Chapter Five

Alice got up early that morning and prepared to meet with her lawyer concerning the papers Kelvin was to sign. She took excuse from Grandma Janet and told her that she wanted to go to the church to pray and she would skip breakfast. It pleased grandma Janet that Alice loved God, being a religious woman and she was okay with it.

Kelvin woke up and could not find Alice in the room and even at the dinning for breakfast.

"Where is Alice?" Kevin asked his grandmother as they had breakfast.

"She went to the church" Grandma Janet said with a smile. "That girl is just too lovely and to think that she loves the Lord too"

Kelvin sighed in his mind and continued with his food. At least he was spared the horrors of seeing her face that morning and he wished it would become a norm for Alice.

"Why didn't you go with her?" Grandma Janet asked him.

"I have things to do.....at the office" Kelvin replied.

"That is no excuse, son" Grandma Janet said, shaking her head.

"Next time, Grandma. I'll go with her to the church" Kelvin said to avoid another round of unnecessary talks.

*****

Kelvin finished his breakfast and headed to the office. Absent mindedly, he walked into his gigantic office, well and exquisitely furnished office and turned to close the door. Then he turned back to his table and was startled immediately.

"What on Earth are you doing here?" he asked out loud.

Alice, who was behind his desk, seated proudly on his soft chair, gave him a smirk that almost looked like a sweet smile.

"I came here to see my darling husband" Alice replied sarcastically.

Kelvin rolled his eyes. "Get out of here!" he roared silently.

"Not without your signature on these papers" Alice replied and stretched out a document to him.

"What is this?" Kelvin asked.

"50 percent of your inheritance, willed to me in three years" Alice said.

Kelvin frowned.

"Sign the papers, Mr Kelvin Sander" Alice instructed.

Kelvin hesitated a bit. He took a deep breath and then walked to the table and grabbed the pen beside the papers. Alice opened to the first place he was to sign on and tapped it,

"Sign here" she said.

He leaned on the table and brought the pen to the line and was about to sign when Alice's voice stopped him.

"I know just exactly how your signature looks like. "Don't give me a fake signature, Kelvin, or else I'll end everything immediately" Alice warned and Kelvin could sense the intensity of her threat in her voice.

Kelvin sighed and continued signing on every place his signature was needed in the document. He finished and threw the pen on the desk angrily, but Alice did not mind. She carefully took her papers and stood up from the chair. Walked out from behind the desk, she came to Kelvin with a smile.

"Now, we're in a mutually beneficial relationship" Alice said and walked out, closing the door behind her.

Kelvin grunted angrily, holding himself from destroying his office in anger. He walked to the chair and sat down, taking series of deep breaths to calm himself down.

"Don't worry Kelvin, you'll get rid of her soon and then get hold of your full inheritance. Just relax and don't let this get to you" he consoled himself.

*****

Alice left the grand building and entered her car, heading to a cafe for brunch. The cafe was just few blocks away for the Sander's multibillion company. Alice entered and took a table close to the window and was comfortable for her, then she placed her orders and waited patiently for it's arrival, looking out through the window and busying herself with whatever was good enough to get her attention.

Not too long she heard approaching footsteps and a familiar voice,

"Hello, Mrs Sander"

She turned her head to see her already seated guest, Daniel, wearing on his face his boyish smile.

"You!" she exclaimed, not expecting to see him again or to even recognize him.

"Yes ma'am, me" he replied, still smiling.

"Are you stalking me?" Alice asked him, with her brows in furrow.

"No" Daniel gentle shrugged, "Why would I stalk you?" he asked, wondering.

"I don't know, you tell me" Alice replied a bit harsly.

"Well...." Daniel began, ignoring her tone and unpleasant demeanour, "I'm here to eat and then I saw you and decided to say hi and probably join you for brunch"

"I'm fine here alone. I don't need any company" Alice said in a dismissal tone.

The waiter came with Alice's order and served her on the table, then he turned to Daniel and asked for his order.

"I'll have same as the lady" Daniel replied and the waiter left to get his food.

"Why are you ordering on my table? I said I don't need any company and I want to eat alone" Alice frowned at him.

"That's your decision." Daniel simply answered and adjusted himself on the chair to a relaxing posture and said, "I've decided to eat here with you"

Alice shook her head and pondered on how stubborn he was. Daniel was in a state of powerlessness over his feelings for the young woman. He just could not resist the urge to approach her the moment he had seen her entering into the cafe.

Alice was in no mood for an argument and could not leave her table to avoid causing a scene that might prove a little embarrassing to her. She just ignored him and bent her head, facing her food as she started eating, slowly and cautiously. She was not comfortable because she could sense his intense piercing gaze at her. Her poor innocent mind wondered at what the man would possibly want from her. The only thing she could conclude in her head was that he wanted money. She was the only daughter-in-law to the wealthiest family in the city and that should be something that people would envy and want to get by hook or crook. A little fear overwhelmed her and she promised herself not to get involved with him no matter what. She was at least safe that moment because she was in the midst of people and she was certain that he would not try anything before people.

Daniel's food arrived and he started eating, still staring at the beauty before him. He saw her shyness and fear and felt all the more attracted to her. He would just take her in his arms and assure her of his sincere and reliable defence and protection from her fear, whatever it was. He would let his touches convey to her heart that it was safe with him. He would wrap her in his embrace till her shyness would reduce to the point where she would be able to raise her face to him.

Daniel scarcely ate his food. A better part of his time was spent in staring and admiring the beautiful damsel before him.

Alice, could barely eat her food. She just wished that he would go away so that she could breath freely. When she was tired of the uncomfortable situation. She decided to leave the food unattended to. After all, she had varieties to eat at her mansion.

She stood up and took her bag and made to move. Daniel immediately stood up after her and held her hand, stopping her. Alice, nervously turned to him. She was not expecting a thing like that. She was in public, before many people and being a phlegmatic, she was very uncomfortable with such scenes in public. She felt embarrassed as she slowly looked around to see who was watching her and the young man who had held her hand. Daniel took a step and was standing very close to her. Alice's heart seemed to be freezing. She wanted to scream and yank her hand out from his grip but that would make every eyes to be on her and she would not be able to tolerate that.

Daniel was carried away. He gently caressed her hand with his thumb and was carried away in his imaginations. He could hear the nervous thumping of her heart and felt the trembling of her hands but all those made him want to comfort and assure her the more.

Alice was getting more nervous as the young man did not seem to want to let her go. She was scared that someone would see her, and recognize her as the Sander's daughter in-law. What would be said of her if she should be seen in that manner with another man. Her character would be defamed and grandma Janet would instantly hate her.

She slowly wriggled her hand away from his grip, hoping that he would get the message and be kind enough to let her go, but that did not happen. She saw that his eyes were closed as he was savouring that moment with her.

Alice then whispered to him, "What are you doing? Please let me go"

Her trembling voice touched the young man's heart and he opened his eyes and realized the situation he was about to put her in should things escalate. He quickly left her hand and said softly, "I'm sorry".

The last thing Daniel would want was for him to put her in any kind of stress or hurt. He cursed himself for being carried away by his emotions and desire to have her in his arms as his own. He thanked God that no one paid attention to them.

Alice did not waste any more time there. The moment he left her hand, she hurriedly left the cafe, straight to her car and back to the mansion, in deep thoughts.

The young man was emitting a strong wave of undying affection when he held her hand. Alice could admit to herself that despite the fear she felt when he held her hand and caressed it, she felt something else, something that was seeming very hard for her to comprehend or rather to accept. She did not know that man and what his intentions were. Even though she felt comfort and safety with him, she drowned it in the fear that he was up to no good. Perhaps he wanted to get to her soft heart and use her to lay his hands on the family's fortune. She sealed her heart and concluded that he was purely evil and she would avoid him at all cost. If possible, she would report him to the police and have him dealt with.

*****

Alice got home and wanted to head straight to the kitchen to order for something to eat when she met grandma Janet on her way.

"Sweetheart, you are back" Grandma Janet gave her a smile.

Alice nervously reciprocated the smile, "Yes grandma"

"Thank God you're here. I just got off the phone with your husband and I was about to call you too" Grandma Janet started and Alice was wondering what the matter was.

Grandma Janet continued, " I am hosting a party here tomorrow evening and you and your husband are the star of the event. Many family friends and business associates will be present to finally get to meet you one on one"

"But is this necessary grandma?" Alice asked, "We just had a grand wedding, which I'm very certain that all these people were present and you're also hosting something similar next week when you take me to the company"

"Yes Alice. This is important. They didn't have enough time to talk and get to know you but in tomorrow's event, they will. And you will also get to associate with them. You can even get your self some friends to pass your free time with." Grandma Janet paused and smiled, "I see how

you get so lonely when Kelvin isn't here. When you have a friend, you can pass those idle times with them and you can learn a thing or two from them as well." Grandma Janet said.

Alice kept quiet. She knew it was futile to convince grandma Janet against what she had set her heart to do.

"Alright grandma" Alice smiled and added, "I'll just go to my room now" with that, she excused herself and grandma Janet went her way

*****

Daniel did not seem to leave Alice's head that day. Grandma Janet was very busy making the necessary preparations for the party and so, Alice found herself, alone in her room, thinking about Daniel, his gaze and his touch. Something about them brought warmth to her. Her husband had never been so affectionate with her. Not once had he touched her lovingly, or caressed her or whispered sweet nothings in her ears. She allowed herself to relive and savour that moment in her head. She was not married to Kelvin but was Daniel's lover and she enjoyed that little moment with him in the cafe, till she was interrupted by Kelvin's return.