THE COTTAGE

"I'm sorry,marrying you has got to be the worst decisions of my life,I want to be happy and I don't see that happening with you. Don't ever call this number again, I'm with who makes me happy. He dropped the call that was the last time she heard his voice.

Can wealth ever buy one's happiness and peace? Yet it has been like a platter of hold that comes once in a life time for Gita. One could begin with the Downpour that started in the early evening and continued on through the night, a heavy pelting of water that thundered against rooftops and drowned out the sound of all else. By morning, city streets were shallow rivers rushing toward the ocean.

But Gita didn't notice this,instead she was asleep like a new born baby in a very long time,with the smile on her face from the beautiful dream she was having all forgetting the problems and bitter reality of her life. Till she over slept and forgot she was supposed to pick mr George from the airport,she hurried out of her bed heading to the bathroom to have a quick bath "oh no, mr George must have been waiting for me" she said while trying to heat the water in the bathroom.

The Airplane that brought George manson from Washington DC landed at Cecil airport in Jacksonville at exactly thirty minutes after eleven in the morning. George was exhausted from the fact that he had to wait for Gita his client to come pick him up at the airport,as he was about to ask a young air hostess on where to get a cup of coffee when a black Benz c300 stops in front of him,she whined down the front door glass.

Seated a young,about twenty eight years of age,but very agile. Not many women of her age look this young.George took a good look at her,he wasn't expecting her to look this good in person. Gita snapped him out of his thoughts "do come in please,mr George manson"she said with a smile,he opens the front door and sits "it my pleasure meeting you mrs Gita" he replied after exchanging of pleasantries Gita asked him how the trip went. "Perfect and comfortable"he said.

It was quit a long and quiet drive not until they got to the traffic light,while waiting,she pointed to a White Castle some distance away "that is mr barker's castle,where my whole life got ruined" she said with a sigh. George looked at her and wonder why such a beautiful young lady would go through so much pain i the hands of a man. After few hours of driving they got to Gita's cottage house, "I want this to a be quiet and confidential consultation, the barker's must not know anything about this. That why I brought you to my cottage house on the hill, you need not to worry in a few days you will be out of here. I hope you understand" he nods in affirmation.

Mr George Manson,a man in his late thirties who is willing to listen and help young Gita through her problems,not until he arrived in Jacksonville and everything turned a twist.

he and Gita both went to her cottage house on a hill,on getting there the route to the hill was blocked by a black Toyota Camry 2010,Gita was so pissed off she came down for her car trying to know who parked the car there,George was trying his best to calm her down. He said maybe the driver's car broke down while trying to pass the winding lane."I'm afraid we have to walk down the hill to my cottage house. Fortunately it is not very far,it's about a mile or less.

"That's no problem" George replied knowing fully well he wasn't a type to walk to a very long distance. Each of them carried their luggages which made it more tiring for George,still astonished by the fact that Gita is unbothered as much as he is about it.

He managed to keep up with her energetic walk,George took a good look at her once more, she was tall,beautiful,well dressed and well built. Her light and smooth skin was everything, her body radiated great energy. George kept thinking about what this young lady said that she's unhappy,but from looking at her one wouldn't detect any sign of misery or unhappiness in her.

Walking up to the hill made them sweat,his legs were already feeling weak but he had to man up and not lag behind. Finally they got to Gita beautiful hill cottage, the fragrance of the beautiful flowers and the chirping of the birds welcomed them, the view from the hill was magnificent,the cool breeze that blew across the face of George made him heaved a sigh of relief.

Gita brought out the keys from her pocket and opened the door "welcome to my aboard"she said letting him in, without been told George had already taken his sit.

There were one big living room, one normal sized bed room, a kitchen and a bathroom. The entire floor was made of marble and very well kept. The cottage was a befitting heaven of a young millionaire.

There were two cushion chairs with armrests, made with expensive fabric, one facing the other. They sat down,facing each other. "What will you take?" She asked "I have brandy and French wine" George opted for a French wine, while they drank. "The car we saw outside looks very familiar but I can't place my head around it" she said "I have seen that car somewhere" George giggled and said there is a lot of Toyota Camry 2010 here in Jacksonville maybe u came across one few days or months ago that looks exactly like this one. She kept pounding on where she saw the car before,her thoughts were snapped when George reminded her why they were here.

While sipping her wine she opened her crucial conversation. "I have invited you to help me find a solution,I may look happy and fine on the outside but inside I'm slowly drying, I'm miserable. I've lost everything my happiness,my peace and my family I've got nothing left.

Mr George the barker's has made my life a living hell, I grew up as a wealthy person now I have to live like a pauper who now needs to depend on her parents or friends to survive.

How do I come in"? Mr George said, "Gina was the friend who told me about your sterling qualities. She assured me that you can help solve my problems" she lamented " I want to get my money, freedom", "I am a detective! I am relevant where a crime has been committed in mysterious circumstances so I can't give u freedom or money"

"Exactly,a crime has been committed the barker's has robbed me off my peace,free and money, you must help me recover my money. "It seems you already who stole your money it's your husband and his family. According to you, the thief is your husband Williams, there is nothing to investigate about again. "Now tell me about the theft,how much is involved? " I can't say precisely how much money was stolen. But it's a large sum of money,at least one hundred million Naira…"

"Really!" Exclaimed George "under what circumstances did all this happen?

She sighs "I couldn't dream of my perfect man other that Williams barker, we meet during my fourth year in the university,he was a man I always dreamed ti build a family with. A lot of people and friends said we weren't compatible for each other due to his family background,the barker's has been one of the top influential family in the society. Funny enough I was like a speck of dust in their eyes. We never got along especially with his father. "Was there any reason for the hatred"?

Barker was a toxic man,he used his power negatively in the society,he and my father had a clash some years back before he died. I'm sure if my father was alive he wouldn't have allowed me proceed with the marriage,despite the warning of family and friends to stay out of the barker's way I still choose love over it. I didn't think the grudges he held against my father would affect my marriage in any way,Williams reassured me of that,we tried our best to avoid his parents. It still didn't help not until after six years of marriage no child".

She paused "the problem I had with Williams was his a stoic person and his father been a toxic man takes advantage of it,whatever his father tells him to do,he does it without having to make his own decisions. He's father suggested we come stay with them in the White Castle,I wasn't happy about it,it broken my heart that Williams didn't object to it.

We did all sort of check ups,took drugs to have children but no avail,in the space of one year and six months barker and his wife maybe my life a living hell because I couldn't give them an heir. Williams started traveling on different types of business trips Which I knew he made some up to avoid me,we started falling apart,he started having mistresses outside. His father was one of the person that influenced into all that behavior.

Until noticed, when I came into the castle I was allowed to explore every part of that house except from the basement downstairs,I always wondered what could be there, I stayed theater for many months and no one dared to go there. Barker was the only one allowed there. Not until one night I was up thinking about the attitude and the way Williams was treating me ,staring outside the window I couldn't help me self but cry. Suddenly I heard noises down stairs, I checked the time it was three thirty in the morning wondering what was going on,out of curiosity I tip toe downstairs yet I couldn't find anyone. The noise became more loud towards the basement area, I heard someone approaching and I immediately hide at the back of the shelf.

I saw young girls tied with ropes on their hands,naked with metal chains on their neck, trying to ship some of them to their clients. I couldn't believe my eyes, so the barker's were into human trafficking. I didn't realize what happened just only for me to wake up in a weird looking room tied up, I knew was already in big trouble. I couldn't help but shout, "no one will hear you even if you shout or scream at the top of your voice, tears rolled down my eyes I didn't need to be told whose voice i just heard.

Many things ran through my mind does Williams knows about this? Is he also involved in human trafficking, this can't be the gentle, innocent looking man I married. My head kept spinning. His phone suddenly rings when he picked "she knows about it"was what he said to the caller "I'm only sparing her cause she's your wife. You know I wouldn't tolerate this from anybody" he said with and horrifying tone. I couldn't hear what the person was saying on the other line but I knew it was my husband he was talking to" Gita paused and George give her a handkerchief to wipe her tears.

He finally spoke up "was they nobody u could have reported this to"? "Even if I did the cops won't believe me,he could easily walk out of the case. Especially when I don't have an evidence. "Mr George, barker is a very strong influential man in this society even the cops are afraid of him.

"Did u confront Williams about this"? I couldn't confront him, cause I was still in shock about what happened, even when he came back from his trip we all acted like nothing happened. He never brought the topic up. I was living in fear, his father on the other hand threatened to hurt my mother if I were to say this to anyone.

Gita phone rings "hello" the caller on the line said "how are you Gina", "fine girlfriend,wanna party tonight"? "Nah I don't think I'm in the best mood for that besides I'm still having a session with mr George"Gita said. "Come on girlfriend that can wait till tomorrow,your can't keep sulking in your problems forever I will be waiting for you by 8pm,Tyler and Stacy would be coming to" she say excitedly. "Okay fine, but we ain't staying for too long" she says a bye and hangs up the phone.

It's already fifty five minutes past five in the evening everybody was already exhausted from the very long day. "Why don't we continue tomorrow mr George, I have an outing this evening, I just have to go out and clear my head before I go nuts" mr George chuckles "that's good,it's fine by me. What time tomorrow? "I will call you when I'm settled,let me drop u off at your hotel. She said