The Don's Saving Grace (GxG)✔️

51

Shopping with Neo is not as fun as people make it seem, she wants to touch every single thing, she thinks she likes.

When I woke up, her designer was there to take my measurements to make me a dress for tonight. She also had to go to work, she had an important meeting that she could not put off but she gave me her card, so I came to the mall with Neo but I slowly realise that it was a mistake.

"Mama, can I have this?"

"Why?"

"It's green!" her reasoning, I nod and she puts the green star plushie in the trolley. We bought other toys for tonight.

"Ms. Abiya, Ms. Zaitzev asks that you see her before I take you home." Vadim, her driver says as we walk out of the store and head to her office.

One of the tallest buildings in Moscow is her company's headquarters, the building has changed in seven years. Vadim leads us to a private elevator that goes straight to her office floor.

I knock before walking in, she is at her desk, typing away.

"Are you busy?"

"Uhm," she takes a moment and looks up "No. I can finish this later." as I walk closer to her I notice the changes she made.

"Mama is that you?" Neo points at the gigantic portrait of me in Oia.

"Yes, it is." she says from behind me "I took it many years ago before you were born. Your mom was quite mad at me when I took the picture but she looked so happy watching the donkeys climb up to the city of Oia." it was before I asked her to take a picture of me with the camera she bought me.

"When did you get this made?"

"Seven years ago."

"Where is Oia?"

"It is in Greece, I will take you there," I tell her "Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why did you have it placed in your office?"

"To keep my heart from breaking anymore than it already was." now my heart is melting in my chest.

"Ri, I... This..."

"You don't have to say anything, I deserved everything I have gotten, the good and painful."

"Why this picture?"

"It is the day you said to me 'stop trying to act as if I could never fall in love with you just because I don't know how I feel at this moment' the day I got some hope that you could love me the way I love you."

"Oh, so you don't want to remember the day you sent me away to protect me?"

"My life's greatest regret and this portrait was a promise to always cherish the ones I love and to never let them go. I'm not letting you go, Abiya, not this time."

"You promise?"

"I promise, my love." she places a kiss on my forehead before placing one on Neo's forehead.

"So why did you call us here?"

"My grandmother is willing to watch Neo while we are at the benefit, is that okay with you?"

"Uhm, if she is up for it then it's okay with me."

"Neo, you want to meet my grandma?" she takes her into her arms

"Is she old?"

"Uhm, She is young at heart."

"What does that mean?"

"She is young on the inside."

"Oh, when am I going to meet her?"

"Later today. For now, you want to go get some ice cream?" I send a frown her way "How about hot chocolate with whipped cream instead of Ice Cream?"