John slowly turned his head behind him, the person who asked was standing with his hands at his back a few inches away from John.
He was huge and significantly taller than John, his chapped lips cornered to the side as he inched closer to John with a suspicious glare.
"I have not seen you before in this neighborhood and that house you are trying to enter is occupied, are you a thief?". He asked.
John didn't answer his question, he just stood there, not in the slightest bit intimidated, staring him up and down.
The way the man was dressed, and his overall appearance tells you that he lives here, but from his attitude he probably held a position in the environment.
He looked like a thug, he, maybe a leader of a small gang in the slum.
"The person living here has asked me to bring some things for her". John answered casually.
"Who are you to her?". The man asked, his suspicions about John being a thief kept increasing.
"Her driver".
"Haha…haha.ha", The man guffawed hysterically, it was obvious that he didn't believe what John said.
The laughter began to catch the attention of some tenants, they turned to look in the direction of where the sound of uncontrolled laughter was coming from.
"Driver? You don't even know how to tell a lie, the young girl in this apartment who used to live here with her grandmother can't even afford…". The man said in between his laughter.
"Why are you here?". John interrupted his boring act.
"Are you asking me that? I am the one who's supposed to ask you…,".
John ignored him and turned to the door, he brought out a key from his pocket, inserted it into the keyhole and made a slight turn.
The broken wooden door made an abrupt thudding sound as it opened, and the hem hit the ground.
The thug had a surprised look on his face as he didn't know what to believe anymore, he had the key to open the door, which would mean that he wasn't lying about knowing the girl who lived here but, he lied about being her driver.
John closed the door as he entered, making the thug a bit upset, he decided he was going to tell Madam Prisca as he left.
~~~~~~~~~
John flicked the light switch on the wall but, there was no light. He switched on his phone torch and walked towards the closed window, it was late in the afternoon, opening up the window will bring in some rays of light.
He scanned around the small room with his eyes, taking little steps as he did so, but paused as he heard distant footsteps, he could tell by the sound of the footsteps that they were made by two persons.
Not only that, but he sighed in amusement at how tight the security was in this shanty town.
On the vanity were frames of Amelia and another matured looking woman, he opened the drawer and also found some pictures, money bills, body lotions and accessories but, no sign of a diary.
He raised the bed up…and just then, there was a knock on the door.
Madam Prisca knocked on the door twice before it was opened.
She glared at the young man inside with sharp eyes.
"What are you looking for?". She asked him.
John looked behind her to see the thug from before posed in a stance like he was the woman's guardian.
"Are you the caretaker of this apartment?". John asked instead.
"Yes, I am…".
"Well, I came to pass the information that the occupant of this apartment is no longer going to be living here, you can rent it out to someone else".
"What? Amelia is not coming back here? She left here this morning, and she didn't tell me anything about that…".
"That's why I am here". John spoke nonchalantly as he walked away from them.
"You want the apartment?". Madam Prisca asked.
John didn't respond but started walking faster.
"Follow him". Madam Prisca ordered the thug.
---
John brought out the pictures and a brown, thick notebook from his back immediately he entered his car.
He dropped them on the front seat as he looked up and saw the thug heading towards him.
He switched on the car as he winked at the thug with a smirk at the corner of his lips before speeding towards him.
The thug jumped to his side in fright to avoid the car hitting him.
"Are you crazy?!".
He shouted, with anger evident on his face.
John reversed his car in one smooth curve before zooming into the streets.
As he drove with one hand on the steering wheel, he used the other hand to put the things on the front seat into the car's storage compartment, speeding on the highway.
~~~~
The news of Mr. Adams death would have reached his father by now, he couldn't even pass this silly test his father gave to him.
Now he is back to square one, no leads, no progress, nothing!
Who was closely watching his steps?
Everything was planned from the beginning, it wasn't just about a greedy man who wanted to run away with stolen money, like it was presented to be.
The schemer managed to deceive his father too.
Calvin smashed the glass cup in his hand on the floor, glass pieces splattered everywhere, he stared down, and it dawned on him that he was beginning to lose his composure.
Who is this person, and what are they trying to achieve?
The question kept bothering his mind all day.
He walked out of his room dressed a minute later, he was going to pay his father a visit.
**********
In a private cocktail lounge, Mr. Riggs took a sip from the half-filled wine glass In front of him.
He seemed to like the song that was being played in the background as he reminisced his thoughts to the rhythm of the music, entirely ignoring his son's presence.
He brought out a short glass cup, used an ice tong to pick up ice cubes from the tray into the glass cup, filling it halfway before pouring a small amount of drink in it.
Furthermore, he twirled the drink and stretched his hand towards his son as he left the counter.
Calvin received the drink with appreciation.
"Didn't you see the 'do not enter', sign on the door?", Mr. Riggs asked.
Calvin didn't answer him as he took a sip of the drink.
"State your business now, if you would rather not get shot for disturbing my peace". Mr. Riggs continued.
Calvin turned his gaze to his father and then to the gun on the counter before turning back to stare at his father.
"Have you lost your tongue? Don't let me pick that up". Mr. Riggs threatened as he pointed at the gun.
"Mr Adams is dead".
Calvin spoke calmly as he took a seat.
"What has that got to do with me?", He asked as he walked towards the source of the music to turn it off.
"You couldn't get the money from him". Mr. Riggs pronounced, he had already guessed why his son was here.
"There is someone watching my every step, he died before I could even get him to speak up".
"What do you think?". Mr. Riggs asked.
"He had backing, everything was planned and executed perfectly that they even fooled you into thinking you knew everything".
Mr. Riggs was amused by what his son said, he shrugged casually and went back to the counter to mix concoctions.
"That's your cross to carry now, Mr. C.E.O".
Calvin wasn't surprised at his father's nonchalant behavior, it was expected of him.
Nevertheless, he was here to ask for permission.
"I want to take charge of Silver Seal, give me your permission".
Mr. Riggs paused in his activity and looked his son in the eye before uttering one word.
"NO".
***********
Amelia watched with interest as Sarah cooked in the kitchen.
She ordered them to call her by her name with no honorifics.
She wanted them to treat her like a friend so that she can see them as companions, not workers, to create a healthy environment for her and all of them.
After all, they were around her age, there was no need to be acting like a rich mistress in front of them when she was just an ordinary girl like them who hadn't lived a life of luxury.
"The bath is ready, Amelia". Ophelia spoke out to Amelia.
"Thanks". Amelia appreciated as she followed behind her.
Ophelia led her to the bathroom and left.
---
The bathroom had an ambrosial scent, it was spacious and squeaky clean, the bathtub was filled with water that had steam dancing out of it into the air.
There were a few droppings of red flowers floating on top of the hot-steamed water.
A wall of small and big bottles of scented oils and liquid soap on top the side of the bathtub.
As Amelia closer, she learned that the water in the bathtub was responsible for the scent in the bathroom.
She stepped on the white, fluffy bath rug on the entrance floor to the bathtub.
"Ahhh".
Amelia moaned in surprise as she felt someone's hands on her, trying to take off her clothes.
"Forgive me, I should have asked first".
Basra, contrite, as she took two steps away from Amelia.
"You wanted to bathe me?". Amelia asked, baffled.
"I apologize, I didn't know that you would like to bathe yourself".
"No, it's fine, you can continue". Amelia spoke with a warm smile on her lips as she faced front.
This was interesting for her, she decided to let loose and drown herself in the enjoyment of the luxury provided for her.