Chapter 45: A Stranger In Flora’s Mansion.

Chapter 45: Chapter 45: A Stranger In Flora’s Mansion.

"Who are you waiting for?" a security guard asked.

The girl looked up quickly.

"She is the one I am trying to call," she said.

The security guard frowned.

"Please call her quickly. Nobody is allowed to stand in front of the gate for too long," he said.

He turned and headed back to the gate.

She dialed it again. This time, the number went through.

"Hello,

"Where are you? I am standing at Floac Estate gate," she said.

It was the girl on the phone. Her voice was calm. Like someone who had been standing under the sun for too long but didn’t want to complain.

Grace held the phone tighter.

"Okay, you will see me now," Grace replied. Her voice was quick and friendly. "I parked and rushed down to a store down the street to see a friend. I will be with you soon."

"Okay, no problem," the girl said.

Grace ended the call.

She walked to the counter,dipped her hand inside her back pocket. She brought out a few pounds and gave it to the store owner.

"Please, sir, can I leave through the back door?" Grace asked.

The store owner frowned. "No. It’s out of bounds for customers."

Grace looked at him and pleaded softly. She didn’t want to go through the front because she would see her coming from where she stood.

"Please, sir. I am in a hurry. Just this once."

The man looked at her face, sighed, and said, "Okay. Go quickly."

"Thank you," Grace said.

She left through the back door and walked fast around the corner, towards the gate. She adjusted her dress and controlled her breathing.

When she got to the estate gate.

Her pink designer bag was on the floor beside her.

Grace smiled. A practiced, welcoming smile.

"Have you been waiting for a long time?" Grace asked.

Gabrielle turned. She smiled back. Her smile was genuine and soft.

"No, it hasn’t been long. The taxi dropped me not long ago," she said.

Grace looked at her face, then quickly looked around the street.

"Oh, really?" Grace said. "You look good anyway. I am Grace."

She nodded. "I am Gabrielle."

"Nice to meet you," they almost said in unison, and both of them smiled a little.

Grace pointed to where she parked the car, a few steps away from the gate.

"Let’s go," Grace said. She bent down and helped her with the bag she carried. Grace felt the quality of the leather immediately. This was not a bag a poor girl who needed a job would carry. But she said nothing.

They walked to the car.

Click! Click!

The car opened.

Grace dropped the bag at the back seat and closed it. Then she opened the driver’s door and asked the girl to enter.

"Please, enter," Grace said.

Gabrielle slipped into the passenger seat quietly. She sat well, her hands on her lap.

Grace entered and started the car. She drove through the beautiful streets of Floac Estate.

No one talked.

The car was silent except for the soft hum of the air conditioner. But Grace’s eyes were busy. She watched her from the corner of her eye.

In a few minutes, they arrived at the gate. The main gate of the mansion.

PAAAAAP! PAAAAAP!

Grace pressed the car horn, and immediately the security opened the gate from inside. The loud sound of the gate made Gabrielle gasp.

She admired the beautiful mansion. Her eyes moved from the tall white pillars to the clean garden and to the big glass windows upstairs. Her mouth opened slightly. Not from pretence. But from real wonder.

Grace looked at her slightly from the corner of her eye while she was driving slowly into the compound.

And in her mind, a thought came, clear and sharp.

"The taxi brought you indeed.

But her face remained smiling.

"Welcome to the house," Grace said out loud.

"Thank you," Gabrielle replied quietly, still looking around.

"Wow! What a beautiful sight.. she whispered.

Grace parked the car among Madam’s fleet of cars.

They stepped out. Grace carried the bag and they headed towards the living room.

Gabrielle was lost in stares. Her eyes moved from the garden ,to the tall trees and the glass doors. She was trying hard to hide her surprise, but Grace could see it.

At the entrance, the security guard signalled to Grace.

Grace gave him a small nod.

"She is Madam’s guest," Grace said.

The security guard nodded and waved at them.

Inside the living room, Grace dropped her bag beside the black leather seat and asked Gabrielle to sit.

"Please, sit down," Grace said.

Gabrielle sat down slowly and placed her phone on her lap.

"Thank you," she said.

Her voice was soft and polite.

Grace nodded and said. "Let me tell Madam you are here."

She left the room and closed the door behind her. Gabrielle was alone.

She looked around the living room. The room was very large. The floor was shining clean. A huge chandelier hung from the ceiling, and its light reflected on everything.

Everything screams beauty but luxury. It was not the kind of house that shouts money. It was the kind of house that whispers it.

Then her eyes went to the wall.

There was a giant painting of Flora and a man. Flora was wearing a long blue dress, smiling with confidence. The man beside her was tall, wearing a black suit. His hand was on Flora’s shoulder.

Gabrielle stared at the painting for a long time.

"This must be her husband," she whispered to herself.

She looked at the man’s face again and again.

She felt a shiver looking at the painting. The painting made the big living room feel like it had a story.

The back door opened.

The housekeeper came in with her cleaning equipment. Her eyes fixed on Gabrielle surprisingly. She stopped and stared.

"Are you the girl at the mall?" the housekeeper asked.

Gabrielle looked up and nodded.

"Yes," she said.

The housekeeper smiled a little.

"Welcome. It’s nice to see you again. You look good," she said.

"Thanks," Gabrielle replied.

The housekeeper looked at Gabrielle closely.

"Is Madam aware of your arrival?" she asked.

Gabrielle nodded.

"Yes, she is," Gabrielle said.

The housekeeper smiled and folded her cleaning cloth.

"Okay. Relax. She will be with you shortly," she said.

Gabrielle nodded again.

"Okay, thank you," she said.

The housekeeper went to the window and started cleaning. She wiped the glass slowly, but her eyes were monitoring Gabrielle.

She looked at Gabrielle’s pink bag, her neat dress, and her clean shoes. Her eyes narrowed.

"Look at someone who came to look for a job, looking like the employer, " she thought. The needy these days carry designer bags?

She continued cleaning, but her mind did not leave Gabrielle.

Gabrielle felt uncomfortable under her stare and shifted in her seat.

Grace was still in shock.

"Madam, I feel it’s strange," Grace said. "How could she afford to rent a Ferrari?"

Flora laughed. Asoft and mature laugh.

"Grace, don’t be naive," Flora said. She turned her chair to face Grace. "Riding in a Ferrari is not a big deal."

Grace looked confused.

Flora smiled. "Back then in my university days, guys rent luxury cars to woo ladies. It’s nothing. A rich man who wants to impress a girl will go to a car rental place, rent a car for one day, and drive around to make the girl feel special. It is common."

Grace shook her head. She was not convinced.

"Madam, the driver bowed to her," Grace said firmly. "I saw it clearly. If it was just a rented car to woo a lady, the driver would not bow to her like that. He bowed like she was his boss."

Flora stopped smiling. She looked at Grace for a few seconds.

"Okay," Flora said calmly. "We will talk about it. But go now and attend to her. Don’t keep her waiting. She is alone downstairs."

Grace wanted to talk more, but she knew Madam’s tone. When Madam says "we will talk about it," it means the discussion is over for now.

"Yes, Madam," Grace said.

Grace left and closed the door gently.

Flora remained in the room. She sat still, looking at the mirror, but she was not looking at herself.

Grace is not a foolish girl,_ Flora thought.

Flora picked her phone. She typed for a few seconds, then dialed a number.

The call was answered quickly.

"Hello, Ma," a male voice said.

Flora spoke in a low, serious voice.

"Check your credit alert," she said. "I need extra cameras around the staff wing. Two by the side and two at the front and back of the last room close to the garden."

"Okay, Ma," the man said.

Flora walked to the door to make sure no one was outside her room.

"Make sure no one sees you," she said.

The man replied, "No problem, Ma. I will come in the evening when it is quiet everywhere. Nobody will see me."

Flora nodded.

"It is done, Ma," the man said.

Flora ended the call.

She dropped her phone on the table and exhaled slowly.