Oneil and Victor opened the discussion about Jillian’s doing. But it has become inevitably unfolding to the actions of Niana. They couldn’t believe about what Niana has done at the country house.“So after all this time, she wanted to get the trade secret,” Oneil uttered. Niana must have been stunned that the papers she took from the secret portion from Oneil’s study room is not the real copy. “We barely know what’s the next thing she would do. She’s not residing at the manor anymore.”It’s the lack of source of information that pulls their situation to a more critical mess than the first time that they recognized it. Their conversation suspends in itself in the way that they formulate silent plans to mention later.Jacques arrived at the scene astounded that they are only staring at each other without words. No matter how Essi and Oneil has finally reconciled, it is still not typical for Jacques to see Essi and Oneil sitting close to each other. He gazed at the person they have with
Niana freely comes in and out of the Mercator Manor. It is the same usual morning when she attempts to observe the behavior of the other Mercators. The manner that they remain relaxed when they meet her in the hallway highly depicts that they do not have any idea what she has been up to.“Welcome, Niana. Did you take your breakfast already?” one of her younger cousins ran towards her.“Oh, I haven’t,” she hugged back to them. They even brought her towards their own picnic table under the wisteria.“Would you like to join us?” The kids were having a brunch outdoor. There is only one seat vacant.“Let me get a new chair for you,” said by a young boy and immediately ran towards the kitchen door.“Sorry Niana. This is for Gwyneth because she wants to join us. Please wait for your seat.”“It’s alright,” Niana repeatedly told them. “You can enjoy it without me. After all, I still have something to do inside. Maybe next time, okay?”“Sure thing!” they said in unison.Niana left with a wide s
Impatience doesn’t have an owner and by the same reality that it can actually own anyone. But its best favorite are those who are chased by the extremes of apprehension. Niana needed to find out who must have touched the phone from the drawer. That the same person might spread a sudden news that Oneil’s phone had always been with Niana. But minutes after requiring Frederick to send that helper to her, no one came.She bolted out from her room. The phone is inside her vintage wristlet as she headed to the maid headquarters. But what awaited her were not faces caught in tyranny but rather in refuge.Oneil has visited them with a set of gifts and foods to their delight. All heads turned to Niana who thundered a sound through the double doors. She was still catching her breath and her eyes kept on scrutinizing everyone around.“Oneil…” she gasped. “Since when did you arrive?” Niana tried to calm herself done and pulled all her efforts to remain friendly towards him.“Just now. I thought o
Grant was at the end of the hallway when Niana tried to flee from a possible confrontation. She almost shrieked upon seeing his dark appearance. He is donned with black suit and the only light gleaming from him was the glint from his glasses. He is holding his cane not as a dear help to his stance but a mere reiteration of his authority. He walked towards her and his eyes didn’t fail to look directly at Niana.“Why are you seem so startled Niana?” Grant asked. His cane only makes a subtle sound against the carpeted hall. But even at that, anyone could know that their heartbeat is as strong as that. “And where are you heading?”“I’m just going back to my room,” she answered while decreasing the pace of her steps. “I’m just surprised that there is another person standing there.” She took the sideway while looking down. It has always been inevitable for Grant to make his simple question a series of mixed good wonders and suspicions. Before every little question would become a fuel to gri
So they were in the courtyard, east of the manor. Unlike the promising rote outcome of a formal dinner, there was a synergy of the former’s designs and the tones of a friendly setting. There were flowers to set good colors. Baby’s-breath to join the spring dance with dahlia bulbs and roses. Crocuses and heathers to reveal the designer’s wit, and lily of the valleys to allude the ever meaningful ensemble of forget-me-nots along the center of the lengthwise oakwood table. The warmth from the dinner setting invited most of the Mercator to sit with their visiting scion. The string of light bulbs oscillate their entrance and kiss greetings to Latifa and Oneil.Niana was hesitant to come out. But if she would hide a little longer, all the eyes of the Mercators will be upon her. She marched out of the arcade as if finally breaking away from the edge of her fortress. She dreaded their attention. But when all their eyes were just on Oneil, talking delightedly with him and on how he seats peac
Here it is. The information is spilled. What is left for Niana to do is to interfere with the transaction or at least acquire the copy once it is moved to Grant’s office. But she felt more hindered than ever before in a way how the Mercators are interested for Essi to keep coming back and forth in the manor. She gets more exposed than intended because she is the only one obvious and less vocal on her acceptance to Essi.While silently passing by the hall, she saw her aunt Latifa talking with her uncle Paulo. It is all about Essi again.“So you always knew then that it wouldn’t regret giving the jewel of promise to Essi?” Latifa asked.“I was confident about Oneil’s affection for her. It was pure and real. I should at least not fail him even at that,” Paulo uttered.Latifa sighed to the ever more remorse she felt for having a hard heart against Essi. Paulo hugged to comfort her.“Now I see why Oneil has loved her. I know it is not just easy to get away about what I have done. But looki
The day of confrontation has come. The odd calmness of the wind didn’t bring anything else to Niana but a tensed position within an unknown surrounding. She is caught in the camera, intruding Latifa’s country house in Normandy. The system has caught her voice at the betrayal of what she has been mainly up to after all this time. Grant repeated his question but with a casual voice. That manner itself is already problematic. Just the sight of Grant enduring his enduring meant a lot of what is brewing deeply inside his soul as he stares upon his secretive grandniece.“It must be fabricated,” she stammered through her excuses. “How is that even possible?” Niana is caught losing the chance to make sense of this impossible reason. She sounded irrational more than ever. But she failed to notice that. She agreed to what her mind made up. “That cannot be grandpa. You see the details of the video. Someone must have acted just like me.”“Really?” Niana must have noticed it. But Grant worded tha
Oneil was sure that it was Marika’s phone. Because it has always been with her and without special occasion, she would take a lot of picture with Oneil using it. When Oneil has been living as Riley a week after waking up in the house of the Sanchezes, he had treasured that phone within that time too. So to find out that Marika deliberately trashing it out for the new model, he was disheartened. But to find it out still operating and well, he had a surge in his heart to get it, in the hopes to pick the pieces of answers to the unfathomable nostalgia in him.“That is just a phone. Why are you all interested in it?” Niana snapped but it was not too strong to prevent Grant from his next order.“Leave that phone here if it is not yours,” Grant said.Niana grunted but she couldn’t do anything else. The other Mercators warned her that it is her only remaining way to depart peacefully from the manor. Niana left the phone on her table drag her belongings, including herself away from the sight