The moment he stormed out as if I was non-existent and just another employee who worked for his mighty company, I felt so small.
He was one of the most powerful business men of today's time and a girl like me would make no difference in his high-end life.
Obviously, what would I mean to someone like Jacob Richmond? Why would he waste his precious time acknowledging me?
***
"You mean the Jake you kissed in Corsica is actually a big shot CEO of this huge organization - Richmond Corp?"
"Yes" I barely muttered.
I was so restless that I decided to take a short detour and planned on meeting Niki for a quick lunch before I headed back to my office. She immediately agreed to see me and soon we were seated in an upstate Italian restaurant two blocks away from my office.
"The sole beneficiary of the vast empire that his father left him, and he owns more than half of the oil and refinery industry?"
"Yup, it's him."
"So, he is the new guy who has set daily headlines on fire in the past month with his business maneuvers?"
She repeated all those questions in complete state of shock and aww.
"Yes, and he is one of my company's biggest client". I sighed reflecting upon the irony of the situation, "and worse is he doesn't seem to recognize me or know me. As if the kiss that made a big deal in my head, meant nothing to him."
I tried holding back my tears, and took a deep breathe. Niki was listening to me with empathy and compassion. She was sitting patiently allowing me to pour myself out.
"I don't know what was I expecting Niki? I wish he could have been just a simple guy who happened to kiss an ordinary girl in that beautiful beach in Corsica. Now, I can't even dream about that memory again. He suddenly became this farfetched reality that was forbidden to touch."
"Relax Emma. All this is not worth your worry. Just let it go. Try and have a high-level perspective, at the end of the day it was one random kiss, and like it or not, it really isn't a very big deal for a lot of people."
From across the table, Niki got up and hugged me after sitting next to me. She was rubbing my arms calmly.
"You deserve to be loved Emma and you deserve a lot more than mere attention from somebody. When the time is right, you will fall in love again, and you will get your happily ever after. I promise". She said sincerely.
I just could not at her encouraging words. She was my rock, and I was grateful to have a friend like her in my life. We both finished our food in silence after that, and I headed back to my office. Benjamin was still out of office. I decided to drop him a text on today's updates.
I got to work and finished around six pm. With a heavy heart and an extremely tired body, I dragged myself to my apartment. I just wanted this eventful day to end.
Chapter 8
The Girl with a Broken Heart
Jake
Richmond Corp. Headquarters, NYC3
I left that conference room without looking back. I did not have the courage to stay or be around her even for a second more. Before turning to work this morning, I couldn't have imagined even in my most implausible dream that destiny would get me face to face with her again, sitting right in my office, attending one of my biggest victories at work.
Emma, the girl I met in Corsica.
The girl with a broken heart.
The girl I lost, and could not find. She was sitting right across me, her angelic face donned with shock and confusion.
When she ran away sobbing, losing from my grip in Corsica, I knew nothing about her, except for the fact that her name was Emma. I didn't even know her full name and was not sure if we lived in the same country, let alone the same city.
Her quivering lips, spoilt mascara and deserted spirit told the tale of her broken heart. I had no clue of what exactly led her to such a sorry state, yet when I watched her curl up like a ball, sad and fragile, crying her heart out, I felt something inexplainable for her.
I had this strong urge to comfort her and help her through whatever she was facing. I never felt this drawn to a stranger. She was beautiful, sure, but I think it was her innocence, the serenity in her eyes that made her stand out.
The moment we parted from the kiss, I immediately missed her touch, craved for her soft lips and longed to take her slender body in my embrace again. I was amazed at how perfectly she fit in my arms, as if she belonged there and nowhere else.
I was not done with her, I had to discover a lot more.
Even though I had been with more women than one could even count, nobody ever touched my heart the way Emma did. I had many flings, but I never got emotionally invested in any of them. That kiss with her was the best kiss of my life.
Deep down I knew, her act of passion was an outcome of immense pain and wrongness that she felt due to some asshole's action.
I knew she was grieving and maybe was a bit drunk too, and for her, this kiss might turn into regret the next morning. Maybe she won't even remember it.
What hit me next changed my life ever since. When my heart fluttered and longed for Emma, I got an emergency call from my mother.
"Jake... it's your dad" Her trembling voice barely stuttered, leaving me in shambles.
My father had
