Chapter Twenty-three

The morning rays seeped into the room giving off an extraordinary attraction that adorned the room.

Valerie woke up from sleep that morning. She glanced at the wall clock in the room with her bleary eyes. It was exactly 6:45am. She then rolled out of bed, went into the inner bathroom and washed off the sleep from her eyes. Then she entered the room with a smile on her face as she admired the handsome man lying innocently on his bed. He looked really handsome now that he's still asleep. Valerie wished that those moments would last forever, when she wakes up and the very first thing she sets here eye on is the man she admired the most and wish to be his bride. 

She then headed for the door, careful not to wake Albert up. The strong aroma of a delicious meal hit her innocent nose making her stomach grumble.Then she began to trace the room from where this aroma emanates. She continued moving as her nose led her, till she was in front of the kitchen door. As she peeked inside, she saw Melissa preparing a dish. She smiled looking at the seriously minded young lady cooking. Immediately she stepped into the kitchen, she cleared her throat to alert Melissa. 

"Good morning." She greeted when Melissa turned to look at the intruder.

"Morning" Melissa responded smiling at her, she beckoned on Valerie to come in.

"How are you today? " Melissa asked her.

" I'm much better today , though the pains still hurt so much."

" I know it would. You guys went through a lot "

" Thank you for saving us."

" It's nothing."

" So what are you preparing?"

" Breakfast as usual."

" Wow. You know I admire you so much. I mean you wake up as early as this to prepare breakfast. Why don't you allow your maids to do that?" 

"I love cooking."

" Can I join you?"

" Sure" Melissa responded.

Valerie never cooked all her life. Melissa chuckled at the way Valerie struggled with just cutting tomatoes. "

"You seem to be a novice in this area." 

" Yes." Valerie affirmed. 

Melissa didn't want to go further in asking her questions so she kept quiet. The whole preparation was successful but not without throwing up questions, teasing and cracking jokes."

Let's go and freshen up. Tea will be brewed after that  I need something hot." 

So they dispersed to their rooms. Valerie met Albert awake when she entered and they exchanged pleasantries.

"Where have you been?" Albert asked. 

"In the kitchen with Melissa." 

"Ooh."

" Let's freshen up and go down for breakfast. Alice will come to check on us. Melissa told me. "

She was the first to go in for a bath and then Albert. While Albert was waiting for the ladies in the dining room, Valerie was with Melissa brewing tea for breakfast. 

"Hulala"  Melissa happily announced. And the ladies served breakfast. 

"Mmmmm." Albert nodded in affirmation of the tasty dishes. 

"You too should contest for the next best cook in the country."

Everyone chuckled and continued eating. The ladies cleared the table after the hearty breakfast. 

...

...

Just as Melissa said, Alice came visiting in the  in the morning. She checked their (Albert and Valerie) health condition and told them the improvements Including what they ought to avoid . She stayed briefly with them before leaving for work that morning.

"I really love you two." Melissa commended. " I'll like to know you more." 

A quick glance at each other, they've already communicated.

 Albert spoke up first. "As you already know, I'm Albert and she's Valerie, my cousin sister." Albert lied.

Thick lines became visible on Valerie's face. 'WTF'  She was so pissed off with the description. Albert could have said a friend of what stops him from introducing her as his wife-to-be. 

"Right?" Albert winked at Valerie and she responded to it.

"Yes Melissa. My brother here is the best so far "

" Oh I see. It's nice meeting you. "Thank you. "They replied in unison. 

"You've not spoken to your parents for a while now. They must be worried about you. "

"I agreed with you. But we need to lie low because of our enemies."

Melissa merely nodded.

***********

Andy rushed to his Master's room and knocked at the door.

"Come in." A deep hoarse voice said. 

Andy entered inside looking tensed. He held a phone on his hand and it was ringing. 

"Who is it?" Smith asked Andy.

"Adams, Valerie's father. Just the name mentioned was enough to gather all Smith's strength. " Oh my, what do we tell him?  Say anything." 

" What?" Andy widened his eyes in shock." I brought it to you because I don't know what to do or say, how then can I solve this?"

"Just say anything and don't relay any information about Valerie's missing to him. "

Andy took hot breaths, he thought within himself what to tell Adams as he waited for the next call. He grew impatient as the next call was delayed. After a long while waiting, Andy dropped the phone in= a drawer and immediately it rang.

" Hello" A voice spoke from the other end of the line line

"Hello Sir." Andy replied. The male voice Adams heard surprised him a lot. 

"Who is this?" Adams asked.

"I'm a servant, Miss Valerie isn't around .

"Ohh" 

****⁴

Albert noticed the way Valerie have been acting towards him ever since they've been with Melissa. So, he decided to speak to her. 

"Valerie." Smith called Valerie tucking her sleeve. 

"What is it?" Valerie asked with an angry face.

" Talk to me. Just tell me where I've wronged you ."

" None. I'm fine."  She said . 

**********

Albert decided to have a walk around the house, as a means to strengthen his bones and also explore the new environment. 

It really pained him walking for a long while because the wounds are still there but he wanted to exercise his body.

As he came to a point wanting to rest, a knock came at the gate and a security guard went and open it. 

A flashy car drove in. As the door of the car was opened, the security guards bowed. Albert hid behind a tree, watching what was happening. He wanted to know who came visiting. 

A security guard who came along with the visitor opened the backseat door and a man alighted. From a distance, Albert could see that, the man appeared rich and influential. Albert looked intently at the man as he walked towards the main entrance of the building. 

'But he looks somewhat familiar.' Albert did all he could but couldn't identify the man from a distance, an idea came to his mind and he slowly walked into the building from the back door.

As soon he entered the building, he walked through a narrow passage leading to the main rooms in the house. 

"Brother." Melissa shouted and ran to embrace her brother.

The man removed the face mask that covered his face and he embraced his 'Little Sister ' as he called her. Albert almost collapsed recognizing the man that embraced Melissa. 

He quickly though quietly went back to his room.

"Valerie, Valerie, Valerie" Albert tried waking up Valerie who was feeling sleepy. 

"Please get up." The constant tapping woke Valerie up. Her face already turned red from anger because she wanted to enjoy herself.

"A man who happens to be Melissa's brother is sitting in the sitting room."

Valerie's nose flared. How is that my business?" 

" Gregory is here." 

The announcement shocked Valerie so much. " I want to see him.

Both of them left their room and headed towards the sitting room. They came to a halt in front of a glass window at one side of the sitting room. Both peeked at the people in the sitting room.They stopped pecking and preferred to eavesdrop their conversation. 

"I've missed you so much brother." 

"Same here. "

" If not for the people I helped who kept me company this past few days, I wouldn't know what i would have done." Melissa said pouting like baby a baby. 

"I'm so sorry about that. And who are these wonderful friends? I would like to see them. You spoke really good about them on phone."

" Oh yes."

Melissa went straight to Valerie and Albert's room to call them. But was surprised to see the room locked. (It's just closed with the door, you can glide the door to one end.)

"Where could they have gone to?" Melissa mused. She went back to the sitting room after searching for them for a while.

"I didn't see them." Melissa said breathing hard. She felt a little exhausted after searching for them.

"Hope you're not playing pranks?"

" No I'm not."

Meanwhile, Albert and Valerie went out inconspicuously through the back door. They stopped eavesdropping immediately Gregory asked Melissa to bring them (Albert said Valerie) to him. 

"This is not a good sign at all." Valerie spoke first.

" How can Gregory be Melissa's brother?" 

"What's actually going on? I feel like I'm getting confused. What do we do then?"

" It will be  bad if Melissa finds out about us?  Living here now It's risky. 

"Are you suggesting we leave?"