A Gift of Love for Christmas

Will be Mine!

River’s POV

I dropped the phone after I cut the call from Lyra and stood up. Lyra! My very first love. The very first girl that made my heart jump at the sight of her. I loved Lyra and after so many years, I can't say that I got over her yet. I had told her how I felt about her under the mistletoes those years ago, but she had refused me, throwing my feelings back into my face without giving a reason.

At first, I thought it was because I was her brother's best friend, but then I realized she had no excuse. She had run after that and never really said anything to me again.

When she went to Philadelphia for school, I had gone there often to just hide somewhere and look at her. Without mincing words Lyra was beautiful. Her hair flowed like river down her back. Her eyes were the color of a deep sea. Her lips were a torture to my young mind.

When Phil had called me that she was getting married, I had sent my congratulations through Phil and refused to attend. I had lied to Phil that I was out of the country. I couldn't watch Lyra, my Lyra, in another man's hands, marriage or not.

‘Boss, we need your permission to offload the goods into the other storage,' a boy who worked at one of my storage facilities said.

‘Where is Kobe?’ I asked instead of answering his questions.

‘He is outside sir,’ the boy answered.

‘Tell him I need to see him. Use the storage,' I said then patiently waited for Kobe to come.

‘You called for me,’ Kobe said when he got there. I was so lost in thought that I didn't even hear his footsteps when he was approaching.

‘She is coming to Pittsburgh,’ I said.

‘Who?’ Kobe asked sounding confused.

I turned to him and kept a steady gaze on him before I spoke again. ‘Who do you think is capable enough to put me in this kind of mood Kobe?’

Kobe was thoughtful for a while before his eyes suddenly widened in realization ‘What? how did you do it? Is she coming with her brother?’

‘No, she is coming alone. I will send a number to your phone where you can send all the traveling arrangements. I want you to make all the necessary arrangements for her. I want her brought here with my private jet. Let's roll out the red carpet for my queen,’ I said smirking.

‘Maybe, this time you can get a closure,’ Kobe said.

‘I don't want a closure Kobe. I need an opening. I won't make the same mistake twice,’ I said picking up my phone to send the number to him.

‘Ok, Boss. I will be on it,’ Kobe said as the message tone went off on his phone. He turned around to leave but then suddenly stopped as he frowned at his phone.

‘What is it?’ I asked.

‘Boss, you sent me Elena's number,’ Kobe said turning to me.

‘What are you talking about?’ I asked frowning.

‘The number you sent is Elena's number,’ Kobe said again.

‘Which Elena?’ I asked.

‘The same Elena Boss,' Kobe said. ‘This is her number. After she left Pittsburgh, she changed her number and she sent it to me. This is her number.’

‘Get her on the phone, now,’ I said impatiently.

‘Yes Boss,' Kobe said and dialed the number. It rang off the first time but I asked him to call again and she picked the second time. I asked him to put it on speaker and he did.

‘Hey, Kobe. How are you doing?’ Elena greeted in her usual sweet voice.

‘I am fine El. Boss wants to talk to you,’ Kobe said then dropped the phone on the table between us.

‘Boss? Really?’ Elena asked.

‘Yes,’ Kobe said then nodded at me to go ahead.

I sat down on the chair comfortably first before I spoke, ‘Elena, it's being a while,’

‘Boss, I am so glad to hear your voice,’ Elena said happily.

‘Where is Lyra?’ I asked because I wanted to be sure I didn't save Elena's voice in error.

‘Lyra, you know her?’ Elena asked sounding surprised.

‘Yes. Where is she?’ I asked.

‘She just left here Boss, she is a good girl. She doesn't look for trouble and…’

‘Relax Elena. I just want to be sure she is indeed your friend’, I said cutting off her rambling.

‘I see. She is my friend,’ Elena answered.

‘She asked me to send the details of her travel to Pittsburgh tomorrow to your phone,’ I said.

‘You are the person she is going to in Pittsburgh? You are her brother's best friend?’ Elena asked not even trying to hide her surprise.

‘Yes,’ I said simply.

‘This is huge,’ Elena said.

‘Yes,’ I said simply.

‘She doesn't know me as Elena, Boss. My name is Angel,' Elena said.

‘Okay, fine. I will let you tell her your story yourself. But until I am able to get her out of this mess, keep watch over my girl,’ I said.

‘Anything for you Boss,’ Elena said.

‘And make sure she doesn't change her mind tomorrow,’ I said then nodded at Kobe to take the phone. It was an indication that I was through talking to her. Kobe took the phone and continued talking to Elena as he walked out of my office.

It was even better that I had an eye on her and there was no better person than Elena. She was loyal to the core. If she loved Lyra before, the love just doubled.

Elena had come to us one night when she got into trouble and we had saved her, she was with us for years before she left after the fight for my father's company and properties seemed over. She wanted a life devoid of drama. I had allowed her go because I knew that wherever she was, she was loyal to me.

Lyra! She had rejected me that Christmas so many years ago after I had the most unforgettable kiss of my life. And every Christmas since then I wish for that moment again with nobody else but the same girl that my heart still beats for after so many years.

All through that day, I wasn't myself. I couldn't concentrate on work neither could I make a straight forward conversation. I kept losing track of things that is how bad Lyra affects my being.

After I left for home, I couldn't concentrate at home either. My house keeper, an elderly woman whom I respect a lot, asked me what was wrong but I told her I was fine.

That night, Kobe sent me the things I needed on Lyra's husband and smiled, the guy was toast. Next time he would never think he is capable of cheating someone because they are from a small town where they had lived all their lives.

The following day, I got dressed in a suit that I loved very much. The moment I stepped into my car my phone rang. It was Phil, Lyra's elder brother,my best friend.’

‘Hey man. How are you holding up?’ I said in greetings.

‘As much as I can hold up knowing full well that my career in the army is over,’ Phil said sadly.

‘How early are you coming in for Christmas?’ I asked.

‘In about a week,’ Phil answered.

‘I might come in a week later though, I need to tidy up somethings here,’ I said.

‘No problem. Did Lyra call you?’ Phil asked.

‘Yes, she did.’

‘That is Epic. I actually thought she wouldn't call. I was thinking that I would handle the matter when I returned,’ Phil said.

‘Don’t worry. I am on top of it,’ I said but I intentionally omitted the part that she was already on her way to Pittsburgh.

‘See then man,’ Phil said and I told him I couldn't wait to have all the fun with him in our hometown for Christmas.

I dropped the call smiling. Phil and I went way back to childhood. He had been the only friend I made in Logsville after my parents were forced to return to the town because they lost everything to a corny partner.

I was angry and unhappy about falling from grace to grass. I lashed out at everything and everyone. Phil was the only one who seemed to understand me and he made sure his sister also accepted me and by extension their parents.

I walked into my office and my secretary greeted me at her station before I walked into the office. I picked my phone and called Kobe after fifteen minutes and he assured me that Lyra was on the plane and she would be there in another thirty minutes.

I had told Kobe to bring Lyra to me himself so he had taken a driver with himself and they had gone to pick her up.

My palm was sweaty, I was nervous and I kept thinking of what to do and how to act when she finally got there. Lyra, only Lyra was capable of putting me in that position.

Forty minutes later, Kobe called me that they were on their way out of the airport and I got more nervous and I had to try as much as I could to repress my emotions. I increased the air conditioner because I suddenly realized that I was sweating. I removed my suit and placed it on the sofa in the corner of my office.

I impatiently waited till I heard Kobe’s voice greeting my secretary. I wanted to take my suit and wear it but I changed my mind and decided that the less formal the scene, the better.

There was a knock on my door and I quickly sat on my seat before asking the person to come in.

Kobe came in first then the woman that makes my world tilt. The woman that makes me lose my balance walked in looking every bit as beautiful as I used to know her.

‘Boss,’ Kobe called me because he knew I was lost by the mere sight of her. One drunken night, I had told him everything.

‘Hello River,' her voice was like music to my ears.

‘Hello Lyra,' I said then stood from my seat to offer her a seat on the sofa and I sat opposite her. Kobe excused us after offering Lyra things to eat or drink which she rejected saying she would call for anything she wants when she was ready.

Lyra explained everything to me while I pretended to listen. All the while I was starring at those beautifully made lips that were built to give every man a boner at the sight of it.

‘What is your plan Lyra?’ I asked.

‘I want to be out of this sham of marriage before Christmas. I want to go home to my parents. I haven't been there in years. I want to spend this Christmas with no negativity breathing down my neck.

‘Dont worry. You are going to do exactly what you want to do for Christmas,’ I said smiling as if I won a lottery.

Lyra might have rejected me all those years ago and it might have hurt but with the latest opportunity, I intend for her to be mine before the Christmas holiday was over.

My darling Lyra. You will be mine! I thought in my head as I gave her a disarming smile.