Harper.

Meanwhile, 

Tuesday 09:30am … 

I put the last one of my books in a small crate I brought along with me to pack up, every other staff sharing an office with me just watched quietly as I packed up my things, since they realized that I was owner’s daughter also, their behaviour to me all changed, 

This morning, when I walked in here they all got up on their feet and bowed to me in greeting, I gently covered up the crate, I picked up my MacBook on the table and carefully placed it in my hand bag, just as I was about to carry the carts and walk out, the door pushed open and Mother’s assistant- Rose walked in, quietly she walked towards me and bowed politely, she was one of the few people that had always known my true identity. 

“Ma’am Geraldine wants to see you in her office,” she said, I simply nodded signalling for her to go on and I’ll catch up with her, she nodded again as she turned around and walked out of the room, I picked up the crate, just as I was about to walk out one staff member – Jane, walked up to me. 

“I’m sorry for dumping all my work on you, please don’t fire me, I’ll do better,” she apologized fiddling with her finger not able to look me in the face, My face was expressionless as I stared at her, another person walked up to us and stood behind her, I relunctantly lifted my gaze from Jane and turned to Ashley beside her, 

“I’m sorry for always speaking to you rudely,” She whispered fidgeting, I scoffed inwardly at how scared she looks right now, if someone had told me this day would come in my past life I would have strongly doubted it, Ashley was a mini representation of my mom in this office. 

I relunctantly took my gaze off them, picked up my crate and walked towards the only friend I had in that office. 

“I’m proud of you,” Collin whispered as I stood in front of him, I raised the corner of my lips in a grateful smile, Collin was literally the only ray of hope I had in this office, our relationship didn’t stem past the office but he really helped me, he didn’t even know a lot about me, infact despite the fact that he always thought I was a regular staff, he’d still encourage me to speak to the management to reduce the burden of my work. 

“I’ll stay in touch,” I whispered and he nodded slowly and with that I turned around and walked out of the office. My face slowly morphed into a more serious and expressionless one as I made my way towards Mother’s office. 

Immediately I got to her office, I pushed the door open and walked in, she looked up from behind her desk and her gaze settled on the crate of books in my hands, 

“What do you want?!” She asked, I stared at her quietly, I stared deep into her eyes and she stared back into mine, I was about to push my luck very far but then again I know she’s in a pickle, I was her best hand here and me leaving would automatically mean that she’ll loose partnership with BM Corp who is supposed to be DMW biggest client. 

At the moment I’m taking a fifteen Months engineering course just to make sure that we impress BM Corp and bring them on board, before I agreed to start this course, she promised to put me in charge of the BM corporation Building construction which would actually do a lot to boast my career, to my dismay it all turned out to be a lie, she used me to get BM on board and then went ahead to give the project to her beloved Daughter. 

And I’m sure that’s what’s going to again, I already registered for the course, that’s the one and only slot our construction company can have, I’m using that as my wild card and pushing my luck as far as I can go. 

“The view in Michelle’s office is nice right?! What do you think?!” I finally asked taking my gaze off her, through the corner of my eyes I could see her eye brows dim as she stared at me, 

“Have you suddenly gone mad?!” She snorted almost immediately as she realized what I was asking for, I rolled my eyes to the back of my head with a small shrug, I exhaled deeply and turned around to walk out, the next thing she said made me stop abruptly in my tracks, 

“It’s just a useless office, you can have it!” She said, the corner of my lips stretched into a satisfied smile, ofcourse it starts with her office, and I won’t stop until I get my hands on everything darn thing that Michelle claims to own and delight in. 

I slowly spun and turned to face her, 

“Not only do I get an office, I should be promoted too! After all the work I’ve done and I’m doing for the company, I deserve something too, Chief Operating officer?! Suits me right?!” I asked tauntingly with a small smile, she scoffed and angrily dropped her pen on the table, she pushed her chair backwards and stood up to me, 

“What’s this game you’re playing with me?!” She growled. 

“Woah, easy there lion king, I’m not done, isn’t Michelle Senior director? and she has her own assistant, well I want to have my own personal assistant too, you still letting me stay or you’re letting go?!” I asked, her hands slowly balled into a fist as she stared intensely at me, she gritted her teeth, I know it’ll kill her to say yes to what I want, but obviously I’m confident her greed will make her play into my court. 

“Fine!” She finally said banging her hands on the table, Jackpot!. 

“But this is all about your silly request!” She said, I chuckled lightly nodded slowly. 

“Ofcourse,” I whispered, without giving her another word in, I turned around and walked out of her office. 

*** 

I held my bag thightly in my hands beside me, I stood at the entrance watching how the movers moved Michelle’s things out of the office and brought mine in. 

Michelle suddenly bursted into the office, I could see and heavy rise and fall in her chest as she rushed into the office, she looked around her heartbeat starting to become loud enough for me to hear, her shock turned to anger as she rushed toward one of the movers, her voice trembling with rage. 

“Stop! What are you doing? These are my things!” Michelle shouted, trying to halt the movers in their tracks. They remained silent, continuing with their work, ignoring her protests. 

She angrily spun around, my lips instinctively stretched into a smug smile, her eyes narrowed, I could feel the heat in her eyes as she made her way towards me, Once upon a time those looks scared me, I stood my ground firmly as she approached me. 

“What the hell are you doing to my office,” she yelled in my face, her words sharp and echoing through the office, 

I slowly met Michelle’s glare with a calm unbothered gaze, she looked like she could tear me into pieces right now, 

“I’m afraid things have changed, Michelle, this space is not yours anymore!” I whispered, this might not be a big issue for Mother but it obviously is for Michelle, my lips stretched into a smile smile as I looked sternly into her eyes, 

“If you have a problem with it, here’s what you can do,” I said leaning closer to her. 

“Go Bump your head into a tree!” I whispered into her ear, I slow withdrew and chuckled lightly looking back into her face, her fists clenched by her sides as she stormed out of the office. 

“Put that over there,” I said to one of them, he bowed in a nod and did exactly as I asked, my phone beeped in my bag, I dipped my hands into it and took it out, it was a message from an unknown number. 

– Damon Gilbert Brown, Owner of D&D’s, House address – 13 Brown Estate, Office address – 675 Bayview lane- 

The message read, I just stared at the information I had in my hands, my lips stretched into a small smile, I phone beeped again and it was another message from him, 

-Loose my number, our business is done- 

I swiped away from his message and clicked on my contact, I dailed the number I wanted to call and slowly raised my phone to my ear, 

“Collin, I need your help,” 

5:00pm … 

Collin parked few meters away from D&D’s, he was seated in the driver’s seat and I was seated just beside him, 

“Who are we waiting for?!” He asked in a whisper slowly turning to look at me, I gently took my eyes off the entrance of D&D’s and turned to look at him, 

“Do you believe in reincarnation,” I asked calmly, he moved his head backward in confusion, as he turned to look at me. 

“Yeah, and I believe in werewolves and flying unicorn too,” he said, I narrowed my brows at him, lines of frown appearing on my forehead as I stared at him sternly, he shook slightly, the nasty smile on his face wiping off immediately as he sat up in the chair and cleared his throat noisily. 

“I’m sorry,” he whispered, Suddenly the doors of the company opened and four people emerged, my breath caught in my throat and I swallowed hard as I recognized him instantly, even from a distance. 

I watched as he pulled the door open for a lady and got in after her, I stretched my hands towards the car and turned to Collin, 

“Follow them,” I instructed, the engine roared to life immediately and he sped off after them at a safe distance, different questions kept swirling around my head my gaze intensely on his Rolls Royce, my question burned in my heart and I just wanted to get answers once and for all. 

“I think they know we’re following them,” Collin whispered, I nodded slowly and turned to look at him, 

“Reduce speed,” I ordered, my voice firm but soft. “Take another route.” 

Collin nodded, slowing down and veering onto a side street, I tried to control my breathing as he stepped on the gas and zoomed on the alternative route, 

“Cut through here,” I instructed, pointing ahead, Collin manuevered the car skillfully without hestitating , he turned onto the road, their car was closer to us than expected, Collin slammed his legs on the brake doubling crossing them as the both cars came to a screeching halt just few inches away from each other, the seatbelt held us in place and slowly prevented us from hitting the dashboard. 

I slowly raised my head up and brushed my hair back in place with my hands, 

I pushed the door open and stepped out of the car, the granite crunching beneath my stilettos as I stepped out of the car, I slammed the door shut. I took a step forward and began to take slow confident strides, my gaze locked on their car as I moved toward them, immediately I got to the front of their car, I stood with my legs slightly apart in front of their car and folded my hands across my chest. 

No more hide and seek!