2.The Charter Necklace

Marcel's POV

I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing and looking at the screen, it was Steve who was calling but the woman in the bed was gone.

‘maybe she was in the bathroom’ I thought to myself.

“Hey buddy, how was you night?” he asked 

“You idiot...I asked you for a room to spend the night but I never told you to put a woman in it”I replied

“Wait, what woman? I really don't know what you're talking about”

“You know I don't like lies Steven there's a woman in my room and on my bed.I even called you last night and you didn't pick up.I wanted you to take her away”I replied getting up to find the woman.

“The thing is I might have been occupied with the ladies last night but I have no idea what you're talking about. I just asked my friend to book that room”

I checked the living room and the bathroom, they were all empty. The woman had gone.

“ Can I see her? I'll just complain to the guys at that club. Just keep an eye her. I'll be down there in ten minutes so that we can get the things sorted”.

“No need” was my reply and I hung up The woman is gone and there was no trace of her except for one thing, that was a piece of jewelry that I believed was around her neck. I picked it up and put it in my pocket.I had to know who this mysterious woman was.

Stephy's POV

As soon as I left the room slept in, I followed the route I used last night and finally made it out of the club with my heart pumping super fast.I quickly called a taxi and headed home.I didn't know exactly what to tell my sister cuz my plans of getting wild had taken a huge turn.

When I reached home, I slowly opened the door not waiting Hayley to notice me coming in. I tiptoed up to my room. It was a little bit dark almost six in the morning.I switched on the light only to find Hayley sitting on my bed.

“ God you scared the hell out of me. what are you doing in my room?” I asked

“ Where Have You Been Steffy?”was the question I got.

“Well, I have been at a friend's house”

“Which friend are we talking about?”

“ You don't know this one, I've never bought her to you she's called Layla”I lied 

“You don't have to lie to me. Lola called me and told me everything. she was worried because she couldn't find you so she decided to fill me in on what you girls were doing last night”Hayley replied and I knew I was dead.

I didn't know what else to reply so I just keep quiet.

“Why would you do that stephany? You know the situation we're in right now,why would you drink now we have to do another checkup because what you did last night might even reduce the time you have left to live. how could you be so careless?

I'm doing everything I can to keep you alive but you're throwing all that away”

“Well I just wanted to live.I wanted to experience all the things because I'm going to die anyway. What's the purpose of staying at home? I'm trying to protect the heart that isn't even worth it. I'm going to die anyway Haley and you're not going to stop that, so please just let me be.

I want to live just like everyone else”

“Who says you're going to die? I told you you're not going to die, I'll figure it out but you don't listen to me. You think it's easy for me to know that if I don't get that money I'm going to lose another family, the only family I have left but all you are doing is increasing your chances of dying.

You think when I leave this place to go and work then add on a part time job I be playing? It's because I need you alive Stephanie. Please don't do this again” She said and broke down in tears.I couldn't stop my own tears from flowing as well.

“I'm so sorry Hayley, it won't happen again I promise”I said giving her a hug.

“ Oh you stink of alcohol you should freshen up before we go to see the doctor”she said breaking the hug.

“No need sis.I'm feeling okay”

“That is not up for discussion.I have already decided”she said leaving the room not even waiting my reply.

The moment she left the room, I decided to go take a very good shower this time but the memories kept returning though in bits.I remember seeing the sea green eyes staring at me

I regretted going to the bar because I ended up getting involved with a stranger.

I didn't know how I was going to tell my sister about it so I kept it to myself. 

When I was done, I grabbed a towel

I went to the dressing mirror to dry my hair and dress up.The moment I sat there, I realized that I had hickeys all over my neck. ‘How was I going to explain this’ I also realized something else; our family necklace was missing

The moment I realized that, I started to panic 

‘where had I left it?’ I started wondering but I couldn't find an answer. I just prayed that I find it soon before Hayley asked for it.

The last thing we had for our parents was a Charters custom made necklace. Hayley had a half and I had the other half but now mine was gone.How was I going to tell her? I got up and checked my room up and down then went back to the bathroom but I couldn't find it but I remembered to have gone out with it the day before.

‘How was I going to find the necklace. I guess I had to fill Lola into this.

Marcel's POV

After leaving the club, I went straight to work. Reaching my office, I asked my secretary to give me breakfast. As I waited, I took out the necklace I had got from the room. I really wanted to find this woman.Just then there was a quick knock at the door and Steve came in.

“Hey bro, how are you doing? I just came to check up on you and see if you okay“ he said but all my attention was on the necklace as memories of last night kept playing in my mind.

“Marcel, I'm talkingg to you.Where did you get this necklace because you haven't taken your eyes off the jewellery sing I walked in” he said trying to take it away from me but I wrapped my hands around it them slipped it back iny pocket.

“I'm fine Steve this necklace belongs to someone I so much want to meet again”I replied

Steve couldn't believe his ears.

“Huuh, what do you mean by that? Is it the mystery woman you spent the night with?”he asked

“Forget it Steven.Can just say what you are here for?” I asked him.

I just wanted to be alone. I didn't want to be interrupted by him.He looked at me like I had grown two heads.

“You are so different this morning Marcel.You always wanted my company but now you want me to go away? how strange!”

“No it's just that I have a lot of work to do today so I want you to tell me whatever it is that you wanted to say such that I could get back to work” I said but I knew he didn't believe me.

He was silent for some seconds looking at me intently before he gave up.

“Alright, I just wanted to apologize for the woman in your room. I asked the staff of the club but they did not send anyone.I couldn't even get a footage, those places don't have cameras they to that so as to respect people's privacy”he informed.

“It's all right Steve. I'm cool I have no problem with it”

“Okay but what happened to the woman?” he asked

“Well, she slept over and in the morning she was gone”I replied with a shrug.

“You let a woman sleep in your room? how come?”Steve asked dumb founded.

“ I realized that she was drunk so I let her be”

Just then, there was another knock at the door and before I could give them permission to come in, the door flung open the feeling revealing my pissed off Dad and Cindy Hemsworth.

“Steven, I'd like to have a word with my son please” he said 

Steve just got up and left the room.

“ Marcel, I'm so glad that y I you are okay”Cindy said walking towards me but before she could touch me, I stopped her.

“ I'm alright. Did you guys think I was dead?” 

“Where were you last night?”my dad asked 

“Well dad, I don't think I have to tell you that I'm a grown man now and I'm fine so here I am”

“But it's dangerous.What if some of your daddy's enemies got to you? You even left your guards behind”Cindy said

“Like I said, I'm okay actually I had a good night sleep knowing that I'm not being followed 24/7 by anyone”

“Well son, I'm going to make sure that you don't do that again because if you do I'm going to change your guards. My enemies know that you are one thing they can use against me and if you keep moving around just like that, you are going to get me in trouble got it?”

I didn't want my guys to be changed so I noded my head in understanding

“ Marcel, I was also wondering if you are free today.Can we have lunch together?” Cindy asked