"What do you mean by 'where is the rest of it'. Whatever you found in the bio is everything there is. There is nothing else." Maria tried to defend herself. She knew Aurora suspected her of something, but she did not think she would go as far as doing a background check on her to confirm her suspicion."I know you. I have observed you these past few days and I know you are much deeper than Maria, a drop out and salesgirl. Before anyone finds out there is a vacancy in Ace Residence, it takes a pretty long time. You just appeared immediately your predecessor before you left. You did not even leave a contact in the staff information logs. Nothing to connect your life before to what it is now." Aurora explained all of this and Maria began to see sense in all of it."Are you this observant or did this observance just start because of me?" "I have always been this observant. Trying to find the mysteries in people and trying to figure them out. It is always fun and sometimes it is not.""L
"What do you need me for?" Bruce asked. Claire smiled. That was just the question she needed to hear. Her mother would not believe anything she said. No matter how much she yelled, screamed or tore at her hair. Her mother has been single for so long, she finally found a warm body to wake up next to that was not her daughter. Claire wanted to ruin that and she understood why her mother chose to stick with the delusions. BuNick… Nick was the worst person to find that satisfaction with. He was a con artist. He earned a living by dating women like her, only richer. If she would not listen to any of Claire's warnings, Claire decided it would be better to make her mother see evidence with her own eyes."I need to borrow your tech guys. I need them to check out my mother's new boy toy. I need printed proof about his actions. Everything. It is going to be a slide show of all his atrocities. We just need to figure out how to get the both of them to watch." She said with a satisfied smirk on he
"Oh, of course. You can pay at the counter and we will arrange the cinema for your viewing pleasure. How many people will you be arriving with?" The manager asked.She took out imaginary lints from her top and crossed a shawl over her shoulder."I will be back with three others. Make it a memorable experience, this is our first time in Beijing." "Oh wow, I knew you had to be a tourist. You look new, different." The manager's eyes roamed Claire's body like it was a prize."I will take that as a compliment. Thank you. So…" She opened her arms in question."Oh, yes. You will follow Kiki back to the reception and pay there. Card or cash?" He asked with a smile. Claire returned his smile."A black card, dear. I do not do limits." Claire said and exited with a grand flair. She had to make just the right impression to get the elite treatment she wanted her mother to receive."Okay, that is settled then. Kiki will see you off. Thank you for working with us." The manager stood up to shake
Maria noticed Aurora's reaction at the mention of Hugh Steele's name. "Do you by any chance know who I mentioned?" She asked for clarification. Aurora kept a blank look almost immediately and shook her head."No no. I was just surprised. Why is he blackmailing you?" She asked Maria. Maria gasped and signalled for her to keep her voice down. The walls had ears, she could not risk anything going wrong right now."He needs something. He thinks I am the best person that can get it for him. He is out for something and he is vengeful. I do not know what you want to do with that information but there, I just said it." Maria shrugged and returned her focus to the books. Aurora stroked her jaw with her index finger. She appeared lost in thought."What does he have?" She asked. She needed to know what Steele had over her and strong the material was for the blackmail to hold. She wanted to help Maria get out of her mess."I can't uhm… I can not… it is really not in my place to say what it is. I
Claire did not know what made her more angry. The fact that Nick had come to the suite that they paid no dime for with extra clothes or that her mother was calling going to the cinema with this stranger who just started fucking days ago a family date. She was raging. She set her lips in a thin line. That was the best she could give. Her mother put on her jacket when Nick finally appeared from the room. He was done changing and he was wearing a linen shirt that looked like it might have been a few sizes bigger than his original size. Her mother smiled at him immediately she laid eyes on him. It made her cringe. Had the love been so blinding that she could not see the shirt was ill fitting, that the shirt was rumpled, that the wide pants he had worn to match the shirt had a hole that made a small circular displav of his thigh. Her mother always chastised her for things like this. Her mother would not have even let her follow her anywhere if there was the slightest stain on her clothes.
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
"My Dad? How is that possible? How did he know that I was here?" Jade looked at Bruce, wondering if he had a hand in what was going on. "Did you know he was coming?" She asked Bruce and he shook his head. "Bring him in," Bruce ordered. "Yes, sir." The butler left and he had no time, she returned with J. J. Fulton. Jade gasped when she saw her father. His clothes were faded. His hair and beard were unkempt. He had lost a great deal of weight too. She wondered what was wrong. He had enough money to take care of himself even without working. He could only lack money if he lost everything in a gamble and she knew that her father would never do such. Jade actually expected more from her father. Sure expected him to multiply the money he had. Or, was he this way because he missed her? Jade wondered. "I'm sorry for how I treated you, Jade." He turned to Bruce and placed his palms together. "Please forgive me for having a hand in your parents' death. I don't deserve your forgiveness, bu
"She'll be there all her life?" Jade's mouth hung open as Bruce and Archibald broke the news to her. She was packing to leave for Beijing and hence had little time to be at Claire's trial.It's been weeks since Claire got arrested. She was sentenced to stay imprisoned for life."I think she deserves it," Jade added and Bruce nodded in agreement."She threatened to throw her child off a tall building. Of course, she deserves something worse than a life imprisonment," Bruce said."And her mom?""She's going back to her hometown. I gave her some money to take good care of herself. She has her flaws but Claire's mother does not deserve the pain her daughter caused her.""Jade, tell me you're not still thinking of going back to Beijing," Mr. Archibald chipped in. "I thought both of you got married."Jade and Bruce exchanged looks. Mr. Archibald was right. They were once married and have never had a divorce."You can go back first. I'd prepare the divorce papers," Bruce said and Jade nodded
"Sir Archibald-" Bruce's voice trailed off. He was short of words."What is it now? Don't tell me you're not happy to see me."Bruce looked at Jade and then at Mr. Archibald and smiled. "Of course not. I'm very happy to see you."Bruce got out of the chair, rushed to Mr. Archibald, and gave him a hug. "I was scared that I would never get to see you again.""You were scared and you did not bother to call me.""You told me not to. That you wouldn't answer even if I did. I'm sorry."Mr. Archibald smiled. "You're like a son to me. I will always answer whenever you call."Bruce pulled away from the hug and smiled. "I was so dumb not to have realized that much earlier.""And I should not have tried to force you to marry Tricia." He turned to Jade and smiled. "I should have forced you to find Have instead."Jade smiled nervously. "We don't intend to get back together. I'm leaving immediately my work here is done and that is to make sure Bruce gets his properties from Claire.""And, how does
Jade stopped before a hotel."This is where I stay.""Why stay in a hotel when you have a family house?""It's sold.""No, it isn't. I bought it back.""You did?" Jade's face brightened, then it became dull. "Claire now owns all your properties, so it's hers now.""I bought it in your name," Bruce said dryly and got out of the car.Jade beamed. "Thank you."She was here because she wanted to give him his money, but knowing that Bruce still cared made her happy."Then we should go there, instead of staying in the hotel. I'll quickly go to my room and get a few of my things."Bruce got back into the car and Jade got out.She walked into the hotel. After about ten minutes, she came out with a traveling bag and dropped it in her boot.Jade handed out a debit card to Bruce immediately after she got into the car. "It has your five hundred million."Bruce took it from her and mumbled a thank you."What about Mr. Archibald?" Jade asked, breaking the silence that lingered between them as she d
Bruce's eyes flung open. His breathing was back to normal and his heart stopped beating fast. He felt everywhere was brighter too. He guessed right. The door was opened and he furrowed his eyebrows in confusion immediately he saw who opened it. "Jade?" "Bruce." She ran to him to check if he was alright, but when she touched him, Bruce slapped her hands away from his body. "What are you doing here?" "If I had not reached here on time, you would have died." "That's what you want, isn't it?" Bruce scoffed. Jade shook her head. "If I wanted that, I would not have risked my life to save you." "Risk your life? I know you're on Claire's side. Stop the pretense. I know you somehow found out that I had a mp3 player that could land Claire in trouble. You told her about it and like you wanted, she was not absent. As a result, the case was dismissed. " "That's not true," Jade said, defending herself. "I was the one who took the audio recording. I asked the old man to give you
"He is your son too. Are you seriously going to kill your son?" Bruce could not believe his ears.Claire scoffed. "He is your son. Not mine. According to the contract I signed, you did not need a mother for your son. You only wanted an heir. You planned on paying me off so I could leave the child I would give birth to with you.""He is your blood. Don't tell me you're this heartless.""You know what poverty is like. You know what being powerless is like and what being powerful is like. So you should understand when I say that I want power and money. I want to teach those who have ever looked down on me a lesson. I want to be able to get what I want whenever I want. I want people to look at me with respect. I want the kind of money you have without being at your mercy.""Claire, don't I give you what you want whenever you ask?""You can wake up one day and decide you don't want our marriage again. What should I do then? I refuse to be at the mercy of a man. I want to have your money. I
It's been two months since Bruce saw Claire. She was nowhere to be found. He involved the police, and his men and searched for her himself but he still could not find her.Finding Claire was the only exciting thing that had happened in the space of two months. He worked from 7 am till 9 pm, then from work, he would go to the bar.Once in a while, his eyes scan the bar for Jade. The night before his first trial was the last night he saw Jade. He never saw Jade again after that day.Bruce looked around his office. The furniture was sleek and modern. The floor-to-ceiling windows gave the office a good view. He placed his hands on the mahogany desk, his eyes on his phone.His phone rang and he picked up the call immediately."Have you found them?""Ava still lives in this city but Naomi has relocated," the caller said and Bruce Ace nodded."Text me Ava's address."The last time he saw them was the day Claire ditched him on their wedding day. He smirked, remembering how they had looked do
Bruce Ace sat on the wooden bench. His eyes moved around searching for any trace of Claire. The courtroom was filled to its brim. The judge was visibly annoyed at everything that was happening.Murmurs filled the air.It's been an hour since the trial should begin but Claire, the plaintiff, was absent.The judge finally raised his court to talk. "The plaintiff seems to be nowhere to be found. In this light, the case is therefore dismissed."Bruce Ace frowned.He was ready for her.He has something to prove his innocence. Something to show that Claire was the guilty one here.Bruce was fixed to his seat. Refusing to get up. If this was the case, everybody would think that he had paid her off to shut her up.They will think he was the cause of her absence. Not like he cared what they thought of him but he wanted to shut her up the lawfully way.He wanted everyone to get a glimpse of what he had to go through because of women.Bruce finally left his seat and headed for the exit. His body
"Claire?"Claire raised her head from her food to see who was calling her. Her eyes flew open."Jade."She frowned."Oh my! How have you been?" Jade asked, joining her at the table. "Where have you been?"Claire raised an eyebrow, wondering if Jade had no idea of the ongoing case between her and Bruce. The news was everywhere. How would she not know?"Are you talking to me?"Jade smiled. "I know we don't have a good past. The issue with my brother and Bruce and stuff like that, but now these people are no longer in our lives, so I think we should be nicer to each other now.""Have you not seen Bruce?""I've seen him." Jade's face fell. "I saw him in a bar yesterday. He only talked to me when he did not know who I was. When he did, he yelled at me and left. He was telling me something about his wife trying to kill him to get his property and that she had sued him for beating her up which is not true. Do you know how he has been?""You don't know who I am?" Claire asked, just to confirm