"Samantha?"

Jacks asks squinting his eyes. Everywhere becomes still. Jack doesn't seem to be in a hurry as his gaze lands on me.

Those ocean eyes of his begins to water with tears. I get up from the chair and take a step closer to him, he walks towards me slowly and I smile encouragingly.

I've often envisaged this moment, I've always fantasized about this moment. The moment I'd reunite with my best friend but now that it's here, I suddenly don't know what to do.

Just be calm and comment on his hoodie. The old current that used to flow between you guys will return with ease.

For once, I'm glad my subconsciousness exists.

My smile increases and I didn't even realize I am crying until I felt the tears drop on my hand.

Without delay, Jack embraces me tightly. He kisses my forehead, my hair, my nose, my cheek, my neck. He holds me dearly as if he can't believe it's truly me.

I don't even try to stop the flowing tears. He uses his thumb to wipe away my tears and a light chuckle rumbles out of my chest.

"You're such a crybaby Jack", I murmur and he laughs hugging me again. I hug him tightly this time and inhale his scent while keeping my eyes shut.

"Not changed a bit I see Sam"
He says brushing my hair with his fingers.

"What can I say? Change is costly most times", I reply wiping my eyes with the back of my hands.

"Oh Sam", Jack whispers and hugs me again.

"Is this a Calvin Klein hoodie?", I ask taking notice of the hoodie.

"Oh no you don't. I'm a changed person now and will not be manipulated into giving you my hoodie or jacket"

"Ahem!", Mother clears her throat, stopping me from replying and reminding me that there are others in the room.

"Just a moment ago you were in a hurry to go to work and now you're here throwing a reunion party. Tardiness is not overlooked in the organization Mr Fernando".

Eric says obviously not happy about our reunion. What is his fucking problem? Nicholas stares at him in disbelief and mother sits down, looking very tired.

I stay beside Jack, our hands still inclined and wishing Eric will just disappear out of this world.

"Well Wilder, you wouldn't know anything about friends because you never had one yourself", I bite back trying not to sound angry.

I rarely get angry but when I do, I always regret my actions. I shiver from the thought that danced around my head the last time I was really really angry.

Jack removes his hand from mine and pats my shoulder.

"I'm sorry Eric..."

"It's sir to you", Eric corrects.

I ball my fist and make move to punch his koala face when Jack stops me.

"I'm sorry sir. I'll be sure to remember that. I'll take my leave now", Jack says and leaves not even casting me a reassuring glance.

"Dude. What was that all about?", Nicholas asks Eric.

"Okay I can feel some testosterones rising up", mother says in an attempt to calm everyone down.

I walk up to Eric and stand toe to toe with him. God bless my father for his strong genes.

"Sir? Really? Why don't I call you sir? Koala face?"

"Koala face? Really?"
Eric asks raising an eyebrow.

"Yes because you are just as ugly as them if not worse now answer me. If anything you're not more than two years older than him", I yell at him.

Nicholas tries to calm me down and I push him to the ground.

Oops! But right now, my anger was already building up.

"Calm down Nadine. You don't want to be angry", mother soothes from a distance.

"He works for me. He works under me. In my company", Eric answers.

"It is not your company koala. It is your father's. Your father built everything. You own nothing. The only thing you own is the name Eric because Wilder is not even your name."

"Yea so. I demand respect from all my employees"

"You didn't employ any one of them. Fuck your ego dude. You don't demand respect. You earn it. I won't be surprise if your so called employees make caricature of you behind your fucking back because you're nothing but a lousy, useless son of a bitch"

His eyes begins to twitch and my fist begins to ball. My anger rising up but that doesn't deter me.

"You want to know something. You are fucked. You are a fucked up fucker and I'll tell you to suck my dick but I got none. The name Samantha Montero has more respect than you can ever dream of earning. You are nothing but a little sissy. Remember how scared you were running away from security? That's the real you"

"Go on, keep blabbing you'll get tired and if you disrespect me one more time I'll call the cops and you and your mother will end up in jail.

"What!", Nicholas exclaims
Mother shakes her head and I smirk angrily.

"Call them. I dare...

"Samantha Montero. Remember Damien! Now shut the fuck up. Your anger will cost you everything" mother yells.

I look at her and a feeling I never thought I'd feel for mother rises up in my throat alongside tears.
I can't believe she'll use his name at a time like this.

Fuck your emotional ass!

Disgust is what I felt for mother. I look away from her and look at Eric.

"You let this fucker disrespect you in your house because of his connections?", I ask mother but still stare at Eric. I let the tears fall now.

"I'm just doing what's right", mother says

"Wilder! I hate you. I don't think I've hated any human as much as I do now. Not even the fucker that killed Asher. Leave my house. I never want to see your face and I don't need your fucking help. I'll find the murderer myself", I say and he goes upstairs and puts on some clothes.

"It's your loss Samantha. No one disrespects Eric Wilder"

"And that's why Eric Wilder is friendless because he will never understand true friendship. Merry Christmas!", I say holding up my middle fingers.

He fumes and exits the house, slamming the door behind him.

"Nadine?",

"Leave me alone mother. You disgust me", I mutter loud enough for her to hear. I walk up the stairs and go into one of the rooms.
I lie on the bed and just stare into the ceiling.

Soon enough, I hear a knock on the door.

"Open up Samantha. It's me. Nicholas"

Oh shit! I should probably apologize for pushing him down.

"It's open", I manage to say.

He comes in and closes the door behind him.

"Hey", he whispers.

"I'm sorry Nicholas. I shouldn't have pushed you so hard. I understand if you don't want to help me anymore", I say in one breath.

"No it's fine. Boy you have got the strength of a man. I wonder how the murderer was able to make you powerless", Nicholas jokes and then suddenly turns serious.

"That means the person is a trained assassin", I muse out loud, beckoning on him to join me on the bed. He gladly sits down and we begin brain storming.

"So you said the masked stranger had a crescent shaped tattoo at the back of his neck and had grey eyes?", Nicholas asks and I nod in agreement, wondering where this is going.

"Seems like your uncle has some explanation to do", he says running his fingers through his hair.

"Uncle Austin? The one who took up my case?", I ask with a raised eyebrow.

"No the one who helped the murderer escape"

"Okay. How are we going to see him? I don't have his address"

"Talk to your mother. I gotta go. Pick you up by five so we can go pay a visit to your uncle"

He says and dashes out of the room not even giving me a chance to talk.

"Oh well", I mumble and debate on how to approach my mother.

After a few minutes of drifting in and out of subconsciousness, I finally get up from the bed and go downstairs. I find mother mopping the floor.

"Hey mom", I say like nothing happened earlier today

"Oh hey honey. You are finally up"

She's not even feeling sorry

"Huh? I wasn't asleep. I was just lying down on the bed", I say looking at her confused.

"Don't step over there. Just stay where you are or you will clean the entire house", mom barks orders at me.

Yikes! Don't anger your mother who has OCD.

"Well you fell asleep Nadine and you've been sleeping for five hours. Look. It's half past four"

I whip my head towards the clock and true to her words, it is half past four.
Oh no! Nicholas is coming to pick me up by five.

"Um mom. Where does uncle Austin stay"

"New York. Why?" She asks putting the mop aside and glancing at my shaking feet.

"We think he was bought over", I say stretching half way to grab the apple on the table.

"Bought over? But he's my brother. Why will he do something like that?", mother asks.

I begin telling her what we found out and what we talked about the previous night about the murderer.

Mom knits her brows together and sags her cheeks, not looking very happy.

"Where's Marco?", I ask after I finish my story.

"She went to get me groceries"mother replies solemnly.

"What's wrong Mommy? Shouldn't you be happy that your daughter will soon be a free bird again?"

"Oh I am. It's just that Austin can't talk again and I don't know why he'd do something like that to his sister's Daughter"

"No worries mom. We'll find a way to make him talk"

"We?" She asks, confusion laced in her brows.

Just then the door bell rings and I hurriedly go to answer it.

Nicholas comes in and I ogle at him from a distance as he greets my mother.

He's wearing a sweat pant and a T-shirt. His hair is neatly combed and his legs are emitting smoke from his pants.

Are they? Are they really?

No! But they are just so hot.

"Thank you Mrs Montero"

"Please call me Isabelle"

He smiles and my heart leaps into my mouth. He's so fine.

"Shall we?", he asks looking at me and my knees buckled a bit.

"Yea sure just a moment", I manage a groggy whisper.

"Mom Uncle Austin's house address"

She gives it to me and I hug her goodbye

"Oh and Nicholas, we might need a plane ticket to New York"

"Oh ok. Um Sam? Are you wearing that to New York?", he asks looking at my clothes.

I got into the kitchen and grab a juice box.

"My short and shirt? Yes! It's a cloth and I'm not naked. Let's go Hamster"

"I hope you didn't call me hamster because you think I'm bad looking?" He questions with a smile as he leads me out of the house and into his car.

"On the contrary. I think Hamsters are cute and you are too", I say in a matter of fact tone.

"Well I'll call you..."

"Samantha or Sam and nothing else", I say drawing a long sip from my juice box.

He revs up the engine and begins to drive with a smirk on his face.

"Fox", he whispers.

"Don't even think about it"

"So Fox, what disguise are you planning to wear to New York?"

"Huh?"

"Disguise. We are leaving Chicago remember?"

"Yea right. Just pull up in one boutique alright. Do you have a hat or scarf or something"

"Yes. My late wife's scarf is at the back"

I inhale sharply and decide not to think about it.

Who keeps a dead person's scarf at the back seat of their car?

Nicholas Macaulay

"Yea right! Thanks for stating the obvious", I mumble beneath my breath.

"I'm sorry I didn't get that"

"No it's nothing. I was..."

"Talking to yourself again I see?", he asks and I nod my head biting my lips nervously.

I take the scarf and tie it around my head.

"Let's go", I whisper loudly and gaze out the window into the dawning sky.

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Author: And that's another wrap people. Everyone is so tired or worried or not just in the mood right now but I am here. Please don't forget to vote and comment and share... I love you❤
Merry Christmas 🎄