CHAPTER 41: Finding Claire

DARREN’s P.O.V.

Two years had passed. Yes, two fucking years. It already took me a pair of year on finding the girl of my dreams. Time passed by so quickly and I treated each time with my outmost power to search for her. I even hired different private investigators and send them on their respective places–all the states that brings snow to the people.

I’m here at Alaska, hoping to see even just a glint or shadow of Claire in here. But I didn’t, even just a single strand of her hair... I exhaustedly lay down on my chair after a long day of skiing trying to have a peace of mind for a while.

Sometimes I thought about what if I just give up? But I didn’t want to. Claire is my life. Dad told me that our company is doing very great now even if Mr. Armando Frias decided to sell his shares to one of the members of our board after what happened. Also, I found out about Elijah and Kate’s relationship two months after our supposed to be wedding day.

I didn’t know that my best friend like her. If only I did, I should’ve not decided to marry her before. I’m very thankful to the fact that it didn’t happen. I don’t want to lose Elijah too.

It’s been two years and both of us are still waiting to see the love of our lives again. Kate leave, just like what Claire did only to find herself. Elijah said that he’ll patiently wait for her even though it seems impossible. While me, I keep on searching.

My random thoughts were cut short because my cellphone suddenly rings, indicating that someone is calling me. I lazily picked it up, didn’t want to answer it if it wasn’t important. But I quickly tap the answer button as soon as I saw the name of one of my hired investigator, Detective Suarez.

“Hello?”

“Mr. Herrera... One of my associates took a photo. It’s a very important one. You should come here and see it for yourself.”

My heart throbbed in nervousness and pain as well. What if this is it? A photo... I can’t wait to see her face again even if it was just a photo. The only important thing to me right now is to see her face. I badly wanted to know how is she doing...

“I’ll go there. Where are you?” I asked, not wanting to waste anymore moments.

“New York city.”

“Wait for me. I’ll just asked Dad to bring me some chopper in here.”

“Sure, Mr. Herrera.”

I called Dad as soon as Detective Suarez dropped the call. He wasn’t answering at first so I decided to packed up my things while I’m still trying to contact him. I already finished packing up my stuffs but I haven’t received any answer from him yet. I locked our vacation house, before carrying my luggage towards the car. Finally, that’s when he picked up his phone.

“Darren? What’s the matter, son? I’m in a meeting right now. Sorry for not answering your calls,” he explained.

“Dad... I need your help. I need a chopper right now.”

“Where are you?”

“Alaska. One of my investigator found out something... I got a feeling that it was big... Maybe it is about Claire this time...”

“Okay. I’ll send you one... Where did he find her?”

“It’s not yet sure but he said he’s in New York.”

“Okay. Good luck, son. Just wait for now.”

“Thanks, Dad. I know I can always count on you.”

“Of course, son. I got your back. Now go and get her.”

I just nodded even though he couldn’t see me. He dropped the call and I waited there patiently, and after an hour or so, a helicopter comes down from the sky and I’m pretty sure that it was ours.

“Mr. Darren Herrera... Your father told us to picked you up. So, where is our destination?” the pilot asked.

I smiled at him before hopping in the chopper. I put down my luggage and wear some gears.

“We are going to New York.”

“Sure...”

And that’s it. We fly high up in the sky, not bothering the cold breeze above. While we are on a trip, I can’t help but to think of what I’m going to say to Claire if ever we meet again. For two years I’ve been mentally preparing myself for this... But I still couldn’t say that I’m ready.

“We are landing now, Mr. Herrera.”

That statement of our pilot took me back to reality. He decided to land on one of the highest building here in New York. As soon as I hopped down, I thanked him, feeling excited to meet one of my investigators for the very first time. I dialed his number while making my way down to the lobby of the building.

“Detective Suarez... Where shall we meet later?” I asked after he answered my call.

“Anywhere you want, Mr. Herrera. And please, prepare yourself for this... It was something unexpected.”

My heart almost got out of my chest because of it’s too much palpitation. I unconsciously scratch my nape for apparently no reason. Maybe because of too much nervousness.

“S-sure. I’ll just text you the address of the place.”

“Fine.”

I dropped the call before texting him the address of our home. I got a cab and told to the driver to bring me to the one most expensive village here in New York. Thankfully, he knew the place so we arrived earlier than expected. I gave him an extra payment for his great service.

“Mr. Herrera... Nice to finally meet you in personal.” It was detective Suarez, resting his body on the parked motorcycle in front of our gate.

“Detective Suarez...” I offered my hand and he accepted it. “So, shall we go inside?”

“Sure, of course.”

We got inside of the house. I put my luggage down to get some wine on the cellar before sitting in the couch in front of him. He positioned himself on the opposite side of the table before pulling something out from his suitcase. It was a brown envelope.

“Are you ready, Mr. Herrera?” he asked.

I gulped, before nodding. He placed it across the table and my trembling hands automatically reached out for it.

“Are you sure this thing is really all about Claire?” I asked, hesitant for a moment.

“A hundred percent sure. Open it, Mr. Herrera.”

I nodded before I slowly opened the envelope. I pulled the hard paper inside, and when the figures started to show up, I covered my mouth in surprise. It was indeed Claire... Her face... It didn’t change even just a little bit. She still look exactly the same.

But my heart stopped as I realized one thing... She was carrying a child. A little girl that looked exactly like Alexa. My heart sinks and my shoulders dropped. It was too late. Maybe she already have a family now. Tears began to form at the corners of my eyes. I simply wiped it off, hiding the pain to the person in front of me.

“Are you okay, Mr. Herrera?”

“I’m too late. I can’t get her back anymore...” I trailed off.

“What do you mean?”

“Maybe she has a family now...”

“No, Mr. Herrera. Looked very closely at the face of that child...” I did what he told me to do. “Now tell me, can’t you see your younger self to that child?”

My eyes widen in surprise. Impossible! How can... Shit! I remember that night. How can I be so stupid?! Maybe she already knows that she’s carrying my child even before she left the country. She just thought that maybe I didn’t care. But I do... I just can’t believe it.

“No... I did this to her... I want to see her! Tell me where is my wife and daughter right now!”

“Well, that’s the problem, Mr. Herrera. We are still not sure of her location. My associate just took that photo because he remembered about my mission in here. He thought that maybe it could be a very useful information.”

“What?! I want to see her right now!”

“Please calm down, Mr. Herrera. I have a solution for your problem. The place where this photo was taken is just near in this area. That only means that maybe your wife and her family are living here, in New York.”

I closed my eyes tightly shut. I calmed myself before saying another word towards him.

“Alright then, Detective Suarez. Thank you for the information.” He just nodded at me once.

I finally made up my mind. I’ll wait for Claire until she decided come at that place again. I’ll wait for her even if it means that I need to go there everyday. I’ll do it and no one can stop me anymore.