Chapter 4 I Can Take Care Of Myself

• CHAPTER 4: I can take care of myself
• Sarah arrived at the school premises and hurried into the large hall. A quick glance at her wristwatch told her that she had managed to arrive on time.
• She spotted Benicio in the front row with a camcorder in his hands, ready and waiting to record every moment of the twins' career day.
• Benicio Hawthorne was Cara's older brother, who had become Sarah's closest friend, ally and confidant. He was also the owner and CEO of Soar Aviation.
• Sarah had found out a few weeks after she left the country that she was pregnant with twins. Despite the circumstances surrounding her conception, she was overjoyed, and her children were the light of her life. Robyn Lou and Liam Asher were the greatest gifts she had ever received.
• Benicio turned and saw Sarah walking into the hall. He waved at her, and she waved back with that beautiful that always made his heart skip beats.
• “I haven't missed anything already, have i?” Sarah groaned, eyeing the stage where other children were already presenting.
• Benicio chuckled. “No. You are right on time. They are yet to come on stage.”
• Sarah breathed a sigh of relief. She would not hear the end of it from her kids if she missed their presentation.
• “Look there they are!” Sarah squealed excitedly, holding on to Benicio's biceps.
• Robyn and Liam waved at their mother and uncle, and Sarah blew them air kisses. Sarah loved her children.She could not believe they were almost four years old.
• “Did you see,uncle Benicio? I did so well at my presentation,” Liam said, puffing his tiny chest with pride,as they ate at the dinner table later that night.
• Benicio laughed heartily. “You were great, bud.”
• Liam grinned widely at the praise from his uncle and they bumped their fists. Sarah dropped the dish she was carrying on the dining table, and ruffled Liam’s hair affectionately. Liam scrunched his little chubby face, and tried to fix his hair.
• “Don't do that, mom. I'm a big boy now. What if Amelia saw that?” He groaned, fixing just hair.
• Benicio burst into laughter. Sarah was confused. “Who is Amelia?” She asked, sitting down beside Benicio.
• “His crush,” Robyn answered, stuffing her face with her spaghetti.
• “Chew slowly, baby,” Sarah advised her daughter, wiping the sauce from her face with a napkin.
• “Did you know about this?” Sarah asked Benicio with a half amused, half curious smile. “About this girl that he likes?”
• Benicio raised his hands in surrender but his eyes danced with mischief and mirth.
• ”He only told me about her, and told me to keep it a secret. The bro code,” he added and exchanged a wink with Liam.
• Sarah burst into laughter. “Oh Liam, what do I do with you? I bet Amelia is beautiful, huh?”
• Liam smiled shyly, his chubby cheeks and his ears flushed red. Robyn rolled her eyes. “She doesn't even notice him. Give it up,” she groaned.
• Liam glared at her. “She does!”
• “She does not!”
• “She does!”
• “Does not!”
• Sarah intervened. “Okay, that's enough you two. I think it's time to get ready for bed,”Sarah announced to the sulking children.
• Robyn got down from the chair and grabbed Benicio's arm. “I want uncle Benny to tuck me in tonight,” she pouted.
• “Of course, princess,” Benicio beamed and carried her out of the room.
• Liam was still sulking as he stood up to leave.
• “Do you want mommy to tuck you in sweetheart?”
• “No. I can handle it. I'm a big boy now. Robbie is such a girl,”he said cheekily, and continued walking away. He suddenly stopped and turned.
• “Well…maybe just for today,” he replied and quickly walked away. Sarah trailed behind the him, trying hard to stifle her laughter at his antics.
• Sarah was lounging on the couch with a glass of wine, which she was swirling around in the glass when Benicio emerged from Robyn's room.
• “Is she down?” she asked with a soft smile.
• Benicio grinned. “Out like a light.”
• “She adores you,” she added softly.
• Benicio flexed his biceps with a proud look. “Am the best uncle, and my princess deserves the best.”
• Sarah nodded slowly with a smile. “Join me,” she said, raising the glass.
• Benicio got a glass, and took a seat on the couch, carefully placing Sarah's legs on his thighs. He poured himself a glass of wine,and took a sip.
• “This is good.”
• Sarah beamed. “I knew you would like it.”
• Sarah moaned softly as Benicio began to massage her feet.
• “That feels so good,”she sighed with her eyes closed.
• Benicio looked at Sarah, and wished he had the courage to tell her how he felt about her. He was a ruthless businessman, who feared nothing and no one. But he was afraid of ruining his relationship with Sarah.
• Sarah quickly snapped open her eyes when she remembered something.
• “How did your meeting this morning go? Did you finalise the agreement?”
• “Yes. I was about to tell you. We have sealed the agreement. Everything has already been set. Our new branch in New York has already been set up. It's ready and waiting for you,” he concluded, watching her carefully.
• She nodded. “That's great news,” she replied, taking a sip of her wine.
• Benicio narrowed his eyes. “Are you sure you can handle this?” He asked.
• Personally he would have preferred someone else handle this because he did want Sarah and the kids to get hurt again— or worse run into Edward. But Sarah had insisted on taking the project, and she was the best hand to handle it.
• Sarah was amused. “Are you scared that I won't be able to handle the new project?” she asked. She was acting like she was offended to pull Benicio's legs.
• “No—no, of course not,” he replied immediately. Sarah had great skills and she was efficient and capable.
• “You know I trust your judgement one hundred percent. The company has benefited a lot from your skills. You are a great asset to the company—”
• Sarah could not keep a straight face anymore and began to giggle. Benicoo realised she was pulling his legs, and breathed in relief.
• “You were just pulling my legs.”
• “Of course, Benicio. You should have seen your face,” she teased amidst laughter.
• Benicio smiled. “But I am serious Sarah. You know what I mean. Can you do this?” he asked in a serious tone.
• Sarah chuckled. “I'm a big girl, Benicio,” she said, refilling her glass.
• “I can take care of myself. And I would die first before I let anyone hurt my kids,”she vowed resolutely.
• She could handle Veronica and Estelle if she ever saw them, but she just hoped never to see Edward again. She didn't want him in her children's lives. He had no right to them.
• “Besides, there's not a lot of chances of me running into any of them,” she added reflectively.
• Two weeks later, Sarah was shocked when she was introduced to the owner of their new partner company in New York, and she was faced with the same man who had hurt her deeply, a man she hated greatly, a man she never wished to see again; the father of her children— Edward Huxley.
• “You!” Sarah gasped looking at the stoic faced man before her.