Speaking Languages

CHAPTER 4

Keeya followed suit as Alika left the event to see Stefan worried that he might not accept her proposal. "Are you sure you don't want me to come along?" She asked Alika who had told her countless times already not to go with her. Keeya raised her hands up in defeat. "As you wish, my Lady." Alika could sense the playful tone in her voice and smiled reassuringly.

"Come in." A deep baritone voice instructed as she knocked twice on the door. Taking deep breaths, Alika walked into the large office with golden esembles with confidence silently praying for the moment to pass smoothly.

"You're Belle?" Stefan inquired with a hint of admiration. Surely this woman could be mistaken for a model; her height alone was just a tip of the iceberg. But to his surprise, Noor had told him that she was just a graduate of arts and was skilled in crafts and design as well. He had gone through a whole lot of her designs and found that she could really survive in both worlds. He even went as far as thinking that she could go head to head with the great names in A City.

"I accept your offer."

The words came as a shock to Alika who hadn't even taken the initiative to sit.

"You do?!"

"Already signed. It only needs your signature."

Alika thought about it for a second. Wasn't it too soon? And he just accepted the offer that quick?

Stefan on the other hand, had always wanted someone who was skillful in art and design as he was also making a name for himself in the world of fashion. If "Belle" was willing, they could both achieve that together. S Fashion could be the biggest fashion brand nationally. And of course, "Belle", as a designer would not only be a national name. It just seemed that easy to Stefan because to him, talent and skill were the only important things in the fashion world.

Alika emerged from the office fulfilled. Finally, she was independent and could find her way in this little world.

Meanwhile, Maurice Langston kept questioning the already irritated Fiona about Alika's whereabouts. "I have no idea where she has gone."

"Didn't I tell you to keep a close eye on her?" The event had reached its end and many of the socialites were beginning to depart but Alika was nowhere to be found. What irritated him more was that all the noble young men hadn't seen her yet. "She's really going to get it from me this time." He said beneath his breath.

***

Leonardo kept looking at the young woman from his mask. The other youngsters who walked passed his seat felt like he was unusual- he exuded a thicker aura than the rest of the other young nobles and none of them dared go close to him.

This woman never left the sides of her friends as they kept chatting and laughing endlessly.

Alika, unaware of the eyes which looked like they could bore a hole in her soul sighted Giovanna Langston from afar and wondered how she got here.

The after party was held for a few noble young men and women who were from the families of some extremely wealthy names in A City. So for Giovanna to be there, she had to be from that kind of family and there were only a few of them which did not include the Langstons. Alika had initially wanted to walk up to her and question her but decided against it since no one from her family knew that she was also present. She decided to throw her attention back to Keeya and Noor.

Stefan slowly sat down in front of Leonardo noting the slight change in his mood.

Did I offend him?

"I didn't do anything." He said raising his hands in the air feeling like Leonardo was going to aim at him any second.

"You didn't?... You're blocking my view." He said sternly while raising an eyebrow, sipping from a glass of champagne.

Stefan turned around but found nothing worth looking at thereby thinking that his friend was just trying to bully him. He sneered and started to down his glass as well. Leonardo could only watch him and say nothing as it was obvious that Stefan was clueless.

***

Alika who had been drinking out of excitement for her newly found job was already tipsy and was not weary of her environment- including Keeya and Noor. They had booked three different rooms for the night in case something of this sort happened... which eventually did.

Keeya and Noor had already left Alika at her door on the VIP PRIVATE floor of the REST Hotels and Suites.

Thinking that it was her room, Alika kept banging on the door because her key couldn't open it.

"What sort of hotel is this? The keys don't even work." She whined.

"Did that receptionist give me a wrong key?" She asked herself and was about taking a step when she tripped and fell drunkenly onto the door. She couldn't find anymore strength to stand and decided to close her eyes for some minutes. But then some minutes turned into more minutes and she ended up sleeping against the door.

***

The drunk Leonardo who heard a loud bang on his door walked staggeredly to it still in his casual clothes,unsure whether to open or not. He quietly pulled the door open only for a body to fall flatly onto his feet. He stared at the familiar mask on her face and vividly recalled that she was the woman from Stefan's welcoming party.

Alika winced in pain as her head hit the ground but didn't wake up at all.

"Can't you stand?" Leonardo who wasn't one to feel remorse questioned flatly as if the half asleep drunk woman could understand whatever came out of his mouth. Yes, he was drunk but could still reason. Alika on the other hand, couldn't.

Although he would never take anyone else into his room no matter who it was, he just couldn't leave her lying on the cold floor and in such a state. He grabbed his phone from his pocket to make a call to the reception but his battery was dead. Taking the telephone slowly, he put it in his ear but received no response.

He sighed heavily already feeling the alcohol take over and carried the woman in; placing her carefully on the large bed.

Alika felt she was being carried away but was too lazy to open her eyes. Ignoring the mask on her face and her revealing light red shirt, Leonardo left the bedroom deciding to sleep on the couch.

Two hours later she kept turning and turning but felt uncomfortable as her body began to speak different languages. Alika got up from the bed still in a state of drunkenness and walked straight into the living room which seemed so heavenly in her eyes. She spotted the young man on the small couch and suddenly started to feel itchy. She didn't think twice and threw herself onto the him.