They managed and ran the business for Alexa's sake. Until when, both guys didn't know.
It's been a year and eight months since the terrible accident happened. And losing Jodie is as if just happened yesterday. Alexa still feels Jodie's lips, kisses and love and how the taste made her hallucinate, but Jodie is indeed gone, forever. She feels that the singer's just around the corner and there found herself crying again. Edmund, her university best friend courted her and accepted his offer in order to forget Jodie. Alexa was so heartbroken that she left the photography business and let Sanjay and Basil manage it for her. She still can't get over the idea of seeing models or artists when she is still healing from her long lost loved singer's passing.
She just focused on her travels and blogs releases online. Alex decided she needed a change to move on and started to date Edmund. Finally , the handsome and kind fellow popped the magic question, and Alexa agreed to be his fiancée. The beautiful couple got engaged, though Alexa was still grieving inside because of her loss.
It's been two years and Alexa pursued her love to travel. On her country visits, she always wish to see Jodie somewhere, even just for a little while to say the things she never said when they were together. To tell her that she missed and loved her so much. To kiss and hug her again, one last time, to quench her thirst of Jodie's sweet love.
"My soul and heart yearns for your touch, I miss your kisses and I want to drown in your love all night long...", Alexa, in her thoughts, day dreaming while in a coffee bar where she was seated outside, sight-seeing the ever mighty Eiffle Tower in France.
The plane is about to leave, so passengers are coming in, hundreds of them. Excuse me! Can I sit beside you?, a young man, 5'10'' in height, wearing a dark blue suit, black hair, half-shaven beard and not so brown complexion, he looked like gold, when Alexa turned on her left and saw a smile on a man's face familiar to her, his voice was warm and modulated.
Awakening to some sort of a nostalgic feeling remembering Jodie ( hoping that I wasn't drooling since she was day dreaming about how Jodie made me feel when she made love to me) in a short half-laugh, I was able to reply, a little embarrassed. Ah..yes!, i..it's okay!, while wiping a tear away from my eye, sniffing a bit. It was very cold in France this time of year. So I'm prepared wearing a brown leather coat and a sophisticated beannie.
HI!, the man said. I'm Gin Lawrence. He added sitting beside Alexa, giving his hand to get a hand shake. Oh! yes, Alexa, Alexandra Steele. I added smiling back at him. What a nice name! Call me Gin, so can I call you Alexa then? He said with a wide grin on his face. Why is it when he mentioned my name as if I heard some one close to me call me the way he did, I just don't remember who. Hmm! Call me Alex!, I answered politely.
Okay, Alex then! Gin replied attentively. Where are you headed after? He asked. To Paris!, Alexa said. I need to take some pictures of the Eiffel Tower for my blog, I said proudly. Wow!, a live blogger, that's convenient and a very cool profession, you can travel the world and get to talk about the places you love and been through, Gin said, very amazed. How about you? What do you do?, I asked curiously, looking at him intensely, when his gaze shifted away and went back to look at Alex's eyes intently. I'm a promoter slash producer of new and famous artists here, the U.S. and around South East Asia, Gin boistered.
Wow! That's a fun and wild profession (I bet girl artists too crushing you, Alex thought feeling a bit jealous, not knowing why she felt that way), I said dreamily. You're too handsome to be a producer, I thought smilingly.
Gin gave a cunning laugh when he caught Alex, sort of biting her lower lip a little. What? Gin asked when Alex was just smiling at him continuously. Oh! just remembered something, that's all, I added sheepishly. After the tour Gin gave me around Paris I got the photos I needed for my blog. He offered to drive me to my hotel but I declined since I have a chauffer waiting for me to...
my hotel. We talked about how it is easier to go through baggage terminals and detectors in France compared to Manila. I told Gin that I love France since it was the first country I visited since I started my blogging career. I added that I've been in 20 countries and yet coming back to Paris is a wonderful experience for me always. I took my carry-on bag and extra luggage and turned around to thank Gin but as I turn around, "It was nice meeting you, Gin, ah! .....", I said, but the man I was with mysteriously disappeared.
I just shrugged and met my chauffer, after the bell boy took my baggage to my room. I went down the hotel, called out for my chauffer to drive me to the Ritz for dinner. Dave!, please drive me to the Eiffel Tower first before heading to the Ritz, I said. I suddenly remembered Jodie while driving to the tower. She told me stories about the Eiffel Tower and the famous hotels here in Paris especially the restaurants, where one of them is The Ritz.
"Till I met you, I never knew what love was, till I met you. This feeling seems to grow more everyday, I love you more each day, sung by Joanne Lorenzana (Filipino singer). The song that keeps on playing inside my head while looking at the tower going to the Ritz. I didn't know why the song popped up all of a sudden. I definitely miss Jodie now.
Seeing the Eiffel tower is a dream come true for me. I've always wanted to take a look at the infamous tower since Jodie promised to bring me here for my birthday. I wonder, what if the accident never happened, I bet Jodie and I are sipping wine and tasting the sumptuous pasta the Ritz could offer, I thought not realizing that tears are falling down my eyes. I really can't help but miss my bae so much. I never loved anybody more than I loved Jodie, not even Edmund. She is someone I could never forget, ever.
" Till I meet you again, my Love".... No I think it's about time I check out the tower. I haven't gone up the structure because I was afraid of heights. But I guess it's about time for me to overcome my fear and move on from my past. I have been in and out of Paris ever since. However, Edmund was busy with sailing that we haven't seen each other for almost six months now. European cruise was his first choice but clients prefer sailing Asia these days and for years it's very in demand with the royals and politicians.
I'll probably see him after the six months before he goes to another European Exhibition like he was talking about a marathon for months chasing places, chasing time to be with me (hi! hi! sweet!). He said that because he loves me that much every time we talk over the phone.
Fifth Avenue is always busy. Bar A Champagne has the best drinks I can sip (though I wasn't fond of drinking only on holidays or with occasions) endlessly. After Jodie left, I found the joy and solace in drinking wine or champagne with good music. Getting tipsy or high while listening to techno music is 'life".
Jules Venne , however, is the best French resto I enjoy visiting and eating in. It's located in Eiffel Tower's second floor. I'm already satisfied, living with their 190 pounds 3-course meal. I'm in love with their Granny Smith Zephyr (crab); Dubarry Cream (cauliflower) and their mouth-watering dessert consist of soft biscuits with bitter choco cream and roast buck wheat ice cream. Yup! This is life!....I said breathing lightly, as if letting all sadness, frustrations, unmet expectations out, when I suddenly heard a man's voice calling my name from across.
HI! Alexa, right?!, some cute guy in a blue navy suit walking towards me, greeted with all smiles. Yes!? I said wondering who this guy is. Oh! It's me Gin, remember at the coffee shop? Gin Lawrence...we met on the plane this afternoon. What an amazing coincidence!!!, Oh! my God, yes Gin!. Wow!, I almost didn't recognize you, you look Jules Venne , however, is the best French resto I enjoy visiting and eating in. It's located in Eiffel Tower's second floor. I'm already satisfied, living with their 190 pounds 3-course meal. I'm in love with their Granny Smith Zephyr (crab); Dubarry Cream (cauliflower) and their mouth-watering dessert consist of soft biscuits with bitter choco cream and roast buck wheat ice cream.