CHAPTER 25: Before The Party

NARATOR'S POV

November 7th 2015

Emilia sat with her guest. She still had some time to prepare before the event started so she decided pay her old friend a visit. Not just any friend, but a family friend; Mr Freddy Richman.

"It warms my heart that you would be so kind to a pay me a visit," he said.

"Please, the pleasure's all mine and mine alone," said Emilia.

"So how can I help you today?"

"Do you know about a girl called Vivian Collins?"

Richman seemed puzzled, "Why do you ask?"

Stirring the cup of tea in front of her she replied, "Nothing much in particular. I just want to know."

Richman sighed, "Pardon me for asking you. It's just that your son asked about her. I hope there isn't any problem?"

"No there isn't," she said, "so would you tell me?"

"Well she was raped to death 5 years ago by your husband. I even assisted in moving her body to the morgue." He said, "But there was something strange about her eyes."

"Her eyes? What was strange about them?"

He held his chin and thought about it, "How do I put it? They didn't seem real. In fact, we couldn't close them."

"I knew it," she said softly.

"Huh? Knew what?" he asked.

"It's nothing." She said as she got up, ready to take her leave.

"Leaving already?" he asked as he stood up to accompany her.

"Well, I'm afraid I have to go shopping. There's a party at 'The Restaurant' tomorrow and I can't afford to miss."

GINA'S POV

I enjoyed yesterday although a part of me wanted Lance all to myself. I sighed and continued ironing the dress shirt Lance had prepared earlier. Apparently, he had a party he was going to attend tomorrow and wanted to dress formal.

As I ironed the left sleeve, I started to wonder who Lance was. He's rich but I don't know what he does for a living. The last time I asked why he went to 'The Restaurant' all the time, he just said he was a part time cleaner there. I wondered how much they paid him as a cleaner that he could afford to give me an allowance of 50,000 naira for the past 3 months. He paid for most of my school expenses, food, clothes, and others.

I ironed the right sleeve and the collar of the shirt and that was all. I checked his tuxedo it looked okay enough. I sighed again. I cared a lot about this guy. Yes, I am 2 years older than him and just his maid but, my heart races whenever I'm alone with him or whenever he looks at me. My only problem was Trisha who is clearly head-over-heels in love with him, Charity, Vivian and even our shared sister. Honestly where did all these girls come from?

Well, at least Trisha is his cousin so they won't get married anyway. Charity's obviously in it for the sex, Rita would steer clear from him now on. So the only problem left is Vivian.

No, that wasn't it. Honestly I don't know what Lance sees me as. I'm just a maid who's a masochist that he could have his way with at any time. I really wanted to ask him. Does he love me?

Although a part of me yearned for his answer, another part was scared of his answer. What if he says, he doesn't love me back? I would never be able to face him again!

"But, if he loves my body, that means he loves me," I said as I touched my breasts. If he only loved my body, then I'll be okay with it.

But will I really?

My hands went in between my legs as I thought about his body over mine staring into my eyes with an equal matching flame of passion in his own eyes. I imagined him teasing my nipples.

"I love you and only you Gina." Said my imaginary Lance.

"But you have these other girls. I'm just a maid." I said.

"You're not just a maid. You are my maid. And I want you to be by my side forever." He said and sealed it with a hot burning kiss.

I continued fingering myself and was so lost in my love session with my imaginary Lance that I didn't notice the real Lance walk into the room.

"If you're going to masturbate in my room at least lock the door." He said breaking me out of my thoughts.

I apologized and was about to dress up properly, when I remembered what I wanted to ask him. My hands started trembling as I opened my mouth to speak, "L-L-Lance, Can I a-a-a-ask you something?"

He stopped inspecting the dress shirt I had ironed earlier and turned to look at me, "Sure, what's up?"

"D-D-Do you lo—lo-love, love," I was shaking so bad!

"Love? Love what?" he crossed his arms as he asked.

"Do you love the shirt I ironed?" I asked. God what was wrong with me?!

He turned and looked at it. Holding it up he said, "Sure. I love it."

"Is that so?" I asked and turned to leave, "Thank you. Please excuse me."

"Gina."

I stopped but didn't turn to face him. He doesn't normally call my name, "Yes Lance?"

"Thank you."

"For what?"

"For being you. I might have troubled you again and again for my own selfish interests but you always came through. Keeping the house clean, cooking and looking out for me."

"It's my job. I'm just a maid. That's the least I can do."

He hugged me. He hugged me from behind and wrapped his arms around me.

"You're not just a maid," he said softly, "You're my maid. Stop looking down on yourself okay?"

I couldn't speak or move. I muttered a "Thank you."

"Alright. I know it's Saturday but go and study. Exams are coming up." He said.

I nodded and ran straight to my room. I grabbed my pillow and screamed into it. Although he didn't say he loved me, he actually made my heart tremble faster than ever before. I screamed in the pillow again. I felt like a 11-year-old who just received a kiss on the cheek from her male friend for the first time.

Wait a minute. He didn't say he loved me. And plus he called me his maid. My happiness just turned to confusion.

I screamed in the pillow again this time, out of frustration.

This is why I hate over thinking.

Narrator's POV

Richman returned home after seeing Emilia off. As he walked home, he couldn't help but wonder what that was all about. First was the young master and now Emilia. He sighed. Prince David Everglade, his late boss was a man of mystery. Richman would have to do some digging around again. He could contact the Johnsons this time as this seemed to be beyond his reach.

When he got to his front door, he discovered it was slightly open. He sighed, "Kids, how many times have I told you to always shut the door? Mosquitoes are real you know?"

He went in and shut the door. He didn't notice it earlier but there were strange footprints in the house. He pulled out his handgun, a gift from his late boss which he always kept close to himself. He walked steadily into the sitting room, carefully trying not to make a sound. He was shocked to see his wife holding his 2 sons across the room. Their eyes were filled with fear.

He followed their eyes and noticed a young man and woman sitting on the couch. The young man was with a gun and on his laps, laid Richman's only daughter whose eyes were teary.

"Shh," the boy said, "Daddy's here."

The lady stood up and walked over to him. Which each step she made, he started to slowly recognize her. It was Vivian Collins. She was clearly defenseless and he could shoot her immediately but couldn't as his daughter was being held captive by the other intruder.

"Drop the gun and have a seat," she said.

He dropped the gun and walked over to the arm chair. Vivian didn't sit. She looked at him so intently that he felt her eyes could kill him whenever she wanted.

"My name is Vivian Collins," she said, "I bet you already know that."

"I'm Daniel Bishop," the boy said, "You can call me Dan."

"To what do I owe this unannounced visit?" asked Richman.

"Ah! Straight to the point I see," said Dan.

"I'll handle this Dan," said Vivian.

Dan just shrugged his shoulders and continued caressing the hair of the girl laying in his lap.

"You're supposed to be dead," said Richman

"So I've been told," she said, "That surprised me too. But I expect nothing less from the master of deception."

"Pardon?"

"I was talking about your late boss. He ruined the life of my family and I."

"I sincerely apologize about the rape incident. I was sure you were dead from the shock of being raped."

"Raped?" Vivian asked with a confused expression.

"I thought my boss raped you?" asked Richman.

"I wouldn't call what he did rape."

"I'm afraid I don't understand."

Vivian sighed, "Well that wasn't what I wanted to talk to you about. I believe you're aware of the party at 'The Restaurant' tomorrow?"

"What about it?" he asked.

"I would love it if you could make some arrangements for me."

"And if I refuse?"

Vivian looked at the girl that lay in Dan's lap, "Let's say your daughter would become like me."

Richman could see the dead seriousness in her eyes. Whatever Vivian was, he didn't want his daughter to be like it. "What arrangements would you want?"

TIFFANY'S POV

"Place those things over there!" said Rita Smith.

The waiters and cleaners including myself scurried around to rearrange the hall. Some important family booked 'The Restaurant' for a fancy gala event the following day. So we all had to do our best to make sure the place looked fancy and classy.

After discovering Vivian's death, I haven't been seeing her around. I didn't miss her at all but I couldn't just shake off the fact that I had made out with a dead girl. That's creepy juju shit right there!

We were almost done with the decors when Rita Smith ordered us to go on a break.

"Tiffany? Is that you?" a voice asked. I turned and was surprised to see my first partner Glory standing in front of me.

"Oh my God! Senior Glory!" I screamed as I embraced her.

"Nice to see you too." She said warmly.

"What brings you here?" I asked.

"I think she came because of me." Said Rita Smith as she walked up to the both of us.

"Big Sister!" exclaimed Glory as she caught and embraced Rita.

I didn't know they were both sisters. As they exchanged compliments and pleasantries, I noticed how they both looked like the other. I started fantasizing about having a threesome with both of them.

"I'm getting married!" said Glory.

An alarm went off in my head. She was going to marry? Who? What's the girl like?

"Who are you getting married to?" I asked.

"She's marrying me," said a well-built man who appeared to be in his late 20s.

I was confused. How could she?

"Glory, can we talk?" I whispered to her. She nodded and followed me to the ladies' room.

When we got in, I pushed her to the wall and kissed her as deeply as I could. She shoved me off immediately.

"What's the matter with you?" she asked as she wiped her lips.

"What's the matter with me? What the hell is wrong with you?!" I said.

"Look, Tiffany I'm no longer a lesbian." She said, "That was just a phase. And I advise you to leave it."

"But you led me into this," I said weakly.

"Well I'm sorry about that but I've already moved on."