Nicole looked around the huge auditorium, it was bigger than she thought, the hotel was bigger than she thought and she didn't even know how big it was until she got here today, which was the day of the opening, she had the place cleaned but this was her first time coming here, it has been her dad and Gavin that has been doing all the works, she was just here as the owner today and it was her first time, she felt like she was robbing the real owner, she hoped he will show up today, he hadn't called her back and when she sent a text to remind him he didn't respond.
"Time to go get ready for your speech, Nicole,"
Natalie said, coming to stand beside her.
"This place is huge,"
"I know right? It's bigger than I thought, have you seen the hotel? I wonder just how much it took to get this done,"
Her sister said in awe, Nicole had no idea either, she knew it was more than she was told, it had to be more, it was too big and beautiful.
"Is he going to come around?"
Natalie asked, she knew who she was talking about but she wasn't so sure, she already asked Caleb about him three times before he left, she was sure he ran away to avoid her questions but he said he had something to do, she thanked him for coming.
"I don't know, I texted him yesterday to remind him, he didn't respond so I shouldn't wait up for him right?"
"I guess so, let's go retouch your makeup, for your speech,"
Her sister said pulling her along, she followed her, did a retouch of her makeup, and got down just as the MC called on her to give her opening speech. She prepared for it and it was easy for her, she just wished Rafael was there to take credit.
"I will like to thank everyone who supported me and made this all possible, my parents, my twin and my friends Aron and Grace, and let's not forget my favorite lawyer, Gavin, thank you all so much, last but not the least, I will like to thank,"
She paused, took a deep breath, she didn't want to address Rafael as her ex-husband, she couldn't find another word to do so, she took a deep breath and just said it.
"Lastly, I would like to thank the one who deemed me fit and gave me this wonderful place as a gift, trust me, there is no way, I would pull such a huge facility off, not even in ten years, I am not that creative, this is all Rafael Salvador's doing and I want to thank him even though he is not here today, I really wished he came but he might have had other pressing stuff to do, still I want him to know that I am grateful for everything he did for me and that I wish him all the best, thank you to everyone who took time out off their busy schedules to be here, I am grateful, thank you very much and I hope you have a great time here, Hotel De Cole is officially open,"
She said and the auditorium erupted in cheers and applauds, she smiled got down from the stage, and went to hug her family, who congratulated her again, one person was still missing and she hoped he will eventually turn up.
"Are you alright Nicole?"
Grace asked coming to stand with her, she was fine, she just felt sad, she thought Rafael would at least honor her invitation and come around but he didn't, she should have known, now she did, they were over for good and they can't even support each other, he built this hotel from scratch, gave it to her and he couldn't even show up for the opening ceremony, she just hated that they ended up that way, she knew they were divorced but still, she waited, expecting him to show up but he didn't, the ceremony was almost over still no sign of him.
"Are you waiting for someone?"
Grace asked again.
"Not really,"
"It looks like you are waiting for someone though,"
"Grace I am not, I am just watching everyone from up here,"
"Oh, alright then, your mom said to tell you to come and say goodbye to the elites,"
Grace informed.
"I wish I can skip that part but I don't have a choice,"
She responded looking around one last time, he wasn't going to come around, the bastard, even if he didn't want to stay, all he could have done was show his face or even call her to make an excuse, but no, he didn't do anything, he has been quiet seen, she shouldn't have called him.
"You are waiting for him right?"
"No,"
"It looks like you are, I don't think he is coming, and I don't feel you should blame him, I think him not coming is better,"
"How? I called him, even if we are no longer together, we shouldn't be enemies right?"
"Hey, don't cry,"
"I am not going to cry, I just don't get why we have to be like this, people break up and still remain close, why is he so difficult? I am not asking for him to do anything, just make a fucking appearance,"
"Come on Nicole,"
Grace said pulling her along, she followed without questioning her, she was almost going to break down crying anyway and she didn't want a photo of her crying everywhere on the internet, the first drop of tears came just when they entered the room she used to get dressed and she let go as soon as the door closed.
"Am I that horrible? Does he hate me that much now? I didn't do anything wrong to him, he is not the only one that lost a child I did too, why is it making it so hard to forget? I don't even ask him to get back with me that is impossible, I just wanted him to be here, now I feel like I shouldn't have gone ahead with this whole thing and just left the hotel like that,"
She cried.
"Hey, calm down, I am sure he had his reasons for not coming, it might not have anything to do with you or what happened with you two,"
Grace said but it was hard to believe.
"And he didn't call? I called him Grace, I told him about today, I even texted him yesterday to make sure he remembers, he didn't reply to my text and I wasn't offended but not showing up, even if it's just to see how his hard work turned out, even if he hates me and my family, he shouldn't hate his work too,"
Nicole lamented hating that she was crying over Rafael again, hating the fact that he still had that much hold over her.
"Nicole, listen to me, I know I know it hurts, but think about it from his perspective, it might be uncomfortable for him to be here, also what if he had your best interest at heart,"
"How? How is not showing up having my best interest at heart, if he did he would be here,"
"Think about it this way, if he comes here, people will be more focused on you and him, on your personal matter rather than what matters right now which is the ceremony,"
Grace said but it all didn't make sense to her, that wasn't an excuse even if he couldn't make it, what happened to call?
"You are just making up excuses for him, would they know if he calls or send a text?"
She asked and Grace was speechless…