FALLING IN LOVE WITH HIM - HER FIRST LOVE

Hands clasped behind his back, Johnathan paced leisurely in the small living room while Rouvin organised the money in the suitcase. 

Kessie walked in carrying a tray of coffee with snacks. Johnathan stopped pacing and took the offered cup of coffee from her hand with a grateful smile. She took a seat on the wing chair in an olive green colour. He noticed how relaxed her demeanour was. She never once glanced at the bundle of money with greed. 

Johnathan admired her honesty and smiled, remembering meeting her for the first time years ago. 

She used to work at one of his NGOs as a receptionist. One day while she was leaving the office, Kessie collided into Johnathan's chest as she didn't see him coming her way. He noticed she was in a hurry to leave. The tears in her almond-shaped brown eyes had caught his attention. 

That day he learned that her husband had met with an accident, and she was in a hurry to reach the hospital. Humanity awakened him, and he came forward to offer help. From bringing Kessie to meet her dying husband to his funeral, he was there to support her both morally and financially. 

They became friends and discovered that she didn't have anyone left in the family except for her two-year-old daughter. Kessie was the child of immigrants, an Afro-Greek. As they believed, "Greeks are those who partake in Greek culture and education", and Kessie was the perfect example of the phrase since Johnathan had known her. 

Soon enough, friendship brought familiarity, eventually leading to physical intimacy. But to Johnathan's convenience, Kessie never expected commitment, nor did she demand a label for their relationship. He supported her financially, and she lent him comforting arms when he felt lonely and depressed. 

She smiled at him when she noticed him staring. Her makeup-free brown skin gleamed, and her perfect even teeth in between her full lips enhanced her beauty when her smile grew into a grin. She had her dark curly hair pulled into a loose ponytail. His eyes were appreciating her attractive personality when Rouvin cleared his throat. 

"I'll take my leave, then," Rouvin announced, pulling Johnathan out of his stupor. He nodded while his trustworthy friend secured the locks of the suitcase. Rouvin bowed once in respect and left with the money. Johnathan didn't need to worry about it since Rouvin knew what to do with it. 

It was the promised payment to Hera's fake guardians, her adopted family. Johnathan had made a deal with Benson Aiken that he would bear all the expenses until Hera reached eighteen years of age. He would send them money twice a year, once every six months. 

He knew the Aikens used the money for their own benefits and the betterment of their living status in the name of Hera's upbringing. So he would send enough to cover Hera's and Danny's education and other necessities. 

"You don't have to send me money anymore, you know," Kessie said as soon as Rouvin pulled the door shut on his way out. "I have enough of it. You've done enough for me," she said, her voice of tone firm, but there was no disapproval or displeasure behind it. She never forgot to be grateful for his help. 

Kessie expressed her gratitude every day for all that he had done for her. But now, she earned enough to cover the needs of her and her grown-up daughter. Johnathan had helped her set up her own workshop that produced and sold musical instruments and it had become a well-known name in the capital city of Greece. 

Johnathan knew she had a passion for creating musical instruments but had to give up her dream. She didn't have the required capital to start her dream business when she worked in an NGO to earn her livelihood. Her husband's death added more burden to her long list of responsibilities. But she had Johnathan to thank as he made it possible for her. 

She still worked in his NGO and expertly managed her time between the charity organisation and creating musical instruments in her spare time. She made sure to spend quality time with her daughter and Johnathan as well. 

"I know, but why can't you treat it as my token of appreciation for all that you've done for me with your mere presence in my life?" Johnathan asked in return and kissed her to stop her from arguing further on the subject. 

Johnathan felt guilty every time she showed gratitude because he knew he wasn't that selfless. Her bank account was his safe way to approach or hide his unforgivable sins without the prying eyes of the world. He would deposit double the money in her account and later ask her to withdraw half of it, only to send it to Hera's caretakers. 

The remaining half of the deposited money was his subtle way of compensating her for shamelessly taking advantage of her for his selfish benefits. 

He was rational enough to understand that his father would be keeping an eye on his bank transactions to know where he spends his money. Living the life of a prince was hard enough to bear, let alone being his father's son. To keep his family name untainted, Christopher Castellanos would do anything, and Johnathan knew, one look at his bank statements and his father would know Hera's whereabouts. 

So, he kept his bank statements clean and never used them to transfer money directly to Hera's caretakers. That was where Kessie's bank account came in as a lifesaver. His father might have a detailed report of Johnathan's secret affair with one of his employees. He sure as hell knew that it didn't miss his father's eyes how much money he showers on his mistress. 

But history was living proof of royal entities and their not so secret rendezvous with their subordinates or servants. Having an illegitimate affair was never a crime and wouldn't bring shame to the throne until the Kings and the heirs to the throne keep it behind closed doors. 

Christopher had conveniently ignored his son's affair for two reasons, firstly, he was a man, and secondly, a royalty. It was considered a birthright for them to stray in search of sexual pleasure elsewhere. And, of course, they would shower their recipients with money because they were prideful and had a reputation to maintain. 

It was safe to say, Johnathan had successfully kept his father ignorant of his connection with Hera's existence. He had been sending money for Hera's upbringing right under his father's meddlesome nose. Rouvin would deliver it to Benson through a random person after withdrawing the cash from Kessie's account. 

Kessie never poked her nose in his business, so she never asked what he did with that money or where he sent Rouvin or why he used her account for it. Johnathan was thankful and believed she was worth every cent he spent on her. 

Johnathan stayed for two more hours at Kessie's place and showed his appreciation through the only way he knew, by loving her in the bed and whispering empty promises. 

"Helena wants a mini guitar. She said something about comfort and ease of play. Can you make one for her?" Johnathan asked while playing with her hair. Kessie had made a guitar for Helana before and was glad to know she loved it. She hummed her response, followed by a happy giggle. 

When Johnathan left his mistress' house, his thoughts drifted back to the past. The car raced like butter on the smooth road while he tried his best to keep his calm. He leaned against the comfortable leather of his Mercedes Benz and threw his head back before he closed his eyes. 

Johnathan had complete faith in Rouvin that he would fulfill his job without any mistake, and he hadn't done one over the years. Hence he had nothing to fear. 

Little Hera's face appeared behind his closed eyelids. 

'Three more years, and I will be free from this burden.'

His guilt immediately lifted its head at that thought, hissing at him like an enraged snake. His chest felt heavy with an unpleasant ache as he remembered his last encounter with Felicity. He heard her voice echoing inside his mind how he was not worthy of her friendship. 

THE FOOTAGE OF HIS SINS FROM FIFTEEN YEARS AGO started to play on a loop inside his head. 

He was so dead set on destroying Alexander that he ended up hurting the love of his life, Felicity. His hatred for Alexander won over his love for her, and he left her to die. He wanted Alexander to feel his pain. So he squashed aside the guilt of hurting Felicity and rushed to where Rouvin waited for him because he didn't want Alexander to retrieve his daughter. 

It was a piece of cake for Johnathan to get his work done whenever he used his royal status, and Rouvin had prepared a private jet for them within minutes. He knew even Alexander wouldn't have had much difficulty in arranging the jet for Sebastian. The devil had earned a well-known name for himself around the world. 

Now all he had to do was find Sebastian. According to Rouvin's information, Sebastian's jet would land in California. 

Johnathan knew he would have to endure the pain of losing Felicity until his last breath, and he would make sure Alexander would suffer from the guilt of losing Hera. 

When Johnathan ordered Rouvin to either kill Alexander or help his enemies and bring his daughter to him at any cost, Rouvin made a sensible decision. He knew his hired assassins or local criminals wouldn't stand a chance against the Mafia Lord. So, Rouvin decided to chase Sebastian instead.