Loving Dad’s Best Friend

ALMOST THERE

CHAPTER 8

Now what? I keep asking myself as the chopper went up in the air tracking its destination. Sydney, Australia.

My mind was blank since we left, so funny because I have waited for this moment to happen. I smiled in an odd way at myself.

Was I having a last-minute change of heart?

No! Never!

It was my dad’s broken heart that made me feel this way. Although I completely understood him, my life, in the end, would not depend on what could make my father happy.

It was part of human metamorphosis— the transformation from an immature form to an adult form. It was usually hard for parents to witness their children take control of their life, at first, but in the end, they all accept that it was part of their lives.

Blake had been as silent as me, absorbed in his thoughts. Minutes later, he finally broke the silence between us, “Regretting your decision? You may still change your mind.”

I looked up and met his gaze and said, “I’m never fickle-minded…so, No! I won’t change my mind."

Blake smirked, “Still impossibly stubborn.”

I returned his irritating smile, my brow rose unconsciously, “You mean stupid? Worry not, I am aware of my stupidity. Ladies are entitled to make one or two of those throughout their lifetime, I am hardly an exception.”

My response caused him to titter. He shook his head, perhaps in surrender but as soon as he spoke, I doubted if he actually conceded, “We will see about that.”

I shrugged my shoulders and looked away from him.

Blake could think anything as he pleased, but one thing for sure. I wouldn’t regret fighting for what I really wanted…and at this point in my life…it was him.

I thought we were going directly to Sydney, I was surprised that not even half-hour later our chopper landed on a large elevated estate, with a beautiful garden and a beautiful home.

“Where are we?” I asked, confusedly.

The chopper left after Blake spoke with the pilot. We walked along the path towards the house with an impressive curb appeal.

“Albany,” Blake responded.

“Why are we in Albany?”

“If you change your mind, it will be easier to go back!” Blake was obviously teasing me.

He flashed his million-dollar smile that made my heart throb faster and my lower abdomen contract. I returned his smile. This phase after our exasperating period of arguments and battle of will was definitely a lot better.

The two-story Mediterranean-style villa with a cement plaster exterior, large windows, and a connecting terrace on the second floor was a sure thing owned by a very wealthy family. It was overlooking the beautiful ocean I approximated to be about 10 to 15 minutes walk away. It definitely looked so near from where I stood.

“Do you like the place?” Blake asked as we approached the large porch. The whole place was whitewashed except for the blue-grey-colored roof. Very simple yet very elegant.

“Gorgeous. Do you own this place?”

He chuckled and shook his head, “It’s owned by a good friend. I should have stayed here instead of in Denmark, as a matter of fact, I stayed here for two months before I settled in Denmark. I liked it there, life was peaceful and the people were so accommodating for someone used to living alone, like me. I thought I’d stay there for the rest of my life.” He shared enthusiastically.

“Why don’t you?” I asked curiously.

“Change of plan and change of life path,” he replied briefly, with hesitation to reveal more.

“I see. Are you really going back to California?”

Blake did not respond.

He opened the front door of the house and my eyes instantly adored the impressive receiving area. The white walls from the outside extended to the inside, with wood ceiling, wood stairway, wood flooring, and rustic yet elegant furnishings. It has a warm and inviting atmosphere inside the house.

“Cool!” I whispered.

“Yeah—. The house is nice, although my friend very seldom visits here.”

“What a waste of money,” I couldn’t avoid the words my mouth spewed. Gosh! If I only own such a beautiful home. Our home in Denmark was spacious and homey, but could never be categorized as elegant.

“Sad memories! He bought the land and had the house constructed for his wife a native of the place. Unfortunately, she didn’t live long enough to enjoy this. She died of uterine cancer. My friend Marc was hoping I would love the place enough to buy it from him, but as I said, I changed my mind.” He explained.

“Oh—sad story,” was all I could say. “The house is huge. Who lives here?”

No one approached us since we arrived.

“There’s a family maintaining the house but I like living alone, therefore, they will only come upon my request and return here when I left the place.”

He carried my luggage and stepped on the stairs towards the second floor. I followed him in silence.

Once we were upstairs, he opened the first door on the left side and he entered ahead of me, placing my luggage on top of the bedroom bench.

It was a spacious and elegant room, matching the furnishings and style of the rest of the house.

I felt the fresh air coming from the terrace, instantly when I entered the room. The nature outside, carried through the inside, warmth filled the space, and the house really had a warm and inviting atmosphere. It would be easy to relax in this place.

“Your room,” Blake’s raspy voice interrupted my thoughts.

I nodded and did not comment on why we have separate rooms. We were supposed to sleep together, weren’t we? Was it his way of telling me that as soon as he banged me, he would leave me to sleep on my own?

“Mine is right beside yours.” he let out, but it did not answer the question in my mind.

“Got it,” I gave him a shy smile and passed next to him to check on the dresser and the bathroom, and took the liberty to wash sweaty my hands. Both the bathroom was very modern and even better than the bathrooms in five-star hotels.

I was surprised to find Blake still standing where I left him when I stepped out of the connecting dressing room.

“I arranged for dinner, it would be ready in two hours. You have lots of time to freshen up and take a nap if you wish. I have a few calls to make and those will perhaps take an hour to finish. I will knock on your door when dinner is ready.” He remarked while he walked towards the door.

“Okay!”

But before he left, he said, “And Graciella, after dinner…let’s talk,” His turquoise pools gazed at me coldly.

“Talk or argue?” I stood still in front of him, crossing my hands below my chest. I wasn't sure what instinct to follow, whether to look at him or to lower my head and avoid his cold gaze, I choose the former–I looked him straight in the eye. In a way telling him, that if he would give a lecture again, it was too late for that.

I felt in my face the air he released through his nose–a deep breath it seemed.

“Talk—We will only talk, I have some things to clarify before we proceed,” he said without any expression on his face. His poker face was commendable. I couldn’t read anything on his face.

Gosh! It was the same thing--lectures. I murmured to myself.

But—

No matter what we need to talk about, I had readied myself for this day. I couldn’t and wouldn't let him delay our impending union.

And if he would say, he had a change of heart?

I would jump at him and take advantage of him myself. I cringed, would I be able to do that?

A shiver ran through my spine. Good Lord, what was I thinking?

Blake left me as soon as I agreed.

An hour later…

After I took a dip in the tub, took a bath, and dried my hair. I laid intending to sleep a little but minutes later I just tossed and turned on top of an awesome bed, I dismissed the idea of sleep, my mind was too stressed for the goal.

I stepped outside the glass door and checked the view, instead. As I was expecting it did not disappoint me. I held my breath as soon as my vision caught the large expanse of seawater with surging waves as if inviting me to come over and let my senses enjoy the feel the of sand on my feet, the temperature of the water on my skin, to hear clearly the sound of waves in my ears and clear my lungs with the freshness of the air that was filtered by the saltwater itself.

I smiled happily, knowing I was born to enjoy the ocean. I guess I would never be able to live contentedly without the ocean nearby. All my life, the seawater was my playmate. It had been my witness as I dealt with the myriad of emotions.

Happy. Sad. Irritated. Ecstatic. Confused. And a lot more.

All of a sudden, I heard a splash as if someone had dived through a body of water. I glanced in the direction where I heard the sound come from. The connecting terrace seemed to extend up to the side, and like a curious cat, I trailed the long path until I reached the corner.

Instantly, I saw a head-turning man with a to-die-for physique taking powerful laps in a not so big pool. He was like a divine creature in the water who did not belong to the human world.

I stood in a corner where I could observe him freely without being noticed.

I released a breath that was pulled from the deepest part of my chest.

In my thoughts, if Blake and I met at the proper time, would I be able to attract him? Would I be attracted to him if we were of the same age?

Maybe, or maybe not.

If I have one wish–I wished I never appeared like a stupid fool, desperately running after a man.

If our paths did not cross, would I act the same as I was doing now?

I doubt it. It wasn’t me and I know that in the future, I would never do this again for anybody. Blake's case would be my first and last desperate move to ask a favor from a man for s*x. Never again would I do it in my lifetime.