Episode 3- Do I know you?

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength while loving someone deeply gives you courage."

Lao Tzu

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Melody POV

I couldn't sleep that night when we got back to the motel.

Was that franklin or it was just my imagination?

I tossed it on the ground where I slept because the bed in the motel was too small to contain the three of us.

The name I saw on the TV screen was franklin's first name, Giovanni. I was the only one who called him franklin because I loved the name and it reminded me of the head of the spiritual fathers in my orphanage home. I had to find out if the person I saw on the TV screen was really my franklin or maybe it was someone who looks like him.

Could two people bear the same name and have the same face? It could be coincidental right?

I needed answers and I had to know. I took my black hood that was laying on the wooden chair in the room and left the room silently. I walked downstairs to the receptionist and asked for access to the computer or laptop. I had no phone because I couldn't afford one so, everything I do on the internet is either done in a cybercafe or on someone else's laptop.

"Can I use your laptop or computer please?"I asked the receptionist, a female who was probably in her late 30s.she had a scar that ran from her left eye down to her neck. I wondered where she got the scar from but, it was not my business.

"Here, you can use my laptop." she gave me an HP silver-colored laptop and pointed to a blue plastic chair and a table for me to seat. "You can use that chair over there."

"Thank you, "I told her and walked to where the chair and table were. I sat down on the blue plastic chair and placed the laptop on the table.

My fingers typed the first name that came to my mind. "Franklin Aderemi." The search show some pictures of some guys but none of them was franklin. I typed the name I saw on the TV screen, "Giovanni Aderemi."

The search result came out and I could see the pictures of the person I thought was dead. The search result showed his age, net worth, achievement, and success. The only thing I noticed that changed about him was his blonde hair which was now black and his face seems slimmer than it was five years ago. He looked happy in all the pictures. All the pictures I saw, showed his smile and his cute dimples.

I search about his love life but, I found nothing personal about it.

The only thing I saw was news about him dating a woman some months back. I bit my lips as I scroll through their pictures that's was splashed on the internet. I could feel the emptiness deep down me, an emptiness that's had grown inside of me years ago. Franklin looks happy in every picture I saw online and I was happy that he was okay but, I was sad as well because I was the only one who had to face the trauma, hardship, suffering, and cruelty of life.

What if this man wasn't franklin? What if he was somebody else? I saw franklin shot five years ago. How could he have survived that? I searched about his family and the search result showed his father, mother, and his brother.

Can two people have the same name, face, and same family? His family were the same as franklins. Maybe franklin had a twin he didn't tell me about.  I had to find out if truly he was my franklin or not. I searched for any incident that happened to him five years ago but there was no result for it.

"How could it be possible?"

When I returned to my room that night, I knew what happened five years ago was a mystery I had to solve. I held a paper in my hand tightly. The paper contains the address of franklin's company. I had to find out if he was my franklin or not.

***

I woke up the next day with a pounding headache. I bet my eyes had swollen due to lack of sleep.

"Hey Mel, "Lorena greeted. She yawned and stretched her body.

I looked over to hope who was still sleeping and smiled at her. My baby was not a morning person.

"I'll be going somewhere soon Lorena, "I informed her as I stood up from the ground and walked to the bathroom.

"Where are you going to? I thought we were going job hunting today."Lorena expressed her sadness over the fact that I wasn't going job hunting with her.

"You can go on your own Lorena. I have to be at this place cause it is important, "I answered from the bathroom.

"Mel"

"Yes"

Lorena didn't say anything for a while and I stood in the bathroom waiting for her to say something but she didn't.

"Lorena, "I called.

"Yes, "she replied. "Melody, I hope this isn't about what you saw on the TV last night. Melody doesn't do something you'll regret."

"Right I won't. I just need to find out if who I saw wasn't my Franklin."

"Okay, Mel. Just be careful okay."Lorena warned.

"Okay mummy, "I replied to her with a laugh.

******.

The yellow taxi I took from the motel stopped at the front of a skyscraper. The glass building in front of me was massive and seems to be about 42 floors including the top floor. I paid the cab driver and walked to the glass building. I looked up to where the company name was. DReam empire was engraved in the middle of the building and it was a beautiful sight to see.

I walked to the doors of the company and tried to enter but I couldn't without a company ID.

"Coming here was a bad idea."

The securities guards Who positioned themselves at the entrance seemed to notice my predicament. They walked to me and asked who I was.

"Who are you?" one of the guards who looked to be about 165cm tall asked.

"Um, um. "I looked at him not knowing what to say.

"Are you one of those who had being called for the personal assistant interview this morning?" the other guard who looks to be a little bit shorter than the first guard asked?

"Interview? Why didn't I read about that?

I smiled at them and nodded. They both exchange glances and turned to face me.

"You should have an ID. All those who were called for the interview were given an ID to gain access to the company. Can I see yours?"The tall guard asked and waited for my reply.

"About that..... "I coughed and scratched my hair to find something to say but I couldn't.

Luckily for me, a white car stopped at the front of the company and the guards left the front door to attend to whosoever was inside the car. I took my chance and entered the front door that was left open and free to enter without an ID.

When I entered the company, I had to close my mouth. The ground floor was nicely built. White bulbs brighten the ground floor, some rose flowers were placed at some corners, the name DReam was engraved at the center of the floor with a picture of franklin beside it. I stared at the picture and smiled brightly because I was happy to see his picture again.

The front door opened and a man who I couldn't see face walked amid some hefty men dressed in black suits. Everyone bow as the man entered but I couldn't see who he was even when I tried to catch a glimpse of him. He ignored their greetings and walked into an elevator.

"Hey" someone called beside me and I trembled where I stood. My heartbeat against my chest.

"Uh, uh, they finally caught me."

"What are you doing standing there? The interview is starting soon."

I turned and faced the person that had informed me about the interview and it turns out to be a young man. I bow and walked to a corner that was opposite me but, I was pulled back by the young man who pointed to an elevator.

"The interview is that way,35th floor. "he pointed to an elevator.

"Thanks, "I bow and quickly walked away. I entered the elevator and pressed the 35th floor. I wasn't even dressed for an interview or whatever this was. I was wearing a plain black gown and a pair of brown sandals that's looks worn out. When the elevator got to the 35th floor, it stopped and I came out of it. I walked through a long hallway not knowing where I was going.

"I shouldn't have come here."

I continued walking through the hallway and breathe a sigh of relief when I saw a silver door. Opposite the door was a desk and an empty black chair

"It could be the assistant desk."

I pushed the door and it opened.

"Thank God, the door doesn't require an ID"

I entered and it turned out to be an office, a very large office. The first thing I saw when I entered the office was some couches. Two dark leather couches and a brown wooden table were on the left side. on the right side was an L- glass shaped desk. The walls we're a dark, custom wood-paneled wall. A rectangular glass shaped was placed on the desk and engraved on the glass was Giovanni Aderemi, Franklin's real name.

On the floor of the office was a circle painted with the company's logo. A star logo. I looked around the office trying to see if somebody was there but no one was there. I walked towards the desk and tried to touch the glass when someone coughed behind me.

'Who are you? Do I know you?" the person asked in a deep but, loud voice.

I stood still and couldn't turn back to face who was inside the room. I didn't even hear the door opening. How did the person enter the room without me noticing? My heart rise and fall as I thought of the consequences Of been caught.  I had to bite my lips to stop me from breathing out loud. The voice was too deep and harsh.

"I'm asking again. Who are you? And what are you doing in my office!"The man behind me shouted.

I turned around to face the person with my head down. I couldn't look up at who was inside the room with me.

"Lookup. "He said, but I didn't answer. "I say look up now!!!!!" the man shouted.

I gulped and looked up to face the man that was inside the office. There in front of me was franklin glaring hard at me.

"Franklin" I called...

***************

Thanks for reading.......

Melody why?????

What's going to happen in the next chapter?

Franklin or not?