Yvonne
I landed in Philadelphia by noon and luckily, I found an empty taxi at the airport. It's usually not always easy finding an empty taxi at the airport so I boarded it and headed to my mom's house.
As I rode in the taxi, I pondered on what my life would have been if my father hadn't died. My mom and I came to Philadelphia when I was six for a vacation. That was the moment it turned into a permanent home of residence because of my dad's sudden death.
I was certain that my father was murdered and the past keeps appearing to be a nightmare. I was ready to confront my mother, desperate for answers that she had kept hidden for so long.
Soon, I was home. My mom was surprised to see me, but I refused to accept her a welcome hug because I had a reason for coming back and a happy welcome wasn't a part of it.
"I hope you're here for a long stay pumpkin." She said as she led me into the house. I pulled her into the room upstairs and shut the door.
"What's wrong?" She asked. "Why are you acting so violent?"
"You can drop the act now. You know why I came back. I can't attend that conference if I don't know what really happened to dad," I retorted.
"Your dad is at work baby, what are you talking about?" She asked me again.
I could feel her trying to avoid the whole conversation. "Ma. Is there something you're not telling me about my father because I know that you intentionally wanted me back." I retorted again.
She didn't want to say anything to me. Immediately, tears streamed down my cheeks as I implored, "Don't you have something to say to me?"
She shielded her face and turned away, murmuring, "No."
I ran to her and pushed her hands away from her face. "I'm still going to hunt the Vargas down whether or not you tell me!" I yelled and walked towards the door.
Her trembling voice halted my strides. "Wait...I'll tell you."
I hurriedly entered the room and shut the door then she began.
"We had an encounter with a man called Alfonso Vargas. He is not only a billionaire but also the founder of Tech Vargas. He always gets what he wants even though it means killing those who get in his way and unfortunately, your father happened to be among those things he wanted, well the company. Your father created Drivz when you were a year old and it grew so much that we never knew what poverty was anymore. Your father didn't give more information about the business deal with the Vargas so I assumed everything was okay. I traveled with you for a mother-and-daughter vacation and some days later I received a phone call, and it was from your father. He told me that Mr. Alfonso had threatened to take Drivz from him. I got furious, I pleaded with him to tell me what was going on but he didn't but his instruction was if he wasn't able to fix things I should transfer everything in his account to mine and change our identity and he'd join us. Days later the news of his death came, and I still couldn't figure out anything until I met Smith."
The shock and disbelief overwhelmed me as I paced the room, my heart was racing so fast that I couldn't feel my legs moving.
"It sounds so unreal Mom… his sudden death, our company crashing, everything Mom!"
She enveloped me in a tight embrace, offering the only comfort she could. I pushed her away and quickly wiped off my tears.
"I'm leaving tomorrow. I have something to do at the office." Immediately I said that, and I walked out of the room.
I picked up my jacket and went out. It was almost eight o'clock, the weather was chilly. I got into a cab to drive me to the club to get a drink. I never go to the club alone because I have a low tolerance for alcohol but this time I didn't want to think about what my mom had told me earlier.
"Ma'am. Ma'am" I heard someone calling.
"Yes?"
"You didn't tell me where we're going?"
It was the driver. I've forgotten I didn't. I leaned forward to rest my body on the car seat. "Do you know where the best place to have a good drink is?"
"I think I do. I drove off a lady about your age some days ago too," he replied.
I leaned backward. "Take me there then."
I moved to New Jersey when I got my first job as a corporate lawyer. I wanted to live on my own and explore a new city and I didn't want to be away from my best friend too, but we lived in a different apartment. This was my first time coming back to Philadelphia after so many years. Now I'm fighting again with the woman that made me leave.
We arrived at the bar. I got out of the taxi, paid the driver and headed towards the door of the bar. I could see men and women loitering around outside. I don't usually visit places like this, but I had to for sanity's sake. I entered caring less about the crowd.
I scanned the area in search of the counter table. After about two minutes I found it and headed to it. Still looking confused on what to order, the bartender spoke, "You might want to go for something you can handle."
"Excuse me?" I scoffed.
"I'm just saying 'coz I can tell you're here by yourself," he replied.
"I am and there's nothing I can't handle… make me a tequila please." I replied to him back with all seriousness. I don't take so much alcohol but somehow Chloe has been rubbing off on me lately because she'll never want to drink by herself especially when I'm there with her. I noticed that the bartender hadn't made my shots, so I flared up.
"I've not had a good day, and this is how I can calm myself so please make me my shots"
"That's why you need Long Island instead." He said as he gently pushed the shots closer to me.
I was too stunned to speak. "You made that for me? Omg, thank you! " I was able to say.
I gulped them down so quickly that I could feel my throat burning. I smiled at the bartender and not long after, one of my favorite songs was playing in the background. I got up and started singing to it. I danced along as well. I went back to the counter and sat down.
"One more please" I told him. This continued for about thirty minutes. I was dead drunk, I picked up my cell phone and asked someone to come take me away.