Chapter 12: Chapter 12

Chloe Montclair

"Chloe! Chloe!! Chloe gets up, it's morning already." I heard my friend's voice say as she vigorously shook my arm. I opened my eyes slowly and came in contact with her eyes. I yawned and stretch my arm... it's kinda painful.

"I can't believe you slept on the couch. How uncomfortable would that be for you." She complained and hissed.

"And, why are you complaining? Have you forgotten where we have been sleeping for the past three years before we were brought to this place?." I asked her.

"Whatever! Now, just get up, and let's get our bath. Today is the day!" She exclaims excitedly.

"Someone seems to be happy this morning." I teased her. Of course, I am happy too. I never imagined a day like this would come in my life. I had thought, I was going to stay here for the rest of my life.

"I am, happy! You have no idea how much happiness contains in me right now. All I wanted is to get out of this place. I want to see what's going on outside there. We've been more like in hell all these years."

"I know right."

"Tell me, aren't you happy to leave this horrible place?.".

"To tell you the truth, I am happy but... I wish I have the power to set the rest free too."

"What are you talking about?." She eyed me all of a sudden.

"Come on, Chloe. Just like you and I, believe me when I said... Some of the people here were brought here for a crime they had no idea of. They were accused just like us."

"Thank God you said, 'some'." She said stretching on the word some.

"Whatever!"

"Yes, whatever! Forget about them and focus on yourself first. Agreed, we all know you have a good heart but to be truthful with you Chloe, there's nothing you can do about them. We have more than 3,000 people on here... How did you intend to help each one of them? Just focus on yourself for now and do the job Mr. Stranger has given to you. Maybe, when you become the president's wife in the future, you might talk to your husband about it and perhaps, he might grant them relief of their crimes and set them free just like us."

"And, what nonsense are you talking about? Ken and I had nothing. Nothing is going on between us, how many times do I have to say this into your dull head." I said and lightly snack her forehead.

"Deny it all you want. I know, something more than that would happen between you two. Just take a look at the position I saw you two yesterday. Oh my goodness! It looks so real and romantic. Did you see the look he was giving you?."

"You've lost it! Now I know that." I shook my head at her and hissed.

"But I'm serious! I saw the-"

"Enough, Tiana. For the last time, nothing is going on between Ken and me. He only employed me to work for him and that's all. If true, he was going to fall in love with a woman, definitely not me." I said with my eyes rolled.

"And why not you? You're beautiful, both in and out. You have all it takes for a man to fall on his feet for you. Just take a good look at yourself. You have the shape too. You have boobs, the hip is intact too, and your tiny waist... Oh my goodness! I, as a lady always admire you so .. why can't you be his wo-"

"Tiana! Gosh! That's enough, please. Can we not talk about this anymore? I can't be the right woman for Ken and that's final. We're not in same level. I'm nobody and he's the president's son. Not only that, he's a freaking billionaire!! He's rich and I'm poor!"

"But that doe-"

"Tiana. Let's go get our bath. Ken might come in now anytime soon. You know how impatient he can be sometimes."

"You know things about him now, huh?." She teased and before I could reply to her, we heard a knock on our door. We both looked at each other's faces and I gave her the look of 'i told you so'

"Erm... The door is opened. You can come in." I said and Juliana walked in but, with some bags in her hand.

"You-"

"Why? Surprised to see me? So not tell me, you don't wish to see my face any longer?."

"Wh... What?!! No! Of course, that's not what I meant to say. It's just... I'm just surprised to see you here. It's still early and-"

"I know." She cut me off with a smile on her face. "Mr. Domanco sent this to me this morning and specifically told me to give it to you. Now, he's waiting for you girls. Hurry, take your bath and go meet him."

"He... He's... He's waiting for me outside already?." I asked, stunned.

"But, we haven't done anything yet. We haven't taken out bath yet. Plus, what's in there in the bag?."

"When you open it, you get to know. And, he added 'do not keep me waiting, beautiful." She said, dropped the bag in her hand on our bed, and left the room.

W.. wh.. hat?!! Beautiful?! Beautiful my foot! Like he meant it- I thought and scoff.

"Did he just call you beautiful?." Yazzidah asked as she poke me.

"Whatever! I guess, he doesn't want Juliana to suspect all these were fake."

"So, should we check what he brought for you?." She asked and before I could reply to her, she sauntered closer to the bed, bringing out the beautiful dresses he got for the both of us. The shoes and a beautiful shining silver purse. Mine has my name written on the bag and Tiana's too. It was a simple yet elegant fitted golden gown with a silver heel.

"This looks so beautiful, Chloe. I can't believe your boyfriend bought this dress for me."

"Fake! Fake boyfriend, Tiana. I hope, you can be careful and know what to say. Wall have ears, you know."

"No, you should be always careful because... What you two had was supposed to be confidential. No one should know it's all fake. So, stop denying it when I call him your boyfriend." She said. "let's hurry and take our bath before we get him upset." She added and I agreed with her. He's only nice when he's in a happy mood. When he's angry, he looks like a demon.

•

We got dressed and I can't stop looking at myself in the mirror. I look so different now. In the past, I wasn't this... Can I say, chubby? I don't think so. I know, I've added some little weight to the right places I guess but truth be told, I'm still the beautiful Chloe I used to know.

"You look so beautiful, Chloe." I heard Tiana say beside me.

"And you too. You're not looking bad yourself."

"We're leaving this place, right?." She asked.

"That's why you're on that dress." I said, pointing at her dress.

We got out and Juliana and some other colleagues of ours have been waiting for us. "We will miss you, Chloe."

"I'm going to miss you guys too. But not to worry, I will make sure to come over and check up on y'all, I promise."

"Is that a promise, Chloe?"

"Yes, I'm making that promise." I said to them. After that, Juliana asked us to follow her and we did. We stopped right in front of an elevator. I swear, the hidden places here won't cease to amaze me. Again, my friend and I looked at each other's faces.

We didn't leave with anything other than the dresses on us, the purse he got for me, and the cell phone too. I made sure I share the dresses Ken got for me with my friends before leaving.

I wasn't bothered since he had made a promise to pay me a sum of money. I can get a dress from that.

"Girls... Now, I'm going to go back from here. Chloe, do not forget all that we talked about."

"I won't."

"Good. Now, you can take your leave." She hugged me tightly and Tiana hugged her too.

We got into the elevator and pressed the first floor as Juliana had instructed. We waited patiently but my friend won't stop giggling like a child. She seemed so happy right now. Looking at her and smiling a little, I shook my head.

She won't cease acting like a child.

The elevator made a sound and opened, we got out only to be greeted by three black shining cars. It's a parking space for cars. Some giant guys came out from all the three cars and bowed their heads at us. Tiana and I did the same thing too. The middle car was opened and I heard... "Please get in, Ms... Boss is waiting for you." He said.

"Ken is not here with you guys?." I knew I sounded disappointed. I don't know why I was expecting to see him and not them.

Okay, what's wrong with me?- I mentally scold myself.

"He's waiting for you." He said again.

"But I thought, he ought to be here."

"I'm sorry. I can't answer any of your questions now. Please ma'am, kindly get into the car." He said, politely.

"Thank you." I said before sliding into the car from the right side while Tiana got in through the left side. Two guys entered the first car and three entered the one in the bag. While the one I'm in, the guy who talked to me just now got in the passenger seat and the other one took the driver seat. They all ignite the car engine at once and leave the place.

"Chloe, where are they taking us to?." Tiana whispered to my ear.

"I have no idea too. I believe we're safe. Don't worry."

•

Finally! We got to our destination. It feels like forever while we were in the car. I thought, where we're heading to doesn't have a destination but finally, it does and here we're but... I wasn't bothered about that for now. I'm shocked by what I'm seeing even though we haven't gotten out of the car yet.

Is this a mansion or palace? This, at all, doesn't look like the president's house so, where are we?

"Chloe, where are we?." She whispered to my ear.

"I have no idea too. I'm shocked just as you're right now." I said but still scanning the whole surrounding.

The gate opened itself and we drove into the big place. They all parked their cars at the right spot and yet, tons of cars are still here. Different types of cars in different models.

How rich is this man?- I thought.

We hopped down from the car and were shown the way into the house. I had thought, I've seen it all outside earlier but now, the interior is more beautiful than the exterior.

I think every place is built with pure gold because, how can a place be as shining as this?

An old lady from nowhere showed up and smiled at us. "You're welcome. You must be the Chloe, Kennedy has been talking about." She said.

Kennedy? Not Kenneth?

"Erm... Yes. Go... Good morning ma'am but, I don't kno-"

"I'm Ken's nanny, Sophia. You can call me Ms. Steve." She cut me off.

"Oh!" That was the only thing that could come out of my mouth. She seems nice.

"My bad. Please come in and take a sit." She offered us a seat and I swear, I'm still shivering right now. I'm still shocked by all that I'm seeing at the moment. I'm positive, that Tiana is more shocked than I am. I knew he has money but, not to this extent. This... Is much!

"What would you two love to eat? I can prepare it." She offered.

"Erm, we're okay for now. Please, where's Ken?."

"Didn't he tell you?."

"That what?."

"He traveled already. And he won't be coming back until 2 weeks." She said.

"What?!!" I jumped up from my seat. No, this can't be true.

"He came to meet me yesterday and told me we'll be seeing each other today." I said to no one in particular.

"He left yesterday afternoon. I thought, he told you about it."

"No, he did not." And just in time, my phone started to ring and brought it out from my purse.

Speaking of the devil.

It's him!