Chapter Twenty-eight

Eddie dashed back to her office after delivering the lunch to Albert and Valerie. The thought of what she earlier noticed came haunting her and sending chills running down her spine. When she darted her eyes to the table it was only occupied by a laptop and a few books.

"That rude girl didn't...." She felt annoyed once again but couldn't leave her office for fear of those monitoring her. So she went back to her seat to take a rest. 

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Aunty Mary went to the supermarket to get some foodstuffs for herself. She almost ran out of foodstuffs and since she was living with few maids, she would always buy it herself. She paid the accountant and a sales agent wheeled the trolley to her car. She tipped the sales agent who carefully arranged the food items in her boot. The sales agent thanked her and returned to her duties while Aunty Mary got into her car and drove off.

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She blew her car horn to alert the security guard inside. After waiting for a while and no answer from inside, she alighted from the car and knocked at the gate continuously. She was exhausted and her knuckles were hurting by the time she had knocked several times on the gate. She leaned against the gate trying to figure out what to do. 

A car is packed at the distance. In the car are situated two masked men. They kept their gaze on Aunty Mary. "Done." One of the men said to the other. They wanted to see what will happen next. When they've seen that Aunty Mary was indeed helpless at that point, they reversed and drove off.

Aunt Mary decided to visit Sofia and discuss with her, her experiences. She got into her car again and drove off to the Smiths residence.

SMITHS RESIDENCE.

Aunt Mary as usual was allowed to visit Sofia. Sofia was so happy when her Aunt came visiting. Lady Lily and Mira also sat with them. They exchanged pleasantries and Sofia narrated all that had been going on in the house. She also told her Aunty about Valerie. Aunty Mary felt at that point, that living with the Smiths was risky. She pleaded with Sofia to forget about the marriage since Smith was ever ready to send her packing. Sofia didn't want to return to the surprise of her aunt.

" My dear, I hope you'll understand. This place is not safe for you anymore. I don't want anything bad to happen to you. Your Mom won't be happy wherever she is if anything bad should happen to you."  Aunty Mary tried to convince her but she remained adamant. Lady Lily and Mira also pleaded with Sofia to listen to her Aunt but she refused.

"Aunty, I am in love with Albert. I love him so much. Moreover, I am his legal wife and not that Bitch I'll fight for my rights. I am just waiting for the right time to execute my plans." Sofia defended.

Aunt Mary also narrated her ordeal to Sofia. This was the first time they'd heard such. Lady Lily advised that she report the case to the Police but Sofia preferred she returned home to check again before alerting the police. 

After a while, Aunt Mary stood to leave. Sofia, Lady Lily and Mira accompanied her to the garage. Then she entered her car and drove off. 

Not long after this, Albert, Valerie and Sarah returned home. And again they went to report back to Smith. Smith was so happy, not only because of the progressive reports but because his Son seemed to be getting along with Valerie. He prayed silently for their union in the future. He also directed them on the company's affairs.

 Valerie was still searching for the two maids. The Smiths had so many maids which made it difficult for her to find those two.

That day was an unlucky day for Lady Lily and Mira. Sofia already retired to her room after Aunt Mary's visit. Valerie decided to take a walk around the compound. Lady Lily and Mira were also chitchatting, not realizing the lady coming close to them. It was Mira that first noticed and nudged Lady Lily into seeing who was almost close to them. But it was too late to bow their faces or to follow another way.

"Good evening, Ma'am." They greeted with confidence and passed smiling to themselves at their victory.

"Excuse me." A voice said from behind sending chills down their spine. When they turned, they saw Valerie with a maid.

"She wasn't referring to us," Mira said as they tilted their heads to the front. They were already weak from the fear that engulfed them earlier.

"Let's walk fast before she scares us to death." Lady Lily said and they proceeded to trot back to their room. But before they could do that, someone from behind called them," Lily and Mira." 

Their heart skipped on hearing their names. They decide to pretend not to hear it but for the second time, they heard their names, this time clearly. They turned to look at the owner of the voice and it was no other person than 'Valerie'.

Valerie stopped the first maid to find out the names of Lady Lily and Mira. She also watched their reactions when she said," Excuse me."

"How did she find out our names?" Lady Lily asked nervously.

" I don't know," Mira answered. Both of them could hear the beatings of their hearts as Valerie gradually came closer to them. " Can we disappear like the fairies in movies, please? Fairy Godmother, come and save us."  Mira said almost collapsing.

" Didn't you hear me call your names earlier?" Valerie asked reaching closer to them.

"No Ma'am." They replied in unison.

"You two look familiar. Do....."

"We're maids in the Smiths' residence." They replied in unison, interrupting Valerie.

" It's not like you're a kind of weirdo that was set to say the same thing at the same time," Valerie said and Lady Lily and Mira kept quiet.

"I remember you two, at Jasons Unique boutique."

Lady Lily and Mira kept quiet. It was no use denying it in other not to annoy Valerie again. Valerie smirked seeing their reactions.

"Here we meet again." She said. There was a hint of anger in her voice. "I promised to find you two. And I did, congrats to me. The world is indeed a small village." Valerie dialled some numbers on her cellphone and called someone giving her, her location.

Eva went as directed to meet Valerie. She halted when she sighted Valerie with Lady Lily and Mira. "Who knows what she's up to." She said inwardly. She then walked up to meet the trio.

"Good evening Ma'am." Eva greeted Valerie and did the same to Lady Lily. Valerie glared at Eva when she greeted Lady Lily. "Did I call you to start greeting people?"

" I'm sorry Ma'am." Eva apologized.

" I need you to send me the room number of this two. Then, let them work for me, for the meantime." Valerie instructed.

" Yes, Ma'am." Eva bowed in respect and Valerie gestured for her to leave.

"Let's have fun, later on," Valerie said mockingly and left them in a daze.

At that point, all they could think of was Sofia but Lady Lily decided against it. "Ma'am Sofia has gone through a lot recently, we can't let her know about this else we leave her worrying about us. That will be a lot of burden on her." Lady Lily told Mira.

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AUNTY MARY'S RESIDENCE

Meanwhile, Aunty Mary's Residence was heating with a lot of scoldings and quarrelling.

Aunty Mary returned home as Sofia told her to. She didn't blow her car horn, instead, she knocked heavily on the gate. Thank goodness, it woke a security guard and he rushed to open the gate. Aunty Mary was already boiling in anger when the gate was opened and the very first thing she did was to give whoever opened the gate a big slap on the cheek.

The security guard turned red from the pain. He covered the part of his cheeks where he was slapped with his palms.

"Open the gate!" She screamed at the security guard who did as instructed. When the gate was opened, Aunty Mary drove in with great speed. She got down from her car in annoyance and  immediately turned to the security guard that opened the gate," Where are the others?" She shouted on top of her voice, scaring the guard.

"I think they should be in the gate man's house."  The guard answered in fear. ( It was a house built for any guard whose turn is to guard the gate. That is to say that the rest, not on duty will sleep at the Security Lodge while some at the gateman's house.)

Aunt Mary quickly made for the gate. She was startled to see all four guards asleep. She rushed out of the room in annoyance and commanded the guard outside to get her a bucket of water which he did. Aunty Mary took the water inside the small house and with great speed, she poured it on the sleeping guards waking them up from dreamland.

"Is this how you secure my home?" Aunty Mary asked in anger. The guards fell to their knees and began apologizing to her.

"Now you all should follow me." She stormed off to the security lodge and saw the same things. Aunt Mary entered the main building and the biggest shock, all the maids and guards lay down sleeping.

Author's note: I want to thank my readers once again for their efforts in reading my work. I also plead that you rate my novel after reading it.

Thanks and I love you all. 

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