Aaliyah laid down in the soft sheets, her mind filled with pictures from the night. Ormond had stepped out after laying her to rest."May I come in?" A feminine voice called but Aaliyah was too weak to respond so she nodded slightly. The tendency that the person at the door saw her head move was very unlikely but the person at the door let herself in all the same."How are you feeling my dear? Let me tend to your wounds." A warm voice accompanied by warm hands cradled Aaliyah into a sitting posture. Aaliyah noticed that the person attending to her was a woman in perhaps her late forties or early fifties. "I - am - not - hurt. He is." Aaliyah counted her words as she spoke. She had no physical injuries however her mind was greatly scarred.The woman had a warm smile and a certain glow about her, Aaliyah noted that though the woman looked young and lovely, they were lines of age at the sides of her eyes hence the age conclusion Aaliyah had drawn.Aaliyah got no response, the woman pi
With no other option and against her will, she found herself in a dark place as she lost consciousness of her environment.Once again another foolish decision. When Aaliyah opened her eyes again, a pair of dreamy green eyes watched her, she blinked severally and his finely sculpted jawline came into view. It was a gentle caress in her face that had woken her up."Ahhhh!" Aaliyah shrieked when she discovered that a man was in her room."Hey, calm down. It's just me." A masculine voice comforted her as he reached his hand out to her.She shifted in the sheets, that was when she noticed she was covered in a duvet.Taking in her surrounding, the memories came flooding back, the room she laid in was unfamiliar yet welcoming to her subconscious mind."Fine, I'll stand back if that is what you want." His voice made her return her attention to him. "What are you doing here?" She asked.She didn't ask who he was because a fragment of her memory already answered the question."I came to check
Ormond searched his brain for an excuse to Aaliyah but his brain was not producing one at the pace he wanted. He stared a bit longer than normal at Aaliyah and she raised a suspicious brow at his growing silence. It didn't take long for Aaliyah to feel dizzy, she began to see Ormond in several places, the floor spun before her eyes and merged with the well patterned POP ceiling. "Are you ok?" Ormond asked rushing to her side when he saw the way she swayed.Aaliyah could barely understand the way she felt. Her limbs were nunb and her mind hazy.She was slowly loosing consciousness of her reality again. No matter how hard she fought to regain control of herself she could not."What is happening to me?" Aaliyah beckoned as she fell into Ormond's strong hands."I think it's the trauma from yesterday." He guided her carefully before lifting her off the floor when she could not move."You have to be really careful." Freya cautioned Ormond, a face mask over her face and a spray bottle in h
Outside the Gullathova Mansion, a conversation had ensued between two people in the same vehicle."I hope I'll see you soon. Drive around the city with you maybe." Ormond told Aaliyah.Aaliyah smiled indeed ot was going to be a beautiful option to explore but Aaliyah was still loyal to someone."There's something I didn't tell you. I am getting married in a couple of weeks and my engagement date has been fixed as well, I hope you understand. "Ormond nodded, a bitter smile playing at the corner of his lips."I know he is dangerous and I heard everything you told me. I will be careful but we can't be seen together often if we are going to pull this off successfully and I don't want to break my grandfather's heart." Aaliyah explained."I understand your meaning very well. I'll stop here so we don't draw too much attention to ourselves. " Ormond al
Lord Gullathova had made a mental note to up the security of the Gullathova Mansion and his close family members but when he got home the night before and heard of Aaliyah's absence, he had been so worried through the night that he didn't effect any change.Lord Gullathova had remained in the sitting room till dawn and had not stopped spitting treats when Aaliyah didn't return before breakfast. His mind had played games on him especially because they had shut down all the cameras in the city so he could not track her movement after she left the restaurant where she had dinner with Ric and the others.The night before was a blank spot in timeNo one had breakfast and everyone paced the floor so hearing that there was a guest, Lord Gullathova was skeptical even if Aaliyah was back already."Did you get his details?" Lord Gullathova asked cautiously."No Sir, he would
Melissa's heart raced fast at every step Ric took closer to the bathroom door. Her plan was going as she wanted but the one reality of the identity of the man she intended to seduce plagued her.A million thoughts ran through her mind and she looked around for where to hide, though the bathroom space was vast and luxuriously furnished, there was no hiding place.Ric turned the door knob and let himself in, he walked straight to the wash sink and splashed cold water on his face."Damn! I need to get passed this." Ric stared at his reflection in the mirror perplexed and disturbed, his troubled mind was on several things. He had his wedding to Aaliyah was fast approaching so the emergence of more drama eluded his wildest imagination.Melissa held her breath and did not as much as breathe until Ric left the place. Melissa had hid herself in the bath tub and pulled the curtain over.
Melissa looked at the phone severally. Ric hanging up without saying a word only confirmed her suspicions."Damn it! How did I miss it that Ric was the short form of Ricardo?" Melissa was angry at herself for overlooking such an obvious detail."What is his damn surname?" Melissa fumbled with her phone to call her Dad. She had not changed her surname after marrying Ric so she never really knew his surname.When she repeatedly tapped on the finger print on the screen and the phone won't just light up like a bulb, she discovered she had a low battery and her phone had actually gone off.The line went dead on her end first was what she then realised.Her mind became even more disturbed, what will he think of her ending the call on him?She needed to power her phone immediately and speak to Ric, she needed to convince him that she truly loved him, she needed to mend her relationship with him before he married that Gullathova girl; Aaliyah.Melissa rummaged her bags and found nothing. Her
Arizona fell silent, she felt as though Melissa's words were blasphemy, the Milano Group president was reverred like a god in the city and it was more impossible than not that he would grant Melissa audience so Arizona became suspicious of Melissa's claim."You saw him? Where?" Arizona's expression went from shocked to quizzical."You don't believe me and I know I sound stupid but I got into his office and I saw his face." Melissa emphasized at her attempt to convince Arizona."Let's say I believe that you magically gained access into the office of the most influential man in the city and he let you see his face, do you also expect me to believe that he let you walk out of there free to tell?" Arizona had a point, Melissa covered her face with both her hands in frustration.Whatever explanation she was going to give was going to sound dumb but she had to find the perfect reasonable explanation."Listen to me, I was waiting to see him and the secretary went to use the bathroom. I slipp
Inside the Conover Club, Ric and two others were seen at a table. Ric sat quietly and observed the event. The Grahams had lavishly spent on the drinks and food there was more than enough to go round yet Ric was not bothered with eating anything."Will you just sit there and act like you don't want to have a taste of these luxury dishes?" Alessandro found Ric on the table where he sat and taunted him.Ric did not waste his time to look up at Alessandro, he was more concerned about the feedback from the assignment Melissa was working on."Come on, don't act all busy. We all know just how jobless you are since you can't secure a job be a of your status as Ex convict." Alessandro intentionally let out this information and just like he anticipated, the people seated on the table with Ric exchanged uncomfortable glances."Is he really an Ex convict?""The man seems to be ignoring him, he may be bluffing.""He didn't deny it, maybe it's true."The couple were not comfortable with the knowled
"What is happening here?" Camille had finally remembered he was to pick Ric at the entrance and had rushed over. Good thing he only met the end of things."Ask your guests." Frank shrugged before tossing the gun in his hand at Camille's feet."This not some shooting range, why did you bring a gun along?" Camille paled at the sight of the gun at his feet."I didn't, just borrowed it from one of them so like I said before 'Ask your guests.' Will you?" Frank lied.He never went anywhere fully armed with more than just a pistol even when he wore just a polo shirt and combat shorts.Frank wasn't exactly the careless type and he wasn't going to take chances with the young Master at all."Please no weapons allowed inside." Camille put his hands together and beckoned on them that was when he noticed the three wounded men."Oh shit!" His eyes widened in shock alarmed."Y'all already had a complete show down didn't you?" Camille looked to all of them and Frank smiled politely."I already told y
When Ric appeared at the gate of the Conover Club, he was quite mesmerized by the beauty of the infrastructure. He had expected it to look beautiful but the pictorial panoramic view he had envisaged, was nothing compared to what his eyes beheld."Excuse me Sir, please can I see your membership card?" One of the security guards interrupted his thoughts about the place."I'm sorry but I don't quite have that" Ric was naturally a polite person so it was nothing to him to respond kindly to a lowly security guard."I'm sorry Sir, but your card type is the determining factor for the entry access you are granted" the security man was not being rude since Ric had dressed up properly and looked like a rich man, however, he was only doing his job."That won't be any trouble, I'll just call my friend to come out" the Conover club was a place reserved for only the richest of richest. Some of these accesses, Johnson could give Ric to drive through preferential gates but Ric severally declined unwi
When the lady heard what Melissa said about Ric, she was a bit Ashamed of what was being said. The lady was Aaliyah.She had been passing and had only been oppurtuned to hear what Melissa said and because the man in question was related to her as her Fiance she had paid better attention.She had observed Melissa closely from her distance and concluded that indeed she was Ric's Ex wife."He is still so useless." Melissa scoffed annoyed.Melissa had dropped the items she carried in her car before she recalled she had wanted to pick an extra item and she had to return to the store in a rush.It was on her way back inside the store that she had bumped into Aaliyah on her way out."Oh, please watch where you're going." Aaliyah said politely when someone bumped into her.Melissa was rather rude, despite just being humiliated, she could just never change. That was how she was."You should also keep your eyes open to step aside before someone crashes into you accidentally." Melissa snapped at
Melissa had her heart in her mouth when Ric remained expressionless, she feared that he would ignore Damon and keep her on her knees for longer but she was wrong.Ric was not like that, he did not intentionally hurt people or their images for self gratification or cheap glory and moreover, Damon had a right over him since he also considered Damon as his older brother.When Frank noticed Ric gave no response, Frank was ready to prolong Melissa's suffering."Oh Mel it seems you would have to-""Let it be Frank," Ric held up a hand to frank and stopped his sentence halfway.Melissa had a slight frown on her face.How could Ric talk to the man that made her tremble to her bones so casually? Melissa was puzzled but then again she thought to herself that Frank surely was in a disguise around Ric so Ric didn't know who he truly was.That was just how Melissa was, it was better for her to think that way than for her to admit to herself that Ric could have such a powerful friend that frightene
Melissa's legs felt like jelly when the words hit her ear drums. She was expected to apologize to Ric and that too on her knees."Is there a problem Melissa?" Frank was going to surely see to the end of it all.Just as the drama was taking place, Damon came back.Melissa was already on her knees before Ric but her lips were heavy, she found it difficult to apologize to Ric.It would have been easier for Melissa to render the apology to a complete stranger than for her to apologise to Ric. Even if Ric looked clean, Melissa was not willing to accept that he was worth being treated more than a street begger.Yes! She thought that lowly of him."Say the words, I don't have all day to waste here." Ordinarily Ric would have stopped Melissa and ended all the drama but this once he chose to put her in her place."You! Don't even try to act high and mighty because I'm apologizing to you." She was quick to raise her voice and scold him but she had lost her voice ever since when it came renderin
If Ric wanted to punish Melissa by sending her off without purchasing anything then he would have done so but when he saw that what she came to purchase was beneficial to him, he let it slide and awaited a more amicable way to settle the drama. "I am sorry Ma'am," the Manager of the store ran behind Melissa and pleased after she threatened to shut down the store with her father's influence. Melissa often used her father's status as soon to be Mayor to intimidate people in the city and get her bindings done. "Don't even try to beg Me, that is the staff of yours that has insulted me and most of all because I was trying to warn you against wasting your time with this man." Melissa was raising her voice and shouting that she successfully got the attention of most if not all the people that came to shop that day at the store. "What is happening here? Why is everyone shouting so much?" "I hear that the staff here are insolent and even give preference to just anyone that steps foot into
Melissa had mixed feelings about running into Ric after he had hung up on her, she wanted to lash out at him for his misconduct yet she still wanted him on her side if she was going to complete her assignment but Melissa being Melissa, she let her emotions cloud her decisions and she decided to taunt Ric instead."Tell me what a man like you is doing here. Can you afford anything here?" Melissa said to Ric who was standing side by side with Frank."What do you want Melissa?" Ric asked when she would not get out of his way."Hmmm, a very tricky question you asked but the actual person who should be answering that is you. What so you want in a store like this?" Melissa said with a coy smile on her lips.Ric was very composed in as much as he detested Melissa for all she did to him in the past, he still gave her some respect as his ex wife and stood to give her audience."What I do with my life is none of your business Melissa," Ric replied with a blank expression.Melissa took her time
Melissa was shocked at his audacity, she screamed in frustration. She needed his help navigating her way in order to get to Italy but Ric was not cooperating.Ric dropped the call and massaged his temple, Frank's idea of using Melissa and her father's influence to find the assassin was a good idea but it was going to involve Ric constantly communicating with Melissa and possibly following her to Italy as her husband to reduce any suspicions.Melissa worked with the immigration so granting access and falsely approving fake identities was going to be a walk over with Melissa on their team yet no scam will be traced to the Milano Group president at all if the foreign authorities found out.Ric picked up his phone and answered the incoming call."Ric, you have to come home early today. Where are you?" Damon questioned him immediately the call connected"Why so?" Ric was a bit lost in the sudden demand from his brother and friend."It's Gordon's birthday anniversary tomorrow and we have to