"I couldn't agree more with your statement." The other man snapped his fingers. "Having a collaboration with an industry like G.I conglomerate will be of benefit to both parties."
Although it appeared as if both men were having a casual conversation, they were actually hoping none of their words and compliments missed Alfred's ears. Since they couldn't go near him, they implored this strategy to get into his good books and to also lay out their requests. The same thing was going on with the other people in the room. Everyone had caught a partner or two, engaging in small talks about their achievements and how joining hands with G.I Conglomerate would escalate their profits in a short period. Alfred's ears were bleeding from all the noises. And with every minute that passed by, his impatience grew. After a whole night of flying here from another city, only something as important as the birthday party of his favorite niece could make him agree to leave the comfort of his office. The sight of the ladies wearing little to nothing disgusted him, and those greedy and hypocritical looks made his blood boil. "S–Sir, please exercise some patience." Only Alfred's assistant was aware of the upcoming storm inside the room. The potbellied man stood at Alfred's back, trembling and wiping off his sweat. "Th–The party will start in ten minutes." He glanced at his wristwatch and gave a nervous laugh. "I bet the birthday girl is still getting prepared." "Insolent." Alfred scoffed under his breath.His assistant gulped and laughed nervously again. And he hoped the crowd would at least make their real intentions less obvious. For one thing, he'd been the one that had hinted at them about the appearance of his Boss at this party. They'd bribed him and he'd given his Boss the wrong time so they could arrive early. Knowing his Boss well, the assistant was confident that he was going to depart the moment the party was over. So, he paved this opportunity for them to make their impressions, only that they were going overboard. If his Boss found out all about this, the assistant was afraid that he was going to be toast. Commotion came from the large doors, grabbing people's attention. Everyone turned in that direction, looking for the source of the giggles and chatters of kids. In no time, more than twenty kids ambled into the hall. A hushed silence fell inside the room. The adults were surprised to see this number of kids at once. The kids also seemed to be searching for something or, to speak correctly, they seemed to be searching for someone. The kids scrutinized each adult that they came across. They walked in a single file, and leading them was the birthday girl herself. Her face was plastered everywhere on the posters that decorated the hotel. She was holding hands with a younger-looking kid who had a large cupcake in her hand. "Is it this one?" The birthday girl paused and pointed up at a tall man."No." The other girl shook her head and licked the fondant from the cupcake in her hand. "What about this uncle?" Asked the birthday girl. Little Mara shook her head. "Not handsome enough," she answered. And the search went on. The adults could only watch the kids in wonder. And moments later, they lost interest in whatever the kids were searching for. Apparently, the girl with the cupcake was searching for someone, and the other kids were kind enough to help.Well, the adults couldn't involve themselves in the kids' matters. They had more important things to do. Therefore, they carried on with their conversations.From where Alfred sat, his eyelids were no longer half-closed. He narrowed his eyes at the kids, most especially the little girl that was holding hands with his niece. And he wondered when his sister had another baby. The girls looked almost similar. On seeing the slight frown on his Boss's face, the assistant was flabbergasted. If the adults' conversations were noisy enough, then the kids' chatters could release that storm. Some had even begun playing around and touching things. "You." The assistant grabbed the attention of one of the waiters in the room. "Lead those kids out! Can't you see this hall is only for the adults!"The assistant was too loud, catching everyone's attention including the kids'.And when the kids looked in their direction, the cupcake in little Mara's hand dropped. Her tiny lips parted and she blinked at the sight of the man sitting on the couch. "Amy!" Her head flipped to the birthday girl and her eyes sparkled with excitement. "We found him, he's sitting right there."And before everyone could register anything, the little girl made her way to where Alfred was sitting and jumped onto his lap. A hushed silence fell once again in the room. The silence was deafening. And everyone observed the ongoing scene with eyes and mouths wide open. Alfred was too shocked to react. He stared down at the little girl, her bright eyes staring back at him. Her right hand which had traces of the fondant was already on his suit jacket. She shifted on his lap to find a comfortable position and wrapped both arms around his neck. In no time, the kids had surrounded the area. They were too many for the bodyguards to fend off. And as the birthday girl was in their midst, none dared to take any action until the Boss gave the orders. Only the assistant was brazen enough to do that. "That's my uncle." The birthday girl pointed out. "Are you sure he's your Daddy?" "Uh uh." little Mara nodded eagerly. "Mummy said so."Obviously, her Mummy had mentioned that they might find her Daddy at this birthday party. And while she worked on making her cupcakes perfect, Mara had sighted some kids and wandered off with them. She told them of her mission of finding her Daddy and gave them all the descriptions that her Mummy had told her.So the kids went from hall to hall, searching for the most handsome man in the place. "Uncle." The birthday girl tugged at Alfred's trousers and asked, "Mara said you're her Daddy, is that true?" Alfred broke out of his reverie and opened his mouth, but no words came out. "He's my Daddy." Little Mara answered her question. "He has strong arms and smells so nice. Mummy said only my Daddy has these qualities." The room broke into whispers and everyone began making speculations. It was common knowledge in the circle that the president of G.I Conglomerate neither got close to any woman nor allow one near him. Then how come a little girl appeared out of nowhere and even called him her Daddy? The kid sounded serious and she also said something about her mother. Did the president get married and even had a child? This was going to create a huge wave in the social circle. Many hearts were going to be broken and the reporters were going to make millions. Even now, some people had alread
Vanessa's sense was invaded by a strange scent. She blanked out for a few seconds before she was able to collect herself. Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut and cursed under her breath. And she hesitated before looking up, only to be met by dark eyes staring straight at her. Tiny whispers broke once more in the room. And while Vanessa couldn't break away from the intense gaze, she was starkly aware of their proximity at the moment. "Mummy." Little Mara's voice came from her side. "If you want to sit on Daddy, you can do it gently. You almost hurt little Mara's arm."Vanessa gulped at her baby's words. Clearly, when she landed on the strange man's chest, her baby's hand was on the way. But somehow, the little girl was fast enough to get her hand out of the way. Stifled laughter sounded in the room. The clicking sound of a camera was now evident and the whispers were not so soft now. Vanessa cried inside. She had worked so hard to land this deal. The last thing she wanted was to offen
Any kind of man Vanessa's foster sister had plotted with that night was definitely not a good person. Finding him now would do her no good. It would do her baby no good either. And Vanessa had her reason for searching for her own parents. She had a strong belief that those recurrent nightmares weren't for nothing. They must have a connection with her past. "Is it necessary to go back?" Drake pressed on. "That place isn't a nice place, you know. I don't think it's going to be safe for her."Vanessa's eyes strayed to the couch where her baby slept soundly. She laughed softly and elbowed him. "Who told you it's not going to be safe?" She raised a brow. "Didn't we survive there as kids? Are you underestimating me now that I have a baby?"The town where Vanessa was about to go was the original place they grew up, where the orphanage was located. Vanessa was confident that she could find most of the clues she was looking for in that place. "What about little Mara's schooling?" Drake wa
She saw a convenience store ahead of them and she leaned closer to the driver’s seat. “ Can you stop over there please?” Vanessa points to the store. “ I need to get something” She added. Normally, the driver would’ve turn her down but seeing the way she spoke to him made him smiled. “ Of course” he said smiling. Vanessa looked at little Mara who was playing a game with the kids pad Vanessa bought for her on her third birthday. As a single mother, Vanessa make sure Mara lack nothing. Seconds later, The car parked in front of a convenience store and Vanessa turned to Mara. “ Baby, I’ll be back. Wait for me inside the car and don’t come out” Vanessa Said, She closed the door and walked inside the convenience store holding her purse in her left hand. Vanessa’s mind wasn’t at peace as she picked the things she needed, She knew Mara to be a wanderer whenever she was left alone. Vanessa stretched her hand to pick a bag of chips which was Mara’s favorite from the shelf and a
“ Go get her Whatever she wants to eat” He said to his Assistant who was so deep in thought. Alfred turned to him when he got no response. “ Are you deaf?” He jolted him back to the reality. “ Oh I’m so sorry” The secretary apologized. “ Don’t just stand there” Alfred Snapped and the Assistant made his way out of their sight. “ Don’t shout at him Daddy, I like him” Mara said Smiling. “ Alright, Daddy won’t shout on him again” He said smiling too.--------- Vanessa Remembered Mara whom she left in the car, she checked the watch on her wrist and it dawned on her that Twenty minutes had already passed by. She picked up the basket and pushed Tiana out of her way. “ We’ll meet again” Tiana said after her and Vanessa paused. “ We will never meet again, I hate you!” She said in Anger and stormed away. Vanessa was so Angry that she wanted to cry, She blamed Tiana for everything that had happened. Her life wouldn’t have been in rage if Tiana hadn’t did that to her but somet
“ You don’t have to, We won’t disturb you ever again I promise” Vanessa said apologetically. Alfred didn’t understand what she meant by that but he had no choice than to give Mara back to Vanessa not because he wanted to. He watched as Vanessa left the store holding Mara so tightly as Mara was trying to break free. She wanted to go with Alfred and not Vanessa and so, she cried as her mum took her out of the store. “ Sir, The meeting is in five minutes” His Assistant said to him and he sighed, Alfred was only starring at the Door Vanessa walked out of. An idea popped in to his head and he looked at His Assistant. “ Follow her and find out where she lives” He said and without hesitating, His secretary made his way out of the store. --------Vanessa had missed the flight, she wanted to cry but couldn’t because of Mara. She had longed and worked hard for that opportunity but she missed it and it was all thanks to Mara. “ I shouldn’t have Fed her with lies” She said to Der
The Aroma coming inside the room woke Vanessa up, she Looked around the room but it didn’t looked like the one she had been living in for years. She rolled her eyes, sitting down properly on the bed. “ Oh, it’s Derek’s house” She looked at the Alarm clock on a table beside the bed and it was 7:03am. “ Oh well, Nowhere to go” She sighed deeply and turned to Mara who was still sleeping soundly. She caressed her Smooth black hair smiling. Vanessa Entered the bathroom, she brushed her teeth , washed her face and came out smiling. “ I’ll continue with my work and start planning to leave This town again.” She said looking at Mara who was still sleeping. The door opened slowly and Derek peeped through the door, Vanessa found that funny she wanted to laugh but held it back so as not to wake Mara up. “ Are you up?” He paused when he saw Vanessa standing in front of the Mirror. “ Oh you’re Up, Good morning” Derek said entering the room. “ And Good morning to you too, Hope
“ I wonder what other things she fed you with. Anyways, let’s get going” He said opening the back door. “ But I want to go with Mummy” Mara insisted. “ Then I’ll go tell your Daddy that you said you don’t want to see him ever again” The Assistant said with a mischievous smile. “ But I didn’t say that” Mara Defended herself. “ Then get in to the car” The Assistant said, Mara looked around and then entered the car. “ You’ll come pick up my Mummy later, right?” She asked him as he closed the door. “ Of course” He said and walked over to the driver’s seat. Immediately he started the car, he saw Vanessa ran out of the house calling Mara’s name, He knew he would be in trouble if Vanessa saw him with Mara and so, He locked the doors and the windows. He started the car and drove past Mara who was standing beside a tree calling Mara’s name. Mara saw her mum, She shouted but Vanessa couldn’t hear or see her because the Windows were all tinted. “ That’s My Mummy, stop the car a