WILLIAMS'
I lifted my head a bit from the papers I was working on as my wife came in looking beautiful as usual.
"Good evening, Love," I greeted with a smile which she reciprocated tiredly
"Thanks darling. A good evening to you too," she replied sitting close to me.
"So how was work today?" I asked, still staring at the file in front of me.
"It was fine as usual. So how was your meeting with the king?" She suddenly asked, making me take a brief pause from what I was doing with a soft sigh.
"Well my meeting was fine. I guess everything went well and I'm back home safely," I said, returning my gaze back to the paper.
"So does that mean that the prince has been found?" She asked enthusiastically.
"You should rest a bit first. You are just coming back from work and we can always discuss later because I'm also busy at the moment," I said.
"Just because I am coming back from work doesn't mean that I shouldn't hear what you have to say and moreover what you went there for is for the benefit of all of us. So why am I feeling that you are trying to keep things from me?" She said, causing me to give out a brief sigh.
I'm sure she already sensed that something was wrong. I actually don't want to tell her that the prince has still not been found because that would only make her more worried and impatient for our daughter..
"Common darling there are no secrets here. You know I can't possibly hide things from you. I'm only worried about you," I said tenderly, holding her palm.
"Well there is nothing wrong with me honey. I'm perfectly fine. So say what you have to because I can't wait to hear," she said with her eyes clearly fixed on me and I sighed weakly.
"It is the same old news. The prince still hasn't been found despite the king doing everything to find him."
"Not again, darling. When exactly are they going to find him?? We don't have all the time in the world," she said in displeasure.
"Calm down honey. The king and the queen are trying their best to find the prince so it's not their fault if he hasn't been found yet. I am sure they are more urgent to find him than we are since they are his parents. So please don't talk like this," I tried to reason and calm her down.
"Why wouldn't I talk like this? It has been over thirteen years now. Our daughter is growing fast and we keep chasing many suitors knowingly or unknowingly in hopes that the prince would be found and they would get married as planned and all we tell our precious daughter is "don't mingle with boys you are betrothed to a prince." A prince she hasn't seen and no one knows his whereabouts. It's pathetic really and I just want it to end and for my daughter to be married to an actual human being that I can see," she said angrily and emotionally.
"Calm down honey.." I trailed as she interrupted.
"Please don't tell me to calm down. If we cut off the ties the king should understand because we have waited patiently enough. I can't keep on lying to my daughter. We don't even know if the prince is even alive at this point," she said and I waited a bit before responding.
"How would you feel if our daughter got missing?" I asked calmly.
"I reject it. What sort of thing are you saying?? We are talking about my daughter here." She said with a crumpled look.
"I'm sure we would also feel bad, worried and sad right? Right?? That is exactly how the king and the queen are feeling presently. Thank goodness you are also a parent so you understand how important a child is to a mother, especially when it's the only child. So I am telling you to try to put yourself in their shoes," I said and she kept quiet, probably thinking about what I just said and I proceeded to ask her a question.
"When was the last time you saw or even called the queen?"I asked.
"It has been long. You know that I have been very busy with work," she said rather calmly.
"I know you have and you can work because your family is complete. The queen has been devastated for the past thirty years unable to do anything else other than worry and search for her son. So please let's put ourselves in their shoes as well," I said and the expression on her face was sour and guilt filled.
She kept quiet a bit and thought about what I just said.
"You need to see how sad the queen is now. She is only trying to look strong; she needs all the encouragement she can get."I added and my wife finally spoke.
"I know how she must feel but I'm also concerned about my daughter because I'm tired of lying to her each day and she is growing older with each passing day.. I just want her to be happy, I can't be a bad parent for wanting the happiness of my child, can I?" She said and I understand her point of view. I too want our daughter to be happy as well.
"I know. But let's not forget that the girl in question is still a teenager. She is just fifteen and not even ripe for marriage yet, so let's stop the rush and be a little bit patient with the king and queen who knows it might pay off at the end," I said and sighed.
"I just hope the prince will be found soon and he has to love my daughter," she said and I smiled.
"That is what you were supposed to say right from the beginning. I'm also thinking that we should join the king in the search,"I said and her face brightened up.
"That is a good idea but how do we go about it because he was just four when he went missing. He would have grown a lot now if he was still alive."
"That is true, maybe I would ask the king about how he is searching for him and we can take it from there," I said.
"Please do," my wife said, putting my phone in my hand, probably wanting me to give a call to the king.
"Don't worry, dear. I will do that when I'm done with this," I said referring to the file in front of me.
"Okay, please don't forget to do that so we can help in the little way we can," she said.
"I will darling. So what are we having for dinner tonight?"I asked, returning my gaze back to her.
"Why not have me?"She asked naughtily and I smiled.
"Of course,I will but I have to take something edible before pouncing on you."
EDWARDO'S
I drove to Lord Williams' house myself. I have decided to tail him myself and see how things are going on and how tight the security of his house is. From my research I found out that he has beautiful and expensive paintings in his mansion.
Paintings that are just one of its types. He buys them and uses them for decoration…
As I was waiting from a distance when Lord Williams' cars drove out of the gate of his mansion, I quickly ignited my car engine and followed them from behind.
His cars stopped in front of a gallery shop or maybe a company because the place is really huge. He is probably here to buy more paintings, good thing I already have a buyer for a special one. I came down from my car and also entered the place like I also came to check some paintings.
I stood five feet from him as I watched as he admired the paintings on the wall. They all looked okay but nothing special. I still don't know why someone would think of buying them because they all look meaningless to me. I see it as a waste of money and time, but it's going to fetch me a lot of money so all the best for them.
"Give me this," he said to one of the attendants who was behind him.
"You really do have eyes for good things sir. This painting speaks so much about culture and it is the only one of its type. It is very expensive and of course it's worth every penny." The attendant said with a smile.
"Thank you, I will be taking it." Lord Williams said.
I brought out my phone and took a picture of the painting, I sent it to my buyer to see if he would be interested...
I left Mr Williams and his guards at his gallery. My boys would be coming here to take the painting later tonight. I still need to know where he keeps his paintings so that there wouldn't be any mistakes.
But how do I get which one it is?...