Garcìa

chapter 11

Valentina and her grandparents had a grand dinner with the three of them last night. They talked about all the memories from before everything and about the ones they had made while Valentina was in Spain again. It wasn't until Valentina fell asleep that she realised she would be leaving her grandparents again. And Benji this time. But she also knew that she had to do this. She was going to get her company and rebuild it to how it was when her parents were still alive. And she would, together with Rafael, bring down the man who took her from her family. She was excited but nervous at the same time.

Valentina walked downstairs with her suitcases in her hands. She had grown quite a wardrobe since she got to Spain. She arrived with only a few pieces of clothing and was now leaving with two suitcases. Sure it wasn't a full on closet but she was pretty content with it. She didn't really know much else. Even when she was younger, she didn't want a lot of clothes.

"Oh mi niña, I'm going to miss you so much." Valentina's grandmother said before the two hugged each other tightly.

"Me too, abuela." she replied to her grandmother.

"Take care, querida." her grandfather said before hugging her and leaving a kiss on her forehead.

"I will, I promise." she said to him.

"Oh before we forget." her grandmother said before rushing up the stairs.

Valentina looked up at her grandfather with confusion but he wouldn't let anything through. She tried getting it out of him but she knew he wouldn't budge. He would never betray his wife. She probably made him promise not to tell. And he never broke a promise.

"Here you go, querida." her grandmother said once she got downstairs and handed over a small box.

Valentina took the little box carefully and frowned while looking at her grandparents who nudged her to open it. She pulled the ribbon and pulled off the lid. She found some sort of cushion and took it off the top. She then found jewellery. But not just any jewellery. It was her mother's necklace and her parents' wedding rings.

"They found it in the car crash and we got a hold of it. We kept it safe until we could give it to you." her grandfather said to her with a smile.

She smiled with teary eyes. She took the necklace out of the box and saw the rings on it. She smiled at it with mixed feelings.

"I'll put it on." her grandmother said and Valentina handed the necklace over to her.

Her grandmother carefully placed the necklace on and Valentina immediately felt a little closer to them.

"Thank you, for everything." Valentina said to her grandparents before they hugged again.

After saying goodbye, she was driven towards the plane. The route she now knew by hand. It was the same beautiful landscape as every other time but it never got old. They soon entered the runway and Valentina stepped out. A man carried her suitcases to the plane, much to her dismay. But even after arguing with the man, he took them onto the plane. She took a seat in one of the comfortable ones and looked out of the window. The pilot announced they would be taking off soon, so she decided to text Rafael like she had promised.

Valentina: We're taking off in a few seconds.

Rafael: Alright, see you soon.

She locked her phone before settling herself into the chair. The plane started moving and they were soon up in the air. She covered herself in a blanket and closed her eyes. She knew she wouldn't sleep well for a few days when she arrived in New York.

Valentina was awoken by somebody shaking her awake. It was a flight attendant who was waking her because they'd be landing soon. Valentina thanked the lady before sitting up right and putting on her seatbelt. She was almost in New York. She was almost home. Just a little while longer until she was with her family again. They landed on the runway and Valentina was led out of the plane. It was eleven in the night and stars could slightly be seen.

She looked in front of her and found Rafael waiting there for her. He was wearing a black suit and he was running his hand through his hair. He looked nervous. She didn't understand why but shrugged it off and made her way over to him. He didn't notice her.

"Hello, Raffy." she said once she stood in front of him.

She had forgotten how tall he was. She had seen him a few times in these past four years and he had grown. In height and in muscles. He stared at her for a moment before surprising both of them and engulfing her in a hug. He pulled her up from the ground and she squealed.

"Hello Valentina." he said with a small smile. "How was your flight?"

"It was pretty okay. I slept most of the time." she said while they started putting her suitcases in the trunk of his car.

"Let's get you to your hotel. You must be tired." he said and let her to the passenger side.

He held the door open for her and she got in after thanking him. He got in on the driver's seat. He started the car and they were off. She had missed New York. She had grown up here most of her childhood after all. She looked at all the new things from the car window. Rafael looked at her with a smile. They soon came to a stop in front of a luxurious hotel.

"Let's go." he said and they both got out.

Her luggage was carried by some hotel workers and they were let upstairs by them. She had momentarily forgotten that Rafael owned the hotel. They went all the way up to the penthouse. She was still shocked by luxury most of the time but she had gotten better at hiding it. They entered the penthouse and she was baffled by the interior and the view.

"It's beautiful." she said.

"It is." Rafael said.

She turned to him to see him looking at her. She rolled her eyes with a smile.

"You're such a tease." she said before walking into the dinning room.

"We should talk about the game plan." he said when they both took a seat.

"Yeah, we should." she said and they started talking about their game plan.