Goodbyes And New Beginnings

Onika’s POV

After the talk with my mother and getting her blessings, I began packing my stuff. Chris had tried to reach me with different numbers, but I blocked them all and tried to push him far away from my mind.

Saturday morning, the day I leave it all behind. The day I start all over. I woke up earlier than my alarm. My flight wasn't till 9 in the morning, and I used the last minute to get ready and look around for anything I forgot. I brushed, bathed, and did my skincare routine. Then, I dressed in a black baggy jean and shirt and pulled a face cap over my hair and took my cross bag. I looked boyish, but who cares?

I began packing my bags out of my room, and when I took down the last bag, I looked back at my room, and a sad smile appeared on my face. "I'm going to miss this," I thought to myself.

I carried my last bags downstairs, and I could see my mom already dressed up to take me to the airport. She looked up from her phone, and I could see the sadness in her eyes. "Oh, mom! Don't start," I said, trying to console her. "But I'm going to miss you," she said, with tears coming out of her eyes as she pulled me for a hug. "I'm going to miss you too, and don't worry about anything, mom. I will always call to check up on you and send you money anytime you need it," I said, trying to console her.

"We have to start going, so we can check in on time. I hate rushing," I told her, as I pulled out of the hug. She quickly wiped her tears and then ordered an Uber, which arrived and picked us up.

The Airport

When we got to the airport, we were early, so we checked in and weighed my bags, and when we were done, we went to the waiting room to wait for our flight to be announced. After some minutes passed while waiting, Pat and Raelynn walked in the waiting room, and it looked like they were looking for where to sit, and I quickly waved my hands and signaled them. "Hey, Pat, Lynn!" I called, and they both turned to my direction and began moving towards me. "Hey, Onika," they both said.

"Mrs. Kenneth, it's so lovely to see you again," Pat said. "Good morning, Mrs. Nichole," Lynn said, with a vibrant smile. "Good morning, Pat, and a very good morning to you too, Raelynn," my mom said, with a smile.

They both sat down, and we began discussing everything about Paris, with my mom pitching in a few advice on the side. After like an hour of waiting and talking and laughing, we heard our flight being called out.

We stood up, and Pat and Raelynn hugged my mom goodbye and moved to board the plane. I turned to my mom to give her a long hug, as it would be the last time we would be together for a long while. I could see tears already forming in my mom's eyes, just like the day I went off to college. We hugged as we both shed tears; she pulled out of the hug as she made me promise to call her as soon as I land, to which I agreed. She finally said a very quick prayer, pecked me, and then let me go.

...........

I finally boarded the plane and spotted familiar faces from the company. Pat and Raelynn's seats were far from mine, but I wasn't bothered since it wasn't a long flight. We heard the pilot announce the commencement of the flight and instruct us to fasten our seatbelts as we prepared for takeoff. As we soared into the sky, I gazed out the window and bid a silent goodbye to England, knowing I would miss it. With the flight being short, I decided to pass the time by watching movies. After a few episodes of Grown-ish, the pilot announced our arrival, and we prepared for landing.

In no time, we landed, and I disembarked, searching for the girls. We reunited in the waiting room and proceeded to collect our bags and get directions to our apartment. After about an hour, we finally retrieved our bags and made our way to our new home. We took two taxis to Easton's estate, and I couldn't stop marveling at the beauty of Paris. The Eiffel Tower was breathtaking – words couldn't describe its splendor. We took plenty of pictures and videos, and even did a vlog, courtesy of Raelynn.

Upon arriving at Easton's estate, we showed our residency IDs and gained entry into the estate. We were greeted by a stunning, homely duplex painted a soft, creamy white, with beautiful gardens adorning the sides. The exterior walls were accented with elegant stone arches and ornate balconies, giving the building a charming, French-inspired flair. The gardens were meticulously manicured, with vibrant flowers and lush greenery spilling over the edges of the perfectly placed planters.

The exterior was impressive, but the interior surpassed it. As we entered the apartment, we were struck by the sleek, modern design and the abundance of natural light pouring in through the large windows. The black and white decor was tasteful and sophisticated, with bold, geometric patterns adding a touch of personality to the space.

The living room boasted a plush, black sectional sofa and a stunning, white marble coffee table, while the kitchen was equipped with sleek, high-gloss appliances and ample counter space. The interior designers had outdone themselves, creating a beautiful, functional space that felt like home.

"Hey guys, you must be the other three roommates," we heard a soft voice say. Before us stood a beautiful Mexican girl, 5'4" with long dark hair and golden eyes. "Hey!! Yes, we are," Raelynn replied. "Oh, that's beautiful – I'm Haley, and I'll be one of your roommates." We exchanged introductions, and I hugged Haley, along with Pat.

As we entered the living room, Pat asked, "Is the other roommate here yet?" Haley began to respond but was interrupted by a tall, 6'0" girl with ginger hair, who could easily pass as a model. "I'm here," she said, descending the stairs. "Hi, I'm May – how are you?" she asked, hugging us. "I was just upstairs checking out the rooms; you can go pick one and unpack."

Meanwhile

Inside the topmost floor of a skyscraper, a mysterious figure stood gazing out at the Parisian view from the glass wall. His aura was intimidating and oppressive, and his scowl only added to the intensity.

His secretary delivered the daily update, and as he dismissed him, he asked, "When is the new assistant starting?"

"She should be here by Monday; she just landed in Paris," the secretary replied.

"Brief her about the dos and don'ts of working with me before she starts – you are dismissed."

The secretary bowed and hastily left the office, relieved to escape the suffocating atmosphere. He pulled out his phone to text the new assistant, hoping she would last longer than the others.