“I am sure you can easily look that up, Delbert.” Madame Dalloz said, giving him a stern look.“I prefer asking a reliable source, Maman,” Delbert replied his grandmother, while smiling at her.Racheal’s eyes widened. What was going on? Was this man trying to flirt with her or she was imagining things. “An intelligent reliable source.” Thalia said with a wide smile. Racheal was certain now that he was flirting. That was why Thalia was egging him on. She would not play this game with them.If not anything, Steffan was legally her husband. She would not disrespect him in this manner. She turned and smiled at Madame Dalloz while speaking to Delbert.“As YOUR GRANDMOTHER said” She emphasised, “I don't think there is anything I can tell you that you cannot find from equally authorised sources on the internet.”She turned to her food and concentrated on it, discouraging any further conversation. After a brief silence, Steffan said “I don't think that thief can get away with this for lo
The MC climbed back on the stage and led the other activities. Accolades were given to several businesses, new industry innovations were discussed and demonstrated. Racheal felt alive as she learned new things seated in the middle of very intelligent people. Thalia returned from the restroom to the hall much later.Racheal looked at her face searchingly, and she suspected Thalia had been crying although she had done a good job of repairing her makeup. She felt a little prick of guilt. Had she gone too far? Did she say too much during their confrontation?Soon after,She saw two tall blond women in short dresses walk towards their table and stop beside Steffan. None of them even acknowledged her with as much as a glance. Steffan smiled up brightly at them and one of the women bent low to whisper to him. He nodded and both women left after the second one kissed his face and caressed his chest in the full glare of everyone.Racheal felt tears burn her eyes. A few people from the crow
Racheal shook the thoughts away from her head. He would not dare. What would he tell his parents?She turned in resignation to return to the hall. If she could not find him, she would ask the guards to take her home alone. They would not refuse her. At least she doubted they would. She suddenly stopped, there was another staircase she hadn't noticed before that led down some other part of the building. She was immediately consumed by dreadful excitement. She was nervous about what she would find. She looked around to make sure no one was following her, then she slowly walked towards the staircase and went down the steps slowly. She was grateful that there was a carpet that muffled the sound of her clicking heels.She then walked down a tiny hallway till she got to a door that was slightly ajar. She held her breath and peered in.She saw men from around Steffann's age and older, all seated around a huge table. Oddly, they had on the same shade of black suit. The only thing that wo
She spent the entire morning in anxiety the next day. She knew this was not good for her health but she could not stop.She was worried. When she finally stepped out this morning, her maids had informed her that Steffan called last night but turned away after he heard her instructions about not wanting to be disturbed. At first, it had pleased her, she had turned the president’s son away. He had respected her wishes and left her alone. But as the day progressed, it began to bother her. It appeared to her that he did not care, why had he not tried even a little harder. Now, it was almost noon, he had not come to check on her to see how she was doing. She shook her head in self pity. She would never learn. Why was she suddenly so invested in this man and his actions towards her. She should be focusing her energy on other things. Making friends for one. Danna Sherrod had accused her of trying to buy allies so she would be untouchable. She might as well truly do that. She needed al
All three young women froze. They somehow knew there would be unsavoury consequences if anyone saw these things here. Luna was the first to react. She dove for the basket, but she was not quick enough. Before she had even completely lifted it off the table, the door opened and Steffan walked in.Leah melted away, while Luna held the basket suspended in the air, her eyes bulging at having been caught.Racheal sighed. “You can take it later Luna.” There was no saving this, Steffan had already seen it. Luna slowly dropped the basket and exited the living room to the balcony. Racheal smiled weakly at Steffan but he did not return her smile.“You were missing from the party twice yesterday.” He said without preamble, walking further into the room.Racheal sighed. So she was been watched after all. She decided the best course of action was to tell the truth. “Yes.”“I cannot even trust you to behave for one minute in my absence?” He asked through gritted teeth. Racheal flinched. He wa
“Where were you at 11:40 pm Friday 9th April 2021” Racheal heard a voice from the wall ask.She was startled, and frantically looked around. Where did the clear voice come from? She was the only one in the room.“Please answer the question.” The voice said. Racheal looked behind her, she could hear the voice even from behind. The voice came from everywhere. Did these people intend to frighten her? How could she hear them when there were no speakers in sight?As if reading her mind, the voice said. “The speakers are installed in the walls. Now please concentrate on the question.”“I was preparing for bed.” She said finally.“Any witness to this?”“My personal maids.” Racheal said. There was silence for a few minutes and then the voice shouted. “Liar!” Racheal jumped, startled, knocking her seat over. She looked around in alarm. This was intimidating. They could see her but she could not see them. She was put in here like a hamster on a treadmill for entertainment. She could not se
About one hour later, the door suddenly swung open and the cop who had led her in earlier, stepped into the room. Racheal quickly bounded up from the floor where she had been crumpled crying. Has someone come to save her? Was it over?The cop moved to the side and ushered in a younger looking cop who had a bag of fast food in hand. She broke down again in tears. Food? What did she need food for? She wanted to go back home, to her cosy quarters at the villa no matter how oppressive the walls seemed sometimes. The young cop placed the bag and what looked like a cup of iced tea on the table. Both cops hurriedly left, shutting the door behind them. She looked at the greasy bag in disgust and moved it to the far end of the table before she sat down.She was still in her seat when she heard the voice again. As usual, it was a completely new voice. “Are you ready to speak now?”“There is nothing to say.” She responded tiredly. There was silence and she thought they had left, when the
The next two days passed the same way for Racheal. She was questioned every couple of hours. She could not track the time properly because she did not have her wristwatch, and there was no wall clock in the room either.She only knew when it was sunrise or sundown because of the window in the bathroom.The cops asked her the same question over and over, till she was screaming because she was exausted from having to repeat herself. Her hair was a mess, she was hungry and sleep deprived. The few bathroom breaks she had were short, but at least she could look up at the bathroom window. This helped her keep track of the days. The breaks also helped her clean her body. She used wipes to clean up as much as she could. Although she was not stinking up the whole place, she did not feel clean either. Anytime the cops led her down the dimly lit passageway that connected the restroom to the bright, bright interrogation room, she struggled with the urge to fight. On the third morning thoug