Chapter 8

It's good to see the incredible building of Brown's Architectural Design. This only proves that the company is going successful as it used to be. The fruit of my father Martin's sacrifices is visible in the face of the company. I park my car and quickly get out of it. I go straight to the elevator exclusively for VIPs and click the button to the 30th floor. That's going to the President's office, or I may say Uncle Marco's office. 

Click. The elevator opens and my swift stride follows. 

"Good afternoon Cecelia." I greet her in a monotonous tone.

She's the secretary to the President. Cecelia startles after hearing my greeting. She slightly jerks from her seat. 

"Jesus Christ Adele! You startled me." 

"Is Uncle Marco inside?"

What a foolish question. Of course, he is. Wherever is the boss, the secretary follows, right? 

"Yes, he is. I'll tell him that you are here."

"No need. I'll tell him myself."

I interrupt her before she could dial the intercom. I stay on a blank facial expression but my mind is secretly grinning.  I know she'll panic. I turn my head to her before going straight inside without knocking. 

"Wait! Adele!"

I hear Cecilia calling me. However, I am already inside before she could stop me. The man who is on a telephone conversation raises his head and wrinkles his brows at me. He ended the call and faced me. 

"Have you ever lost your manner, Akira? Care to knock first before going in?" 

"My apologies." 

He never calls me Adele unless we are in public. I give him a crazy smile before sitting on the chair across his table. I like teasing this man even when my father Martin was still alive. Uncle Marco is thirty-five years old and a bachelor. I remember him say that he won't marry any woman. I don't know what's his problem with women. Well, I guess he is already married to his work. By the way, he's an illegitimate child and I haven't met his mother yet. 

"What bad weather has brought you here?" 

He looks unhappy seeing me. That's not new to me, nevertheless. I believe that he sees me as a rival in the position he is temporarily enjoying now. 

"Is it wrong for me to go here?" 

I show a sorrowful expression on my face. I know where this conversation is going. He is always pissed off with me.

"Get out of my face, Akira a.k.a Adele Martina Brown. If you have any questions about the company's progress you know where to go." 

"Alright, it seems that you don't have any idea what I am here for. I am not here to just pester you." 

He looks at me with his left brows raised. I mean to be serious this time. I look back at him with a serious expression.

"Lucas has reported me some progress in finding Adele. Haven't he communicated with you yet?"

"He hasn't contacted me for almost two years. I thought he quit the job."

Little did Uncle Marco knew that I was the one who instructed Lucas not to report to him. The latter is a private detective that my foster parents, Martin and Margarette, entrusted the job with. I don't know but I have a feeling that he shouldn't be informed anything about the progress of finding Adele. My telepathy can't see a red flag about him but I just don't want to trust him.

"What did he tell you, anyway?"

"They found the woman who allegedly kidnapped and raised her. They are still validating the information by this time."

"That's good news. I can see a little hope in it." He smiled after saying that.

"You just ring and tell my grannies about this." 

I'm getting ready to stand and go out of the office when he speaks.

"You can tell them that in person." 

"Person?" 

Hearing his words stop me from moving my feet out. My grandparents have been outside of the country for two years.

"They're going home for good. They are on the plane by now." 

He looks at me with his lazy eyes while his thumb resting on his chin and index finger rubbing it. I know what that means, so I give him peace of mind and eventually bid goodbye. I feel so excited to see the old Browns'. It's been a long while since they left. They are both sweet to me. They know that I can't replace their real granddaughter, but at least they have someone to call a grandchild. My father Martin and Uncle Marco are the children in the family. Since Martin lost Adele and Uncle Marco is not yet having his own family, my coming was somehow a relief for them. After all, I am a good girl and never give them headaches.

I drive my car fast going to the Browns' mansion. I want to be there when my grandparents arrive. I want to give them hugs and kisses, things I must be doing to my real family hadn't they got murdered by General Thud. The high gate of the mansion opens up to let my car enter. The spacious facade leading to the entrance of the mansion welcomed me.

I park and get out of the car. An old woman dress in a maid's uniform greets me when I enter the living room.

"It's good to see you, Adele! It's been a while since your last visit here." 

"Good to see you too, Rosemary!" 

She is Rosemary, the head servant. She hugs me and I hug her back dearly. My father is fond of her that's why I'm kind of close to her. 

"Have you been busy these past few days?" 

"Kind of." 

"It seems that you will not visit here if the old Browns' aren't coming." 

She pouts her lips like she is jealous of it. I just laugh and pat her back. 

"Don't be sad, I'm here now and I plan to stay overnight."

I didn't prepare for this but I really would like to stay. I don't know, but I suddenly want to be with a family. My family, here in this world. This feeling is unusual as I've never been this clingy before.