His Lucky Charm

Chapter Five

Chapter Five: Timeline

Harlan Braxton:

Who knew I would be so lucky.

"CAN WE GET OUT OF HERE" she shouted out over the music as her other hand grasped onto my coat? Pleading me with her eyes whilst tears presently began to frame her hazel earthy coloured eyes. I looked around the club. Attempting to check whether I could see my brother or even a security guard. Which in my case, I was unable to see a damn thing.

The dance floor was rapidly filling up and with uproarious music. It was making it difficult for me to think. To make matters most exceedingly awful, it was quite dim in this club and the strobe lights that streaked on and off with various tones began playing with my vision.

"ARE YOU ALRIGHT? DO YOU NEED ME TO FIND YOUR FRIENDS?" I yelled out to her over the music playing. She shook her head then gestured toward the exit and I concurred as I gestured my head back to her. A grin started to take shape on her face. I interweaved my fingers with her's before taking off toward the exit.

"Okay, folks! Are all of you having a good night this evening?." The DJ declared over the amplifier, grinning. The crowd thundered together. "Aw well, that's too bad because I just got a request to make your night even better." The DJ began scratching on a record on his turntable. At that point, the song Hold Yuh by Gyptian played, making the crowd go off the deep end.

Many individuals were moving and grinding to the tune. However, the majority of them were pummeling back drinks, pumping their fists in the air. My hold fixed on her hand as we moved through the rowdy crowd. "HOLD ON ALRIGHT!" I shouted as I pushed my way through the mob of dancers.

At last, we made it out of the club hall and into the lobby. The song playing in the club gradually blurred into the background. My hearing gradually returning as well as my process to think.

As we strolled through the hall, passing the ladies in line waiting to use the lavatory, I could see a lounge chair up ahead. To which I didn't see on my way in.

"There's a sofa up ahead,' I advised her. We can talk there." I dropped my hand from hers and kept on strolling to the love seat. I looked behind me to check whether she was following, which without a doubt, she was.

She held her head down, zeroing in on the floor covering underneath our feet. Meanwhile, protecting her chest with her arms. As we got to the love seat I saw it was small. It's a two-seater sofa yet with my body, I'm almost certain I could fill each gap alone.

"Please" I guided. Signalling two hands to the sofa, permitting her to plunk down. She was reluctant briefly yet then sat down. While I settled my back on the lobby wall, across from the lounge chair.

As she plopped down onto the love seat, she immediately tucked both of her hands under her thighs while one of her legs bobbed unpredictably in the spot.

"Uh, you okay?" I addressed while highlighting her leg that was ricocheting unpredictably. She gestured rapidly and afterwards turned her gaze toward the club hall.

I could judge by taking a gander at her that she appeared to be anxious because her eyes glinted between the club hall and the leave entryway. I cleared my throat.

"What's your name?" I murmured, collapsing my arms across my chest. "Uh, Chloe" she countered in a sweet tone. She lifted her head then stared at me. A smile started pulling at my lips as I could at long last see her face in the light. I thought she was excellent when I previously looked at her yet taking a gander at her now. I now know, I wasn't right. Because to me, she resembled a damn goddess.

She had light earthy coloured skin and her hazel brown eyes that were sparkling are significantly more hazel in the light. Over her full pink lips was a little scar, which for reasons unknown had me entranced. Furthermore, she had a black nose ring and an immortal clock tattoo with Latin numbers printed under in favour of the right side of her neck.

While I'd been appreciating her, she had been doing the same to me. Her eyes wandered each piece of my body while taking me in interestingly and before halting her look on my shoulder, she withdrew her eyes back to mine. I gazed back at her briefly before looking away. On the off chance that I gazed longer, I'd probably take her on that couch.

I made a sound as if to speak. "So-Uh-Chloe,' I muttered. Did you come here alone or did-". She immediately intruded. "No, I'm in good company. I came here with my sister" she mumbled. Abruptly, her eyes broaden as though she remembered something frightfully. Her eyes snapped toward the club hall while she immediately folded her arms over her chest. She looked practically scared. Especially how her eyes remained on track toward the club hall.

"Hey, you all good" I inquired. She gazed toward me and grinned. "Goodness, yeah, I'm good. Slightly cold though" she answered. I pushed myself off the wall I was leaning back on and ventured toward her. Her lovely earthy coloured eyes watching me walk toward her. She swallowed. "What are you-" she answered, reclining into the couch without moving her eyes from mine. I unfastened my coat and disregarded it.

"Wait!" she gasped. I held my coat out before her, allowing it to hang. She looked me up and down. "Here, perhaps this may help" I answered.

She took a gander at the jacket briefly, contemplating whether to take it. She huffed, then reluctantly plucked it from my hands. "Uh, thanks" she grinned while setting it over her body, placing each arm into its slot. My jacket looked enormous on her however she sure made it look good.

"You're welcome." I grinned. "In any case, did you need me to scan the club for your sister?' I retorted. My brother, he" I talked before I was inconsiderately interrupted by a thundering sound of individuals snickering and cheering.

I turned my head toward the group for a second before snapping my head back to Chloe. I didn't get a decent look at the gathering properly. I didn't care to know. Though I did at least see around six of them, strolling toward us I wasn't certain. I peered down at my shirt, gradually fixing it when out of know where I heard. "CUNT-WHERE THE HELL HAVE YOU BEEN!"

I turned my head to see the individual who hollered out, his voice sounding exceptionally recognizable. I ducked my head, inclining in to get a decent look.

My face lit up when I saw him moving toward us. Yup, here in the flesh before me, my intoxicated twin brother, Henry. The last time I saw my brother was about two years ago before he went off to Australia. He told us all he had a calling in Australia. So, he left. Leaving me running the hotel business with our father.

"Ayyy" I greeted as I watched my brother run toward me. He immediately picked me off the ground whilst his arms folded around my torso and laughed. Squeezing the life out of me. "AY MAN" I let out as his hold fixed. "Let me go man" I groaned. Inevitably, he put me down and let me go.

"Where the damnation have you been man? Did you neglect it's our birthday or what" he slurred whilst looking a little annoyed? I raised both eyebrows at that point signalled to him with my head at Chloe, sitting on the sofa alongside us. He looked to where I was signalling at that point looked back at me and smirked.

"Who do we have here?" he addressed as he stretched out his left hand to her. She gasped, her eyes opened wide, flickering between Henry and me. "Wait. You're twins?" She faltered, pointing her finger between us. We both gestured in a state of harmony with one another which made her gasp once more. "You all right?" I asked her as blood depleted from her face.

She sucked in a couple of fast inhales then rose to her feet to welcome Henry. "Apologies, I had no clue. It's great to meet you but I better get rolling" she answered. "Wait" I answered. She quickly bowed then steadily got away toward the exit.

As I watched her go. A woman shouted out to her from the women's toilet before pursuing her. The two of them embraced each other and without looking back, she left.

"Well, brother. Wanna get drunk?" he murmured teasingly into my ear as he slung his arm over my shoulder. I gazed at him and laughed. "Why not." and with that, we headed back towards the club hall.

-Three months later-

"I now pronounce you husband and wife, you may kiss your bride"

I lifted my bride's veil, put it over her head then I inclined down marginally and gave her cheek a little kiss. She set her hand in mine and we both went to confront our family and friends who sat watching and grinned.

"Ladies and Gentlemen I bring to you, Mr and Mrs Braxton" The celebrant reported merrily. Everybody stood up from their seats and applauded. Henry smacked the rear of my back while complimenting me. I gave him a speedy gesture at that point held my jaw. "No doubt congrats to me," I pondered internally.

As we strolled hand in hand around the ceremony venue whilst each person here congratulated us, my mind went completely blank. I greeted them, I thanked them but I didn't feel this wedding was for me but more for the bride. If you had to ask me straight out if I loved this woman. My answer straight away would be no. Because I didn't feel a single thing for her. The only special person I thought often about, is the young kid, growing within her belly. However, the reason I agreed to marry her in the first place, was for the sake of our unborn child and the protection of our family name.

"Son. Susan." My father declared transparently from behind us. I put a kiss on my lady's hand before giving up. At that point, turned my body to confront him. Mr mighty king himself, Alexander Braxton, my father. I pinched my eyebrows together whilst he stood tall and proud. My dad knew how to eclipse individuals around him. Regardless of whether if it was your birthday or wedding, he ensured he was the focal point of attention. He even outshines me, at my wedding. In his all-dark tuxedo with a red velvet hanky jabbing out. While his dark facial hair managed back flawlessly. I held my head high, showing him no weakness and he did the said.

"Father" I answered in a virus tone. He moved toward me until our noses were simply inches away. He is an inch taller than Henry and me. He estimated to be 6'6 with a medium-size body. On that note, he didn't seem as though he matured the slightest bit as well. For a man who should be 59 years of age, sure didn't appear as though it. He gazed at me icily. "Harlan" he answered with a harsher tone. I gestured.

"Goodness me, play nice you two!" my mom snarled as she pushed past dad, attempting to get to me. "Hi, mother" I greeted whilst leaning down to kiss her cheek. She pats my face at that point settled both her hands on my chest."Synok, pochemu ty ne skazal mne, chto sobirayesh'sya stat' ottsom?" [Russian Translation for MsBlack] [ Son, why didn't you tell me you were going to be a father?] My mother murmured for no one but I could hear.

"Sorry mother" I answered. She tapped my chest at that point said. "Chto zh, ubedites', chto ona sdast DNK-test. YA khochu znat', tvoy li rebenok." [Translation- Well, make sure she passes the DNA test. I want to know if the child is yours.]

I gestured then kissed her cheek. She dropped her hands from my chest to her side at that point advanced toward my bride. My dad gestured too then followed behind my mom. I let out an amazing breath at that point made a beeline for the banquet hall from that point I went directly to the bar. "This is going to be one very long day," I verbally processed as I swiped a bottle of beer from out the fridge, bringing it to my lips and downing it in one go. Once I finished, I swiped the substance from my mouth, got another, and did the same. Eventually, feeling more numb than before.

-Five Months Later-

"Susan Dear. You need to push love." One of the birthing assistants clarified tranquilly while she pushed down on Susan's stomach simply over the knock and underneath her bosom. I fixed my hold on her hand for help. "I can't, I can't,' she shouted out delicately. I simply need to rest please" she cried. One of the birthing specialists snatched her other hand and scoured while calming her. "Only one more push Susan, one major one alright. You got this!" she said soothingly.

Susan sat up partway, determined to get this child of ours out, then breathed in profoundly before pushing hard. She pushed for one second, two seconds, three seconds then she boisterously inhaled out, grinning before falling hard, back onto the bed. A moan of relief got away from her lips. Out of nowhere, our child howled loudly which brought tears to my eyes. Hearing the baby cry just confirms my reality. That I am now, officially a father.

I immediately kissed Susan on the lips repeatedly before cleaning the tears from my eyes. "You did it, my love, you did it," I said gladly as I kissed her brow. She grinned as tears tumbled from her eyes. "Sir, would you want to do the honours of cutting the cord?" the birthing specialist declared.

I gestured rapidly while gradually strolling toward the specialist. He gave me the scissors at that point showed me where to cut thus I adhered to his directions. "Congratulations,' he answered. It's a baby girl" he reported while checking over our little girl as she continued crying noisily before he introduced her to me.

I held two hands out and afterwards watched the specialist delicately place her in my arms. I peered down at my girl in awe as she squirmed in my arms. The sweet little sounds she made and how her fingers moved, made the present circumstance all the more genuine. She had my looks but she had her mothers eye. I pulled her in near me, apprehensive that I would drop her and strolled toward Susan gradually. I put our little girl in her arms and laid in next to her. Susan began crying as she set short wet kisses on our little girls head. How she took a gander at our child had my heart liquefy. I never appreciated Susan in the beginning. However seeing her interestingly, holding our child. I in a flash became hopelessly enamoured. No, I In a flash went gaga for them both.

-Three Year's Later-

My three-year-old little girl, Hannah was very brilliant. This young lady knew how to count up to eighty, knew each tone and shape yet mainly, she adored trains. She held a ton of knowledge about them. She recognized each character's name from the show Thomas the tank engine and discovered how to assemble a motorized train. As I said, my little girl was smart.

Today, I'm knocking off work early. Early this morning, I browsed the internet and came across an article pronouncing that a historic train is travelling on the Upper West Side of Manhattan old rail line (not far of a drive from my parent's house) tomorrow mid-day. It has been a while since I took my family. I decided to get on it today.

Later in the evening, I sent Susan a text, telling her I will be home in an hour. However, I never received a reply. Which, I didn't fret because she was most likely building a train with Hannah. As I assembled my things, preparing to head home. Freya, my P.A beat on my glass door hard.

"Come in Freya" I shouted, waving at her to come in. She hurried in with a terrified look while inhaling and exhale vigorously. "Mr Braxton! you need to return home immediately. There are cops at your home with Hannah!" she blustered, attempting to slow down and rest.

"WHAT!" I fumed as I immediately stood up, wiping my phone off the desk. "I just got off the phone with a police officer Mr Braxton. They are in your penthouse with Hanna but don't worry she's safe. They said Hannah was found at home by herself and that she had been left alone all day. When they tried to talk-" she ranted.

Home. Alone. That was pretty much all I heard from that tirade before I dashed off running toward the lift entryways. I was unable to remain there and stand by until she wrapped up her rant because my daughter is at home alone and no doubt, she needed me. "Where the f**k is Susan?" I hollered to myself as the entryways of the lift opened. I cautioned the staff not to get in before the elevator door withdrawn.

I started pacing the lift while it requires some investment to go down. "She should be at home with Hannah" I fumed, pulling at my hair. "Where the f**k right?"

I took a stab at calling her telephone yet it went directly to the replying mail. I called over and over and once more. As yet unchanged outcome. I started pacing the lift once more. Stress unexpectedly washing over me. "Did something awful happen to Susan?" I said for all to hear then attempted her telephone again. I must have called her phone message. At long last, on the ground floor, I began running toward the exit. I ran out of the structure and into the limo. "DRIVE!" I thundered. Jackson didn't spare a moment and pushed his foot to the floor. We weaved through traffic at a rapid speed until at long last at my hotel. I bounced out and ran toward the lift.

I got in the lift and pushed the button to my floor. The elevator finally moving. First floor, Second Floor, Third floor and it proceeded. I stood by anxiously, tapping my foot on the metal floor underneath me. At last, I arrived at floor H. The entryways opened on the other hand I ran. I pulled the way to my home open. I remained there glancing around until my eyes arrived on her. I approached her whilst feeling relieved and lifted her into the air before bringing her down to me and giving her a warm embrace. She not once embraced me back or called my name when she saw me. No, rather she resembled a sculpture. As though life depleted from her.