Valerie ryed everything to La when she arrived home.


    “So she is still missing?”


    “I have no idea”


    “You should ask”


    “Ask who?”


    “Do you have Dn’s number?”


    “No”


    “Let me give it to you”  La brought out her phone.


    “How do you have it?”


    La froze. “I’m a hacker. Such things are child’s y”


    Valerie nodded and proceeded to call him. He picked almost immediately.


    “Dn Smith speaking”


    “Uhm …. this is Valerie, Sandy’s friend. I found out that she was missing. Has she been found yet?”


    “Yes. You don’t have to worry. She is fine”


    Valerie heaved a sigh. “That is a relief. Can we visit her?”


    Dn’s eyes went to the woman who was on the bed. ” She is resting at the moment”


    “Oh. Okay. I will call herter then” she hung up.


    “They found her?”


    “Yes” she rested her back, but it popped open again and widened in horror as she gasped, her palms on her mouth.


    “What now?”


    “What have I done?” She ruffled her hair. “My boss….. I said so much to him today. I even almost cursed at him”


    “Why would you do that?”


    “You know, I….. I was so overwhelmed when I found out that Sandy was missing, and I said whatever came to mind at that moment. I even insulted his family. Do you think he will fire me”


    “You have done so many things in the past that should earn you a dismissal, but you are still there. I don’t think now should be any different”


    “No. This is different. There is no way he would not be mad at me. Should I not go to work tomorrow? That will save me the embarrassment, right?”


    La only shook her head and left Valerie, who kept mumbling to herself.


    The next morning, La burst into Valerie’s room. She was still curled under the nket.


    “What are you doing? You are going to bete” she yanked the nket off.Belonging ? N?velDram/a.Org.


    Valerie whined. “I’m not going to work”


    “Of course you are. You will get your ass off the bed, get dressed and head to work. Now get up” La dragged her up and pushed her into the bathroom.


    ********************


    “The CEO is inside. He wants you to see him as soon as you arrive” Kathy informed her when she arrived. At that time, she was nearly sure she was going to get fired in a matter of minutes. She went to his door, calming her heart down as she breathed in and out. She finally summoned enough courage to knock and entered.


    “You arete” he remarked without looking up.


    “I’m really sorry sir for everything. I had lost my mind yesterday and said what I shouldn’t have. Please forgive me and don’t fire me” he gave no reply at first.


    “A business partner is holding a ball this week. We are going together, so prepare your mind”


    “That’s it?” She muttered, but he heard.


    “Were you expecting something else?”


    He wasn’t going to fire her?


    “No… I… I will take my leave”


    She ran out before he changed his mind.


    ****************


    Sandy was finally able to get on her feet after the doctor cleared her. The security around her had be tighter, and it made her even grumpier. Her due date was drawing close, and Dn did something she never expected. He converted one of the big rooms into a ward. All the facilities needed were there. He said that was where she was going to have her baby. She didn’t bother to argue with him.


    She walked down the stairs and paused when she heard a chuckle and  Dn’s voice. There was someone with him. Ady, and whatever he said must have been funny and made herugh. She was even twirling her hair as she did that. It was amon thingdies do whenever they wanted to get a man’s attention and was in a rather skimpy dress. She reached the root of the stairs. Thedy’s back was facing her, but Dn saw her.


    “Sandy, there you are” he beckoned her over, but she didn’t move an inch. Thedy turned, and it turned out to be Amelia.


    “Hi, Sandy”


    She was not the rude type, but at present, she was mad though she had no idea why. She went to get a ss of water and went back upstairs without a word, leaving the two people stupefied.


    “Please excuse me”


    “I was just about to take my leave. See you another time”


    She heard her say. See you another time? She was nning to see him again? The nerve of this shameless woman.


    She heard from footsteps behind her and briskly entered the room. It opened again seconds after.


    “Sandy, what was that?”


    “What was what? I don’t know what you mean” she said seated before the vanity.


    “Why did you act like that to our guest?”


    “Your guest” she corrected. “And how did I act?”


    “You were rude to her”


    Sheughed in anger. “Rude? Did you just call me rude?” She was shouting. Dn quickly tried to calm her down. Getting her worked up wasn’t going to solve the problem.


    “I should not have said that -”


    “That woman is suspicious, and I told you that, but what did you do? You brought her into the house, treating a potential danger as your guest”


    “I did a thorough check on her and there was nothing suspicious. You don’t have to -”


    “People like her know how to cover their tracks well”


    She made the bed, ignoring himpletely.


    “What are you still doing here? You should return to your guest?”


    “She already left” She knew that.


    “Good for you” She went under the cover, her back turned to him.


    “I have some work to do in the study. Goodnight”


    “That is all you do anyway” She mumbled, but he acted as if he didn’t hear her.


    ****************


    In arge ballroom, Valerie stood beside Jared, a wine ss in her hand. She was wearing a gown cut off the shoulder with a low décolletage, exposed arms and long bouffant styled skirt. Several men in suits, both old and young, wereing to him, but they all left in embarrassment when he declined to speak with them. All his friends were there too. She refused to meet ke’s eye.


    A middle-aged man in a gray suit approached them.


    “Hello, president Smith, is this your fiancée? Oh, my! She is so beautiful. Both of you are a perfect match” For the first time since themencement of the ball, he smiled.


    “What do you want?”


    “Oh I…..”


    “Please do not waste my time”


    “I was hoping to seal a deal with your…”


    “It is done. Expect a call tomorrow”


    The man was left dumbfounded, as well as everyone who had expected him to be treated the same way.


    Valerie was too. He turned to her with a smile and smoothened her hair under so many people’s watchful eyes.


    “There is a rooftop here, let’s go” she nodded. He offered his arm and she tentatively took it.


    The wind there was strong. She shivered from the cold. He took off his coat and covered her with it.


    “I’m sorry for bringing you out here. It was getting a bit annoying in there” he said.


    She was extremely surprised. Jared Smith? Sorry? Wow.


    “You know, I was once kidnapped as a child” he said, looking up at the dark sky.


    She did little to hide her shock. “I’m sorry you had to go through that”


    He smiled. “It wasn’t so bad. I had apanion”


    “Apanion?”


    He nodded. “There was a girl who was abducted alongside me. She looked so innocent and cute”


    “Where is she now?”


    “I don’t know. My family sent a rescue team. I insisted she should be rescued too, but when we got to her cell, she was gone”


    “I’m guessing she is your first love” she said, a hint of jealousy in her voice.


    “You could say that, but you are my present”


    They stared at each other. Time seemed to havee to a stand still. His hand went to her neck, and before she could make sense of what was happening, he captured her lips in a heated kiss.