walked away for a while. She stopped and looked at Karolina. She smiled for a while.
“That’s flattering but you know Tom is after a vacation house in Spain. This business thing is out of the question.”
Instantly the lift doors suddenly opened. A man smartly dressed up in a white suit and a blue tie came out. He smiled before rubbing his hands together.
“Can I have your attention! This is the time you have been waiting for! Are you all excited?”
The people replied but not loud enough.
“Are you hungry or what?” he asked.
A huge buzz sound filled the reception.
“Follow me if you can please!”
The crowd followed him. In the building and across the reception on the other side were two big doors. A ribbon was across the doors. Karolina felt confident inside but looked a bit nervous. As soon as the regional director appeared out of the lifts, she hurried toward the door.
“Ladies and gentlemen. The regional director Mr. Karl and the head of this store Mrs. Karolina!”
A huge applause and jubilation filled the hall.
Months later.
An executive Mercedes Benz rolled out of the mansion's yard and slowly into the road. Karolina looked nervous as she looked everywhere first. The look on her face said it all. Fear. Yes, fear of some kind. The car turned into the main road and disappeared around a corner. She looked in the rear-view mirror and everywhere. She looked at the passenger seat and pulled her bag close to herself quickly looking ahead in the road. She opened the bag while focusing ahead and quickly took out a gun. She stared at the gun for a split second. She placed the gun on the passenger seat. The screeching of the car tires sends her panicking. She looked in the rear-view mirror before she sped off. The chase. She looked at the car behind her. She cursed. Fear and panic sat in. She then abruptly pressed on the brakes and stopped the car beside the road. She grabbed her gun and pushed the door open. Breathing heavily, she stared at the car coming her way. The car driver instantly harsh brakes skidding before coming to a halt just before hers. Inside was an unrecognizable Jonathan. He looked worried and heartbroken of some sort. Karolina didn’t even notice how he got out of his car so fast. She only saw him coming toward her, fast with a face casting a lot of emotional pain and confusion.
“Stop there Jonathan! I have a gun!”
Jonathan walked fast toward her as if he didn’t hear a word she said.
“Jonathan! Stop there! I have a gun.”
She raised the gun and aimed at Jonathan.
“That’s right! It’s loaded,” she cocked up the gun.
That made Jonathan instantly stop for a while.
“What? Shoot me for what? I love you Karolina.”
“No, you don’t. We talked about this remember.”
“I love you Karolina.”
“Jonathan don’t upset me. Don’t start. You don’t walk away from the people you love. Okay?”
Jonathan looked down for a split second. He touched his heart and stretched his hand.
“Come my darling. You know I used to love you.”
“Exactly! Used to. I moved on you do the same. Okay?”
“I mean I love you.”
“Do you really Jonathan? Search your heart do you have love for me? Do you Jonathan!”
She shouted leaning toward Jonathan.
He murmured something with a troubled face and looked at Karolina.
“I loved you with all my heart. I just don’t know why I can’t feel the love I had for you.”
“You are heartbroken. Your heart has no love whatsoever for me. I might start to believe that you never loved me. If you loved me, you could not have walked away from me.”
“I honestly don’t know what happened.”
“I know! Let me help you explain. You lost your love for me. It happens Jonathan no big deal but don’t come and rub it on my face. I have moved on. Move on with your life.”
“Karolina! I love you. I mean I loved you.”
“Oh my God! I know you told me so many times. Move on. For the good times we had please move on. You lost your love for me a long time ago. Even then when we were together. Remember threatening to walk away? Exactly what you ended up doing. No big deal. I only get upset that even now you admit you don’t have love for me yet you keep on nagging me. What do you want from me Jonathan?”
Jonathan looked at Karolina and sauntered toward her. She lowered the gun and dropped it to the ground and started sobbing.
“Oh, Jonathan what is going on with you? You are confusing me now. What do you want?”
Jonathan silently hugged Karolina, and the two stood there for a while before getting into Karolina’s car. The cars parked there for some time before Jonathan jumped into his car and sped off.
Months later one sunny beautiful day a lot of people had gathered outside a huge store in the city. A large crowd had gathered outside to witness the opening of a new shop. The usher appeared as the door opened. He walked toward Karolina and poured some champagne. She took the glass and smiled before looking at the people in the crowd. She raised the glass and smiled further. Californika and Tom appeared from one corner.
“Congratulations Karo you made it. I am proud of you. I never thought you can do this on your own?”
“Thanks Cali. If it wasn’t for you and my new man, there...” She looked on the other side and raised the champagne glass.
“I probably could not have made it.”
“A lot of effort and money had gone into this project.”
“Imagine how things turned out in the end. The separation was somehow a blessing. I ended up with a new store of my own. If I was still with Jonathan, I might not be standing here today celebrating with you my friend.”
“So how is he any news?”
“Last time I saw him he was heartbroken, confused and suicidal. Even now I can’t understand it. You don’t walk away from love and become heartbroken yourself.”
They all laughed.
“Are you sure he was not taking any drugs? That’s not human behavior. What did he say about all this?”
“Stolen heart. Someone stole his love. Speaking of which....”
She looked in the other direction and saw Nick coming toward her. A handsome strong man with short yet volumized hair, dimples, a million-dollar smile and oozing charm.
“Yeah, I can see why after dumping you Jonathan now feels that someone stole his love. Where did you find this guy?”
“Jonathan is very funny. He said that someone literally stole his love for Karolina.”
Quipped Californika looking at her partner before all eyes were on Nick.
“Ooh my darling. You look fabulous. I am lucky to have you. What did I do to deserve such a beautiful and successful lady, my true love?”
Californika and Tom looked at each other and nodded in admiration.
“I am proud of you darling. Not many would go through what you went through. I admire that in you. In fact, that’s one of the hundred reasons why my knees melt at the thought of you. Cali and my best friend-to-be Tom. I am a one lucky guy because of this beautiful woman here.”
He opened his arms and hugged Karolina before the couple started kissing.
Instantly