|Destined With You|

Chapter 1.

Catalina

"Mommy!" My lips curved up into an instant smile on hearing the soothing voice of my daughter from the kitchen.

Adelaide, my six year old daughter, who's the only one I have to hold on to now. I don't know how I've transformed. How the careless and stupid Catalina has become careful enough to do laundry on time, go shopping on time and raise a kid, even. Adelaide is the only reason I'm alive.

"Yes, sweetie?" I asked, pushing the ottoman to a side and making my way to her.

"How's this?" She was sitting on the dining table, her pigtails swinging as she doodled on a paper that I'd handed out to her to keep her occupied.

"It's beautiful, Ade." I smiled keeping my hand on her back, appreciating the pink tree.

"You think Miss. Peggy would like this?" She turned her head and showed me her father's chocolate brown eyes, making my heart clench even today. "She likes it only when I colour the trees green."

"That is because trees are supposed to be green, sweetness. You're a kid now, you can colour them however you want. But Miss. Peggy knows what color trees are, so she wants you to color them green. When you grow up, that's how it works."

"That is what she says," She mimicked. "That's how it works."

"So you'll continue with this and Mommy's gonna make you some sandwiches, okay?"

"Yes!" She shrieked, swinging her tiny hands up in the air.

"Alright tiny one. What about a green elephant this time, huh?" I tickled her on the tummy earning some of her previous laughter and then went to the refridgerator to get the cheese and veggies.

"No meat?" I turned around and looked at her.

"Never."

Her head shot up instantly. She's up with some theory regarding going vegan and has strictly not eaten non vegetarian since a week. I smiled knowing how she would totally forget about it once she finds out I'll cook her favourite lemon chicken today.

I feel confused at the transformation of me all these years. I could just make these sandwiches a few years ago. I chuckle to myself as I grill them up. My smile vanished as I recalled the face of the man that transformed me. How one night with the guy turned my life upside down. Just one night that changed me so differently and rapidly, no one had seen it coming. I was broken from my trance by the sound of my mobile phone ringing.

"Sweetie, can you get it for me? I'm taking out the sandwiches."

"Yeah." She mumbled and jumped down from the table and skipped her way to our cozy little living room.

"It's Aunt Isabella!" Again skipping, she gave the phone to me.

Dragging chair from the dining table, I flopped down on it. Then I picked Adelaide up and let her sit on my lap as well.

"Hey there!" I was greeted by Isabella's radiating face (it's a video call) as she sat in what seemed like Ian, her son's room.

"Hey Aunt Isabella!" Adelaide waved.

"Hello, baby. You look pretty in pigtails, huh?" She stated, making Ade grin and jump out from my lap, running off to somewhere.

"Kids..." I sighed and smiled along.

"Kids..." She showed me her beautiful smile as well. For a second, her eyes flickered to somewhere else, as if someone was at the door and then, they were back at me.

"So, how's it goin'?" After all these years, we still spoke up at the same time and let out sad laughs. Another laughter joined in, a male's-Julian, her husband, the perfect example of a family man. That too turned from a playboy billionaire to a family person, all because of my dear friend.

"Hello, Boss Daddy." I tried to tease as he appeared on the screen, his arms wrapping around her, pulling her closer. For a second, just a second, I felt a twinge of jealousy. How could I not? They seemed so perfect together.

"You know your eyes don't shine anymore when you tease me now, right?" He asked and I actually felt ashamed at the truth. I've lost all the fun and humour now, it seems.

"Listen, Cat. I-we...well there's this thing you should know...that's why we called." Isabella blabbered, avoiding eye contact and my heart stopped for a second.

"Is it regarding...?"

"Yes." Julian answered for her.

"Julian can't you say it? I don't know how-" She looked at him expectantly.

"We already discussed this, Bella. It would be better if you girls talked it over. Love, you can do it." His voice softened as he pulled her closer so she was almost in his lap and his arms rubbed her shoulders assuringly.

"Cat, he is-Alex is coming...to Seattle."

"For what-just a business tour, right?" I let out a dry laugh, trying to let my heart believe it although my body fought otherwise as I heared the blood pound through my ears and I held onto the chair for support even though I was sitting.

"N-no. I'm afraid that's not the case. He's shifting. He'll-he'll be staying there now. The business suffered a loss so he's living the City and moving to Seattle."

Her eyes were transfixed on Julian's chest as she drew random patterns on his t-shirt, his eyes busy looking at her art. And I was grateful about that, because if we maintained eye contact, they'd see the tears.

"O-okay..alright. What if he is moving? Not like we would bump into each other in such a big city, right? I-Adelaide is calling out. I'll talk to you later."

I quickly hung up the call before she'd say anything, threw the phone somewhere on the table and hugged myself tightly. It's a big city-Seattle. We would just be two random people here. What's the chance that two random people would meet in such a big city? None. Everything will be alright. I just need to stop overthinking. But as those chocolate brown eyes and the feel of his lips on my body come to my mind, I closed my eyes tighter and tighter, till it hurt.

It's a big city, after all. Nothing could go wrong, right?

***

A/N: There's the first chapter! Leave suggestions or if anything annoys you, let me know. Don't worry, the lead female doesn't giggle in my books.

Mentioning you in my prayers!

Love X