So the kids went from hall to hall, searching for the most handsome man in the place.
"Uncle." The birthday girl tugged at Alfred's trousers and asked, "Mara said you're her Daddy, is that true?" Alfred broke out of his reverie and opened his mouth, but no words came out. "He's my Daddy." Little Mara answered her question. "He has strong arms and smells so nice. Mummy said only my Daddy has these qualities." The room broke into whispers and everyone began making speculations. It was common knowledge in the circle that the president of G.I Conglomerate neither got close to any woman nor allow one near him. Then how come a little girl appeared out of nowhere and even called him her Daddy? The kid sounded serious and she also said something about her mother. Did the president get married and even had a child? This was going to create a huge wave in the social circle. Many hearts were going to be broken and the reporters were going to make millions. Even now, some people had already brought out their phones, recording the moment. The assistant's anxiety knew no bounds. What the kid claimed wasn't a little matter. And if words got out, that could affect the reputation of his Boss's company. "Bad baby! Bad baby! Get off this instant." He shoved a hand inside his pocket and brought out a hankie to wipe his sweat. "This is no playground for kids, where are your parents?"Little Mara shrank into Alfred's arms and buried her face in his neck. While the other kids cowered at the assistant's loud voice. And the waiters came to take the kids out. But little Mara held on tight to Alfred's neck. She didn't want to let go. "Leave them alone." Alfred's voice finally sounded in the room. There was an edge of anger to his tone. Compounded with the fact that this evening wasn't turning as he desired, his assistant was making it worse. Although Alfred could attribute everything and everyone in his life to boredom, he actually had a soft spot for kids. And this kid here was probably smitten. He couldn't blame her. He received the same treatment from both kids and adults alike. Only that he didn't tolerate adults. "Hehehe." The assistant scratched his head. Seeing his Boss's expression, he immediately changed his demeanor. "Little girl," he said softly. "Could you get down this uncle's lap? We wouldn't want his clothes to get all dirtied would we?" Slowly, little Mara lifted her head and pouted. "He's not uncle," she answered innocently. "He's my Daddy." "I understand you're lost and searching for your parents." The assistant chuckled. "How about this? If you get off him, I will help you find where your Daddy is.""No." The little girl shook her head stubbornly. "He's my Daddy. If I let go, he's going to hide again.""He's not your Daddy." The assistant made his voice loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, including those that were secretly recording the scene. "You are just a kid, the adults know best.""But– But he's my Daddy." The little girl insisted."I'm afraid you've got the wrong person." The assistant did not back down.And while the two argued, Alfred couldn't take his gaze off the little girl. He looked from her to his little niece who was standing with the other kids. His eyes hadn't deceived him from a distance. The resemblance was remarkable. And little Mara, seeing that the huge man insisted on taking her away from her Daddy after finding him at last, she held Alfred's cloth in her tiny fist while her pursed lips trembled. "Daddy." She sobbed. "He wants to bully me. Don't let him take me away. I won't be bad... Mummy said I'm a good baby." And this was the scene Vanessa was met with when she entered the hall. After searching for a long time, going from hall to hall and having to describe what her baby looked like and what she wore again and again, someone finally directed her to this hall, saying she had seen some kids making their way here. Vanessa took in the scene with fright. Her gaze landed on her daughter who was holding tightly to the man on the couch. Her heart sank and she didn't need to be told what was happening. "Mummy!" The little girl looked at her and exclaimed. "See I've found Daddy.""Ah!" Vanessa caught her breath. All eyes turned in her direction and she wished the ground would open up. The people stared at the lady who had just entered the room. They looked between Alfred and the lady who had just appeared from the door.They were almost convinced that the little girl was saying the truth, however, the lady she claimed to be her mother didn't look close to the kinds of women the president of G.I Conglomerate would associate with. She wore a simple shirt with faded jeans.Apart from her beautiful face which was shielded by a cap, she looked like a normal citizen, totally unfit for this occasion.
And people began having second thoughts. This wasn't a setup, was it?The assistant's thoughts also aligned with the others. At first, he thought that the kid's parents must be among the guests. But seeing this lady, he changed his demeanor again, disregarding his Boss's warning from before. Even the staff of the hotel was more presentable in his eyes. "This is outrageous!" He hollered. "Woman! Get your kid this instant and stop making a scene."Vanessa didn't waste another second. Ignoring the looks of the onlookers, she heeded the angry-looking man's words and hurried toward the couch. But on reaching there, she tripped over a cupcake on the floor and fell face flat on a hard surface. The crowd gasped and the time seemed to have stopped.Vanessa's sense was invaded by a strange scent. She blanked out for a few seconds before she was able to collect herself. Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut and cursed under her breath. And she hesitated before looking up, only to be met by dark eyes staring straight at her. Tiny whispers broke once more in the room. And while Vanessa couldn't break away from the intense gaze, she was starkly aware of their proximity at the moment. "Mummy." Little Mara's voice came from her side. "If you want to sit on Daddy, you can do it gently. You almost hurt little Mara's arm."Vanessa gulped at her baby's words. Clearly, when she landed on the strange man's chest, her baby's hand was on the way. But somehow, the little girl was fast enough to get her hand out of the way. Stifled laughter sounded in the room. The clicking sound of a camera was now evident and the whispers were not so soft now. Vanessa cried inside. She had worked so hard to land this deal. The last thing she wanted was to offen
Any kind of man Vanessa's foster sister had plotted with that night was definitely not a good person. Finding him now would do her no good. It would do her baby no good either. And Vanessa had her reason for searching for her own parents. She had a strong belief that those recurrent nightmares weren't for nothing. They must have a connection with her past. "Is it necessary to go back?" Drake pressed on. "That place isn't a nice place, you know. I don't think it's going to be safe for her."Vanessa's eyes strayed to the couch where her baby slept soundly. She laughed softly and elbowed him. "Who told you it's not going to be safe?" She raised a brow. "Didn't we survive there as kids? Are you underestimating me now that I have a baby?"The town where Vanessa was about to go was the original place they grew up, where the orphanage was located. Vanessa was confident that she could find most of the clues she was looking for in that place. "What about little Mara's schooling?" Drake wa
She saw a convenience store ahead of them and she leaned closer to the driver’s seat. “ Can you stop over there please?” Vanessa points to the store. “ I need to get something” She added. Normally, the driver would’ve turn her down but seeing the way she spoke to him made him smiled. “ Of course” he said smiling. Vanessa looked at little Mara who was playing a game with the kids pad Vanessa bought for her on her third birthday. As a single mother, Vanessa make sure Mara lack nothing. Seconds later, The car parked in front of a convenience store and Vanessa turned to Mara. “ Baby, I’ll be back. Wait for me inside the car and don’t come out” Vanessa Said, She closed the door and walked inside the convenience store holding her purse in her left hand. Vanessa’s mind wasn’t at peace as she picked the things she needed, She knew Mara to be a wanderer whenever she was left alone. Vanessa stretched her hand to pick a bag of chips which was Mara’s favorite from the shelf and a
“ Go get her Whatever she wants to eat” He said to his Assistant who was so deep in thought. Alfred turned to him when he got no response. “ Are you deaf?” He jolted him back to the reality. “ Oh I’m so sorry” The secretary apologized. “ Don’t just stand there” Alfred Snapped and the Assistant made his way out of their sight. “ Don’t shout at him Daddy, I like him” Mara said Smiling. “ Alright, Daddy won’t shout on him again” He said smiling too.--------- Vanessa Remembered Mara whom she left in the car, she checked the watch on her wrist and it dawned on her that Twenty minutes had already passed by. She picked up the basket and pushed Tiana out of her way. “ We’ll meet again” Tiana said after her and Vanessa paused. “ We will never meet again, I hate you!” She said in Anger and stormed away. Vanessa was so Angry that she wanted to cry, She blamed Tiana for everything that had happened. Her life wouldn’t have been in rage if Tiana hadn’t did that to her but somet
“ You don’t have to, We won’t disturb you ever again I promise” Vanessa said apologetically. Alfred didn’t understand what she meant by that but he had no choice than to give Mara back to Vanessa not because he wanted to. He watched as Vanessa left the store holding Mara so tightly as Mara was trying to break free. She wanted to go with Alfred and not Vanessa and so, she cried as her mum took her out of the store. “ Sir, The meeting is in five minutes” His Assistant said to him and he sighed, Alfred was only starring at the Door Vanessa walked out of. An idea popped in to his head and he looked at His Assistant. “ Follow her and find out where she lives” He said and without hesitating, His secretary made his way out of the store. --------Vanessa had missed the flight, she wanted to cry but couldn’t because of Mara. She had longed and worked hard for that opportunity but she missed it and it was all thanks to Mara. “ I shouldn’t have Fed her with lies” She said to Der
The Aroma coming inside the room woke Vanessa up, she Looked around the room but it didn’t looked like the one she had been living in for years. She rolled her eyes, sitting down properly on the bed. “ Oh, it’s Derek’s house” She looked at the Alarm clock on a table beside the bed and it was 7:03am. “ Oh well, Nowhere to go” She sighed deeply and turned to Mara who was still sleeping soundly. She caressed her Smooth black hair smiling. Vanessa Entered the bathroom, she brushed her teeth , washed her face and came out smiling. “ I’ll continue with my work and start planning to leave This town again.” She said looking at Mara who was still sleeping. The door opened slowly and Derek peeped through the door, Vanessa found that funny she wanted to laugh but held it back so as not to wake Mara up. “ Are you up?” He paused when he saw Vanessa standing in front of the Mirror. “ Oh you’re Up, Good morning” Derek said entering the room. “ And Good morning to you too, Hope
“ I wonder what other things she fed you with. Anyways, let’s get going” He said opening the back door. “ But I want to go with Mummy” Mara insisted. “ Then I’ll go tell your Daddy that you said you don’t want to see him ever again” The Assistant said with a mischievous smile. “ But I didn’t say that” Mara Defended herself. “ Then get in to the car” The Assistant said, Mara looked around and then entered the car. “ You’ll come pick up my Mummy later, right?” She asked him as he closed the door. “ Of course” He said and walked over to the driver’s seat. Immediately he started the car, he saw Vanessa ran out of the house calling Mara’s name, He knew he would be in trouble if Vanessa saw him with Mara and so, He locked the doors and the windows. He started the car and drove past Mara who was standing beside a tree calling Mara’s name. Mara saw her mum, She shouted but Vanessa couldn’t hear or see her because the Windows were all tinted. “ That’s My Mummy, stop the car a
Chapter 11 “ Are you sure?” Vanessa asked helplessly and He Nodded his head. She sighed and supported her head with her palm. “ I hope so” ------7:05pm, Mara opened her eyes, she rolled on the bed and yawned. “ Mummy” She called sitting upright on the bed. “ Where’s Mummy? This isn’t our home. Mara came down from the bed , she wanted to go out of the room but the door handle was too high for her. “ Mummy!” She banged the door with her little fist “ Mummy!!” She screamed. “ Open the door!” Alfred who was working on some papers in the sitting room heard the sound, at first he wondered who that could be but then he remembered little Mara who was in his room. “ Oh, she’s awake” He said smiling. As he was trying to stand up, His maid came out of the kitchen wearing an apron and a cap, she looked at Alfred with fears Written all over her face. She didn’t know when the Assistant brought Mara in to the house and Amy too wasn’t in the house. “ Sir, did you hear that sound and