid said, he's disappeared. He didn't try to call you, so I don't know if he's even aware that you're here, though it's in the news so he should. Anyway, it doesn't matter because it's better this way," she pointed out.

I nodded, even if I wasn't fully in agreement. Emile may not be the best kind of human, but he's still my best friend. He's rough around the edges, and not everyone can handle him, but we've been through some crazy things together.

Not all of them were bad either.

Ingrid finally arrived and Lana went to get me checked out. They'd arranged for me to leave using the staff entrance at the side of the hospital to avoid the press. My muscles were still sore, but I was given medication and I could at least stand on my own two feet.

"How are things at the company? Who's in charge?" I asked. We were on board the jet and it was about to take off.

"Nate is back, so he's in charge. Ian wasn't too happy about that bit," Lana informed.

I frowned. "When did Nate get back?"

"Two days ago. It looks like the time away did him some good," Ingrid replied.

Nate is my other male best friend. He lost his wife in a club shooting a year ago, and he disappeared without telling anyone. He sent word six months later to say that he was fine, but he didn't share his location. He's my Deputy CEO, a spot I refused to fill in his absence.

"Is he even clued up on everything?" I asked.

Lana nodded. "Heather sat and went through everything with him, though it turns out he never really stopped working."

"What do you mean?" I questioned.

"About two thirds of the deals you've clinched in the last three months are also because of his help. He was in communication with the investors the whole time," she explained.

Realization dawned on me. "He just did want to be around the people that reminded him of his old life."

"It makes sense, and it's something I truly wish you'd follow. The clubbing life gets old Cuba, and it's time for you to man up and take responsibility of your life," she added.

I sighed. "Can I just make it through this trip before you lecture me about anything? It's bad enough that I never got to see my grandfather before he died. Can I just be allowed to mourn?"

"You can mourn, but just remember the man he wanted you to be," she said before we were overcome by silence.

Ingrid hadn't said anything, leaving us to argue, so when the silence settled on us, it was welcomed. After a while, the silence became unbearable for me, and I wasn't tired. We'd just taken off, and both Lana and Ingrid were lost in their work, leaving me to think.

I found comfort in the last place I thought possible- London's voicemails. There's just something about the woman, even if I haven't met her. Her voice and words brought me some peace as I closed my eyes, listening and playing the recordings over and over.

I couldn't help but wonder if she would still be in Paris by the time we arrived. I'd like to meet her and thank her for everything in person. I don't know why she chose to take care of my grandfather since I know for a fact that he had a nurse, but I was grateful to her.

Feeling like I was drowning in my thoughts, I decided to stop the voicemails and instead attend to my emails. There were plenty, but the one that surprised me was from Nate. It was sent to everyone in the company, as well as to our board members and investors.

The message was to alert everyone of his official return as well as my grandfather's passing. There was a moving piece attached to it about my grandfather, and the email further states that I wouldn't be around for a while as I was dealing with this heavy family matter.

There's nothing I appreciate like people who think ahead.

"Hey Ingrid," I called her. Lana was fast asleep beside her.

"Hmm?" she replied, looking up from her screen.

"I want to change. I don't want to be the man I've been for the past ten years. I want to make my grandfather and Lana proud. How do I do that?" I asked her.

She looked surprised, before clearing her throat. "Uhm, well like you said, let's get this trip out of the way first. As soon as you've gotten your closure, we'll fly back to the States and start working on your new image. With how badly ruined it is, we'll start you off with simple things like changing your lifestyle. You'll start by changing your diet as well as your working out routine. You'll want to be seen more in public doing normal things rather than partying up a storm. We'll set you up with a budget so that your spending is limited, and I'd advise that you live in your grandfather's house permanently. You'll al-"

"Hold on, that's a lot," I admitted.

She smiled. "We'll take it one step at a time. I'm just proud that you're willing to finally change."

"I think I need to more for myself than anyone else. I can't live this life and expect to get anywhere. Besides, I'm not happy and everyone wants to be happy right?" I argued.

"That's true. How are you going to handle having to give up the alcohol and drugs though? Do you want to check into a rehab centre?" she asked.

I shook my head. "I have to find a way to deal with it without professional help. Can you imagine what checking into rehab would do to my image?"

"It could show people that you're serious about change, especially the board members," she argued.

"Or it could just show that they were right all along, and give them a reason to get me out of that chair faster," I countered.

She scowled. "Huh! I didn't think of it that way."

"I just need to show change in other ways. I'm sure we'll be able to come up with something," I said.

"I'll work on it. Right now, you just worry about mourning your grandfather ok?" she said with a small smile.

"Thank you for putting up with me over the years," I told her.

"You're welcome. Besides, if I hadn't, I wouldn't have met the love of my life," she said, looking over at Lana lovingly.

The two of them met at my grandfather's house. Ingrid had come to shout at me about a PR nightmare that I'd caused for her, which is coincidentally what Lana came to shout at me for. The two of them didn't even notice each other until I asked them if they were done scolding me.

It was love at first sight from that point on.

That's also when I learned the real reason why my best friend was never interested in sleeping with me- because she's a lesbian. I have nothing against lesbians, so they have my full support. They've only been together for a little over two months, and yet they're sure of each other being soul mates.

I often look at them, wishing I had someone to love me like that. Everyone wishes they had love, whether or not they admit it out loud. I've always secretly wished for it, but I've also never felt deserving of it.

I mean, I'm such a shitty person already, and it takes a lot to clearly put up with me, so why would I expect some poor woman out there to put up with that? Also, what would I have to give her in return?

I have never been in love, therefore I don't think I know what would be expected of me.

By the time we landed, it was early evening of the day my grandfather's funeral was held. It wasn't hard to guess that I'd missed the funeral. There was a driver waiting for us. We got into the car and headed to a hotel.

"Alright, so before we do anything, we need to get you fed because you have to take your meds," Lana told me. We'd just checked in.

"Can't I just take them without eating? I'm not really in the mood to eat anything right now," I admitted.

"You have to eat something Cuba. It's dangerous taking the pills without eating, and do you really want to disrupt your already fragile system?" she pointed out.

"Ok, fine, I'll eat!" I snapped.

She sighed. "I'll order something light for you. I promise."

She kissed my forehead before she and Ingrid headed out to get us the food. I walked over to the window to stare at the light night sky. It was sprinkled with stars, and the clouds were an array of colours.

It was almost peaceful.

Lana and Ingrid returned minutes later with the food and we all ate in silence. I think they didn't know what to say to me, and I didn't blame them, especially since I wasn't in the mood to talk. Once we were done, they decided to call it a night, leaving me alone.

After three hours, I realized that I was being slowly suffocated by the silence, so I decided to head out. The hotel is close to where my grandfather lived, and I found myself walking in that direction. I didn't even know if anyone would be there.

If London would be there.

A part of me was hoping that she was, while the other was hoping otherwise. While I was curious about her, I also realized that meeting her may go horribly wrong and she may think of me as a terrible person. I don't even know what my grandfather told her about me.

The way he viewed me before moving here is enough to make anyone wary of me.

I arrived at the gate of my grandfather's house and all the lights were out. I didn't know whether to head in or not, so I stood outside for the longest time, just debating with myself. To onlookers, I must've either looked like a creep or a lost man.

"Cuba?" I heard someone call. I looked back to find an older woman staring back at me.

"Uh, hi," I replied.

I was surprised when she ambushed me in a hug. "I'm so sorry for your loss son. How come you're only coming now? London tried to reach you so many times."

"London? You've met her?" I asked.

She nodded. "She put together a beautiful funeral for your grandfather, and she cried more than all of us combined. She loved your grandfather dearly. She did so much to make sure that he died in peace. The last time I spoke to him, he told me that she was his heaven sent sunshine."

"I was hospitalized before I had the opportunity to come. I'd called to say I was coming, but I was drugged and poisoned, and now I'll never get to talk to him again," I said, tears rolling down my eyes.

"Oh, you poor child," she said before hugging me.

I cried onto her shoulder. I didn't even know who she was, but she comforted me without so much as a second thought. She finally informed me that she was my grandfather's neighbour and she invited me over to her house for tea, and I accepted the invitation.

"I can't believe someone tried to kill you. What did you do?" she asked.

I shrugged. "People generally can't stand me, so who knows?"

"That can't be true. Do they know who you really are?" she questioned as she handed me my cup of tea.

"Besides my best friends, I haven't met anyone worth showing my truest self to," I confessed.

"Your grandfather told me that he doesn't know if you'll ever allow yourself to love. He wanted to set you up with London, but I advised him against it. You should be allowed to choose who you want to be with," she said.

I couldn't agree more. "Can you tell me more about her? London I mean."

"Of course. Let's see, she's gorgeous, she's intelligent, she's kind, she's caring, she's witty and she's an all round bubbly person. I've only spoken to her a couple of times when I'd check up on your grandfather, but she's an amazing young woman for sure," she informed.

"Do you know if she's left yet?" I asked.

"She hasn't. Right now she's gone out with my niece Anastasia. Your grandfather requested that she enjoy her last night in Paris and not spend the night mourning him before going back home," she informed.

"Where is she from?" I questioned.

"Johannesburg, South Africa," she replied.

That's unexpected.

I learnt more about my grandfather's last few days before deciding to call it a night. I thanked Mrs Felucca for her company before heading back out into the streets. I didn't head back to the hotel and instead headed towards a strip of restaurants.

I was walking past one of the five star restaurants and watched as a beautiful woman waved off a woman and a man as they said something to her. I would've walked on, had it not been for the sad look on her face once they were gone.

I don't know why I felt compelled to go up to her.

"Is this seat taken?" I asked cheesily.

She laughed a little. "You can sit."

"Thanks. You looked like you could use the company," I said, sitting.

"My friend just abandoned me for her boyfriend, so you could say so," she replied.

"But that's not the reason for your sadness," I noted.

She shook her head. "No it isn't. I was hoping she'd make me forget that I was sad though."

"Have you already eaten?" I asked.

"Yes. I just need to pay the bill. Why?" she asked.

"How about we get out of here and go and be sad together?" I offered.

"You're sad too?" she asked, standing up.

"Yeah. I've had a rough couple of days," I replied.

"Well, as terrible as that line was, I accept your offer, and only because I have nothing better to do," she said.

I placed a hand to my chest. "You wound me."

She laughed and headed over to pay the bill, while I stood there thinking about just how insanely beautiful she is. She looks even more so when she laughs. She was dressed in a white dress that fit her to perfection, as well as silver heels that highlighted her stunning legs.

I didn't even know where we were going, but she didn't mind just aimlessly walking. We talked about different things, and she made me laugh more than I ever have in my life. Conversation was just so easy with her, and I was completely myself while talking to her.

We arrived at the Eiffel Tower around midnight, and there were fireworks being displayed. It looked like someone had just gotten engaged. She shivered a little and I took off my jacket and placed it around her. Before I knew it, I was getting lost in her chocolate brown eyes and we both leaned in for a kiss.

"Want to be sad together somewhere else?" she asked lowly, before biting her lip.

That I didn't mind at all.