Successful Mission

Theresa's POV

I am now boarded on the plane back to Paris.

I am thankful that all goes well when I enter the Madrigal mansion. I prayed harder today while on my way to the Gold Coast, where the Madrigal mansion is located.

I took an air train to Gold Coast. I'm lucky to have a chance to catch that train because the next departure will be in another thirty minutes. It only took ninety minutes to get to the Gold Coast train depot, and then I took a taxi from there to Madrigal mansion. My hands were shaking when I pressed the doorbell. 

Someone peeped in the security hole and let me in.

"Theresa!?" The woman hugged me.

"Dana!" I hugged her back. "I just came to get Miss Shiloh's box in her room. Is Mr. Hansen in?"

"No, he went for a business meeting out of the country; that's what I heard. Come in," said Dana and guided me in. I look around to see if there are any changes in this mansion. I noticed that there's nothing I could remember.

"Great! I'll go up and take what I need. I need to be back in Paris soon. Shiloh doesn't want me to stay long here," I said and ran upstairs.

Dana ran with me. We entered Shiloh's room and went to Shiloh's wardrobe. I know where the box is, so I took it and found a cloth to wrap it.

"Do you have any paper bag that will fit in this?" I asked Dana.

"I'll find you one. Follow me in the kitchen," she replied and walked down ahead of me.

I followed Dana.

"Theresa?" said the other woman as I entered the kitchen.

"Naomi? You guys are still here?" I couldn't believe that they were still here in the mansion.

"Yes, Mr. Hansen kept most of the servants. But after Mrs. Hansen's funeral, he sent us all on vacation for about one month. The same day when you and young Shiloh left for Paris," Naomi told me.

"Not one month, Naomi, it's almost two," Dana cut in.

"Here, this will fit," Dana said afterward and handed the paper bag to me.

I lifted the box and put it inside the paper bag.

"Thanks, Dana and Naomi, I have to go now. If possible, never mention to Mr. Hansen that I came. Shiloh has asked him to send this box to Paris, but he never sends it. It's fifteen years now, so Shiloh asked me to get it." I told them, and I hope that the two women will keep their mouths shut.

I hugged them once more and left the mansion.

When the taxi I was riding turned right to the highway, I saw a black car turn left too. I tried to see who's inside. My spine stiffened when I saw who was in that black car. Years may come and go, and though he's in his grey hair now. I could still recognize him. He's Mr. Damien Hansen, my boss and father of my ward.

I thank God for the luck I had. Very perfect timing.

When I arrived at the airport, I couldn't find Shiloh anywhere. So I stick to what we agreed before we parted. If I couldn't find Shiloh, I must buy a ticket back to Paris, and that's what I did. I bought the ticket for the next flight, then I got my luggage in storage. 

Now I am up in the air and back to Paris with Shiloh's box with my position.

In less than ten hours more, I will be going to see Shiloh in Paris.

She will be able to see her treasured box. She said her mother told her that she put a gift in the box for her thirteenth birthday. I am happy that finally Shiloh will see what her mother's present for her is on her thirteenth birthday.

I took a rest while in the air. Probably I will get multiple jet lags; they just came to Australia and then went back again. Twenty-one hours plus twenty-one hours more of the flying. My head is spinning.

I drifted to sleep. The attendant has woken me up for a meal. After eating, I went back to sleep again. I woke up only when the airplane finally reached its destination.

The airplane landed at eight thirty-one in the morning on Sunday, Paris time. I went home straight from the airport. The office is closed on Sunday. But Shiloh wasn't in the apartment, so I dialed Claire's number in case Shiloh was there.

"Hello!" answered Claire.

"Hi Claire, this is Theresa. I just want to ask if Shiloh is there?" I felt something strange already.

"No, she didn't. I thought you two were in Australia. Why did you come back so soon?" Claire asked me.

"She has changed her mind. She said she doesn't want to face her father right now. Not now." She started.

"What do you mean she doesn't want to see her father? I thought that's the reason why she decided to go home so suddenly," Claire said.

"That's what she said. She thought she was ready to face him," I replied.

"What's in her father that she's afraid to see him?" Claire asked.

"I don't know how to explain it, but in my twenty-eight years with Shiloh, I can't remember when her father held her or even got close to her," she said.

"That's strange; all the fathers I knew were closer to their daughters than to their sons," Claire commented.

"What do you think is in that box? Why did she ask you to get it?" Changing the topic.

"They were the photographs. From when she was a baby until she was thirteen, actually almost thirteen, because Mrs. Hansen died before her thirteenth birthday. She said that she put a gift for her birthday in the box."

"I see; she must be closer to her mom," Claire commented.

"Yes, only Mrs. Hansen adored her. Mr. Hansen never carried her even when she was a baby."

I heaved a sigh remembering those days when Shiloh was a baby.

Now she's a lady. But where is she? I dialed her number. It's out of the coverage area. I know Shiloh; she doesn't turn off her cellphone, especially when we're far apart.

Where is she?

I suddenly felt nervous. Shiloh mentioned that she had a strange feeling when we were just on our way to Australia.