They shook their heads in unison. "Not at all, but we should be asking you that because you didn't bother to know how we're feeling and you haven't taken your dinner."He heaved a big sigh. "You won't get what's going on, anyway let the dinner be for tonight."He glanced at the dining and no-one was seated there. "Did you ever see Vanessa today?"The two shook their heads. "Nope! We didn't. It's just in the morning and we haven't seen her since we came back from school, she hasn't been present for work.""And did you bother checking on her?"Tracy glanced at Ben who was already staring at her, they shook their heads."We didn't…"He pouted his lips in an angry manner. "You two are very silly, I mean so crazy. The babysitter isn't here and you didn't even bother to know what's going on… even if it's a call you couldn't give me.""Because we know you cooperate with her so well, and maybe you spoke with her through the phone. That's why we didn't bother giving you a call about her." Tra
While waiting for the driver to arrive, Chloe sat on the sofa in the sitting room with a chiselled face, she wasn't smiling at all."Let's leave us for school Chloe." Ben referred to her.She shook her head in disagreement. "I am going nowhere unless ma'am Vanessa is present… I mean, don't you feel worried just like I am? My babysitter isn't here yet and you expect me to be happy." She narrated.Xavier stepped into the sitting room not dressed yet."What's going on here?" he questioned them.Tracy turned to see his father in his casual wear, he didn't look like one ready for work."You aren't going to work dad and Leo isn't ready to go to school. Is anything the problem? Because of her babysitter huh?`` She referred to her father.Xavier swallowed deeply. "Not as you think, you all should leave for school. There are some issues that I need to handle.""I'm not going to school today, Dad. It's better we go look for ma'am Vanessa or I won't go to school again." she insisted.Xavier glan
He shook his head in annoyance, being convinced that Vanessa is missing and he knew so well that Lillian must be behind it. He left home with Chleo to meet Lilian seated in the sitting room.She sighted his presence and quivered. The fact that the hoodlum's contact and that of her friend isn't available made her feel haunted, and then none of them was present in their residence.She stood on his feet staring at both Xavier and his little daughter."Have you reported to the police custody?" she asked them, trying to relieve herself of the fears.Xavier glared at her. "Why do you care to know?" he questioned in a hoarse voice."I just want you to know." She replied.Xavier stepped towards her. "It's a matter of time or you will regret having me as your fiance. Make sure Vanessa is back before sunset or I won't take it lightly with you any longer. Just dare me if you want to see the other part of me." he remarked and left upstairs with his daughter.Lilian stood motionless staring at th
"What do you think is the reason behind your liberty?" He referred to her.She stretched her skirt and top. "My freedom is because I'm innocent, I know nothing about what Lilian has been saying. Maybe she expects Xavier to be so rude to me because I'm his worker, but she can't care for the children under her control…"Her face lifted up staring at him. "That's why he hired me to babysit his little daughter who is missing the love of a mother."He gasped. "You mean, Lilian can't take care of the children?""I never said so, but I guess it's because they aren't her biological children. That's what I think." She replied.He stepped backwards staring at her completely. He began regretting raising his hand on her. But he couldn't apologise."Then you have to be extremely careful with her and take good care of the kids." He stated.Vanessa was so shocked to see him saying such a thing to her, she wondered the sort of spirit that occupied a space in him."Are you for real? I mean, you are th
"When I visited your bakery yesterday, it was unlocked but I couldn't find you inside. I waited for up to an hour but couldn't get your presence, so I had to call out for help and it was locked. Dad himself had searched everywhere but couldn't find you, he then reported to the police custody." She narrated.Vanessa stood staring at her as she explained everything. She felt her heart bleeding in sorrow."Are you the only one at home? Tracy and Ben aren't back from school yet huh?" She inquired again while they stepped into the sitting room.Chloe nodded. "They aren't back from school yet, but dad is upstairs… don't worry, I'll go call him."She left to her father's bedroom to get him seated on the sofa counting on the ceiling. She knew the disappearance of Vanessa was really eating him up."Dad… " she drew his attention.Xavier adjusted on the seat in getting his daughter beside him. "Anything the matter? Are you hungry?"She shook her head. "Not all this, ma'am Vanessa is back… she's
They both got seated after the meal was served on the table."Tracy…" Ben called her.She lifted her face, staring at him. "You called me, what's wrong?"He licked his lips not knowing how to put the words together in order to form a sentence."I… I'm… uhmmm!" He stammered wiping his face."Ben, are you okay?" Tracy asked.He nodded. "Just that, I'm in love with Melissa… but I don't know what to do about it."Tracy dropped her spoon. "You're in love with Melissa, the one I know huh?"He nodded."I see… lover boy. Why not go ahead and tell her, who will ever reject a handsome dude like you?" She uttered jokingly.Ben swallowed deeply, he felt baffled. "I don't know how to date her, but I won't love to see her with another dude.""Then you need to do something very fast. Very very fast." She remarked."Hi kids. How is school today?" A feminine but familiar voice paused their conversation.They both glanced backwards to see that it's Vanessa, and then they stared at each other again. Th
Chloe nodded and twitched into the bathroom to brush her teeth. Vanessa was ready and she moved to the dinning room to take her breakfast.Her plan is just to leave instantly before or after the kids. While stepping down the stairs, she sighted Xavier in the sitting room about to dash out."Mr. Xavier…" she called, distracting him.He turned to see her and smiled. "How are you doing Vanessa?"She returned the smile, moving closer to him. "I'm very fine sir, just wanted to ask you a question.""Go ahead, I'm all ears." He assured me.Vanessa swallowed her saliva. "I've not set my eyes on Lilian since yesterday, hope you're on good terms with her? Look Mr Xavier, I don't ever want to be the reason you're having issues with your fiance."Xavier looked off, she found that question pulling the past to his brain, thereby getting him irritated."I knew she's responsible for your disappearance, because she's been tackling you. And so, I threatened to deal with her if you aren't back before su
"Uhmmm! Do you know me? Okay, just let me be on my own first." She uttered, feeling a bit relieved.He let go of her waist. "Take a good look at me, did you recognize this face?"She narrowed her eyes while recalling the past. Finally, it hit her mind on where she met the face."You stopped me yesterday right?" She asked him.He nodded facing her. "I did, and I'm still Jasper Turner. The only man that disturbs a lady like you."She chuckled wondering what he's up to. "So what can I do for you?" She asked, stepping forward.He gripped her palm taking her towards his car, she gently followed him.She leaned on the car forcing her to do so. "I'm in a haste, just let me know the reason you stopped me."He licked his lips, staring at her. "First, what's your name? You didn't tell me.""I'm Vanessa." She stated. "Now you'll speak up right?"He breathed heavily. "I have interest in you Vanessa. Can we go on a date during the weekend?"She lifted her face and glanced at him. "I don't really g
Before the clock struck midnight, troops of guests, well wishers and distant relatives flooded into the main hall in the palace-like-duplex. It was an extravagant setting and interior design befitting a king. The liveliness in the air was similar to a mall on Christmas Eve. The occasional alone was worthy of such liveliness, everyone came in high expectations to see with their own eyes who will be celebrated as the heir. The celebration of the heir was going to last all throughout the night meanwhile Joshua knowing it was only a matter of time before the main event started decided not to be absent and approached the main hall.Joshua's PovEntering the main hall only to see the decor of the duplex walls was enchanting. “All this for an heir" I thought as I slowly approached my area of position for when the night officially began.To be honest, I felt a bit nervous, “haven't seen so many people in one place at once, maximum of what I've seen is within fifty to seventy...this– this is
Joshua’s POVI straightened the edges of the suit while I stared at the mirror, I kept my eyes fixed on the man I saw standing before me.“Is this…” I paused at the sound of the door cracking open.I turned my gaze to the woman at the door which I found peeping in as though she was scared to walk in.I sigh escaped my lips in frustration, I straightened my back and spoke in a subtle manner in order not to frighten the young lady. “How may I help you?.” I asked her.I saw her shiver from her head to toe visibly. “I…” she stuttered to form a single sentence.My eyes brows rose in confusion as to what she may have to say. “I was sent by your Godmother to deliver you this note.” She bowed to me.I pinched the bridge of my nose in anger. “How many times would I correct and plead to be called by my legal name!.” I scolded in anger.It indeed felt strange to be addressed with so much respect and value, I remained the old Joshua whose wife had abandoned for a man of higher status or at least
"I have that feeling that she's up to something, since I couldn't let her exercise her power over you. Lilian doesn't love me, I can see it through my children… if she does, then my family will be one of her priorities." Xavier added.Vanessa was totally baffled on what to say, she doesn't know where you start in judging the matter.She had turned out to be a counsel in a family she collided to work for… not just a babysitter again."But then, what's the reason for her coming? Did you let her know that you caught her with another man yesterday?" She questioned him.He nodded relaxing on the chair. "I don't hide feelings, especially when one hurts me. I am always ready to let you know the offence you committed.""She came begging for my forgiveness.. She wanted me to accept her back, but then I wasn't the one who kicked her out. She did that herself… okay, it would have been so easy to do that, but the fact that she's cheating on me is really eating me up." He narrated in an angry mann
Lilian rang Xavier's doorbell, and he ordered her into thinking it's Vanessa. But to his greatest shock… Lilian walked in.He stood on his feet with a chiselled face. He wasn't planning to see her, and not in the morning either."Good morning Xavier." She greeted him.He only nodded. "What again are you here to do Lilian? Thought you've gotten a new lover out there that's taking care of you?"She pouted her lips. "Don't tell me you're trying to kick me out of your house. Or you've chosen someone else over me huh?""You shut your fucking mouth. I should be asking you that… you left without telling me all because I scolded you for the crime you committed. And here you're jabbering." He retorted.She gasped. "You still can't believe that I know nothing about Vanessa's disappearance huh? Look, I just had to leave because you're molesting me." "Please Vanessa… sorry I mean Lilian. This is early morning so I wouldn't love to argue with you okay." He said moving to his wardrobe.Lilian bit
She wondered the sort of stupidity that came over Lilian that she would be misbehaving towards a caring man like Xavier. A type of man every woman desires to have.While laid on her bed, she began recalling the past. The first day she set her eyes on him… and how nice she had been since then.Anyways, not that she's being jealous of Xavier having a fiance, but she can't tell what's wrong with her feelings.She was already convinced that Xavier will never leave his fiance to her no matter what. Despite the fact he hasn't been on good terms with Lilian, that won't urge him to choose her between Lilian.They are already in love with each other even before she began working for him, and so she believes that nothing can cut that bond.She has nothing binding her with Xavier, and here is Lilian making different plots for her. Then when her thinking comes to reality… only God knows the hell she will do to her. She covered herself with the blanket and slept off.******When Xavier arrived ho
Vanessa burst into laughter. "And what's that he had always wanted from her?" She asked Chloe who was all ears to her question."A kiss… a warm hug and the three words everyone knows…""Which is?""I love you…" Chloe responded.She bursted into laughter again. "You're so smart to know what love is all about at this age huh? Well that's by the way, keep going with your interesting story.""From that point, they became lovers and the next thing was to get married which took place in a haste. They lived happily ever after with their kids." She concluded."I'm sure you aren't expecting me to learn a lesson from this too." Vanessa referred to her.She chuckled and fell on the bed. "This time, you won't just learn a lesson… but you'll count your teeth with your tongue.""You must be crazy Chloe." She uttered giggling. She has nothing to do with the story and isn't after to know the reason behind her comment."Actually I'm crazy because of you… and the other side of it." She replied.Nessa h
She glanced at her and sniffed. "I miss my mother. I want her back to me. It's really heartbreaking that she's no more."Vanessa bit her lips, she understood how the girl felt. Living a life without a mother is kind of hurting. Talk more of the kids losing her in an early stage."My classmate molested me because of that, she bullied me and cursed me for being a motherless child because I refused to give her my answer script. She accused me of being the reason for my mother's death." She started again.Vanessa was right in her shoes this time, facing the pain of being accused that you're behind what you know nothing about. That's so painful that it can damage someone's identity."You need to wipe everything off your mind and focus on your education. She's sad because you will never let her take your position all in the name of being a friend." She cuddled her into her arms running her fingers in her hair.Tracy rested her head on her chest feeling relaxed, she wished not to let her go
During break hour, Ben left with his friends to go have some fun together.His closest friend amongst them drew him closer."You've never said anything about Melissa since today or you've changed your mind from approaching her…" he referred to Ben.He rolled his eyes. "I'm still thinking of how to do that, already you know I'm a shy type of guy.""This time you need to be courageous. I'm saying this because the new guy that came in our class had already approached her." He stated.His eyes widened and face grimaced. "What do you mean? He's already crushing on her."He knitted his eyebrows. "That's it. Though I'm not sure if Melissa accepted the request, but then you need to approach her too. It's much better than hiding, who knows she might love you.""Look, I don't want to quarrel with anyone because of a girl. I don't just want that." Ben remarked."What's yours will always be yours. If Melissa loves you, that guy can't take her away from you." His friend advised.He twisted his lip
"I just wish to sleep off instantly, so I can read my books at midnight." He muttered, shutting his eyes. •~•~•~•They all ran around the building all in the name of getting ready for school. It's obvious they had slept ahead of time.But they aren't to blame, they woke up to read in the middle of the night and it really affected them waking up as early as always.Tracy tried as much as she could to get their breakfast prepared so they wouldn't starve before leaving. She had concluded on preparing their lunch as well if there's much time ahead, otherwise… The lunch will be prepared once they're back.Chloe was still brushing their teeth when Vanessa stepped into her room, herself was also a bit late because she didn't sleep on time."Good morning ma'am Vanessa…" She greeted her from the bathroom.She responded with a smile and dropped her handbag. "You all woke up late right?""How did you know that?" Chloe asked her.She got seated on the bed. "Tracy is still preparing your breakfa