Chapter

6

Kate sobbed as she picked up the ripped pieces of her dress, clutching it tightly to her chest. 

Irritated by herself, she retched vomiting the contents of the food she’d last eaten to the ground. Kate wiped her mouth as she proceeded to dabing her tears away from her cheeks. 

Kate looked up abruptly as she heard footsteps approaching her room. She moved back on the bed, shivering with fear that it might be Richie. She sighed with relief when she saw that it was just his maidservant. 

“Oh my”. The elderly woman gasped seeing the mess on the floor as she rushed over to Kate’s side and placed her palm on her frontal. “Are you sick?”

Kate saw the name tag attached to the woman’s clothe. “Miriam, is it?”

“Yes, Madam”.Miriam retracted her hands from Kate’s frontal.”You don’t seeem sick. That’s a relief”

Kate took Miriam’s hands into hers, looking down at their intertwined fingers as she suddenly felt it was like a mother’s touch.”I’m sick. Really,really sick”. She looked up at Miriam teary eyed. “Please, help me”

“That’s enough of the soap operas”. A deep voice said by the door. Startled, Kate jumped on seeing that it was Richie as Miriam instantly removed her hands from Kate’s. 

Richie took slow strides approaching them with his piercing gaze on Miriam. “Tell me, who told you to come here?”

Shivering and shaking with fear, Miriam stuttered. “I..I..w..as cleaning when I saw that she’d made a mess on the floor. I..I wanted to clean i-“. Miriam yelped as Richie had grabbed her by the sliky length of her brown short hair. 

“I understand that you are getting older and your values are beginning to cloud your judgement but let it just remain as that”. Richie growled through gritted teeths as he threw Miriam across the room. “Now, get out!”. Frightened, Miriam scampered out of the room.  

Richie cracked his neck. “I need to stop employing old people”. He mumbled landing his gaze on Kate and giving her his best smile. “Let’s go eat”. 

Kate slowly backed away from him on the bed. “I’m not hungry”

“I know and trust me, I wouldn’t want to feed you either but I can’t have you passing out on me everytime we fuck now, can I?” 

Hearing the ‘f’ word and knowing that there was going to be a next time between them, made Kate’s skin crawl. 

She was already trying her possible best to forget what had transpired between them minutes ago. Anxious to have him gone, Kate nodded her head. “I’ll be down soon”

“Glad you came to that conclusion yourself or else, I would have dragged you out”. Richie glanced down at his watch on his wrist. “Be down in 10”

“15”. Kate countered. 

“5”.Richie said leaving no room for compromise as he twitched his lips and walked out of Kate’s room. 

As he descended down the golden spiral staircase, Richie saw John ascending it as he quickly pulled him to the side. “How did it go?” Richie asked him. 

“I did exactly as you’d instructed boss but, do you think Gordons is going to buy it?”. 

The corner of Richie’s lips lifted up as he scoffed. “Of course not”. Richie buried his hands into his pocket as he picked up his vibrating phone and grinned as he shoved his phone infront of John’s face. 

John gasped as he saw that the caller was Gordons. “Do you think he knows already?”. He whispered as Alex placed his index finger over his lips before answering the call. 

“Gordons. To what do I owe this pleasant surprise?!”. Richie said grinning from ear to ear. 

“You seem quite excited that I called” 

“Of course. We do deal with business together”

Gordons let out a deep throaty chuckle. “Yes, we do that’s why I’m on my way to your mansion right now. Hope you don’t mind?”

“Not at all. I’ll be waiting for you”. Richard hung up as the plastered smile on his face immediately disappeared. 

Upon hearing descending footsteps above the stairs, Richie looked towards that direction as he glared at Kate. 

Uncomfortable with his stares, Kate stuttered. “I…I t..o.ok more than 5 minutes, didn’t I? I’m sorry. The shower couldn’t-“. Quicker than her next breath, Richie had grabbed her arm and pulled her into the room. 

Kate whimpered as she cried aloud in pain. “Please, stop. You’re hurting me”. But her pleas fell on deaf ears. 

Richie turned around the red carpet that covered the marble tiles on the floor as it exposed a secret door that could only been seen by Richie. 

He inputed the password as the door beeped granting access. Richie pulled the door handle as it opened up. “Get in”. He ordered Kate. 

Whimpering, Kate dragged her feet as she descended down the stairs that the door had opened up to. 

“Don’t make a noise down there”. Richie warned shutting the door closed on Kate’s face as darkness engulfed her. 

He positioned the red carpet back in it’s usual spot as he ran downstairs gathering all his servants together. 

“Gordons is going to be here soon”. He said with a strong, booming voice. “No one is to slip up and mention anything about the female guest we have in our midst. One slip us and I promise you, I’ll be sending you to your maker despite your religion. Now go back to your work”

“Yes sir!”. They chorused as they went back to their duties. When the house seemed perfect to Richie, he heard the doorbell ring.

He gestured to one of his servants to open the door as he heeded to his command. 

When Richie spotted Gordons tall frame walk through the main door, he sprang up from the couch as he approached him to greet him. 

They exchanged hand shake and a light patting on eachother’s back. 

“Looking good, man”. Richie complimented. 

“I could say same about you”. 

“Come, let’s eat”. Richie gestured Gordons to the dining where a large tray of food was already served. 

Gordons chuckled, amazed as he took a seat. “I forgot I came to the house of a king.”

Richie smiled as he sat across Gordons as they feasted while talking about random things. After a good meal, Gordons tabled his mind. “Actually, I’m here for something else”. 

“What is it?”. Richie questioned, pretending to be clueless. 

“A girl of mine is supposedly dead”. Gordons said slowly watching Richie’s reaction but the latter appeared, unfazed.

“Ah, I see. Who is she?”. Richie inquired. 

“Kate. She’s the one that was supposed to entertain you that day”. Gordons said suddenly remembering that Richie had showed up that day. “Ah, that’s right. That day, you didn’t show up again. Why?”

Richie intertwined his hands. Gordons was sure a hard dog to get rid of. He thought.

 He was already annoyed as is by his numerous questions but rather than showing it, he flashed Gordons a smile as he responded. “I had other pressing issues to handle that day. I’m sorry for not showing up”. Richie stood up from his chair as he called John and muttered something into his ears. 

John bowed his head as he exited the dinning and soon rejoined them with three bags of cash, handing it go Gordons. 

“Please accept this as the pay for your loss that night”. Richie said suppressing the urge to smirk. He knew money was all that could move Gordons. Now that he had it, that would wrap up the whole issue. He thought. 

Gordons flattered by the massive cash, thanked Richie but still inquired to check his house. 

“I’m offended that you suspect a business partner. I mean, if she is dead why will I have her?” Richie questioned. “But, I’ll let you do as you wish but don’t forget that every action cokes with consequences.” 

Richie called John to show Gordons round the house as Gordons followed him. After searching every nook and cranny of the house and finding nothing, Gordons looked apologetic towards Richie. 

“I apologize”. Gordons said. 

“Now, I will appreciate it if you-“. Richie was cut short as a loud thud was heard. His eyes widened because he knew exactly where that sound came from. 

It came from where Kate was hiding. 

***.