Mysterious CEO

Chapter 5 - Sharing my past

Rose's POV

"Okay Rose, we can have dinner together but it will be my treat. Helen already didn't allow me to spend a dime on her. At Least allow me to buy us dinner." Martin said.

"Fine, you can pay for the dinner because I have got a good friend because of you." Helen said, hugging me. 

"Where will we go then?" Martin asked.

"Can we have a barbecue? Only if you don't have any problem." I said.

"Wow, what a great idea, let's go before it gets cold." Helen said.

"Oh no." 

"What's the matter, Rose?" Martin asked.

"I wanted to buy some warm clothes too. I forgot about that. All my warm clothes have now become useless." I said.

"Come on then, let's first get warm clothes and then we can have a barbecue." Helen said, pulling me with her. She literally dragged me to the nearest shops for the woolen and other warm clothes and blankets. I went through the racks and selected some after checking the price tag. I bought a hoodie jacket, a sweater, hat and a blanket. I also bought a pair of gloves and scarf. Helen bought a jacket for herself and Martin. I wondered why she didn't allow Martin to buy anything for her earlier. Now she is buying for him. Martin helped me to carry my bags and he walked straight to the parking lot. I wondered why he was taking us to the parking lot when Helen asked me to hold her bags. I took it from her and she searched for something in her bag. She took out a car key. 

"You have a car?" I asked.

"Yes" she replied and hurried to open the trunk. Martin placed all the bags inside the trunk and closed it. Helen took her bags back and said.

"Better keep mine in front so that it won't mix up later."

Martin opened the back door for me and then the passenger door for Helen. Then he hopped on the driver's seat and took the car out of the parking lot. 

"Helen, please don't mind me asking, why did you buy the jacket for Martin when you didn't allow him to buy you one." I asked.

"Well I think it's better if Martin answered your question." Helen said, looking at Martin.

"First of all I lied during the introductory session. I am not a fresh graduate. I am actually 26 year old and I graduated from college five years ago. It's true that I am from Kansas and I came here for my studies. We met at college and she is the reason why I didn't want to return back to Kansas." Martin said, looking at Helen.

"He was actually my senior. He stayed back until I graduated and lived on his dad's money. His dad is a millionaire businessman. I belong to a middle class family and I did a part time job along with my studies. After graduation I tried for a job and got one within months. But still Martin lived on his father's money. Years passed and still he didn't change. I asked him to go back and join his father's business, but he didn't. I didn't like him spending his father's money on me. I will be more than happy if he buys me a lollipop with the money he earned. That's why I never allow him to buy me anything. At last I gave him a warning. I gave him two months to find a job and prove himself. That's why he attended the interview and got this job. By the way I work for the Dickins who are the rivals of Dumonts." Helen said with a blink. 

"I do have my own car and apartment but she made me promise to give it back to my father. Now I use public transport and live in a shared apartment." Martin said while parking the car in front of a barbecue stall. 

"We will always get the best barbecue on the road side and not in any restaurant." Martin said and got out of the car. I was about to get down when Helen stopped me. 

"He will get the food. We can go to a special place and have it there." Helen said.

It took twenty minutes for Martin to come. I looked at my watch and it's already eight. Mrs. Collins gifted me this watch on my last birthday. Martin again drove the car and stopped near the sea. We all got down and it was really chilling. Helen took out her and Martin's jacket and opened the trunk for me to get mine. I found the hoodie jacket and wore it to warm myself. Helen and Martin walked in the dark and Martin had a flashlight in his hand. I followed them and it ended in an old building made of rocks. It was half demolished and there is just a small portion left which had a roof on four pillars. In the middle a huge rock is placed like a table and four small rocks in the place of chairs. I could hear the sea and feel the salty breeze. Helen placed the food on the rock table and Martin lit two more flashlights. Now I can clearly see around the room. It can't be called a room. It's just a place to enjoy the sea. 

"This is an abandoned place. Some years back, the whole structure was destroyed by a hurricane. The only thing left was this part. There was only a big rock in the middle when we came here for the first time. We arranged the rest for our sweet time. We can have some private time without being interrupted." Martin explained.

"Come on Rose, sit and let's eat before it gets cold." Helen said.

She opened the packet and served the food in three disposable plates. I looked at the food on my plate devouring its appearance. 

"Rose, why are you not eating? You really love barbecue?" She asked.

"It's the first time I am seeing it so close. It was always my wish to taste it someday. Now when it is in front of me, I couldn't believe my eyes." I said. Slowly I cut a piece and dipped it in the sauce and put it in my mouth. It's so delicious that I couldn't stop moaning. I had almost finished my plate when I noticed Helen and Martin watching me.

"Why are you not eating?" I asked.

"I have never seen anyone enjoying food like this. You really had a tough past?" Helen asked and I nodded.

"Would you mind sharing your pain? It's said that happiness increases and sadness fades away by sharing." Helen said.

"I have never shared my story with anyone else other than Mrs. Margaret Collins. She is the only family I have. I call her Marg when we are alone and Mrs. Collins when we are at the restaurant. Four years ago I came to California. I was just 16 then but due to my physique I got a job at the restaurant as a waitress. I was just out of high school and I wanted to continue my studies. Few months later Mrs. Collins asked me about my past as you did now. I couldn't lie to her and I think I can't this time too." I said and finished my food first. After drinking some water I continued.

"I actually ran away from an orphanage in Arizona because I didn't want to become a nun. Mrs. Collins helped me to enrol in a college and do my graduation. She is the only one who cared for me. After graduation I moved out from Mrs. Collins house, and bought a small apartment with my savings. I would have really starved to death if I didn't have gotten this job. So you can say that I am a self-made woman. Except for Mrs. Collins, no one is behind my achievements. Now comes the most crucial part that explains about my surname." I said with a smile. Both Helen and Martin seemed to be petrified hearing my story. 

"Hey, should I continue or is it enough?" I asked.

"No, no, please continue." Helen said.

"As far as I know, I did have a family. But it's just a fading memory of a five year old girl. I just remember the part when I met a man in a cop's uniform. I was with them for some days and then was moved to an orphanage where I spent the next 11 years. According to the cops they got me in an operation. They were attacking some gangs associated with drug rackets and child trafficking. I was found unconscious in their camp. When I woke up they tried to get details about my family. Only thing I could remember was my name Rose. It was 15 years back and the technology was not this developed. They tried their best to find my family but they couldn't as I didn't even know where I came from. I was found in Arizona but they were not sure if I belonged there or not. Finally they gave my authority to the orphanage officials. They marked that day as my birthday." I finished my story. Tears trickled down from Helen's eyes. Martin sat silent for some time.

"So you don't even remember your parents' faces?" Martin asked.

"When I was small I used to get nightmares. In my dream some man took me while playing in a garden. There is a beautiful mansion behind. Whenever I woke up from the dream I used to cry calling some names like Ron and Eth. I think I did have siblings too. It might be their names." I said.

"So do you still want to find them now?" Helen asked.

"Of course I do. I am sure, one day I will find them." I said with a smile