A Woman's Empire

L

CHAPTER FIFTY

Canada was a lot colder than Audrielle had expected. Snowflakes started to fall as she hurriedly carried the groceries into the house. Skipper, the rescue dog Audrielle adopted as a pet for Orlando's third birthday, greeted them at the door.

Orlando ran inside carrying his school bag, giggling as Skip jumped up and licked his face in excitement. "Skip! Hop down!" Orlando exclaimed.

It had been four years. Four years since Audrielle last saw Leo. She had no idea where he was or if he was even still alive. Orlando was a smart kid for being only four years old and when Audrielle would drop him off at preschool, one day he came home asking if he had a dad.

That day, Audrielle burst into tears. She didn't know what to tell him. She told him that he had a father who loved him very much but couldn't see him. Audrielle tried to get into touch with Leo every time she was on a phone call with Antonio but Antonio would always say the same thing, "he's not here, he's overseas."

On Audrielle and Orlando's birthdays, they would receive a present and a card from Leo. Normally, he would buy Orlando extravagant toys like a little Lamborghini for him to drive around in or Gold toy figurines. Audrielle would always get a jewellery set or a brand new handbag with a designer dress and heels to match. When Christmas would come around, Audrielle would receive a little red box with a gold bow on top and every year there would be the same message written in the Christmas card:

To Audrielle,

Here's a little something to make it a Christmas to remember. Sorry I couldn't be there to celebrate.

Merry Christmas and have a happy New Year.

Love, Leo

It was a reoccurring thing that Audrielle would always receive the first day of December. And there would always be a hundred thousand dollars sitting neatly in stacks inside of the box. What did Audrielle do with all of this money?

Most of it went to charity. She would keep ten thousand to help get through Christmas and the winter and with whatever remaining cash there was, she would put it back into the box and stash it under the floorboards under her dressing table.

When she entered the kitchen, there it was. The little red box with a gold bow on it. Orlando pointed to it and Audrielle sighed. She didn't need Leo's money, she could make it herself.

"I wonder what's inside." Orlando said as he shook the box close to his ear.

"Orlando, sweetie, go take your boots and coats off then I'll make us some hot cocoa?" Orlando squealed in excitement and Skipper barked too. As Orlando rushed off to his bedroom, Audrielle put the grocery bags on the counter and picked up the box. She rolled her eyes when she saw the stacks of hundred dollar bills inside.

"Mommy! What's inside?" Orlando asked as he tried to grab the box.

"Oh, it's from your dad. He said it's for you and that you'll have to wait till Christmas before you can open it." Audrielle smiled, closing the box back up.

The hot cocoa was soothing and the crackling of the fire was calming. A Christmas movie was playing on the tv and Orlando was falling asleep in the chair.