Aurora and Maria began to try out all the different keys in the bunch Aurora had found. They finally found the right key. The box made a clicking sound while it opened up. Maria stared a bunch of fading papers that had been folded in two so it could fit the box."All of this feels like it came straight out of a crime movie" Maria whispered. Aurora gave her a smile as she dug her hand into the box to get the paper out. "Trust me, this is as real as it gets." Maria responded.They tried to clear the oak table but dust rose up like a stormy cloud. They placed the papers stop everything else and began to read through. The papers were lawsuits against Bruce Ace. A young girl named Angelina had died on these grounds. Her parents had sent her here to work because they were poor, could barely go by a day with three square meals. They were living in deplorable conditions. This Angelina, according to the reports here, had come into this place as a maid. She was described as cheerful, light-he
Claire did not want to know how these things happened. She did not want to know as long as it was sexual and it involved her mother. She stepped into the car and waited for her mother to get in. She stood anxiously at the pavement, looking like a lost puppy. Claire popped out her head from the car to see what was happening."I can not come in with you. Nick wants us to take a different ride. We will meet you there." She said sheepishly. Claire sucked her teeth and stepped down from the car."Could you possibly wait a minute, sir? I have to settle something with my mother. She is like this sometimes. Parents, am I right?" She was trying to get a laugh out of him but that was a poor attempt. He did not crack a smile."I will be back here in a minute or two. Please, hold on." She pleaded and ran to her mother whose grip on Nick could break a wooden rod in two. "You have to let go of Nick. We can all try to fit into that car and get to the cinema just in time. It could not be so hard." S
Nene's footsteps could be heard hitting the stairs. Maria could not thank God enough for loud foot steps. It had given them enough time to place the box back where they had found it. They came out of the hidden room and shut the big door behind them. Almost immediately, Nene walked in. They both released a sigh of relief and tried to act like they had been working all day. Maria reclined against a shelf of books. Aurora had taken a wooden stool and sat on it while she acted like she was sorting books. Nene beamed when she saw them. She clasped her hands together at her chest."Oh my dears. It gives me so much joy to see young ones like you two, working so hard. Come on, it is time you got a break. It is long overdue. I made cookies. You could eat that with some milk." Nene said. Maria and Aurora stared at each other. They returned their gaze to Nene and answered her at the same time."We want to finish up here.""We would love that."Nene stared confused. Aurora gave Maria a stern glan
Claire looked on with delight as her mother and Nick settle in comfortably. They were expecting more people to come in but the manager gladly sang her praises and mentioned there was no one else stepping in as all the seats had been paid for, for their viewing pleasure. Her mother was giddy while Nick threw glances at Claire when he thought she was not looking. He was probably contemplating on why he had left her for her mother if she could now afford to pay that outrageous sum just please her mother. She took a seat a few rows above them. Her mother turned to stare at her."Honey, aren't you going to stay with us?" Her mother asked, wanting to include her into the circle so badly. She felt bad because she knew her mother's efforts would be in vain. Nothing could make her want to be the third person in their duo. She would gladly pass that offer up anytime. She smiled sweetly at her mother."I am good, mom. You and Nick should have the ultimate couples experience. That is all I want."
An old black man with a full head of gray hair walked slowly into the cinema hall. He chuckled softly and they realized he was the owner of the voice. The narrator. Claire clapped her hands excitedly. Nick looked back at her, his mouth was ajar as he stared at the man. He pointed his index finger at him as though in accusation."This is you? You evil thing, you will pay for this. Do you know how much you have cost me?" Nick yelled in anger, his face slowly tinting a red shade. Claire sipped took out the bottle of wine she had smuggled into the cinema in her big Hermes bag. She did not think Nick would know who the narrator was or even know him enough to make an enemy out of him. She guessed he had a lot of enemies. She began to drink directly from the bottle. She chuckled as she watched the drama unfold. Everything looked amusing. The only one who did not look the slightest bit anused was her mother."Hold on. You both know each other? What a small world. " Claire said and imagined Br
153It was the last day of the vacation and everyone had been through the wringer. Bruce's clients were beginning to call in to see the CEO. Enough meetings had been postponed, enough presentations had been rescheduled. He packed his things, placed his laptop and pads into his back pack and rolled everything out of the room. He could hear Claire and her mother exchanging words down at the lobby. He shook his head. Those two only became close when they had an equal goal. He could not wait to leave Beijing. It had been a great vacation and he had enough time to avoid the toxic duo that had found a way to stick to him like bees to honey. He took deep breaths as he stepped into the elevator. Claire had been right for one thing. He had needed this vacation. He was renergized and ready to get back to his projects.He had felt bad for Claire's mother. After the showdown at the cinema, she had been silent and withdrawn for days. Her daughter tried everything she could to make her better but
Bruce looked at the side of her face and was perplexed by who he saw."Jade?" He said in a whisper. She fled from his side and got into a car that stopped by immediately she got to the other side of the house. He stood rooted at the spot. He never expected that he would meet her again. The honk of a car shook him out of his daze and he hurried away to his car. He drove off absentmindedly and soon he was at the company. His assistant hurried to the doors as he was approaching. He bowed slightly and took his briefcase from his hand."Where is he?" Bruce asked. He took fast strides towards his office. His staff members scurried away if they were in his path. He did not even have to say a word. He got to his office and there was there client on a video call with someone who sounded like his wife. Bruce cleared his throat and the man dismissed his wife almost immediately. "I did not mean to break up that family moment. But, I am sure you did not come here to portray a living example of g
Bruce could hear noises coming from below. He rubbed the sleep out of his eyes and tried to sit up. He could hear voices. He wondered what might be making his house staff make so much noise. He slipped his feet into his slides and put on a robe. He walked downstairs and into the living room. There was Claire and her mother at the living room, barking orders to the maids for their luggage and lunch. "Hey, treat that bag nice. I have breakable objects in there." Claire yelled. The maids scurried around in anxiety."You really do not have to yell before you are heard." His voice boomed over the hall and they all looked at the end of the stairs. Claire plastered a false toothy smile. She rushed to his side for a hug. He did not hug her back but stood stiffly as she detached herself from his side. She stared at him confused. She had thought the vacation had sparked something between them. The lack of emotions on his face as he stared at her made her realize that whatever she had thought t