Chapter 49: The Figure At 1:20 am.

Chapter 49: Chapter 49: The Figure At 1:20 am.

Flora sat on the edge of her bed, staring at the high ceiling.

Two dreams ...in one night?

"It’s obvious Darwin came to warn me," she whispered, rubbing her forehead.

"Flora, Could it be Andrew? Has he sent another mole into my house? Who is monitoring my movements? This person might be very close".

Her eyes moved to the bedroom door. The thought made her uncomfortable.

She got out of bed, brushed her teeth quickly, washed her face, and picked up her phone. She headed straight to Maya’s room and knocked twice.

After a few seconds, the door opened. Maya stood there, sleepy, rubbing her eyes.

"Good morning, Mum," Maya said. "Why are you knocking this early?"

Flora studied her daughter’s face. "I just wanted to check on you."

Maya yawned. "Is everything all right?"

"Yes, darling. Go back to sleep. It’s still early."

"Okay, good morning, Mum."

Flora smiled. "Good morning, darling."

Maya smiled sleepily and closed the door.

Flora stood there for a moment, then walked back to her bedroom. She unlocked her phone and opened the security app. She checked the staff wing camera.

This time, the image was clear.

Flora’s eyes widened. She brought the phone closer.

The corridor, the doors, everything in the staff wing was now visible.

She covered her mouth. "Good heavens!"

Her heart beat faster. "So it wasn’t a technical glitch after all?"

She zoomed in and checked the timestamp. The camera had been covered during the night and only became visible again that morning.

Someone had deliberately interfered with it.

She wanted to go back to question Maya, but stopped herself. She had activated the automatic lock for the main doors. There is no way she could have gone out through the back door without unlocking it first.

She needed to handle it properly.

She dialed Grace’s number.

"Hello, Madam," Grace answered.

"Grace, I want all the staff assembled in the staff conference room immediately."

A brief silence. Flora could notice her voice unsteady, nervous.

"All staff, Madam?"

"Yes. Nobody should be left behind."

"Okay, Madam. I’ll inform everyone."

Flora ended the call.

"Why is her voice shaking?" she wondered.

She placed the phone on the bedside table and took a deep breath.

The conference room didn’t feel like an office. Cold glass, a black marble table too polished to touch, and chairs that cost a fortune.

The staff were quiet unusual. Everyone was seated. Nervous glances and tiny whispers moved around.

"What do you think happened?" Zoe whispered.

"I don’t know. Grace only said it was urgent."

When Flora finally entered, the whispers stopped. She walked to the front with her phone in her hand. Her expression was serious. She did not sit.

"I called this meeting because something happened in this house last night," she said, her voice calm but firm. "One of you deliberately covered the security camera monitoring the staff wing. It was covered all night, and only became visible again this morning."

She paused, letting her words sink in.

"I want to know who did it. And I want the truth now. I don’t appreciate dishonesty in my house."

Nobody spoke.

The gardener was first, "Madam, I retired to my room early last night. I didn’t step outside until this morning. I know nothing about the camera."

Flora turned to him. "Nothing at all?"

"Nothing at all, Madam."

The housekeeper raised her hand slightly. "Madam, I also know nothing about it. I don’t leave my room at midnight."

Grace cleared her throat. "Madam, I was preparing the house stock list. I didn’t notice anything unusual, and nobody informed me."

Flora looked at her carefully. "Are you sure, Grace?"

"Yes, Madam."

Flora’s gaze moved slowly around the room until it landed on Simon. He sat quietly, his expression unreadable.

Then her eyes shifted to Gabrielle. Unlike the others, Gabrielle was uncomfortable. She kept adjusting her seat and staring down at her hands.

Flora noticed.

"Gabrielle."

Gabrielle raised her head quickly. "Yes, Madam?"

"Do you have anything to tell me?"

"No, Madam. I don’t know anything about the camera."

Flora studied her. Something about Gabrielle reminded her of the incident she had almost forgotten — the former chef visiting Simon’s room at night.

Her eyes moved from Gabrielle to Simon again.

She folded her arms slowly.

"Interesting," she muttered.

"Whoever did this must have had a reason," Flora said, her eyes fixed on Gabrielle. "A reason worth hiding."

Gabrielle lowered her head.

Simon remained silent.

And Flora was beginning to realize that the person she was looking for might be sitting right in front of her.

Just then, the door opened.

Everyone turned towards it.

It was Maya.

She walked in quietly, glanced at the people seated around, and took a seat at the far end. She said nothing. She just watched carefully, wondering what was happening.

Flora’s eyes shifted back to Simon.

"Did any of the female staff visit your room again?" she asked.

Simon looked at her, almost angrily.

"What! he said.

Flora’s expression remained serious.

"I asked you a question, Simon. Did any of my female staff visit your room to seduce you again?"

Simon immediately stood up.

His sudden movement attracted everyone’s attention. Even Maya sat up properly, wondering what he would say.

Simon stared at Flora.

"If I had wanted any of them, I wouldn’t need to cover the cameras, and I certainly wouldn’t wait until nighttime. I would do whatever I wanted boldly, at any time I wanted!"

Grace looked at the female staff in dissatisfaction and shook her head.

Flora’s eyes widened.

For a moment, she could hardly believe what she had just heard.

How dare he speak to her like that?

She became furious and walked towards him. She raised her hand, her eyes red with anger.

"How dare you speak to me in that manner?"

Simon did not move.

He stood before her, looking into her eyes. He did not flinch.

"I’m sorry, Madam," he said after a moment. "But I am telling you the truth. No one came to my room last night."

Flora’s raised hand trembled slightly.

She stared at him for a few seconds before slowly lowering her hand.

Before she could ask another question, a knock sounded at the door.

Everyone turned.

"Come in," Flora said.

The door opened and a security man walked inside.

"Good morning, Madam," he greeted respectfully.

Flora turned to him.

"What are you looking for?"

He hesitated. "Madam, I came to—"

Flora interrupted. "Go back and secure the gate. This meeting is not for you people. Besides, your agency will question you and the others about what has been happening around this compound. Concentrate on your responsibilities."

The security man lowered his head.

"Yes, Madam, but there is something I need to inform you about."

Flora frowned. "What is it?"

"Madam, the woman from the neighbouring compound wants to see you. She said it is urgent."

Flora looked at him. "Urgent?"

"Yes, Madam."

"Why didn’t she call me?"

"She said it’s urgent."

Flora’s expression changed. "Urgent?"

She looked at him again. "Alright. Let her in. Tell her I will be with her in a few minutes."

"Yes, Madam." He bowed slightly and left.

Flora turned to everyone.

"You can all leave now. I will call you if I need more information."

Nobody questioned her. The staff began leaving one after another. Simon remained standing for a moment before following the others.

Maya, however, did not leave immediately. She stood up and walked towards her mother.

"Mum," she called softly.

Flora turned. "What is it, Maya?"

"What happened? Why were you shouting at Simon?"

Flora looked at her daughter. "Don’t worry about it. I will talk to you about everything in your room."

Maya looked towards the door where Simon had just left. She was curious, but she knew better than to push her mother in that mood.

"Alright, Mum." She left.

Flora nodded and walked out of the room and headed to her study.

A few minutes later, she was informed that the visitor had arrived.

She left her study and headed to the main entrance.

"Good morning, Mrs Smith," Flora greeted.

"Good morning, Mrs Darwin."

"Please, come inside."

She welcomed her into the living room. They sat opposite each other on the large couch. Flora crossed her legs comfortably.

"How is your family, Mrs Smith?"

"They are doing fine, thank you."

"And your mother? How is her health? I hope she is responding well to the treatment."

She looked down briefly. Her expression changed, and Flora noticed it immediately.

Something was wrong.

Flora adjusted herself on the couch. "Mrs Smith, is everything alright?"

She sighed. "Actually,Mrs Darwin, that is the reason I came this morning."

Flora’s eyebrows moved slightly. "What happened? Is your mother alright?"

"She is good now, but something happened last night."

Flora became curious. "What happened? Did she mix her medicine again?"

"No, Mrs Darwin. She didn’t mix her medicine."

"Then what happened? Please, talk to me."

Mrs Smith took a deep breath.

"One of your staff, someone moving around inside your compound, frightened my mother last night."

Flora stared. "One of my staff?"

"Yes, Madam."

"What exactly happened?"

Mrs Smith shifted uncomfortably.

"My mother was sitting on the veranda last night. She likes to sit there before I put her to bed. It was around 1:20 a.m. when she noticed someone moving around inside your compound."

Flora listened without interrupting.

" My mother became frightened. She quickly tried to call me because I was inside my bedroom."

She paused, her voice heavier.

"Unfortunately, as she rushed to call me, she fell from her wheelchair."

Flora’s eyes widened. "She fell from her wheelchair?"

"Yes."

"Oh my goodness! Am so sorry! Is she injured?"

"Fortunately, not seriously. I heard the noise and rushed out. I found her on the floor and helped her back into her wheelchair."

Mrs Smith shook her head.

"She was frightened, but she kept pointing towards your compound. When I looked in that direction, I saw someone pacing inside your compound."

Flora leaned forward slowly. "You mean inside my compound?"

She nodded. "Yes. That is why I decided to come and inform you personally. I didn’t want to make assumptions without showing you."

She reached into her handbag and brought out her phone.

"I even made a video."

Flora’s eyes settled on the phone. "A video?"

"Yes." Mrs Smith unlocked her phone and searched her gallery. "I recorded it as proof "

Flora’s expression became serious. She stretched out her hand slightly.

"Let me see it."

She handed the phone to Flora.

Flora collected it and stared at the screen. Her heart began beating faster.

Who could be moving around the compound at midnight?.

She pressed the video and watched. For the first few seconds, she saw her compound from Mrs Smith’s veranda. Then a figure appeared in the distance.

Flora moved the phone closer. Her eyes narrowed.

She stopped the video. Then she played it again.

Something about the figure caught her attention.