CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE
EDWARD'S POV
I walked into the company with a frown on my face. It had been nine days since the demise of my mother and I still hadn't gotten over her death as I frequently saw her in my dreams and almost always couldn't get my head off it.
They only way I always did get off the sorry feeling about my mother's death was to picture me and Roxanne being married.
As I moved further into the company, I silently prayed to catch a glimpse of her.
Strangely, the sight of her calm demeanor, always calmed my nerves and soothed my aching heart. Whenever she passed by, it had always felt like a cool breeze of warmth and affection was trailing behind her.
She had recently made it a habit of leaving her hair lying on her back, emphasizing her round face the more and drawing my focus on it.
Throughout the past week, her hair had lain beautifully on her back and I had not been surprised to find myself wishing it would remain like that forever.
I started on the stairs after replying Dera's murmured greeting. What was it with her? She had definitely changed a lot. She avoided eye contact with me, and barely made a greeting aside from the muffled mummur she gave once in a while.
It was when I reached the second row of stairs, that I realized that I could've easily used the elevator. I shrugged the idea off as soon as it came to mind for it was of little importance to me now and my subconsciousness must have hopefully drawn me to the stair case with the hope of meeting my object of fantasy.
But sadly, I caught no glimpse of her. And shockingly, my office was still a mess, no cleaning had been done.
"Where was Roxanne? Why didn't she clean the room?" I pondered, noticing the time on the chiming clock. It was fifteen minutes to 9am, and yet Roxanne had not cleaned my office. "Did she probably step outside or something?"
I decided to manage the dirty environment for fifteen minutes to give Roxanne time to report to my office and begin cleaning.
But fifteen minutes came and went, there was no sign of Roxanne and I had to take matters into my own hands.
I left the office and took the elevator down to the ground floor, to the cleaners room to lash out on her for deliberating refusing to clean my office.
I arrived the cleaning unit and couldn't help but be impressed at the positive change that had occured in the room.
The chairs were arranged in a dining table fashion making the whole room look very much like a conference room.
It had been two years since I had last visited the unit.
Mara and some other cleaners were seated in strategic positions, all busy with their businesses, mostly does that required the use of their phone.
"Mara, do you have an idea of Roxanne's whereabout? Has she turned in for work?" I asked, taking her neatly ironed gown, satisfactorily. Roxanne had influenced her, for she had always worn rumpled dresses to work
She jerked her head up from her novel, and wore a concerned look "No, she hasn't and she's not picking up her calls either," she replied
"Can you give me her phone number?" I asked anxiously.
Mara did as I asked, gave the number and returned to her novel
I left and went directly to Dera's unit.
"Dera, I need to get some information about Roxanne. I'll need to have her file. Can you help me with that?" I asked Dera.
"May I ask what for"
"You may not ask," I replied, still waiting for her to take action. It was none of her business and if it took being rude to remind her of that, I would.
The action began with a shrug as she checked Roxanne's online form with her laptop.
She turned the laptop to my direction, thereby giving me full access to it, showing her blatant refusal to help out.
I ignored the insult and made a quick search for her form and details about her guardian.
To my greatest surprise, there was none. There was her name and phone number, no doubt but there was only one phone address for her guardian which belonged to an orphanage home.
Finding no relevant information on her guardian and next of kin, I copied out her house address, and proceeded to pay a visit.
"Maybe she is down with fever or something seriously must have come up," I thought in line with the fact that Roxanne never ditched work for personal pleasure.
"Thanks Dera, you've been very helpful," I appreciated.
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I arrived at the apartment, parked my car and began my ascent to her apartment.
It was a bit strenuous, but my concerned heart didn't dwell much on the discomfort.
On finally arriving at the apartment, I gave a gentle knock on the door while patiently wondering what my excuse would be for leaving the workplace to visit her in her home.
"You can just tell her you came to ask why she wasn't at work," my brain whispered to me.
"Couldn't I have just waited for her to come to work before reprimanding her," another voice still from my brain, replied.
I shook the battle of thought out from head and gave the bell a quick ring just in case the knock had not travelled very far.
After waiting for a response and receiving none came, I turned the door knob only to surprisingly realize that the door had not been locked.
I stepped into the room cautiously, taking everything in meticulouslys.
A wide smile of satisfaction enlarged my face. Roxanne's apartment was painstakingly wiped clean. I felt that my presence alone could soil the sitting room with dirt.
"Hello!" I called out, taking slow uncertain steps to the kitchen to see if there was anyone.
Finding none, I proceeded to check the room and toilet but unortunately, there still was no soul in the apartment.
After making another round, I stepped out of the apartment and made up my mind to ask for her whereabout from her neighbors.
Thankfully, as I stepped out, I met with someone
"Good morning Sir," I greeted respectfully.
"Good morning to you too. How can I help you," the middle aged neighbor replied, adjusting his mismatched tie
I cleared my throat before replying "I came to visit my employee, Roxanne. She hasn't been to work today," I said
"Oh Roxanne? A lady and two thugs came yesterday and carried her away to the hospital, claiming she was ill" he replied, making to ascend the stairs and cut short the conversation.
"A lady and two thugs?"
"Yes sir. I'm sure of that," he finalized the conversation.
ROXANNE'S POV
I woke to a splitting headache. What could be the cause? I brooded with my eyes closed. I made to open my eyes but was finding it difficult to do so.
After much trial and error, I was finally able to raise my eyelids a bit but what I saw left room for doubt in me. "Were my eyes truly functioning well? Was this a nightmare?" I thought after viewing the ongoing scene.
I closed my eyes again, trying to refresh it in order to be quite sure of the happenings around me.
I opened my eyes again and still met the same ridiculous scene; my legs were wide open, and a giant cock that had risen like a soldier was pointing towards the direction of my nude.
What was happening?