The Millionaire's 'Friend' - Natasha's Story

Chapter 20 - Just Like The Others

To me, a kitchen was just a functional room; there to provide storage and facilities to prepare food. Well, not Evan's kitchen – it was palatial.

Sparkling white cabinets and black granite worktops lined the back wall. To my right stood a fridge freezer that could easily have housed a family of four. And in the center of the room was a huge kitchen island. There were also two sinks sat side by side - which if anyone could explain to me I would be most grateful.

"You want bottled?" Evan asked while opening the door to the fridge and virtually disappearing inside. He pulled himself back out and held up an ice cold bottle of Evian.

"No thanks, tap water's fine."

Evan disappeared back inside his fridge, replacing the bottles he'd picked out, and then crossed the room to collect a couple of tumblers.

During the time it took him to move away, I became distracted by a display of photographs on the wall beside me. There must have been about two dozen of them, all held together in a spidery black metal design. They were the only thing of colour that I'd seen in the entire apartment. I scanned each photo, keenly taking in the array of splendid holiday spots and wild activities.

"You've done some incredible things, Mr Cole." I remarked, hearing him approach from behind me.

"Yeah, good times. Wish I still did that kind of stuff."

"Oh? What made you stop?" Evan handed me a glass of water as I spoke, which I gratefully gulped at, not realising just how parched I'd become after running.

"Well, I knew from an early age that my dad was intending for me to take over the business, so I wanted to take some time and see the world first."

"Looks like you made the most of it. These are amazing." I added, turning back and continuing to browse his memories. "I'd love to do things like this."

There were photos of him white water rafting, skydiving, rock climbing, even one of him trekking on horseback across what looked like a baron dessert landscape that seemed to go on for miles. A couple were from snowy mountain tops where Evan was togged out in ski gear while others displayed stunning views across famous cities like Rio and Shanghai. As I scanned the pictures I noticed that four or five of the photos had a young woman in them.

"My sister, Georgia." Evan supplied, though I'd already thought it must be.

Georgia appeared to be a little older than Evan, slim and pretty, yet approachable. That's how I guessed it was his sister and not some former conquest of his. It warmed my heart to see Evan and his sister looking as close as he'd described. Knowing he had someone he could share those incredible experiences with. Must have been nice.

"Is this Sophie? I asked, looking down to a picture near the bottom. It was a beautiful black and white photo of Evan carefully cradling a sleeping baby. He was looking down at his niece, the expression of unconditional love held in my favourite pair of eyes.

"Yes. That was a couple of days after she'd been born. And, this one...." He pointed to a photo on the far right, "....was last year just after her fifth birthday."

"She's beautiful." I said, smiling as I looked at the little blond girl in the photo. She looked happy, so innocent and optimistic.

"Don't be fooled." Started Evan. "She looks like an angel, but she can be a little terror when she wants to be. She keeps my sister run off her feet. I guess that's why her and Mark haven't had any more kids yet."

I listened quietly to Evan, fascinated to hear about his family and barely able to tear my eyes from the photos that showed him looking so incredibly content. It made me slightly sad to think that the young, carefree guy in those pictures was the same one that stood beside me; the one who held an unknown but troubling weariness within those eyes.