Unrequited Love

Chapter 9

Opening the door for Gina, Travis caught a glimpse of the overwhelming sadness, pain, and hurt that took control of her face. With a sigh, he thought 'she can hide it no longer.' Gina entered her workplace, ignoring everyone as she made her way to her office. Closing the door of her well immaculate office, pressing her back against the door, Gina broke in tears again. For what seemed like the next hour and a half, Gina sat on the floor of her office crying. Catching a glimpse of the time, she thought about going home and perpetuating her sadness as she used it to celebrate her daunting situation. Using her right hand to push herself to her feet, the immediate buckle of her knees told her that sitting in one position for a period gave her dead legs. Bracing herself on the front of her desk for a few minutes, her mind began to take her back to the main event of the day. She began asking herself why Carlisle could not tell her what was in his heart. Why he couldn't tell her how he felt? Why? It was plastered on his face, but why did he resist and hold back? Men. What the fuck is wrong with them? The knock on her door brought Gina back to recent events. "Who is it?" she called from behind the door."Travis. I just thought I should check in on you.""I'm ok Travis. Thanks.""So may I come in?""Sure thing hon, the door's open."Travis enters the office with a worried look on his face for his boss. "Are you sure you are ok?" The concern in his voice was enough to get Gina's eyes coated in tears. Batting her eyelashes and swallowing hard she pushed the feeling to cry from the front of her mind. "So what's going on outside?""Not much. Everyone is going home Gina. It's 5 o'clock.""Ok, I think I'm going to stay back and do some work, so you can go home.""You want me to get you some dinner?""Thanks. That'd be nice. The regular."From the confused look on Travis's face, Gina gave a chuckle, as she realized soon that she had many regulars. There were two Chinese restaurants, one Mexican and one Italian restaurant that Gina had regulars. At Friznos it was pasta and tomato sauce with teriyaki chicken; at Café le Barrido, it was tortilla and salsa con queso; at Lucky Dragon, it was pork fried rice and egg rolls and at Chinese International is was garlic bread with cheese and shrimp fried rice. Mentally going through her regular menus Gina told Travis that tonight was Friznos night. As Travis left the office, closing the door behind him, Gina made her way to her chair. Staring into nowhere, Gina returned to her previous thoughts about Carlisle. Oh, how she loved him. With that thought, Gina picked up her cell phone and dialed the number to the only person she could talk to right now.Waiting for the line to pick up Gina distracted herself by tapping her fingers on the table, a habit that annoyed her mother. Enjoying the memory of her mother's disgust with her habits, a mischievous smile made its way to the corners of her mouth. "Hello?" The voice on the other end of the line disrupted Gina's memory of her mischievous behaviours that usually annoyed and disgusted her mother. "Hello, Daddy. How are you?""Regina? Is this you?""Yes Daddy, it's me.""Oh my God!!! Sweet pea, I haven't heard from you in months. How have you been? When are you coming by?"Gina chuckled to herself as she listened to her father's 20 questions as he gave her no time to answer. It was just like her father. The worst time for him to be like this is when he is upset. Gina remembered the last time her father got upset with her. She had missed her curfew out of spite for her mother, because of the argument they had over her dating Jordan a drummer from the school band. Jordan was not popular with many parents. He was a notorious drug addict and womanizer and according to him, he will not deny himself his nature. "Regina? You there?""Sorry, daddy. I am.""So how are you sweet pea?""I am ok daddy." Trying as hard as she can, Gina stifled the sob that made its way up her throat."Regina? Sweet pea, talk to me."Her father was the only one who did not shorten her name. He always called her Regina. His mumbles of sweet pea through the phone line made Regina miss her dad even more. Mr. Thornwood was always able to know when his children were lying, when they were upset and when they were sad. "Daddy...I..." the tears came uncontrollably. For the next ten minutes of the call, Gina cried, wishing she had her father's shoulder and strong arms around her comforting her. "Sweet pea...It will be ok. Just talk to me.""Daddy, I am in love with someone and it hurts really badly. I can't stop myself from thinking about him and I shouldn't. I don't know if he is involved with someone or not. I asked but I didn't get much to work with. I told him how I feel about him and he still didn't give me much to work with. Today I ran into him at lunch with another woman and we had a moment. I got up and went to the bathroom, moments after he followed and he held me while I cried. It was on his face daddy, but he said nothing. He just watched me walk away. Why did he do that daddy?"Daniel Thornwood listens to the broken voice of his eldest daughter. A career-oriented and strong woman who came down to the size of the child he brought home on October 27th, twenty-eight years ago. Regina was always the strongest of his three children. She was in love with her books and no one could break their bond. She had big dreams and a big smile that made everyone feels better whenever she looks at them. Now this wonderful woman who is his daughter needs him and his fatherly advice more than ever.                                                                                              ****"Thanks, daddy. Oh and yes I will visit next weekend and I will come home for Christmas too." "It's like you children have forgotten me and your mother.""Daddy we haven't we are just busy. I will call Matt and Vicki, we will all drive up next week. How does that sound?""Looking forward to it sweet pea.""Ok, daddy. Enjoy the rest of your evening and thank you so much. Tell mummy hi for me, please. I love you, Papi."With that, Gina hung up the phone, and the feeling of comfort and relief swept over her. She now felt at peace. Once again, she began staring out the window, seeing the Ferrari she saw a few days ago parked outside once more. Gina decided to investigate.