ambitious lady like my lady, Karo. That first day I met her, I knew it straight away that we will be a successful couple one day and today is just the beginning. Ladies and gentlemen. Ms. Karolina. The owner of this new shop. Best wishes to us too.”
He started clapping hands and the whole crowd joined in. One strong breath and the stage was hers.
“It took a lot to be here today ladies and gentlemen, but I tell you this, it was worth it. How funny life can be. I lost my love but got an even better man in Nick. A man who shares the same dreams as me. A visionary and successful businessman. My business partner and my love....”
“He stole my love! He is nothing but a thief. A love-thief if you ask me. A heart-thief. That’s my love.” shouted Jonathan within the crowd pointing at Nick first and then at Karolina. Some people in the crowd started laughing, but the others looked at Jonathan surprised.
“Yes, you heard me. He is nothing but a love-thief. He stole my love, my Karolina from me.”
He looked down as if to cry.
“What are you doing here? You are not invited Jonathan.”
Shouted Californika.
Jonathan staggered ahead as the crowd opened the way for him.
“Oh no! You are drunk again! You heard Cali, you were not invited nor are you welcome Jonathan.”
He stopped and looked at Karolina.
“You can’t say that. I.I. I. used to love you. I mean I love you.”
He stopped and wore a frowned face.
“I just can’t understand why I don’t feel all that love I had for you.”
He raised his face and looked at Nick.
“Don’t look at me mate. I can’t help on that. You can’t walk away from love and expect to walk back in and find everything the way things were. She is mine now. My love now. Okay?”
Jonathan kept silent. He threw a quick glance at Nick before walking toward Karolina. Nick looked at Karolina with talking eyes. She raised her arm at the bodyguards who were now walking toward Jonathan. Tyler kept walking toward Jonathan.
“It’s okay.” shouted Karolina at one of the bodyguards.
Tyler a heavily built man stopped briefly and pointed at his waist belt before signaling to Dylan. Karolina squinted her eyes before looking at Jonathan.
“Let me talk to him.” she shouted.
“Sorry I can’t take chances, madam. I got to take him down.”
“No! He will never hurt even a fly.”
Tom whispered something into Cali’s ear.
“He has a gun!” shouted Cali hiding behind Tom.
Jonathan got startled by the noise and shouting. It seemed he had been in a trance of some sort as he appeared disoriented.
“What?”
He shouted.
“Lie down on the ground now!” shouted Tyler.
Jonathan threw a quick glance at Nick. He pulled his gun from the trouser belt before aiming it at him.
“He is nothing but a love-thief.”
He looked at Karolina.
“He stole my love. I don’t know how.”
“I know. Jonathan put the gun down. I will tell you”
She paused.
“You walked away from me even before I met him. He is a very good man. It happens! Sometimes you just stop loving someone. Nick has nothing to do with your heartbreak. Our love died. Okay.”
Jonathan looked down and then at Nick.
“I am telling you. He stole my heart. He stole my love for you.”
“Listen to yourself. How on earth can I steal your love you, pathetic loser? You forgot already? You walked away from her even before I met her. She is mine now. Get used to it.”
“Shut up! You think I don’t know? She is mine. That’s my love.”
“Used to be your love. Okay! But like I said, she is mine now. Correct me if I am wrong. You walked away from her it’s not the other way around. Get it?”
“I said shut up! I love her!”
Nick smiled and walked toward Jonathan.
“Don’t come near me or else I will shoot you.”
“I am not afraid. Don’t make me laugh. Do you love Karolina?”
“I love her.”
Whispered Jonathan looking down.
“That’s not the reply of a man in love. I ask you again. Do you love her? Do you love Karolina?”
There was a moment of hesitation. Everyone looked at him. Lost in thoughts. He touched his heart and looked at Karolina. He looked agonized.
“I can’t feel the love I had for you my love.”
“Oh no! She is my love now.” shouted Nick.
Jonathan raised his gun up which he had just lowered and aimed at Nick.
“I swear I am going to shoot you if you don’t shut up!” shouted Jonathan.
“Jonathan put the gun down! We can talk about this.”
“He is a dangerous lunatic. What are the bodyguards looking at? Shoot him before he kills someone.” shouted Cali.
“Don’t say that Cali,” advised Tom.
“This new boyfriend of yours does not love you.”
“What? And you do?”
“Shut Up! You think I don’t know what is going on here. You can fool everyone but not me. I know who sent you.”
Karolina as soon as she heard that she covered her face.
“Listen Jonathan! You have suffered a heartbreak. You will be okay. Put the gun down. You need help.”
“I don’t need help. I want my love back. I love you. He can never love you the way I loved you.”
“Yeah right in the past. This is now.”
Jonathan ignored Nick and looked at Karolina.
“I have love for you. I loved you. Somehow, they stole my love. I can’t feel my love for you.”
“It happens love dies you know. Put the gun down we can go and talk okay.”
“Listen to me!” shouted Nick.
“You are crossing the line now. Move on. She is mine. Wake up. This is the reality. You alone. Me with her.”
“You, heart-thief. Maybe I shoot you. I know you stole my love.”
Nick for the first time looked agitated and instantly pulled a gun sending the crowd screaming.
“Stay away from my woman before I put you out of your misery.”
“I am not afraid.”
“You think I am bluffing.”
The bodyguards instantly pulled out their guns too and aimed at Jonathan. Karolina screamed. She ran toward Jonathan.
“Don’t shoot. He is heartbroken. That’s all. He will be okay. He is not dangerous. Don’t shoot!”
“Stay away from my woman or I will shoot you.” shouted Nick walking toward Jonathan at the same time gesturing to the body guards to stand down for a while.
“You walked away! Walk away now! You need help not my love Karolina.”