Olivia's pov
After driving for what looked like a long time, the driver eventually pulled up in front of a white penthouse. He unlocked the door and we also did the same. Mia, who was fast asleep throughout the drive, woke up while I was trying to carry her out of the car. I sighed, and then withdraw my hands from her shoulder immediately her legs touched the tan linoleum.
" Olivia, is this your new house?" Mia questioned all of sudden, her voice was barely above a whisper.
My mom was not paying attention to us, she was busy enjoying the glamorous house in her front.
I slowly tilted back my head towards the building and nearly gasp as I set my eyes on it for the second time, just that it doesn't look like an illusion compared to when I catch a glimpse of it when am still in the car, I wanted to say something but since am yet to confirm if this is really the place I will be staying at from my mom, I only stared at the white building in awe, and also manage not to bite my lips in the process.
It seemed like I compelled Mia to follow my gaze as we both darted our eyes back to my mom, scrutiny her face in search of an answer.
" This is the key to the building" The black guy that drove us earlier muttered behind our back, my mom turned to the man and collect the gleaming keys from his hand.
" Olivia, that is your house key!" Mia shouted, and I couldn't help but grin at her childish reaction. I faced my mom back, looking confused at the same time.
She guffawed at my expression like she was making jest of me.
I scowled.
" Don't tell me this is my apartment" I muttered, emphasizing on the word" Apartment" as I stared at her in awe. I find it hard to believe what I am staring at, a penthouse for me? She must be joking, besides, I am just a junior worker in the company am about to start working at, I don't think the CEO could even manage to secure an apartment like this.
" This is for you of course. '' Her grin jerked me out of my trance, I glared at her in amusement, short of words at the same time.
I instantly pulled her into a bone-crushing hug. I can't just imagine myself living in this kind of apartment. I watched as the driver picked the box up, and move towards the building ahead of us, and we followed.
" How do you manage to secure this in that short amount of time? Or you planned this before?" I probed, curiously. Mia yanked her hand away from mine and ran after the black driver who just opened the transparent white gate.
" Not really, Mr Mark arranged everything" she answered, my eyes widened when she mentioned the name.
"The manager?" I asked again for clear confirmation, and she nodded.
We entered the compound, and I couldn't help but let my jaw drop in awe while staring. it seemed like being in a different world entirely.
" Guess what?" my mom's voice came again while I was still feeding my mind with the mind-blowing sight.
"Just tell me, you know I'm not that good at guessing" I scowled.
" It won't be a surprise if I told you now, you know"
I frowned a little bit, but I guess it doesn't look like that will pave a way for me today.
She grabbed my wrist and gently dragged me towards the entryway, we walked silently through the hallway, and I kept on moving my head frantically to catch a glimpse of everything we came across. Eventually, we walked into the giant sitting room, and my jaw dropped.
The first thing my eyes landed on was the big artwork that was hung on the white wall. The couches were placed adjacent to each other, with a round table nicely placed in the middle, and many pink roses were placed in a white ceramic bowl that was sitting motionlessly at the middle of the table.
Mia has already got hold of the remote of the giant flat screen tv that nearly occupied the entire wall, only God knows how she managed to locate it within that short time. My mom walked to the nearest couch and sat down, while I stood still, scrutinizing the entire room.
" Mia, lower the volume" her voice was merely audible because of the loud sound that was coming from the home theatre, the loud music blaring out at a loud frequency. Mia's tiny hand-poked around the buttons, trying to locate the volume button, it's very obvious that she doesn't know what to press next.
Mom was resting her head on the couch's backrest, with her eyes closed, she looked so exhausted, so it would be better to just leave her to take a nap.
I strode to mia and slowly dragged the black remote from her hand, and pressed the volume button immediately.
" Next time, press the red one" I muttered, using one of my fingers to indicate the correct one. She grinned and nodded her head.
" Let me just change the channel, it seems your mom is sleeping already"......my voice trailed off, with my hand pressing the button continuously, searching for a Channel that goes with my spirit, and also with no noise, Music to be precise.
My eyes are fully engrossed in the flat screen that is in my front.
Mia has already walked back to the couch she was previously sitting on, I watched her from the corner of my eyes as she suddenly got to her feet and started jumping up and down without any reason. She didn't even look concerned with the fact that she was standing on a white couch.
I stopped at a news channel, the news was on, and it looked like the reporter just started.
" Mia, should I leave it or I should change.......
"Mam," I heard someone's voice from behind me. I turned back only to see the black guy that drove us earlier, I had forgotten entirely that he was still in the house. I docked a little and placed the remote on the table.
" I don't get your name?"
" Michael" he muttered, and I nodded as if I knew his name before.
" You're leaving already" It doesn't come out as a question, moreover, it is not like I secured a room for him in the compound, so, he will definitely leave.
" Yes," he smiled, his eyes looking everywhere but not for once landed on my face, like he was avoiding my gaze.
I cleared my throat
" You can.....
" I will be leaving then.." he cut me off before I could even complete my statement, not intentionally though because it doesn't look like he have any idea that am about to say something.
" Okay, thanks a lot for today" I muttered sincerely, but instead of answering me, he was staring at something intently across my shoulder, his eyes fully immersed into it. I doubt if he even heard what I just said.
At first, I thought Mia just broke something but when I followed his gaze, darting my eyes back a little to get a clear image of what he was staring at.
The large picture that nearly occupied the entire screen of the TV caught my attention almost immediately as I turned. A voice was being heard in the background but I don't seem to concentrate on what the invisible reporter is passing across.
" ANTHONY LUCAS ESCAPED FROM THE PRISON" was boldly written side by side with the picture, that's when it hit me. The handsome face I was staring at is actually a prisoner, and also not just a regular one, but a wanted one. I can't help but wonder what a good looking man like him could have done to make him find himself in this bizarre condition. He was too cute for a prisoner.
Another picture of him was displayed but was somehow blurry. After glaring for what seemed like an eternity, the reporter moved to the next report, and I slowly darted my eyes back to Micheal.
" Mia, you are going to wake mom," I complained, my voice sounding a bit harsh, she stopped jumping instantly, but instead of sitting upright, she decided to prone instead.
I sighed.
" You know the guy?" I asked curiously when I noticed that he was still staring at the screen.
" Ohhh, I'm very sorry...." he apologised, and I groaned.
" You did nothing, why apologize?" I asked in surprise, it just seemed so strange, how can you be apologising when you did nothing wrong? or is it a sin to watch TV in someone else's House here in Alaska?
He smiled innocently while looking down at the same time. But I am not ready to let him go without getting something out of him, moreover, my curiosity won't let me be.
The fact that he looked carried away while watching the news drove my curious mind insane. I always like to know the full story, not just half, but the whole thing. Since the reporter didn't give me the full explanation on the reason why the guy... I tried to remember his name, but it doesn't look like I will get a chance to recall.
" So, you knew him" I tried not to sound interested, but my tone failed me, his expression turned sour immediately he got what I was saying, and who I was referring to.
" I don't know him personally...."
" But it looks like you know something about him" I pressed further, thank God my mom is sleeping, she would have told the guy to leave without telling me anything. I looked at her on the sofa bed she was lying on.
" Yeah, almost every soul in Alaska knew him," he explained. Trust me, his intro got my attention, and my curiosity increased at the same frequency...
He continued, " There is a rumour that he was a Mafia Boss because of his ruthless wealth"
" Really? he is very wealthy?"
" Yes, he owns the biggest mansion in the whole of Alaska, and according to news that was released before he was arrested, it was stated that almost 200 workers worked under him, which 75% of of the so-called workers are his security, according to them" he clarified, hesitating for a few seconds, and then continue.
The news is over, and the music I assumed to be sung by a Spanish singer is being played.
"To cut the story short, he was arrested for murder three months ago" his voice stopped my train of thought.
" He killed someone?" I don't know when I blabbered the words out.
" Yeah," he confirmed, " No one knows the real story though, but that's all I knew about his arrest, nearly everyone knows this"
" Hidden behind a mask" I muttered sadly. Michael sighed, it seemed like he was feeling pity for him.
" I'm very surprised to hear that he escaped, there is no way he would do this on his own" his voice was barely above a whisper...
" You are talking as if you knew him very well" I teased jokingly, and he smiled.
" If you don't mind, I will like to be on my way" He managed to say.
" Okay, it's fine, sorry for wasting your precious time, I just don't let go of anything that catches my attention easily " I mouthed, tonelessly. That was meant to be a joke but it doesn't come out like one.
" Not at all. If you don't mind, I will like to excuse myself" with this, he stalked towards the door, and I turned back to see that Mia had also fallen asleep.
"Not again," I mumbled frustratingly, her sleeping position always looked strange, her legs were on the couch arm, the rest of her body sprawled funnily on the couch.
" One more thing" Michael's voice came again, and I looked back immediately, if not that I recognise his voice already, I might have flinched.
" What... ttt?" I stuttered.
" Don't forget to change your door password, your mom knows the current one," he explained.
"Okay, I will keep that in mind and do it tomorrow"
" Can't you just do it when she wakes up, remember a prisoner is on the run" the tone he used to say the words sent a cold shiver down my spine. I shook my head, trying to dislodge the thought.
A prisoner will break into my house? Gosh! What am I thinking? God forbid bad thing. Thinking about it only makes my whole body to tremble in fear.
.
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