Chapter 20

A message popped up on my phone with a heavy vibration. I shrugged and struggled to raise my arm to grab the phone from the office table, I quickly read through the message, my eyes were troubled and trembled that I had a dancing view, I was dizzy and my eyes were full of tears and pain.

[Let's meet at the Lantana Hotel, as we celebrate your birthday tonight.] I had no I dea that It was my birthday, and this time my father had remembered my birthday, the message came from him, Mr.Beur, he had prepared a day for me, for the first time in history, he'd never wanted to feel embarrassed when the mother could ask him once again if his children he remembered the dates were born.

This was the first birthday that I was about to celebrate in my entire life, I had even forgotten the dates and the days, but this seemed a unique one.

Since Gregory Isack died, I have faced a lot, my father has always tried to prove to me that he is able to take care of me all the time, but I have always had a bad feeling about him.

He has had several attempts to convince me to get moving and forget about the death of Jack, although I just knew how much he wanted it to happen.

Dad would do anything just to see me getting married to those monsters, he would sell all his properties to fund a very colorful wedding.

He however tried also to Convince me about his death, several times he would say that Jack's death was planned from heaven and there was no way I could turn that back around. but I could not believe him that much, I just thought it was all but his mocks and fake cares since I knew and I now had the entire story about Jack and his death. Only a few days to find out the truth.

I was forced to relax, by the message and at least think something positive about my life, that deserved more time and energy. I quickly collected the bulk papers from my desk and dragged them to drop them at a corner of the office desk.

I knew that it was all gone, the new boss had decided that it was. gone. l had no job again, and an idea came up that I should go straight home after the party, I had no money to rent a new apartment.

Maybe I could talk to Dad and he would love to host me for a few more days. I quickly collected some other extra papers dropped them into my purse and quickly moved towards the entrance of the office door, as I squeezed the papers to fit into my small purse, I stared at the door, with a slivery label, -communication manager- few drops of tears teared up my cheek and ran down to the soft neck skin.

As I walked away to the exit of the office, I noticed that I was all alone that day, and no one else was in there, even Layla. Could it be that everyone got fired that day? I was really confused and I couldn't even guess what was going on! Or could it be a prank imposed on me? I didn't know, but I had to know the truth that very day. At the company parking lot was only a usual red car with a trunk passenger that was separated from the rear seat.

I quickly moved towards the car, forgetting to lock the company's doors, although the security guard covered it for me. I unlocked its doors from a distance by the key remotes, took a step fired the engines, and drove off like a mad person. I was lucky enough to find out that there was no traffic Congestion on the road as the road Bravana Hotel was clear.

It only took me a few minutes to drive to the Lantana Hotel from the office. A sharp scent of incense welcomed me, embosoming me in opulent fumes that caressed my eyelids, naturally drawing thoughts and focus on resting upon the well-arranged tables propped at every corner of the hotel, on the opposite end of the room from the entrance was a luxurious coach with beautiful pillowcases that attracted my eyes.

A timid, bluish, pale light peeped from a window to my left, and it almost instantly blended with the diffuse lighting that was flooding the room, Coming from the numerous festive lights tingling and hanging from the ceiling, fixed from wall to wall and around the window.

A hazy rock'n'roll song about mermaids, echoing directly from the sixties, came from an unidentified source, hinting at the musical spiced taste I enjoyed.

"Oh glad you are here daughter!" Mr Beur welcomed her daughter in a charming warm welcome as he stood. and kissed me by the chick, and further grabbed me by the hands, "Come on! Have a seat dear!" He said in a high voice trying to outcompete the music volume. I excused myself and pulled, as he pulled a seat for me. I never responded to my father as I looked and stared my eyes at a certain lady who had a seat next to my father's.

A boiling pit of heat in my guts filled my body with the impulse to run far, far away. Not in any particular direction. Helpless stagnation, as if I was watching the water turn stagnant because my boat had jammed the river.

At a far, my fingers started fidgeting, as I tried to bury the fear, hiding my hands under the table not to let my father realize my fears towards the lady sitting beside him. "Happy birthday to you Jennifer," The lady said with confidence and with no fear of any contradiction, he was so confident that it was my birthday. She raised her eyebrows, opening her eyes wide and staring at me from a far, she raised her hand and stretched to exchange greetings with me, I had to respond, but u responded slowly like a stuck tortoise that had sensed some insecurity and would wish to go any other distance that it had already covered.

My fears were answered by the Voice, my doubts benefited from her voice, and what I saw was not a nightmare but an open truth.