The question came as a surprise to Aliyah, maybe he was still trying to make sure what he was seeing between them wasn't just some fabrication or deliberate act to deceive him. That came out of nowhere and she was battling in her mind to think of the right answer she could give. There was no right answer she could think of cause since she had come to know Ben this past few weeks, he was many things, many vile things, but she obviously couldn't say that. That wasn't what the old man was waiting to hear, and saying such would destroy everything they had shown him, even the dumbest person would know that. Aliyah searched in the world of her mind for one redeeming quality that he had that she could narrow upon. 'His unswerving dedication and determination to achieve his goals reached me, I guess' That was the first thing she thought to say about him but she scrapped up the answer and threw it in the bin of her mind. Aliyah was going to have to think of a much more solid and convin

"What!?" Cecile blurted out in a rising tone, her discontent with that decision was plain as daylight on her face. ”But we could just hire a professional chef to take me lessons does it have to be her?""I thought you've been wanting to prepare a decent enough meal yourself? I've hired five different connoisseurs in cooking and you just run to me saying they are bad teachers and that I should get you a new teacher. Unless you are no longer interested this is the condition I have." It was not up for debate, her eyes darkened, as she glared at Aliyah. Like she wanted to drag her by the hair and throw her out. Cecile was silent, contemplating the whole idea, Mr. Vawn, her Grandfather made sure to stamp his foot on it and as much as she was a tough nut to crack, he was one person she didn't like to offend, wanting to learn cooking to make something for him made clear how much she held him in high regard. Aliyah glanced at Cecile with soft eyes. Hearing that she had turned away five pro

Aliyah took a deep breath as she glanced up at Ben. It was now the supposed day of the reunion and by some miracle, Ben had agreed to let her go. Perhaps, whatever his grandfather said made him change his mind at lastThese past few days, the way Aliyah prayed, she probably didn't think she'd had prayed that much all her life, and to think it was nothing but to get the privilege to go out of the house when she wasn't a 13-year-old that needed constant watch— How the mighty had fallen. Nevertheless, it was a thing of joy for her that he somehow ended up letting her off, though there was a tinge of hesitation in his eyes, which seemed to point to his total district of her. The way Ben warned her, it felt like she was sworn to a secret brotherhood, that it might cost her her life if she spilled valuable and well-kept info to her friends, he warned her clearly that they could lead to dire consequences if she tried to pull a fast one on him and she knew better than to doubt the raving lu

"Where did you say you are heading to ma'am?" the taxi driver's voice pulled her out of her reverie. Aliyah seemed lost for a while when she realized that she didn't know the address to Ben's house and the time he had given her to return home was already thirty minutes ago— the chauffeur was supposed to come pick her up but she couldn't wait till then. Looking up, her gaze wandered around and her heart dropped when she couldn't tell where she was.She wanted to be as far away from them as possible, she hadn't felt this insulted in a long while and it hurt even more knowing that they were from people she thought were her friends even her cousin was part of it. "Can you just take me to any bar close by?" Back at the club, minutes after Aliyah left, Clarice face palmed herself as she finally made the trio before her calm down "I'm for real disappointed at how you guys behaved. I can't even find Aliyah anymore and don't know how to get to her," she cursed as she stood up from he

Aliyah's eyes flickered open slowly and for a while, she had to shut them back before opening them again and slowly adjusting to the bright light piercing through the windows. She tried to grasp her bearing and her brows creased as she realized that she was tucked in on her bed. Aaahh! She felt a sharp pang on her head like she had been hit by a truck, not remembering much of what had transpired the night before. Her eyes darted across the space before her gaze fell on her hands, still surprised about how she ended up there. The last thing she could clearly remember was when the taxi driver dropped her off at the bar and she walked in— and how she had been attacked, after that, she had no memory of whatever occurred, not aware of how she got home, into her room and even on her bed, it didn't seem like something Ben would do, but other than him there was no one around last night with her.With a wince, she stood up and strode into the bathroom, turning the faucet on and splashing