Dreams Can Come True

98. Home

The last rays of the sun cast a warm glow over the studio parking lot where I stood with Bas. The air was filled with the scent of fresh rain that had fallen earlier in the day, mixed with the sweet fragrance of flowers blooming in the nearby flower beds. The calm that settled over the surroundings was a welcome change after the hustle and bustle of the studio.
The day in the studio had been like a rollercoaster ride through a sea of creativity and emotions. Being back behind the microphone felt like coming home, a familiar warmth that enveloped me and gave me the strength to give everything I had. The anger coursing through my veins fueled my voice, giving our music a new intensity that did not go unnoticed by Paul. His eyes lit up when he heard the new song that Bas and I had spontaneously created, and before the day was over, it was already added to our repertoire, perhaps even for our first CD.
Bas looked at me questioningly, his brown eyes full of curiosity and concern. "Should I give you a ride?" he offered, his voice filled with care. I shook my head resolutely. "No, Bill's gift," I replied with a smile, pointing to the black car where Jacob was patiently waiting for me.
The surprise on Bas's face was unmistakable. "Bill gave you his security man?" he asked, his voice laced with astonishment. I couldn't help but stifle a soft chuckle at his surprised reaction. "He's right," Bas continued, his voice calm but determined. "With a man like David around, it's not an unnecessary luxury."
It sounded like an understatement, but I knew the threat David posed was no joke. The memory of his suffocating grip, his manipulative games, sent a shiver down my spine. Jacob stood there as a protective wall between me and the darkness of my past.
Bas laughed with me, a playful twinkle in his eyes as I teased him. "I think it's a bit over the top," I said with a grin, while he gave me a nudge on my shoulder. I rolled my eyes, but a warm feeling of gratitude filled my heart. Bas had always been there, a rock in the stormy seas of my life.
"Don't keep Jacob waiting too long," he said with a wink. "See you tomorrow."
I nodded, a warm feeling of gratitude overwhelming me as I walked toward Jacob. It felt good to have control over my life again, surrounded by people who cared about and supported me.

Jacob, dressed in a neat suit, stood by the car with a calm and watchful expression on his face. He was an imposing figure, with his muscular build and piercing gaze, but his friendly smile immediately put me at ease. "Good evening, Elise," he greeted me politely as he opened the car door for me.
"Good evening, Jacob," I replied with a grateful smile as I settled into the comfortable backseat of the car. The upholstery felt soft under my fingers, and I leaned back as Jacob closed the door and walked to the driver's seat.
The drive home was quiet and serene, with the soft hum of the engine being the only sound breaking the silence. I stared out the window, enjoying the passing scenery as my thoughts drifted to the events of the day.

Once home, I couldn't help but invite Jacob inside again, but he steadfastly refused. He claimed he would have a better view from his car. With a bitter feeling, I turned and walked inside alone. The absence of Jacob felt suddenly strange and uncomfortable, even though I was in my own apartment.
My eyes immediately fell on the large bouquet of roses on the kitchen table, the delicate petals still fresh and colorful. Of course, Jacob had already placed them there, a silent witness to Bill's loving gesture. I walked over to the flowers and inhaled their sweet scent, my thoughts drifting to Bill. Yesterday, he was still with me, his warmth and presence palpable in the hospital. And now he was gone, thousands of miles away from me.
With a sigh, I took my phone out of my work bag and saw that Bill had sent a message. "Finally arrived at our hotel. Want to Skype? X" I read with a smile. Without hesitation, I replied that I would be online. I settled myself with my laptop on the bed and waited until I saw him appear on the screen.
When his familiar face finally emerged, it felt like a warm wave of happiness washed over me. The twinkle in his eyes, the smile on his lips – it was all so familiar and reassuring. "Hey, Bill," I greeted him with a genuine smile, my heart beating faster at the sight of him.
"Hey, Elise," he replied with a broad smile. His voice sounded soft and familiar through the speakers of my laptop. "How are you?" he asked, looking at me with a searching gaze. I shrugged and smiled. "Better now that I see you," I answered honestly. "And you?"
Bill nodded in agreement. "Much better now that I see your face," he said with a twinkle in his eyes.
The Skype conversation continued with a cheerful atmosphere, it was clear that Bill was excited about his flight. He vividly described the beautiful views he had seen from the airplane window and how well everything had gone. His enthusiasm was contagious, and I listened with a smile to his stories.
But as I listened to Bill, my thoughts increasingly drifted to David and his audacity to demand hush money. How dare he? The anger bubbled up again, and I felt the fury rising within me. I just couldn't understand how he was getting away with it, as if he had some almighty grip on everything and everyone.
It didn't take long for Bill to notice that my thoughts were elsewhere. His enthusiastic voice slowly faded as he looked at me with concern. "Elise, is everything okay?" he asked, his voice filled with worry.
I snapped out of my thoughts and hastily tried to put a smile on my face. "Yes, everything is fine," I lied, hoping he wouldn't notice how much anger was simmering inside me.
But Bill wasn't so easily convinced. "Are you sure?" he pressed, his gaze determined.
I swallowed and tried to control my rising emotions. "Bas and I spontaneously wrote and recorded a new song today," I said, twisting the truth a bit to hide my frustration about David. "But honestly, it all feels quite stressful, with the CD coming out soon and so many things that need to be done."
A reassuring smile appeared on Bill's face as he nodded. "I completely understand," Bill said in a calm tone as he looked at me reassuringly. "It's normal to feel some stress, especially when so much is at stake. But I truly believe you guys are going to deliver a great CD."
Just as we were about to continue talking, there was a knock on Bill's room door and Tom appeared in the frame. "Hey Elise!" he called out. "Sorry, but I have to take Bill. We have to start the recordings."
Bill sighed in disappointment and looked at me apologetically. "Sorry, love, I have to go," Bill apologized as he blew a kiss to the camera. "But I'll be thinking of you during the recordings."
I smiled at him and blew a kiss back at the camera. "Good luck, Bill," I said with a wink. "I'm going to sleep now. See you tomorrow."
With one last look at the screen, I closed the laptop and fell back onto my bed. Despite the worries about David, I felt somewhat relieved by the conversation with Bill. With his reassuring words still in my head, I finally fell into a peaceful sleep.