Chapter Seventy

At about 10:30pm a black range rover was seen moving along a deserted area and stopped at some point. Inside the car was sitting, four men dressed in black and armed. 

" You all will wait for me, here." One of them said to the others.

" Yes Master. " The others replied in unison and bowed. 

The Master alighted from the car and walked up the hill while the rest watched him from inside the car till he was out of sight. The Master trekked with carefulness. He didn't want to leave a trace and was at alert. Soon, he reached at an uncompleted building. He turned around for any sign of a human being. When he saw nothing, he pushed open the metal door and went inside.

* Cough * Cough *

The plethora of dust that swept into his nose and eyes made him choke. He looked around the environment and something left him.

" This place is indeed scary. " He mused. The place was dark apart from a tiny light that came in from a small opening from the decorated wall at the end of the place. The Master looked around again in search of rooms and was astonished to discover that it was just the large room. 

" Did i come to a wrong place? " He pondered. " No, this was were she told me to come. Maybe, she hadn't arrived. " The Master muttered under his breath and nodded to it. He decided to scrutinize the area while waiting for the Grand master. He walked slowly around, dodging the cobwebs that covered the corners of the room. He stopped beside a part that was covered with water. His gaze flew up the ceiling from where dripped down. 

" I can see that you're so interested about this place. " A voice said from behind. The Master was startled but recognized the voice. He turned around and bowed to the owner. 

" Grand Master you're here. " He said with his head low.

" Yes, and you'll be wondering why I asked you to come here. Look up. " The Grand Master commanded him and he obeyed. The Master couldn't see his boss ( the grand master ) clearly because of the darkness that covered the place. 

" Follow me. " The Grand Master said and began walking to a particular direction. She stopped before a wall and the Master almost bumped into her. He wasn't expecting her to stop. The Grand Master stooped to the floor a separated a grass. He pressed something and the wall opened.

The Master retreated on seeing that. His eyes bugged out and jaw dropped as he watched the Grand Master walk into the space. 

" Aren't you coming with me? " The Grand Master asked him. 

The Master was jolted back to reality and followed the Grand Master. As soon as they got into the space, the wall came together as it used to be. They went into a room and the Grand Master asked that the Master help him move a big stone which he did. 

" We're going inside. " The Grand Master told him. There was a staircase that was built to help one descend to the floor. The duo went down to the underground house. 

It was well decorated and sophisticated. The chandeliers that hung on the ceiling spiced up the attractive room. If one was blindfolded to that place, he wouldn't believe that there would be such a place in the building, judging from the shabby look of its outskirt.

" Come and sit. " The Grand Master said pointing to a seat. The Master settled down and the Grand Master brought a bottle of wine and two glass wine. The Master in respect, collected it from the Grand Master and screwed it open. He filled the wine glasses with wine and gave one of the wine glass to the Grand Master and then took his.

" You'll be wondering where this is. I have planned everything for so many years and  it will be our meeting avenue from henceforth. Fill me in with what you have done so far. " The Grand Master said.

The Master began narrating his efforts towards the assignment given to him by the Grand Master. The only problem at hand is to make Valerie become patient. She wanted to kill Sofia.

" That girl is too arrogant and always want to do things her own way. But, we'll plan on what to do with her. Smith is preparing their company's program and Albert doesn't want Valerie. That's her problem. " The Grand Master told him.

" I agree with you. But, what are we going to do since Albert refused to look at her in the face? " The Master enquired further.

" He must, by hook or by crook. " The Grand Master replied him. She explained an idea she had thought about and ordered the Master to do as she had said. She furthermore, asked him to update her daily with their activities. They dranked the remaining contents of the bottle and the Master left after that. He was accompanied by the Grand Master till they've gotten out of the building. The Grand Master went back to the building while the Master strolled to the car.

His ( The Master ) men were waiting patiently for him and as soon as he arrived, they drove off to their own rsidence.

...

...

SMITHS RESIDENCE

Valerie received a call from the Master that same night, that they would be having their meetings but in a different location. He gave her directions to the place and ended the call after that.

The next day, early in the morning, Eva knocked on Valerie's door.

" Who is that? " A voice asked from inside.

" It's me, Eva, Ma'am. " Eva answered. 

Valerie opened the door and saw her with a sweeping brush and packer. She looked at her quizzically and Eva caught the expression.

" Ma'am, the maid i asked to take care of your room fell sick and i have posted others to several duty posts. I decided to do this myself so as not to offend you, Ma'am. " Eva bowed.

Valerie looked intently at her before allowing her in. She wanted to take her bath, so, she took all she'll be needing to the bathroom and locked the door after that. 

Eva began cleaning the room with her ears wide open. Valerie turned on the shower. Eva heard the pitter patter of the shower and convinced herself that Valerie had started taking her bath.

" So weird. Using a shower in a cold morning. " Eva thought and grimaced. She quietly tiptoed to the drawer and luckily she found Valerie's phone on the first drawer. She brought out the phone and closed the drawer.

" Get me my cream over there. " A voice said from behind, startling Eva. " What is that? " Valerie asked when she noticed Eva's reaction.

Eva kept her hand at her back, she tried to maintain composure. " Nothing Ma'am. I wasn't expecting to hear your voice. " Eva replied, a little shaky.

" Hmmm. Thinking about your stupid lover again? " Valerie came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around her chest and went to get the cream since she didn't see it where she expected it to be. She began to walk in Eva's direction.

" Oh my goodness! " Eva screamed within her. She could hear her heart beat heavily. She prayed silently not to be discovered by Valerie.

" What's she doing? " Eva mused with eyes bugged out. 

Valerie stooped and opened her drawer. Her face scrunched up and Eva fixed her gaze on her. 

" Did she notice the absence of her phone? " Eva wondered.

Valerie stood up quickly and looked at Eva again before returning back to the bathroom. Eva heaved a sigh of relief when she heard the door clicked shut. She waited for a while before bringing out the phone. She unlocked Valerie's phone. ( Before that, Albert told Eva Valerie's phone's password ). She checked her( Valerie's ) contacts and with a pen and paper which she hid under her work clothe, she wrote out the numbers of Valerie's recent calls and quietly put back the phone to the drawer. She hid the pen and paper under her work clothe again and began cleaning the room. By the time Valerie had finished taking her bath, Eva was done with the cleaning. 

" You can leave now. " Valerie said to Eva, on entering the room. 

Eva bowed and left with her cleaning tools.

...

...

" Did you get it? " Albert questioned Eva. Eva made a quick call to Albert as instructed by him and they met in a particular room in the building. ( The room belongs to Albert but it wasn't his sleeping room. )

" Yes, Young Master. " Eva handed the paper to Albert and Albert thanked her for a job well done. He asked Eva to return back to her duties while he stay in the room and find out some things from the information he had at hand.

Albert took out his laptop after Eva left and added the numbers he had in it and with that he started working on it. He didn't want to involve Clifford, though he would, later on, because Clifford was Valerie's elder brother and may not do what should be done, whole heartedly. 

...

...

Towards evening, Valerie got dressed and informed Andy that she wanted to take some time out. She was granted the request as she was thought to be emotionally hurt at the moment because of Albert.

Valerie left the residence, refusing to be followed by guards. She was slightly worried about the hidden security guards but she was assured by the Master that he had that under control. Valerie got into a cab and gave the cab rider some directions and he took her to the place that she wanted to go to. She stopped there and went into a building. The building led to another road where she stood waiting for the vehicle, the Master promised her and right on cue, the car arrived. Valerie went in and they drove off.

When they got to the place, the cab rider led the way to their meeting point. Valerie kept on looking around as they climbed up the stairs. The place was indeed nice and looked like a house owned by an average man.

The man stopped in front of a room, knocked on the door and pushed it in. He went in with Valerie.

Already sitting on the four corner table, was Williams, Gregory and the Master. The other seat was vacant. Valerie occupied the seat and greeted the others. The guard bowed and left.

" Let the meeting began. " The Master said after everyone exchanged pleasantries. They began discussing their new agenda. First of all, the Master told them that the place they met at that moment was going to be their meeting venue from henceforth. Then he relayed all that the Grand Master had told him, missing the part that he was obeying an instruction from someone. He also spoke about his new plan about Valerie. Valerie was upset with the plan and didn't accept that.

" Even if i want to get pregnant, i wouldn't allow those stinking guards of yours to touch me. " Valerie said rudely. The others tried to calm her down but she refused.

" It's your choice. Look for ways to get pregnant. Because as you know, Albert will never touch you. " The Master said. Valerie felt embarrassed by his words but maintained composure. The Master also told them that he had placed a spy in the Smiths residence. He threatened one of the guards and the guard works for them now. He also encouraged Valerie to work hand in hand with the guard. At the end of the meeting, everyone dispersed to their homes.