Chapter two

He was on the stairs, running to greet his parents so he thoughts. He sped up and stumbled on something that lay on the stairs– Old man Anthony lay still with blood oozing it. He screamed and ran to the first room that came to his mind. Blood was everywhere– on the rails, the floor, the window covered in splattered blood. He then opened the door and he saw her. Dark long hair, and green eyes peering into his blue eyes. She was holding a knife, she raised to his father's neck and said,

"You are late again, Robinson," she said, ending it with a shrieking laugh that echoed loudly.

He screamed and jerked up from the bed, with sweat all over his face and shoulders.

It was a dream. The same dream that had been tormenting him for five years. He grunted and climbed off the bed to the bathroom.

"You came home very late." A body that lay beside him moved and stripped off the blanket to look at him. "I thought yesterday was supposed to be for us, seriously for us alone."

He stopped in his tracks and turned back and realized Eleana slept with him. Did she not ever hear him scream when he had nightmares? or was she lying beside him in pretence? "I had work to do. Eleana." He grabbed his towel and entered the hot bath.

She came off the bed and ran to the bathroom, stopping him from closing the door. "You won't invite me to bathe with you?" she smiled sheepishly waiting for his response.

"You, Miss, are wasting my time for work!" He growled lightly which showed all the veins in his neck.

She widened her eyes and swiftly left the door to bang on its hinges.

He came downstairs and was hit the with sweet fragrance from Anna's cooking. He chuckled lightly.

"Uncle Robinson!" A five-year-old girl came running from behind.

His eyes softened, smiled widely and stretched out his two hands to catch the girl. They had named her after her late mother since she had the same curly hair and big brown eyes.

"Mariam! How's my baby doing this morning?" He asked carrying her in his muscular arms.

"I'm not fine!" She pouted her lips and faked sadness.

His eyes suddenly furrowed, and he looked back to Anna, but she only laughed and mouthed "children". His shoulders relaxed.

"Why aren't you fine, Princess?"

"You came very late last night, no one read my bedtime story–"

"What of Miss Eleana, did you ask her?"

She shook her head vigorously. "She looks very scary with those colours on her face. And she always shouts at Aunty Anna."

Robinson bit his tongue not to burst out laughing. He heard footsteps approaching from the steps, he knew it was Eleana. "I'll come home early today, and read your bedtime story, alright?" he said dropping her.

She beamed and curved the smile she got from her mother. "Thank uncle Robinson." She hugged his legs and ran to her room.

"Master–"

"Good morning, Anna. I'll hope that will soon be ready." His indifference appears immediately.

"Oh, yes. Yes, it will soon be ready," she muttered,  stirring the sauce that was being heated.

He nodded, "Very good. Take care of Mariam while I'm not around."

She smiled lightly but didn't nod. "Master." She wiped her wrinkled hand on her apron. "There's…something I have been meaning to tell you."

"Hmm. And what is that? He said pressing the screen of his phone.

"My sister in Tennessee is very sick and she has no one to take care of her."

He paused for a while, and turned to her. "What are you trying to say, Anna?" His eyes settled on the dark circles under her eyes.

She gulped and held her shaking fingers. "I'll need to go to her house.  I will– ehm… try to come back here, but only on weekends." She seemed to shrink under his gaze.

"And what about Mariam?"

"I'll help look for someone–"

"Will the person be as good as you with the cleaning and the child?" He asked.

She refused and took up to his intimidating glare. "Yes, she will.."

He held his breath, slid his hands into his pockets and stared at Anna with an emotionless expression. He ran his hand through his ebony hair and took deep breaths. "When are you going to see your sister?" He finally said.

"Two days from now. She will come on the exact day I'll be going to see her. "

"Anna." His bass voice rang loud.

"Yes,  Master," she said with her eyes still fixed on the ground.

"The safety and care of Mariam should be on your mind… if you understand what I mean." He said matter–of–factly.

"Yes, yes, I do. I promise she will do just that."

"Very good. Finish your cooking, I'm running late." He said.

He was about to enter his car when he saw Charles running from the back of the mansion where his flat was located.

"I thought you treasured sleep more than business," Robin said, opening the door of the car.

"Ah, well, I have been awake arranging the meetings you had today." He held slices of sandwich on his left arm, and a black suitcase on his right. It looked heavy.

"Hurry inside, we are late."

"I thought Robinson Eddington never cared of being late–"

"It is a meeting with the CEO of Glasswares. As much as I don't like him much, we need to have a signed deal with them." He said igniting the car. " And Charles. Don't let that sandwich stain my car."

"I was thinking you will say "my suit" for a minute." He grinned with a mouthful.

"I don't care about you. You should know that." Driving the car out of the garage.

Charles laughed and shook his head, eating the last sandwich he held. "Such a beautiful liar you are." fishing for a handkerchief in his pockets with his available hand.