15.06 (#2)

Chapter 3

"Hello Christian." She replied, confirming my fears. She was back and for how long no one could be sure.

"You're back." I stated.

"Not for long." She replied quietly.

"Of course you'll be disappearing off again without a word. Should have guessed." I retorted, anger finally taking over surprise. How dare she come back and pretend like nothing happened?

"I have to go now. It was... It was good seeing you Christian." She shot me a smile before turning away. Her smile still had the same effect on me as it did six years ago.

"Wait." I grabbed her arm. "We need to talk." I said angrily.

"There's nothing to talk about Christian." Each time my name fell from her lips my resolve waned. Only she called me Christian.

"Like hell there is. You disappear suddenly and then return six years later like nothing happened. I deserve to know what happened." I gritted out, still grabbing her upper arm.

"I don't want to talk about it." Anger flashed in her eye momentarily before returning to her cool poker face. She had always been good at hiding her emotions.

"You have to and you will. I deserve the truth." I forced out, the anger finally consuming any feelings of longing I had for her.

"Not now. Here's my number. Call me when you're less angry then maybe we can talk. Oh and Christian? Felicity would like the Christmas edition platinum snowflake bracelet charm." With those words she disappeared into the crowds with her daughter's hand in hers. A moment passed before realisation washed over me like a bucket of water. She has a daughter.

Rori has a daughter.

Her name is Olivia.

She has a daughter. The image of the two of them together was imprinted into my brain. I had so many questions I didn't know where to start. She was right, however, to walk away while my anger sizzled through me. There was no way we could have a conversation with so many people around and a child between us. Dazed I turned back to the glass display cabinet. "Can I have a platinum silver snowflake?" I asked the saleswoman.

"Unfortunately sir we just sold the last one. However Tiffany's has one in stock. Would you like to order it there?" She asked.

"Sure. I can go pick it up today." I replied.

"Great. I'll call ahead and say you're coming. May I have your name sir?"

"Chris Jamieson." I saw the flicker of recognition in her eyes before she nodded eagerly. I waited for her to finish the call before I called Felicity.

"Hey Chris are you done?" She asked.

"Yeah but can you go home alone. I need to pop by the restaurant quickly."

"Uh fine. I'll call Gerard." I was thankful she didn't put up much of a fight, I wasn't in the mood to argue.

I hailed a cab to Tiffany's and Co to collect Felicity's present. The transaction was complete smoothly and soon I found myself wandering the streets alone with my thoughts.

Rori was back and she wanted to talk. That was a new one for sure. My mind was scrambled. I couldn't think, couldn't eat. When I got home I poured myself some whiskey. It was the only thing I was able to digest. I couldn't understand why she had come back, crossing my path the way she did.

She didn't look like she had any remorse over what she had done. She didn't care. I hated her more now than I did before. I hated what she did to me, the way she made me feel. She nearly destroyed me and my family and there was no way in hell I was allowing her to do it again.