Once You Were Mine

Chapter-7 Matio& Sarah

Matio Rodriguez:

I thought of many ways I could convince my dad about this marriage, but I could not think of any. He will still be angry at me for whatever I say or give. I wish I could hide this marriage from my family or even the world, but I am sure Hinata will be boosting their new alliance with the Rodriguez family as he has achieved some awards.

After a lot of brainstorming, I could only come up with one thing: art. My dad has a big collection of paintings. He has a good eye for art. He has a huge collection of paintings in his mansion.

Albert, it is best if I visit Uncle's art gallery and buy one from there; Dad loves his collection. I will make a visit after office hours. I informed my uncle about the same.

Soon, I wrapped up with the office work and made my way to the art gallery.

* * * *

"Hey, it is nice to see you again, young man," Albert greeted me.

"Hi Albert, I hope I am not making you wait," I said.

"Oh, come on. It is Matio; why would anyone feel bad about it?" he said.

This is what you get when you are a powerful and influential businessman; no one feels bad for waiting or working for you.

"What can I do for you?" he asked.

"Coming to it, I want to gift a painting to my dad," I say.

"Wow, did you do anything wrong?" he asked.

I let out a scoff. "No, uncle, it is just a casual gift. I just feel like it," I reply.

"Okay, I will call my employee; she will show you around and pick any one of your liking; you can hand over the check to her," he said, and I nodded.

"Sarah, can you please come to my office at once?" He talked to someone on his phone.

"She will be here," he said.

In no time, we heard a knock on the door, and I did not care to turn around and look at her.

"Hi Albert, what can I help you with?" she asked.

"Meet Matio here; he is one of my close friends, more of a family. Please show him around," he said.

She came to my side. "Hi, Mr. Matio, I am Sarah." She extended her hand, and I lifted my head to look at her.

My brows furrowed in confusion. What is she doing here? I thought.

Her face reflected my confusion and probably anger too. What are the odds of meeting three times on the same day?

"Hi Sarah," I smirk at her.

She fists her hands into a ball and forces a smile.

"How can I help you, Mr. Matio?" she asked.

"I hope I am not troubling you, Ms. Sarah," I say. We both stare at each other as if we are already fighting in our world.

Albert cleared his voice. "I will be off then," he said. He got up and left us behind.

"What are you doing here?" she whispered yell at me. "Are you following me?" she exaggerated.

"Oh, I thought we were done following each other." I got up.

"And now, Miss, follow me," I say.

She looked at me and pointed her hand to my chest. "Mr., I will lead the way; you follow me," she said, and she started to walk ahead of me without bothering if I was following or not.

I followed her with a smile. I love bickering with this stranger.

We fell into silence as we started to walk around the paintings.

"So you are an employee here," I say.

"Art Director," she corrected my sentence.

That explains what she was doing here last night. She is not a businesswoman or some VIP; she is a regular employee here.

"Whatever, it is the same," I replied.

"Ah huh? What do you do? Probably you are also just an employee," she huffed and moved away.

I took my time and walked around.

"I will get this one," I said, pointing to one specific painting.

"You have a good eye, but sorry, we cannot sell you that," she replied.

"I can get anything I want," I smirked.

"Who the hell do you think you are?" she asked.

"It is Albert's collection, and I am sure it will be around some millions," she said.

"So if this is one of his collections, then I am surely getting this, "I say.

"Are you insane?" I say.

"Girl, I am your customer now; you better treat me with respect," I say.

She cleared her throat and went into a completely professional tone. "I am sorry, sir; I need to make a call to Albert and ask him if the painting can be sold or not," she said.

"Sure, do it, and yeah, please put it on the speaker," I said.

She dialed his number. "Hi Albert," she greeted him, and without wasting time, she came directly to the point.

"Albert, Matio here wants a painting from your art collection. What do you want me to do?" she asked.

"Sell it to him. He is Matio; he gets what he wants," Albert replied, and Sarah looked at me as if thinking, 'Who the hell is this guy?'.

"At what price?" she asked.

"Double the price; if he wants it, he will buy it or else show him around," he replied.

"Albert, you know me better. I am going to get it," I said this time.

"Thank you," she said, ending the call.

"So, that is it, sir," she said.

"Great, Sarah," I say.

"It is 20 billion USD, sir," she said.

"Great, get that packed," I say, and she stands shocked.

"You are ready to spend 20 billion USD on a piece of art?" I asked.

"Of course, I have to," I replied.

Sara Ikari:

20 billion. I do not even know how many zeros are in 20 billion, and here he is, ready to spend 20 billion without a second thought.

I wonder what he does for a living.

"Who are you?" I asked him.

He looked at me as if, 'Are you asking me this question, you dumb woman?'.

"What?" I chuckled.

He let out a sigh. "I am Matio, Matio Rodriguez," he replied.

"And?" I asked. "High of you if you think I will know you just by your name," I say.

"Seriously?" he asked. "I am a businessman, CEO of Rodriguez Beauty," he said.

"Ohh," I say.

He looked at me. 'That is not the reaction I was expecting' he said.

"I am not much into business and all, so I do not know many people unless I have to invite them to the art exhibition," I said.

There is an awkward silence in the air. "Great, I will let this get packed and send it over to your address tomorrow," I said.

"Why not now?" he asked.

"As you can see, it is already late now; nothing to worry about; it will reach you tomorrow as the first thing in the morning. You can

Pay when you get the painting. Rest assured," I said.

"Give me your number," he asked.

"Why?" is my only response.

"What do you mean by why? What if it does not reach me on time? I need it by tomorrow; it is a gift for someone," he said.

"Sir, as I said, rest assured. This is our office number." I gave him the visiting card.

"Sure," he said, taking it.

"Hasta la vista," he said and left.

Trust me, I do not even want to meet you again, I thought to myself.

It was nine by the time I reached my apartment, and I spotted a Mercedes parked outside my building.

I was a bit shocked; this is not a place where the rich live. I took a few steps and found my dad there.

"Dad?" I called him.

"Oh, you are here? What are you doing on the streets this late?" he asked.

"I was working, but what are you doing here?" I asked.

"As I said this morning, I came here on a business deal, and we got it," he said.

Did he say We, I am happy that he even included me?

"I have not spent much time with my daughter, so I thought of visiting you," he said.

Is this real, or am I dreaming? My dad came here this late at night to visit me. The one who never cared when I was in Boston is now

here in New York, waiting for me. WOW.

"Okay, let's get in," I say.

"No, let us celebrate this deal. Get inside the car," he said, and bewildered is still a small word to express how I am feeling right now.

I got in, and he said, "Let us go to eat ice cream. You love ice cream, right?" He smiled wide.

"Yes, but I have a health condition; I should not eat ice cream," I said.

"What health condition? I think it is fine for one day," he said, driving us to the nearest ice cream parlor.

If only you had been by my side while I was growing up to know what my health condition is and why I avoid eating ice cream,

I thought to myself.

I easily get a cold when I eat ice cream, no matter how good the weather is or how healthy I am.

But I guess he does not know that or does not bother to remember it.

We both ordered ice cream; mine is Belgium chocolate with chocolate chip, and he just ordered a scoop of vanilla.

Dad started to talk about my mom, how she is, how we three used to go out as a family, and our small ice cream dates. Thinking of

All that, I felt emotional.

I never in my life expected a normal daughter-and-father conversation between us.

He had a last spoonful of his ice cream and looked at me. "Sara, why do you not come with me to Boston for 2 days? It will be

good," he said.

I looked confused at him. "You want me to?" I asked him, and he gave a nod.

My father, who did not bother to talk to me all those years, invited me to dinner the previous night, called me this morning, and visited me that night. On top of this, we were having ice cream, and he asked me to go with him to Boston.

"Will your wife be okay with it?" I asked.

Agnez is my dad's second wife, whom he married after my mom's death. I was around 3 years old when my mom died, and within a year he married Agnez.

The rest of it is history. Till now, I have lived like Harry Potter, waiting for my Hagrid to show up and save me. But then I decided to be my own Hagrid and saved myself. As soon as I got my job, I moved out.

My father, who was never interested in my life before, is now inviting me home. It does sound suspicious, but what would he get out of me?

Probably nothing.

I did not see any harm, so I said, "Sure, Dad, I will inform Albert about it. It is the weekend as well, so it would not be a big deal," I

say.

"Great," he said, wrapping his arms around me.

I got emotional; all my life I was waiting for this love, and now it is here. I can ask for nothing now.