~ At Silver Sky Hotel ~
The hotel stood in the heart of Sterling City, glowing with lights and sparkling with different decorations. For tonight's celebration of the birthday party organized by Whittaker's household, the wealthiest family in town, the whole hotel was occupied by every socialite in the city. Luxury cars streamed inside like flies, and huge banners of the birthday girl hung at every post of the hotel.Inside the grandest hall of the hotel, Vanessa stood by a wide table that was full of various pastries.With measured precision, she layered the cupcakes one after the other, forming a grand pyramid shape.She narrowed her eyes and pursed her lips as she go about her job with rapt attention, blocking out the chatters and laughter of the guests as the place bustled harmoniously. Tonight, if Vanessa did her job perfectly, she could only imagine the amount of paycheck she would receive. It would be double her lifetime savings, no, in fact, triple. And that would make things easier for Vanessa. With that money, she believed that the end to her years of search would finally come to an end. As Vanessa carried on with her work, she couldn't help but have a lingering feeling in her heart that something was amiss. However, she was determined to finish her job without any distractions, so she shoved the thought aside.But the interruption was inevitable. Vanessa was just about to place the last cupcake on the pyramid when she felt a tap on her shoulder. "Oh, my goodness." She jumped and quickly caught the cupcake before it fell to the floor. "Relax, Nessa." It was Drake, her best friend. "You've been working yourself out for three days straight. You have to get some rest, let me take over.""I appreciate your kindness, Drake." Vanessa shook her head and picked up a tray filled with cupcakes to make another pyramid. "But nothing can go wrong, I have to make sure of it. And you see these people?" She lowered her voice and glanced at the crowd. "We have to make a good impression. Who knows? We might land a deal like this one."Vanessa couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the message that she had been hired as a pastry chef for this birthday party. It had been the talk of the town for some weeks now. And she decided to try her luck and applied for the job. And miraculously, she got a last-minute call three days ago that she had been hired. And Vanessa couldn't have been happier."Also, we can't afford to make any mistakes," she added.Drake folded his hands across his chest and gave her a helpless look. "Don't you think you're taking this money-making thing too far?""Definitely not." Vanessa's tone was affirmative.Drake sighed and shook his head at that."By the way..." She paused and straightened up all of a sudden. Her gaze swept across the crowd and her brows furrowed. "Looking for something?" Drake's lips quirked up at the sides. He seemed to know what was going on in her mind even though Vanessa couldn't pinpoint that nagging feeling. Vanessa nodded absentmindedly, then the realization dawned on her and her eyes flew wide. "Where is Mara?" Her eyes darted once more across the crowded room and she panicked.No wonder she had that feeling that she had forgotten something. "How should I know?" Drake shrugged his shoulders and chuckled. "She was here with you moments ago." He picked up a cupcake and munched at it. "She's probably somewhere in this grand hall making friends."Drake's words only made Vanessa's worry increase. She dropped the tray and didn't stop looking around the place. And confirming that her baby wasn't among the crowd, she grabbed her bag from a nearby chair. "Shit! Don't just stand there." She snatched the cupcake from Drake's hand and dropped it. "Quick, let's search for her."And she was off in a random direction before Drake could react. ~~~In another hall inside the hotel...It wasn't as big and crowded as the other hall. Here, every bachelor and bachelorette in the social circle was present. Although they were also here for the birthday party, as business multitudes, an occasion like this was an opportunity to mingle and make connections. And as this party was hosted by the Whitakers family, even those that weren't invited had wriggled their way into this party, as this was one of the rare occasions they were likely to be acquainted with Alfred Whittaker, the most revered business tycoon in the circle. Alfred sat on a couch, one arm sprayed across the headrest and he held a wine glass in his other hand.His eyelids were half-closed and as he sipped his wine leisurely, no one dared to step near him, probably because of the dark aura emanating from him, or because of the two bulky guards standing by his sides. Or maybe because, just moments ago, one of the ladies who were brazen enough attempted to make a pass at him and got hauled out of the hall by his bodyguards as a result. The people maintained their distance and only threw compliments at him from afar."Ah, Mr. Crawford, I heard you launched a silk factory some weeks back." Two guys were standing not far from where Alfred sat, engaging in a conversation. "Absolutely! I made sure it was all over the media," Mr. Crawford replied. "But I heard you only produce a limited quantity of silk per day," said the other man. "Compared to the largest silk industry in town, I can tell you're lacking behind by thousands of miles.""Of course." Mr. Crawford gave a dry laugh. "G.I industry is the largest producer of silk in the whole country, a lackey like me can only hold candles for them. Also, I don't think I am competent enough to handle such complex business, if only I could get a collaboration or something of sorts, I am sure it will bring immense benefits to both parties.""I couldn't agree more with your statement." The other man snapped his fingers. "Having a collaboration with an industry like G.I conglomerate will be of benefit to both parties."Although it appeared as if both men were having a casual conversation, they were actually hoping none of their words and compliments missed Alfred's ears. Since they couldn't go near him, they implored this strategy to get into his good books and to also lay out their requests. The same thing was going on with the other people in the room. Everyone had caught a partner or two, engaging in small talks about their achievements and how joining hands with G.I Conglomerate would escalate their profits in a short period. Alfred's ears were bleeding from all the noises. And with every minute that passed by, his impatience grew. After a whole night of flying here from another city, only something as important as the birthday party of his favorite niece could make him agree to leave the comfort of his office. Th
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 alread
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