Chapter Fifty-nine

" Hello Miss Eddie." He said waving his hands at Eddie. 

Eddie stood rooted to the ground as she watched Clifford in shock. Clifford furrowed his eyebrows after standing for some time and been moped at. 

" Mr. Crazy Amusement park. " Eddie called as she fondly called him. 

" Miss Eddie, I'll really appreciate if you'll ... " Before Clifford could complete his statement, Eddie had already locked the gate on him. 

" Clifford " ...

Annie saw Eddie rushed inside like one in a hot pursuit. She squinted her eyebrows as she looked at her. 

" A...Annie. " Eddie stuttered. Cold sweat broke from her forehead as she spoke.

" What happened? Who's out there? " Annie asked her anxiously.

Eddie tried to calm her breathe and when she had done that, she explained to Annie whom she met outside the gate. Annie grabbed Eddie's hands and they hurried towards the gate. The security guard at the gate stood shocked, as the events unfolded before him. Both Eddie and Annie walked past him while he followed suit to watch more of the actions. 

" Good morning, sorry good afternoon, I ... " Annie was interrupted by Clifford who pleaded her to let him in. Annie led the way. She grabbed Eddie as the three of them went inside. Annie offered Clifford a seat and took Eddie upstairs.

" What is wrong with you? I mean why did you let him in? You should have asked how he found our house. Don't tell me he's been tailing us all these while. " Eddie said to Annie. Annie flashed her an angry look and went to get drinks to serve Clifford. She got a bottle of wine, a wine glass and a tray and pushed it into Eddie's hands. 

Eddie looked at her in askance. Before she could utter a word, Annie asked her to take it downstairs and serve Clifford.

" What? You're not expecting me to serve him. Are you? " Eddie looked at her.

" Let's go. " Annie pulled Eddie as they walked out of the room and then downstairs. She let go of Eddie as soon as they got into the sitting room.

Clifford was sitting in the sitting room and scanning his environment, when he saw the two ladies, Annie and Eddie, walking into the sitting room. His face beamed as soon as he set his eyes on Eddie. 

Eddie walked towards Clifford and served him the wine. Her face was all red when she came closer to Clifford. 

" Let me open it. " Clifford said to her. Eddie gave him the bottle and he opened it. He asked her to sit down as he poured the contents of the wine into the wine glass. Eddie was reluctant to sit down but had to, when her eyes met the muderous glare of Annie. Clifford gave Eddie the wine glass and she rejected it. Clifford insisted. " I'm not here to eat. Ok? I understand you're suprised to see me,but please take it. " 

Eddie exhaled loudly and took the wine glass from Clifford. She took a sip of the wine and kept the glass back on the table. 

Annie came closer to the two. She cleared her throat and smiled when she had gotten their attention.

" Mr. Celebrity. What's your name again? " Annie asked.

" Clifford. "

" Clifford, this is my friend Eddie. Please take care of her. " She bowed in respect.

Eddie almost vomited. Her heart boiled as she stared at Annie in murderous way. Annie winked at her and left the duo alone in the sitting room. 

" I'm sorry for coming to your house without your notice. " Clifford broke the silence. 

Eddie took her wine glass and began gulping down the contents of the glass. Clifford furrowed his eyebrows on seeing that. Eddie didn't care. She finished the wine in the wine glass and took the bottle to refill her glass. Clifford stopped her. He took the wine glass and the bottle and shifted it to a corner.

" What! " Eddie yelled at him.

" Don't drink that way. " Clifford cautioned. He noticed that Eddie kept avoiding his gaze and may want to keep drinking because she is embarrassed. " I can't allow you to drink in this way. If you don't want me here, i can go but don't do this please. " Clifford pleaded, clasping his hands together in plea.

Clifford stood to his feet when he Eddie continued keeping mute. It stabbed his heart to see her that way. He didn't want to leave but he had to. 

" Clifford? " Eddie called after Clifford had gone a few distance. Clifford stopped and turned to face her.

" Come and sit. "

Clifford was surprised and so happy at the same time. He felt deeply hurt when he was leaving, he didn't know that she would call him back. Clifford walked back to his seat.

" I'm sorry. " Eddie apologized. 

" It's okay. " Clifford said to her. Clifford stayed two more hours with Eddie before he returned back to the Smiths residence.

SMITHS RESIDENCE.

Freddie and Harry were patiently waiting for Clifford to arrive home. They galaviated around the compound in expectation of the yet to arrive Clifford. 

" He'd taken a lot of time. " Harry said to Freddie.

" Mate, chill. He's enjoying with his babe. " Freddie replied. As they were talking, they heard a car honk outside the compound. They knew it was Clifford and they began walking towards the gate. The gateman opened the gate for Clifford to come in and he drove in immediately.

Harry and Clifford rushed after the car as it was driven to the garage.

" Hey, wasup guys. " Clifford said as soon as he highlighted from his vehicle with his face beaming with smiles. The trio exchanged handshakes and they went into the building to Clifford's room.

Freddie couldn't wait to hear the gist. He started teasing Clifford using several devices that Clifford couldn't bare after a while. He stood up and aimed for the door as he couldn't tolerate the teases again.

" Where's he going to? " Freddie asked after him.

Harry nudged Freddie to stop teasing Clifford, " You've made our handsome celebrity turn red. Let him be for now. Clifford come back. " Harry said and the both of them( Harry and Freddie) laughed.

" I have something to say to Freddie but I won't talk because of your silliness. " Clifford told them. Freddie and Harry exchanged glances and started laughing, making Clifford uncomfortable and infact upset.

" Ok. You think i am joking. It's about Annie and you'll have to pay to hear more. But for the basics, i met her today. Infact i was with her. " Clifford revealed.

Freddie almost choked. His eyes bugged out when he heard the news. He immediately stood up and began throwing Clifford a lot of questions that even Harry sat, mouth agape, looking at Freddie.

But you were teasing me a while ago. " Clifford said with his eyes raised.

" Ok, I'm sorry. " Freddie apologized.

Clifford finally revealed the truth to his friends. For Freddie, he felt like jumping. Infact he started singing and dancing. Freddie told his friends that he had secretly been boiling because of Annie that hasn't called him after that day. The trio continued teasing and having fun, though they were not so happy as Freddie and Harry were leaving the next day. So, they began packing their things.

Andy reminded Smith about Harry and Freddie. So, Smith requested to see them. Andy sent a guard to get them. The security guard checked and saw that their rooms were locked. He reported back to Smith.

" Get me my phone. " Smith said to Andy. Andy got his phone and he dialed Clifford's line. He enquired from Clifford about his friends' whereabouts and was told that they were with him (Clifford) and that they would soon join him. 

Within few minutes, Harry and Freddie arrived in Smith's room. Smith presented them with cash as a gift. The duo was shocked when they were given the big brown envelop. They thanked Smith for playing a fatherly role to them.

" You're free to visit any time. " Smith said to them and they left the room for theirs, rejoicing.

For Valerie, she was excited. She was making plans to go for the meeting the next day. She already brought out her clothes, shoes and  everything that will be needed for the meeting.

Towards evening the next day, Valerie took her bath and dressed up for the meeting. She looked at the full-length mirror and smirked at her, soon to gain victory.

" I'll deal with you, Sofia. " She said inwardly with lips curled up.

A quick glance at the wall clock and she was out of her room to Smith's attendance room. Valerie told Andy that she was going to visit a sick friend of hers and that she needed to be there urgently. Andy granted her the request and insisted she leaves with the security guards. Valerie agreed and left. When she came outside the building, she commanded the security guards to return back to their post. The security guards refused to obey her and insisted that they must go with her. Valerie thought of what to do and an idea erupted in her mind. She quickly texted the master and he called her back almost immediately and instructed her on what to do.

Valerie continued pressuring the guards till she received a beep from the master.

" You can come after me if you want. " Valerie said to them and began walking towards the gate. The security guards moved to their car while Valerie screamed at the gateman to open the gate. Immediately she left the Smiths residence, she saw a car parked outside the gate and she got into the car. The car drove off and wasn't able to be traced by the Smiths security guards. 

" A messenger from the master. " The man driving said to Valerie and she nodded. She sneaked several glances at the man that was totally armed and dressed in a black attire. His face was also masked. Valerie was scared and happy at the same time. She was mingling with bad people but that was the only thing she could think of as a means to destroy Sofia and be in control of the Smiths.

The cab rider, stopped in front of Ectactcy restaurant and drove off immediately Valerie entered the restaurant. 

The Master was already sitting when she arrived. " He came so early today. " Valerie muttered under her breath.

She walked to the corner where the master sat and settled down. The both of them exchanged pleasantries and the main deed of the day began.

" Before we start, I'll like to introduce some of our members to you. I just beeped them and they would be here in a jiffy. " The master said and Valerie nodded. 

Within few seconds, they arrived. " They're here. " The master said looking backwards. Valerie swept her gaze to the direction, the master was looking at. 

" W...wh...at ... " Valerie choked when she saw the two people who were walking towards them.

" Valerie " ...