ALAYNA“Mom, don’t cry, please? I know it’s hard that we’re going to be apart again, but you know I have to leave, right?” I hold her face between my palms then brush her tears away. “Elman, can you take care of everything for me? Can I count on you?” I ask him as the eldest.
Elman sniffs back his tears and wipes his nose with his shirt. “Yes, Laynie.”
They are all crying like there’s no tomorrow. It breaks my heart every time I leave home.
“Oh, Alayna.” Mom envelops her arms around me. She can’t stop crying. “Can you call me face-to-face “Yes, I will, of course.”
“Laynie,” Cassius calls, using my nickname. “Everything’s packed. We’ll leave whenever you’re ready.” He closes the cab’s trunk after settling our things inside.
“Your boyfriend.” Mom looks into my eyes. “He’s a good man. You better be good to him.” She sniffles again. “No one’s going to check my blood pressure every morning now,” she adds, a final attempt to get us to stay.
I chuckle between tears. “Cassius will call you too, so you better not forget his advice. Don’t cry, please?”
She nods, smiling faintly, then smooths the strand of hair behind my ears. “You are crying too.”
“I love you always. We’ll all be together soon, okay?”
“I love you too, Laynie. I know you are keeping your promises.” She presses a small kiss on my temple and releases me. I face the kids and rest my hands on my waist. “Now, let’s start a headcount, shall we?”
“Yes, Laynie!” they all reply in a chorus.
“Elman, Rosy, Spencer, Kit, Jenny, Jim, Clay, Kurt, Tracy, Michelle, Martin, and Mirabelle—where’s Mira?”
“The little miss is here.” Cassius carries the youngest sibling in his arms, and she rests her head on his shoulder.
“Don’t go, Cassius. Can I come with you, Laynie?” she asks in her tiny voice. She’s on the verge of crying.
“Of course you can,” I say. “When you get older.”
She lifts her head and smiles innocently. “Promise? When I’m ten?”
I laugh. “Yes. When you’re ten.”
“Okay. Goodbye, Laynie... Cassius.” She kisses his cheeks, and Cassius puts her down. Mira springs toward Spencer and hides behind him.
“She’s in love, Laynie,” Spencer teases, and everyone laughs.
“Be brave, everyone, okay?” Cassius says, and finally he pulls the car door open.
“Please come back to us soon, okay?” Michelle shouts.
“And bring us a lot of dolls, okay?” Jenny screams.
“I want robots,” Martin adds.
“I promise.” I blow a kiss in the air and march toward the car, trying not to look back, but I can’t ignore them.
The kids’ cries grow louder. They’re shouting my name as if this were the last time they’re going to see me. Mom waves her hand and blows another kiss in return.
I take a deep breath and finally get into the passenger seat. If only I could stay for another night, I would. But at the end of the day, I know I’m still going to leave.
Cassius gets in after me. “Are you okay?”
“It’s always like this, Cass. I should get used to this.”
“They are your family. It’s okay.” He reaches for my hand and holds it.
“I just wish we could stay longer.”
“I wish too.”
We arrive at the private airport twenty minutes later to find a Gulfstream G100 jet with Grethe and Elga Enterprises written over its tail waiting for us. According to Cassius, Oliver arranged everything, and I can’t help but feel amazed. I sometimes forget how wealthy and powerful the family is.
But as I look at the branding, I realize we are going back to reality. I’ll be working in the mansion to cook meals for our Master, and I’ll be seeing his now immaculate face every day.
However, it’s not going to be the same as it once was. The new Brandon isn’t the same one I served a year ago. He’s changed. He doesn’t seem to care about me anymore. And I’m only going back because of the contract I signed.
“Cassius, after my contract ends, I’m not sure I want to renew,” I say when we are in our seats.
He stares at me seriously. “Tell me you’re just kidding. Brandon will be absent the entire year. I’m sure Oliver would offer you an extension.”
“He already has, but I’m not comfortable working there anymore.”
“Are you saying that because you want to stay with your family?” he asks.
“No. Maybe.... I don’t know. Perhaps I could find a restaurant to continue my training or something. It’s my dream to cook, no matter where I’m at. Or I could go back to Venice...”
“Hold on. Venice? That sounds more like a serious plan. Alayna, I’m sure you’re just overwhelmed. I don’t have the right to stop you, but you can’t make decisions you haven’t thought about carefully.”
“I thought this through,” I insist. “I’m just saying it could be the best thing for all of us. I think it’s a good decision.”
His scowl deepens. “I thought you said your job in the mansion was providing you enough to help your family?”
“Yes, I have enough in my account.”
“I don’t know, Alayna.” He shakes his head. “After all we’ve been through, you’re just giving up everything rather than face it... but that’s your choice. I don’t think I have the right to stop you.”
“It’s not like that—” I reach for his hand. “But it’s not going to be the same.”
Silence envelops us during the flight. It’s not that his opinion doesn’t count, but I want his support. But am I asking too much?
Cassius has always had my back. Is it too selfish not to think about what he would feel? Am I being insensitive? I understand that it isn’t easy, but what is? I wouldn’t be able to work happily while serving someone who broke my heart.
When the plane lands, Oliver is already waiting for us at the airport. His grin is wide and welcoming. I have to admit I’ve missed him. He’s always been good to me; he’s the older brother I never had.
Maybe Cassius is right, too. I can’t imagine saying goodbye to either of them or Casey. If I leave, everyone will be a distant memory.
“Hello, Alayna.” He stretches his arms wide open, and I instantly accept his embrace. He pats his brother’s shoulder after releasing me.
“What’s up? Casey didn’t come?” Cassius asks.
“She can’t leave everything to Lennie now that Brandon’s home. You know how picky he is. But, wow, I can’t believe how I missed you two. How was your vacation?” Ollie’s gaze swings back at me.
“Pure happiness!” I brag. “Coming home is great as always. I already miss my family. Maybe I’ll take you all there next time.”
He smiles and takes a suitcase from Cassius. “Sounds like you had fun. I’d love to see your hometown someday, Alayna. Now, why don’t we head out so you can take a rest?”
“I’m glad you said that.” Cassius sighs as he marches to the car first.
Ollie frowns. “What’s with him?” he says as he turns behind the car and settles our things in the trunk.
“I probably pissed him off,” I admit.
“Oh,” he drawls, shutting the compartment door. “Come, let’s get you home and we can dive into that later.”
I slide into the backseat; Oliver gets in the driver’s seat. However, Cassius is still quiet during the drive.
“What’s with the atmosphere?” Oliver remarks in the middle of the silence. “I thought you two had fun?”
“We’re just tired, Ollie,” I answer for us both.
Cassius snorts. “Oh, come on, Alayna. Why don’t you tell Oliver about your plan?”
Oliver narrows his eyes at me. “I knew there was something. What is it, Alayna?”
“It was nothing important. Just a simple misunderstanding.”
“If you can’t tell him, maybe I should tell Casey,” Cassius says.
“Why are you throwing a fit right now when you had every chance to tell me that earlier?” I complain. “I explained it to you, but you answered me with your silence—”
“Hey, hey!” Ollie cuts in. “What’s going on? Is there something I need to know?”
“She wants to leave for Venice.”
“Yes, after“To Venice?” Ollie’s voice rises an octave. “But, Alayna, I offered you an extension, and you already agreed.”
“That was before. I just thought it would be the best decision for everyone.”
“That’s your reason? Because you decided it’s best for everyone?”
My heart tightens. “It’s not like that. You know why I have to leave.”
“I don’t What can I possibly regret? I’m sure Brandon is only honoring our professional relationship by letting me stay in my post.
“I appreciate what you guys did for me, but in the future, I’m going to leave anyway.”
“I think you are running away,” Cassius mumbles.
“I’m not running away, Cassius!”
“That’s a shame,” Oliver says. “I thought youMy jaw drops. “That’s... Well, that’s nice. I mean, I’m thankful, Ollie. Really.“We’re here.” Oliver pulls over to the driveway and hits the brake. I look outside the window.
“Let’s talk about this later.” Oliver pushes the door open and steps out of the car. Cassius and I remain inside.
“You told me it’s only temporary,” I tell him.
He shakes his head. “What am I to you, Laynie?”
His question takes me aback. For a moment, I can’t answer. “Cassius, I—”
“You don’t have to answer me right away.” He heaves a frustrated sigh, then chuckles grimly. “I don’t even know why I asked you that. I’m sorry.”
“You have nothing to apologize for. I should be the one asking for forgiveness.”
“And you just want all of us out of your life because of a single person?” he says frankly.
“That single person broke my heart, Cassius. Knowing that he’s inside the house and I’m cooking for him still hurts. I just don’t know what to do.”
“Exactly, you don’t.” He finally looks at me, and his gaze softens. “Please think about this before you decide. If that’s your final decision, I will support you. I just thought I needed to tell you this rather than regret not saying anything at all. We can talk about it more later.”
I press my lips together. “Okay.”
“But you know that I’m always here for you, right?”
“Of course, I know that,” I say, and I can’t even look properly at him. I feel embarrassed.
But Cassius lifts my chin and smiles sweetly. “Come on, don’t look so sad. Lennie probably prepared a snack for us. Are you ready?”
I smile faintly. “Yes, I’m ready.”