"Mom!" Skylar exclaimed in shock as she ran into her embrace. She had missed her mother so much. She tightened her hug and cried into her shoulder.
"My baby. I'm so sorry all of this happened because of you father, if only I wasn't so beautiful" Her mother said with a smile as Skylar snorted and stepped away from her mother.
"Come on, mom. This isn't your fault. None of it was" Skylar told her as she let her eyes take in her mother, she had leaned since the last time she saw her.
"Mom, what happened to you? you've lost so much weight" Skylar scolded her mother as she turned her around to examine her more.
"I'm okay, darling. I couldn't eat anything without knowing how you were" Mrs. Evans replied as she ran her tiny hands through her daughter's face in excitement. She couldn't believe her daughter was here in front of her. She didn't believe Paula when she had told her Skylar had been found but she had only come because she wanted to see it with her eyes.
"Enough about me. how are you and my grandbaby" Mrs. Evans asked in a whisper since Paula had told her that Vino wasn't aware of the baby yet?
Hearing her mother's question, Skylar's eyes shot up to Paula who stood on the other side of the room with her husband holding her close as he consoled her while she sobbed.
"The baby's fine, mom. If you excuse me, I need to talk to Paula. The dining is that way" Skylar told her mother as she pointed to the direction of the dining while she went to Paula who was staring at her.
"Thank you, dear and happy birthday," Mrs. Evans said, causing Skylar to freeze. She had forgotten so much about her birthday. She couldn't believe she was thirty today and after everything, she dreaded celebrating it.
"Whose birthday, is it? Paula, is it yours?" Vino asked as he strolled into the room. He greeted Mrs. Evans on both cheeks while he shook Ernesto's hands.
Mrs. Evans gazes up at him with a smile while gently shaking her head in disapproval "What is this, Vino? How could you forget my daughter's birthday so easily" Mrs. Evans chastised him, feigning annoyance?
"What? Oh my God!" Vino shouted as he looked at Skylar who was conversing with Paula oblivious to their conversation.
"Baby" Vino shouted to get her attention, he watched as she turned to look at him "Do you want to celebrate your birthday? This is your first with me and ____"
"I don't want to. There's nothing for me to celebrate. Everything seems so____" Skylar paused as she couldn't bring herself to continue. How does she tell him that she's scared he might leave her just like her dad left on her birthday?
"Okay, darling" Vino told her as he turned to her mother while he let her continue her conversation with Paula.
"Come with me, breakfast is served," Vino told Mrs. Evans as he ushered her in the direction of the dining.
Mrs. Evans suddenly noticed his outfit and cried out in despair "Are you going somewhere Vino?" She asked him as she let her gaze run through him.
Vino nodded as he bent to pull out a chair for Mrs. Evans while he turned to stare at Maria "Please serve the dish, Maria. I'm famished" he told her as she nodded and rushed into the kitchen to bid his request.
"You haven't answered my question, Vino" Mrs. Evans commented as she turned to stare at Vino who had made himself comfortable at the head of the table typing on his phone.
Vino raised his head from the phone call he was about to make and turned to reply to Mrs. Evans "Yes. I have something to conclude in the office. It's so important that I can't help but go but don't worry, Maria will be here to keep Skylar company" he told her with a shrug before going back to his phone.
Maria chose that moment to walk back into the room, she glimpses the concern on Mrs. Evans's face which made her rush to add since she wouldn't want Mrs. Evans hating her boss soon "Don't worry Ma'am. I will make sure to take care of the senorita"
Mrs. Evans nodded with a smile on her face as she pats Maria on her shoulder "Thank you so much, Maria. With you here, I'm rest assured my daughter is in safe hands"
Maria nodded, she turned to walk out of the room just as Skylar walked in with Paula who hugged her close like she couldn't bear leaving her any second while her husband followed behind them "Breakfast is served, Miss Evans. Enjoy your meal and welcome back"
"Thank you, Maria" Skylar replied with a smile as she took her place beside Vino at the table and they started eating...
***
"Thank you, Miss Brooke" Vino told Madison as he handed the last file, he had appended his signature on.
"Pleasure all mine, Sir. And congratulations on finding Miss Evans" Madison greeted her boss. She was so happy to hear that Skylar was found that she had immediately called her on the phone and it was pure joy when they spoke. She had missed her gossip partner so much.
"If that is all, Sir. I'll like to take my leave now" Madison paused as she waited for Vino's response but he was busy scribbling something onto his notepad.
Accepting his silence as her cue to leave, Madison turned to walk back to the door, she opens it and was about to go out when Vino's loud voice cause her hands to freeze on the doorknob
"Miss Brooke, I need your help with something. Can you help me?" Vino called to her as he raised his eyes to stare at her in silence with his ballpen hanging in the air.
"Yes Sir. What do you want me to do?" Madison answered as she closed the door and rushed back to stand in front of her boss with her hands folded at her back.
"Here." Vino handed her the notepad he had been scribbling on while he waited for Madison to go through his lists. He watched as her eyes widened in shock before she raised her eyes to his to voice out her confusion.
"But Sir. This is______"
"Yes, Miss Brooke. Those are the things I need for you to get the preparation ready for Skylar's birthday party. Can you do that before seven?" Vino asked her as he nodded at her while watching her with all attention.
"Yes sir. Woah! Is this a surprise party or something?" Madison asked, getting gee-up with excitement. This was the best welcoming party Skylar would ever love.
"Yes, Miss Brooke. Get Mrs. Cruz to help with the preparations. I want everything ready by seven. Is that okay?"
"Yes, sir" Madison called with a bright smile on her face. Vino could see she loved parties and even he couldn't wait to get started on this.
"Good. Please, get me Miss Falcone on your way. I need her to bring me the documents for the art donors" Vino told Madison as he went back to the files in front of him.
Madison accepted his silent dismissal as her cue to leave. Left the room and returned to her desk where she rushed to gather her things into her bag and rushed into the elevator. Seeing the clock on the wall just before she went into the elevator, Madison saw that it was just past four pm. She had only three hours to get everything ready on time.
"How generous of the boss" Madison groaned bitterly as she stopped at Layla's floor to ask her to go see Vino before she rushed out of the office to the waiting taxi, she had phoned earlier...
***
Vino strolled into the decorated restaurant after seven. He was nervous and excited.
Nervous because he was about to do something he had never done to any woman before and he didn't know if Skylar would like it. And excited because he knew she was the right woman for him.
"Vino," Vino's eyes shot up as soon as he heard his name called. He smiles as soon as he sees his mother rushing toward him with her hands raised for a hug.
Vino smiled as he pulled her into his embrace. It's been a while since he last saw her. Ever since Skylar's kidnapped, he hadn't been able to visit. And now he couldn't be glad they were all here to celebrate this great day with him.
"Son, we heard the news. How is she holding up?" Mrs. Thompson asked him as she let her hands run through his cheeks while she gazed up at him with affection and motherly love.
"She's great, mother. A very strong woman. I can't wait to make her mine" Vino smiled the best smile he had ever given to anyone in his lifetime. His mother could see he loved Skylar so much.
"I know son, but are you sure this is the right time for all of this? I mean she had just been through hell and back, I think you need to give her some time to heal and_____"
Vino's face pulled into a frown as soon as he heard his mother's words. He didn't want to give her some time, what if another thing takes her from him again. No, he couldn't bear it. He wants her with him every day on his bed and not as a girlfriend but as his wife.
"Mom, I understand your concern but this is what I want. I don't want to lose her again and______"
"Son, you wouldn't lose her. No one is going to kidnap her again not after everything we've done to Elise and_____"
"Mom, I'm not talking about kidnapping" Vino suddenly says cutting his mother off whatever protest it was she was about to make. When he had planned this surprising birthday for Skylar, he didn't think that his mother would oppose him. After all these years, he had thought she was warming up to her but no, his mother had to surprise him today of all day.
"What if another man comes along and takes her away from me? Her ex is still very much alive and somewhere on the globe. What if he decided to come back for her? I can't handle that mom. After seeing her with Gian, I've promised myself I wouldn't make that same mistake again"
"Did someone call my name?" Gian called with a broad smile on his face as he walked to them with his hands in his slack pocket and his shirt folded along his sleeve. He had flown down from Spain after he heard the news about Skylar. Now, he couldn't wait to wish her a happy birthday.
Vino frowned at him before turning to his mother who obviously has more to say to him.
Mrs. Thompson nodded after her son's explanation. She could see he wasn't scared of Skylar being kidnapped but rather another man taking her from him. She could understand his fears and she wanted to help him accept them "No problem son. I understand and wish you the best of luck!!" Mrs. Thompson told Vino before pecking him on the cheek, she turned to do the same to Gian before turning to leave.
"Congratulations, man. I couldn't wait to say that to you" Gian told Vino as soon as his mom left before pulling him into a friendly hug.
"Thank you, Gian" Vino replied as he turned to gaze at the restaurant which was almost filled to the brim. It was the first restaurant he had come to with Skylar. He wanted her to know he had loved her since that first night together in this restaurant.
" I need to address the guest while we wait for Skylar" Vino told Gian over his shoulder as he rushed off to the direction of the makeshift stage where he stood gazing at everyone.
"Good evening, ladies and Gent" Vino greeted everyone in the room. He paused to clear his throat and was about to continue when his eyes caught the most exquisite person standing in the doorway looking so beautiful in a red long flowing gown.
"Skylar" He whispers but his eyes caught her face and he almost dropped the microphone in fear. She was staring at him with ice-cold eyes bare of any emotions, before running off while Paula ran after her.
"Skylar wait" Vino called after he had come back from his reverie after being entranced by her bareback that he couldn't help fantasizing about what to do with her when she's naked.
He dropped the microphone on the floor and turned to run out after her, ignoring the voices of his parents and friend calling after him.