Twenty-six

                                    

                                          
Between what is said and not meant, and what is meant and not said, most of love is lost. - Khalil Gibran 
Mia
The last few days have been insanely busy. Amidst all the planning for the event, I started work at Columbia University, and I was continuing to help in the ongoing investigation for the girls that were taken.
We've had cops in and out of the house and Christian has been attending to them. They seem to be very afraid of him from what I've gathered but they also have a good working relationship and they've decided to fly to DRC and conduct a national search. They asked my opinion and that was the best advice I could give. Working together with Chad's family, now that I found out he's dead, and getting help from the public may also help the officers get some leads. The news was out of the public and the families of the missing kids were looking for all the support they could get. I had Christian and the agents bring them over and they all thought I was insane.
The truth is, these people were just looking for someone to talk to and they weren't the right crowd for that. I, on the other hand was more than happy to listen. I also made Christian give them all some money to help wherever it can because they all seemed so desperate and they weren't going to fly out to find their kids. They needed financial comfort as much as they needed their children back. It's the sad truth of life. Christian had enough money to help all of them, so it was pointless to even argue about it. I always felt that if it's in your means to help someone, you shouldn't think twice about helping. Some way or the other, the help you give to someone will come back to you. 
Today is my graduation and I got a call from my student advisor who asked if I was going to be there. A few of the families were coming over today, but Christian insisted we go for the graduation and then tend to the families, much to his dismay. He even bought me a dress and jewelry. I tried to hide how much that meant to me. I didn't really feel like celebrating, knowing that these children were missing because of my father and the deals he made because of me. He disappeared off the grid after shooting Christian two weeks ago, and I haven't been to the house since. I haven't even heard from Tony since Atlanta. It seemed he didn't bother much about my life with Christian anymore.
About 20 officials flew out this morning and they said they'd report to Christian first. He wanted to go with them but I begged him not to, his arm was not fully healed yet and he assured me I was being ridiculous but in the end he still didn't go. Mia one, Christian one. 
I made breakfast and I had the chef prepare some charcuterie and meals-to-go for the guests we'd have today. I wanted to give them as much as we had to offer. Christian stepped into the kitchen, dressed in his classic grey checkered pants and a black shirt. I hate it when he looks like this. He's so stunning it's blinding sometimes, but mostly annoying because no one should look like that. I blush as I think about this morning, seeing him in the yard. His body slicked with sweat. He just completed a full workout. Thank God he put a shirt on, I think would have had a stroke. 
"Mia, there's only five people coming. You're not cooking for the goddamn army." he said, calmly. I looked up at him. "I know, I thought they could just take some food home." I say, and he shakes his head.
"let Portia handle everything. You need to get ready, we have to leave in an hour." he says, and his eyes trail my body. I am technically still in my pajamas, and it is well after 11 but I don't feel like going anymore. So I tell him that. "I don't feel like it. It's okay, they said the certificate can come in the mail. It's the same thing." I say, and shrug. I turn back to my mixing bowl because I decided to make cupcakes.
"God please tell me you're not baking for them. They will sue me for food poisoning. Leave it. Go get ready." he says, and pulls me by my arms away from the bowl. I ignored his insult and looked up at him, his jade eyes staring down at me from behind his dark lashes.
"you deserve this day, love. I know you're feeling guilty which is extremely stupid, but today is all about you. Go, get dressed. Take as long as you need." he says, and pushed my hair out of my face. I sighed and left the kitchen, overhearing him ask Portia to throw out whatever I made.