Capítulo 59: New purpose
His meeting took longer than he anticipated, but he could not cancel or postpone the meeting again. Leaving Mr. Johnson yesterday for an emergency was excusable, but to do that again today because he was attending some function would be disgraceful.
He was now fashionably late, but he was sure that they would not mind. He was one of the benefactors after all, in a way, he was also a special guest.
Under any other circumstance, he would rather stay home or visit Xavier who finally came home from the hospital this afternoon. But he had to attend this event tonight. He had something important that he had to do and a person he had to see.
"Sir Rafael, we are almost at the hotel." His designated driver for the night informed him in the intercom, breaking his line of thought.
He fixed his bow and straightened his jacket. In a few minutes, he went down the limousine and faced the press, waiting just outside the entrance of the hotel.
He was no celebrity, but he still found himself in magazines once in a while because of his surfing career before and his current position in the company. Being branded as one of the most eligible bachelors in the city.
"Mr. Rafael Walker, you were spotted more than once with the famous supermodel Sophia Lawrence. Any chance that it could be something more?" A news reporter asked him as he walked on the red carpet.
Several more questions were thrown at him, but he only answered them with a smile as he walked straight to the main entrance.
"Raf, I thought you're not coming tonight." His long-time friend greeted him with a bear hug.
"Mark." He returned the hug with a tap on the shoulder. "I thought so too. I had a very important meeting earlier." He told his friend. "How long are you staying in town?"
"Just a few days. I just signed a contract again with Seattle." He was one of the best quarterback players of the season, so many were trying to sign him to their teams.
"Good. I hope you win this next season." He told him. Although he did not have much time to watch his games anymore.
"Did you know that Brad and Johanna are here?" He whispered conspiratorially as if they were talking about a top-secret.
He just shook his head from his friend's behavior. "Nope." But he was expecting that he might bump into them in this kind of event.
"Well, they're here somewhere, just want to give you a heads up," Mark said concernedly.
Mark was quite aware of their history since he was once part of their group. He was just not sure what happened to them since he left after college and joined the football league.
Back in college, Raf and Johanna were the perfect couples. He was sure that the two would eventually get married. He was surprised that one day, Johanna broke it off with Raf and the next thing he heard was she was getting married to Brad.
Raf refused to talk about it when he got back a few months after. He told him that he had moved on, but he was not quite sure then. Now, he just hoped that it was real.
"So, anyone new in your life?" He changed the topic, hoping to brighten up their conversation.
"Nothing special. Just dated here and there." He said casually to his friend. "What about you?"
"You know I'm not ready to settle yet. Unlike you, I'm afraid of the C-word." Mark teased his friend. The word commitment was for Raf, not him. If Johanna did not break his heart, he guaranteed that he might be married to her right now.
"You still haven't changed. Someday you will eventually find yourself falling for a girl, head over hills, that you would not know what hit you." He jabbed his friend on the ribs, but it was solid muscles, so it might not have much effect on him.
"Until that happens, I'm staying single." Mark pronounced with a chuckle. He did miss the old college days.
He suddenly noticed Johanna entering the ballroom alone. She still looked stunning after all these years, but as he said earlier to his friend, he was over her.
"Good luck with that." He jested before telling his friend that he had to talk to someone. "Mark, would you excuse me for a minute."
Checking the direction of his gaze, his friend saw where he was heading. "I think you are the one who needs luck." He tapped his shoulder as they separated ways.
He left his friend and walked towards Johanna. He felt that it was time to close that chapter of his life and move on. There was no more use in letting the past took hold of his present and ruined his future.
"Hi, Johanna," he greeted her, making her turn in his direction. He could see the shock on her face, but it was quickly covered with a smile. She had always been good at controlling her emotions, he thought.
"Oh, Raf. How are you?" She finally replied. It was not the first time that they were in the same crowd, but they usually avoided each other.
He offered his hand, but instead, Johanna came closer and gave her a slight peck on the cheeks. Like the old times when they were just friends.
"I'm good." He answered back. He could feel that a few people who might know their history were giving them subtle glances, but he did not care. He just wanted to get over the awkwardness of them being in the same room.
"Why are you alone? Where's Brad?" He asked, noticing that there was no sign of him.
"He's probably just somewhere in the crowd. I just went out for some air." She explained, but not elaborating any further.
"So, I heard you'll soon be taking over the business." He stated, hearing that she was being groomed to be the next CEO of their family's empire. It was after all her ambition from the start as he remembered.
On the other hand, he was having doubts back then to take over his father's place, which made him unsuitable to be his husband.
He could still remember the bitter taste of their separation as if it was yesterday, but the only difference was that he was fine with it now. He felt good knowing that he was saved from being a part of her family.
"Yes, Papa thinks that I am almost ready to replace him." Johanna stood uncomfortably in front of him. Although she was prepared to see him but to actually talk to him was unexpected.
"How is the old man? Hope he's doing well." He remembered him as the strong virile man who always got his way. She was quite the same in that aspect. Her father was ruthless in all his business dealings. That included her life, he surmised.
"He's getting old and sickly, but he's still as sharp as ever," Johanna said with pride. He always admired her father. Being raised by him alone since her mother's untimely death, he was the only family she knew and loved.
They talked more for a few more minutes, but he felt there was nothing more to say. "Good luck, Johanna with your company, and congratulations on your son." He expressed sincerely.
It felt like he was suddenly floating in the air. He was light as a feather. It must be what closure meant to be. To finally let go of the baggage he had been carrying around his shoulders for years.
"Thanks, Raf." He saw a slight hint of sadness in her eyes. As far as he was concerned, it was her loss not his when she decided to leave him for Brad.
He had no problems against Brad. He was truly a nice guy. He thought he was also a victim of Senior Greg's scheme. He was just sad that he lost his friends because of this. Maybe in time, since he had learned to forgive and forget what Johanna did, they could all become friends again.
"It was nice talking to you." He finally closed the conversation with a genuine smile.
He strode away from her with a new purpose. To find the girl who had been messing up with his head since last night. The only real reason why he was determined to attend this event in the first place.
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