"Madam Regina..." A uniformed maid knocked repeatedly on her bedroom door. "Ma'am..."
"Hold on." Regina's sharp and irritated voice echoed from behind the door, followed by a click sound. She opened the door looking all changed in another fancy attire, making the maid wonder if the madam was about to go out.
"What is it?" Regina shot the maid an impatient glare.
"We just received words from the security at the gate post that the first miss has arrived."
"She has?" Regina's eyes widened as she shut her door and hurried past the maid.
"Yes, Ma'am." The maid ran after her madam to the opposite floor-to-ceiling staircase window overlooking the entrance to the mansion.
Regina's inflamed eyes laced with both incredulity and hatred watched as Amelia stepped out of a black limousine smiling as if she had just won a jackpot. In front of the Limousine was the latest edition sleek black Bentley with tinted glass window. While behind the limousine, was a black luxury SUV. Three tall and athletic-looking men in black suits and dark shades climbed out of a black SUV. They all walked up to her taking different strategic positions beside her.
'How did she come up with such luxury cars and tight security with no money?' Regina pondered recalling that all of Amelia's credit cards and bank accounts were under Gwen's management. 'Could it be that she has a hidden and well-funded account, overseas under a different name? Or Could it be that she has someone supporting her? If so, who is this person? Is he someone residing overseas or within the country?'
"Ma'am, are those her bodyguards military men?" The nosy maid cut into Regina's thought while craning her neck to the right side, to get a better view of the sexy-looking bodyguards.
"What are you still doing here, you old baboon? Regina barked at the maid, her harsh tone dripping with venom. "Is this what you are paid to do? To snoop around? Maybe I should fire you."
"N...no Ma'am. I... I'm sorry. I...I...I...I'm just waiting f...for your order, ma'am" The maid stuttered, taking some steps backwards, fidgeting.
"Go to the garden and inform Nana, immediately that Amelia has arrived," Regina shouted at the annoying maid.
"Yes, ma'am." The maid hurried down the curved staircase while Regina tilted her head back to the window, scowling as she watched Amelia speaking to her supposed bodyguards.
"Wretch!" Regina hissed, clenching her teeth as she moved away from the window, hurrying down to her daughter's bedroom while dialling a number on her phone.
The line connected immediately and the calm voice of a lady spoke up.
"Mrs Shawls, I was just about to contact you before your call came in. We are halfway close to the airport. But I just received word from my team that Miss Amelia has already left. They are currently trying to put a tag on her to know where she is. I will give you more information once we locate her."
"You incompetent fool. She is already at the mansion." Regina hissed, rolling her eyes. "You can't even do a simple job yet you claim to be the best. Remind me, why do we still pay you?"
"I'm sorry, Mrs Shawls. But we've been very busy trying to tackle the issue with Miss G's leaked pictures and video. We didn't anticipate Amelia's sudden reappearance or the press release taunt. We were taken by surprise."
"We pay you huge money to anticipate a surprise, moron." Regina felt like entering into the phone to slap some senses into the over-sophisticated dimwit. "Stop giving cock and bull stories and just do your f**king job." She spat out, her grip tightening around the phone as she turned the knob to Gwen's room and pushed open the door without knocking.
"I'm truly sorry, ma'am. We will take care of her and everything else."
Gwen, who was also on the phone talking to someone while pacing up and down, with Pearl following her closely and listening to all her conversations, stopped abruptly. She peeled the phone away from her ear and covered the speaker, her panicked eyes locking with her mother's cold ones.
"Mum, what is the matter?"
Regina placed her forefinger on her lips while she continued speaking into the phone."Where is my husband right now?"
"His in the other car with Jackson. But we'll be heading back to the mansion after I inform him that Miss Amelia has already arrived home."
"You will do no such thing," Regina warned sternly. "Pretend you know nothing about it. Since he dared to insult me and my daughter because of that useless tramp, let him continue on his wild goose chase. Allow him to go to the airport or wherever he deems fit to search for his useless daughter while I handle business here. When I'm ready, I will be the one to contact him."
"Okay, ma'am."
The line disconnected.
"Sis, what's wrong."
"Quickly, there is no time to spare. The tramp has arrived with some toothless bulldogs posing as bodyguards."
"She has?" Both ladies chorused at the same time in shock.
"Yes. From the look of things, I think she has someone rich and influential backing her up." Regina pointed out.
"Yes, sis. I suspect the same thing. Did you see the diamonds on her neck and her ears? Those are what millions. If only I could lay my hands on them" Pearl's eyes glimmered with greed and envy.
"Focus, Pearl. We need to know who is helping her. We need to know how she survived that night." Regina said in a hushed voice.
"Those incompetent bastards!" Gwen hissed out loud.
"Pearl, quickly go and get Matt. We need to put that brat where she belongs before her father arrives."
"Okay, sis. This is going to be fun" A wide grin spread across Pearl's face as she hurried out of the room, while Regina followed behind her to shut the door.
"Wait a second, isn't Dad with Amelia?" Gwen asked.
"No, he isn't. I thought you were on the phone." Regina pointed at the closed mouthpiece.
"Oh, that's true." Gwen hissed putting the phone back to her right ear while Regina switched off her own phone to prevent her husband from contacting her.