1. Five years later

XENIA

*Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport*

"Oh Louie, you worry too much. This ain't no biggie so chill, it would have to wait." I chuckle as I walked out of the airport, pulling my luggage behind. I'm on the phone with my manager.

"Nah, that's not necessary Louie... Yes. I just walked out of the airport now...yeah, that's right. I'm waiting for my Uber now. Ah okay...I see him...I see him. I'll text you when I get to my new apartment, okay? Yeah, it was a wonderful flight, thank you very much. Of course. See you... yeah."

I paused on my strides, inhaling sharply as I took a moment to briefly glance over my surroundings. Smiling brightly, I ran a hand to smoothen my straying black curls, loving how the reflection of the morning sun was on my tan skin. Truly refreshing to be here once more.

With only a glance, I'm able to decipher that a lot has changed since the last time I was here five years ago.

Well Atlanta, I'm back!

However, I'm no longer the average Xenia Winston who completed all her academic goals in Buckhead, Atlanta, Georgia. I'm a lot more than that now.

"Over here, Ms."

I remove my sunshade as I smile brightly at the middle-aged Uber driver and wasted no time walking toward him. "Hello Mr. Cooper," I said warmly. extending my hand for a brief handshake.

"Ms. Winston. It's a pleasure to serve you."

Well, I'm not surprised...

___

VIN

*Diamond Group Co. Buckhead, Atlanta.*

Sitting on the comfortable couch in my office, my frown grows deeper and I'm in discomfort as I scroll through my phone, rereading some of the recent provoking texts she'd sent me.

'Stop tailing me, Vin! I told you before.'

'This wouldn't change a thing no matter what you do. I'm sure you can't afford to provoke me!'

'Hello! Don't you dare try to order me around. You shouldn't dare to control me, you of all people should know that.'

'Come on, Vin. Be good. Certainly, you don't wanna make me repeat myself.'

As I went through these texts and more, bile wasted no time in rising within me as a sarcastic chuckle escaped my lips.

"Bitch!" I curse.

"Mr. Winchester,"

I raise my head to see my PA walk into my office.

"The meeting is commencing in five minutes." He said and I nod in acknowledgment.

"Alright George." I stood up just as a voice message pop up on my phone.

Seeing the ID of the sender, I quickly tap on it.

"Damn it, Vin Winchester, I'm sure I warned you before. I've been warning you for a while now and this is the umpteenth time yet you don't seem to listen. Get your scrawny monitoring guards out of my sight this moment or you'd make me do something that wouldn't be good for both of us! But of course, it would be something to damage you thoroughly. Get them out of here and leave me the fuck alone!!!" She screamed.

She never sent a voice message like this before. Damn, it! She must mean business this time.

"Sir the meeting..."

"Just shut the fuck up!" I growl at him as I flung a vase against the wall.

After a few seconds of calming down, I turned to him. "The timing George, always observe the timing. Don't come at me at the wrong time. You know how much I hate that."

"I'm sorry Sir." He apologizes.

I sigh, pushing my hand through my hair while I place a call to someone. "Get everyone out of there."

Turning around, I tuck my phone in my suit pocket and nod to George. "Let's leave," I said.

As we exit the office, my secretary approached alongside my office cleaner.

...

Standing right outside the board room, I paused nervously for a few seconds before I walked in.

Today's meeting is important and it isn't just any normal meeting. Today the shareholders would vote and determine if I'm capable of running the company as the next CEO upon my dad's retirement a few weeks back.

"Ladies and Gentlemen, I apologize for my lateness." I begin the moment I stepped inside, letting my eyes travel around the members of the board. My gaze lingered momentarily on Director Grayson and he didn't fail to return my gaze with his fixated ones. "I had to sort out an urgent issue but it's been resolved. Since I'm here now, I guess we can begin the purpose of our meeting."

.....

XAVIER

I hum softly as I step out of my luxury restroom while driving my wet hair. With leisure strolls, I walk into my bedroom and soon got dressed.

Now as I stare at my reflection before my full-length mirror, I brush through my dark coily low-cut. The ringing of my phone on my dresser distracted me.

Taking a few steps closer, I picked up my phone and received the call.

"Hey Mom," I said with a smile.

"Xavier darling, how are you? Hope you're not anxious about the game. You've had lunch right?" Her worried voice came on immediately after she heard mine.

I chuckle lightly. "Mom calm down. I'm good. No, I'm not anxious and yes, I've had lunch with my teammates. Just came home for a brief rest. I'd be heading back to the stadium now."

"Okay darling, that's better."

"Yes, Mom,"

"Your dad and I would round up at the hospital and meet up with Susan to come to support you as always. Good luck my darling. See you soon."

"Thanks, Mom. Yeah, see you."

"Love you, my boy," she said making a bright smile reflect on my face.

"Love you too dearest Mom," I said and that was it before she hung up. I'm about to return my phone to its initial position when a notification came in.

"Ah, it's from Susan," my smile deepens as I read through her text.

'My precious cupcake, I'm wishing you all the best in today's game as usual. You go there and show them how we run it in Buckhead. Sending loads of love. See you soon Champ. Xoxoxo'

"Oh man," I laugh.

I return my phone to the dresser and walk across my large room to my study desk. Leaning downwards, I open the shelf by the side and took out a tiny box within it.

Since it's a special type of box with a fingerprint sensor limited to just me, I easily opened it and retrieved a sealed envelope inside.

My fingers caressed the sealed pink envelope as my eyes drifted longingly into space.

It's been sixteen years now Charming. I miss you so much...

Would I ever get to see you again?