Chapter Sixty-four

In a hidden part of the town, in a building is sitting, a man masked in black and also armed. He walked up and down in his room and  kept on glancing at the wall clock, as if waiting for people. 

" Where could they be? " The Master mused to himself. 

He heard a knock on the door and asked those knocking. Having been trained to knock using different mysterious styles, the Master identifies his men easily with his or her own pattern.

" Master. " Four men called and bowed down in unison, as soon as they entered the room.

" How was it? " The Master asked as he lit a particular cigarette. He puffed out smoke through his mouth continuously as he listened to them narrate how they executed the task. 

" Hope you left no scratch? " He asked again in deep, hoarse voice. 

" Yes Master. " They answered and bowed. The  Master congratulated them for a job well done and promised to promote them in subsequent times if they carry out their tasks successfully. He dismissed them on a note of warning, asking them to lie low and watch out for the progress of the task they executed.

" Valerie is yet to call me. " The Master muttered under his breath as he puffed his cigarette.

SMITHS RESIDENCE.

Clifford woke up early in the morning. He beeped Valerie as soon as he got up from bed before continuing to prepare for the day.  Clifford personally ordered Sarah to make him breakfast for six, because they hadn't eaten that morning. 

He called to inform Valerie again that he was ready to leave. Clifford called a maid as soon  as he left his bedroom, to help him carry the food to his car. 

Valerie was waiting for Clifford in the sitting room. They exchanged pleasantries when they met, before heading out of the main building. Clifford collected the food from the maid and kept it at the back seat.

" We need to get there as early as possible. " Clifford said to Valerie, immediately they got into the car. He honked the gateman to alert him of his leave and sped off immediately he left the residence.

LIFE SAVING HOSPITAL.

Valerie walked beside Clifford as he led the way to Sofia's ward. She exercised the opportunity to scrutinize the area. They came to a halt in front of the ward and Clifford slide open the door. The room was very quiet because everyone was asleep. Eva and John slept on the hospital chairs while Albert laid beside Sofia on the hospital bed.

Valerie was ruffled by the sight she saw. Albert beside Sofia. To her, that was crazy. She fell in deep thoughts as anger continued to boil in her heart about Sofia.

" I'll be back. Let me check on the doctor. " Clifford said to Valerie in a diminished tone and turned to leave, but was stopped by Valerie. He looked at her quizzically.

" Can i see Aunt Mary? " Valerie asked him.

" Sure. In the next room and the other is where her maid laid. " Clifford answered and left the room.

Valerie watched Clifford move few distance away from the ward before she turned to look at the people in the room. She gazed intently at Sofia with deep hatred before her lips curled into a malicious grin.

" I will make you pay Sofia. " She mused. Her gaze fell on Albert whom she claimed to love. " You're mine and no one else. " She said in whispers and walked swiftly out of the ward. Valerie got into the next ward where Aunt Mary is receiving treatment. She walked to take a closer view of the patient on the bed. Valerie smirked and rejoiced within. She looked around for any sign of a person and saw none. So, she gently touched the bandages on Aunt Mary's face. She looked at the pipes wired to her nose and laughs hysterically.

" You deserve to die. " She said in a low tone and moved her hands to Aunt Mary's neck. She added pressure to her hand and tightened it when she heard footsteps approaching the ward. Valerie retreated and pretended to be crying. A nurse walked into the ward and saw Valerie sitting beside Aunt Mary, she greeted her and checked a few things on Aunt Mary. She scribbled some words on her note and left the room. 

Valerie shook her head when negative thoughts propped up in her mind. She knew that she despised Sofia but not to this extent. Her hated for Sofia extended to every member of Sofia's family, including her friends. Though, she was a in the same team as Sofia's father, Williams, she still detested him. All that came to her mind was to see Sofia perish. Not quickly, but a slow death. Valerie couldn't stay in the ward alone, so, she stood up and left. She moved to the next ward and peeked through the transparent doors, at the maid who was also injured. She walked back to Sofia's ward after that.

" Talk of the devil. " Clifford said as soon as Valerie stepped into the ward. " We were discussing about you, before you came in. " Clifford said to Valerie.

" Good things i hope. " Valerie replied and smiled.

Eva scoffed when she saw the rather, malicious smile on Valerie's face. John nudged her when he noticed her reaction towards Valerie and they exchanged glances.

" How are you Sofia? " Valerie asked politely after greeting everyone in general.

" I've seen better days. " Sofia replied and forced a bitter smile. She hadn't seen her Aunt. And the last time she checked, Aunt Mary was totally disfigured.

" Accept my condolences. " Valerie said politely.

Everyone looked at her quizzically and she smiled pretending to be unaware of the meaning of her words. Clifford saw the furious gazes from everyone in the room.

" No one died you know. " Clifford said and smiled, trying to ease the atmosphere. Nothing changed though, as everyone stared in anger.

" The sight of Aunt Mary and her maid in the next room and the other was nothing to write home about. It's a pity. But, we pray for a successful recovery of them both. " Valerie said and sat down on one of the seats.

Those words were rather like swords stabbed into Sofia's chest. She knew it. That, Valerie had only come for ridicules. She doesn't have a good mindset and will only cause us harm. " Sofia wanted to say. But, kept quiet on a second thought.

" I'm hungry. " Valerie said as she held her stomach. 

" Let's eat. " Clifford said and got up to serve breakfast. Eva decided to take up the task and began to serve breakfast. Sofia lost appetite as the sight of Valerie in the room disgusted her a lot. Sofia watched Valerie with hatred as she ate her own food. 

Albert scooped rice with his spoon and moved it towards Sofia's mouth. Sofia smiled and opened her mouth to eat. Albert then took Sofia's food and began to feed her. Dark lines crowned Valerie's face when she saw Sofia acting like a baby. She felt like destroying everything belonging to Sofia. 

" We're six not two in the room. The lovebirds should be aware. " Clifford sang it several times and everyone bursted into laughter, apart from Valerie whose face was dark.

" I'm going to bring my own baby, Eddie and get even with you both." Clifford said with pouted lips.

" Eddie? " That name resounded in Valerie's ears. She furrowed her eyebrows as her thoughts flew to someone that she knew. " I'll like to meet this Eddie you talk about. " Valerie said to Clifford, amidst weird looks from John and Albert. Clifford smiled and promised to do that.

Everyone ate to their fill because the food was more than enough. Albert called Clifford to follow him as they moved out of the room.

" Clifford, it's about money. Dad had refused to give money for Sofia's treatment not to talk of that of her aunt. " Albert said disheartened.

" Why do your father hate Sofia so much? " Clifford asked Albert.

Albert began to narrate his experiences with Sofia and her family and at the end of the narration, Clifford understood all that happened and why it happened the way it did. Clifford sighed heavily. He had a lot going through his memory at the point. It was a very sad one. Sofia had indeed suffered. 

" What about her father? " Clifford asked Albert. " Isn't it aware that they're here? "

" I've tried to get in contact with him but i couldn't. I haven't heard from him for a long time now. " Albert exclaimed as he shooked his head in anger.

Albert's phone rang and he looked at the name that flashed on the screen.

" Father? " Albert said looking at the name on the screen. Clifford looked at him quizzically as he answered the call.

" Dad. " Albert said to his father.

" Are you in the hospital? " Smith asked Albert. 

" Yes father. " Albert responded.

" I want to see you now. " Smith said to Albert and ended the call. Albert told Clifford what his father told him. Clifford asked him to go back home immediately, believing he wants to help in a way. 

Albert went back to the ward to tell the others that he'll be going home and will also return. Valerie decided to join him and the both of them left for the Smiths residence.

SMITHS RESIDENCE.

Albert drove back home. He opened the dooe for Valerie to get down and he also did the same and they headed for the main building.

Andy was waiting for Albert in the sitting room. He asked them ( Albert and Valerie ) to come into their father's room as Smith needed to see them urgently.

Albert and Valerie greeted Smith as soon as they came into his room.

" Perfect. " Smith exclaimed when he saw the duo. " It's good that both of you came. " 

Albert listened keenly to his father, waiting to hear him ask about Sofia and her health or about hospital bills.

" I just received a call from the company about a particular event, a very big one, which would soon hold. Before going into details, i want to say that i would love Valerie to be presented before the whole world as your wife and the next mistress of the Smiths corporation. So... " Smith was interrupted by Albert.

" Daddy, this is crazy. I mean, is this why you called me over? When your daughter-in-law and her family is dying in the hospital? "

" Keep quiet and sit down! " Smith ordered Albert, but Albert looked at him furiously and walked out of the room in anger.

" Smith " ...

" Valerie " ...