He tapped on her dark tinted window, but she refused to wind it down. He then came to the front, and stood before her car, gazing at her from the windscreen. Immediately he saw her, Meg saw his furious face melt, his brows relaxing at once.
"Megan?"
She finally winded down her window as he came again beside it.
"What? What're you doing here? I didn't know..."
Meg opened her door and stepped out of her car. "Look James," she sighed. "I'm so sorry. I wasn't looking. I was...I was... stupid and..."
"It's okay, it's fine," he interrupted as he held her shoulders scanning her with his eyes. "Are you hurt? Do you feel okay?"
"I'm fine," Meg replied quickly. "I'm just...I don't know. I feel so weak. " Then she turned to look at both cars. "My God, I'm so sorry James."
"It's fine. The main thing is to ensure you weren't hurt. I was even planning to call you when I reach home."
"You went somewhere? I thought you were with Michael."
"Oh yeah, I was. That's where I'm coming from. You were heading home?"
She simply nodded.
"Megan, are you sure you're okay? You don't look so we'll. "
"I'm... alright. Just having headaches. I'll be fine. " Then she turned to her car and opened it. "I have to go now but I'll make sure to fix whatever that was damaged in your car when I see you tomorrow."
"Don't worry about it. " He replied.
Faking a smile, she entered her car and revved it while James began walking towards his too. Then a screech from Meg's tires made him turn immediately. She was holding her steering with one hand, and her head with the other.
"Megan! It's okay. Wait, let me drive you." James said as he rushed over to her immediately. "Let me just drive you."
"No, don't worry. I'm fine." She insisted as she tried driving backwards again.
"You're not in the state to drive right now! Allow me drive you, okay?" James said with his voice stern yet pleading as he pulled on her door's handle with the attempt of opening the car. Finally, it clicked open and he opened it, helping her out of the car to the passenger seat. He made sure she was seated properly with her seatbelt before he went over to enter the car.
"But, what of your car?" Meg asked quietly.
"Don't worry, I'll have someone pick it up. Do you wish to go home now?"
Meg turned and gazed at him for a while, a little bit confused. Then she shrugged. "I won't if you don't mind having me for some minutes. I'm still so tired."
James smiled widely. "Ofcourse I don't." He said before reversing the car and speeding off.
They arrived at his mansion in a matter of minutes. When he horned the car before his huge gate, it gently opened on its own. Megan was thrilled by the beauty she saw before her as they drove in.
"Welcome to my abode." He smiled.
As he parked the car in his garage and stepped out, he went over quickly and opened the door for Meg. She smiled and stepped down, taking in all the wonderful view of the compound. The side trees, the greenish neatly mowned lawns, the fountain carved of a gigantic wolf with a little pool surrounding it.
"Your house is a beauty." She said, still gazing round.
"Thank you," James shrugged with a smile then reached for her hand. She was reluctant at first, but finally let him hold her.
"Come on, let's go inside."
Inside the mansion, Meg saw another wonder different from the one she had seen in Michael's place days ago. Everywhere was white. Heavenly. The leathers, the settees and even the carved ceilings.
"You love white?"
"Well," James laughed as he went to his fridge for a wine. Then he heard her say, "Juice please."
"I just love things being neat and pure."
Not a lie. The whole place was sparkling neat. Not a single stain on all the white curtains. He came and handed her the glass of juice. "Please take your time and have enough rest before you go okay?"
She smiled as she took the drink. "Thank you." She didn't look cautious, but she really was. It not possible trusting anyone, remembering what had happened at the party with the simple wine she took. Yet, she gently raised the wine to her lips and sipped. It was chilly. She didn't know if she just played 'fearless and brave' with her life.
"So," James began, settling down on the sofa opposite her. "Are you really okay? Your headache."
"Oh... yeah. I'm good... just stressed maybe that's why." She said nervously, looking away and taking another sip.
"Okay," He said, standing up. "Just take your time. If need anything just...yell my name." He chuckled.
Meg laughed. "Okay, I will."
-_-_-_-_-_-
"Mo? Your sister isn't yet back?" Nanny asked as she settled down in one of the dining chairs with her knitting materials. Knitting whenever she was less busy was a hobby.
Mi was busy with her laptop, peering and typing tirelessly. "I called her just now. She should be back anytime soon. " She e replied, not looking up from her screen.
"How's the company going? The preparations for the upcoming fashion event?"
Mo sighed and paused. "Exactly. This preparation is taking a toll on me. I have to make sure that everything is well organized and the designs are the most unique. I can't let 'Dreamstars' beat us, the 'Queens' in this fashion event! You know it's going to be a competition. Our rivals won't rest too."
Nanny smiled as she worked with her wools and thread. Morgan had been running her mother's fashion company since her parents' death, and Nanny would only help her see how things went atimes when she would be in lectures. The 'Queens fashion designing company ' was one that everyone know for it's uniqueness and lead.
"Elizabeth would be so proud of you," Nanny said, making Mo to halt. "You're very good and trying your best and I bet she'll be very happy wherever she's watching you from."
"Heaven." Mo simply smiled and went back to her work. Ofcourse it should be heaven. Their parents had been wonderful and sweet couples, Edward and Elizabeth with the initials 'E.E' circled with a heart and carved at the entrance of their mansion at the top of the gate. While her father owned the AH company which was to be managed by Meg, she was to manage her mother's. The day they received the news of their death had been the worst day of her life and no other future incident was going to change that.
Flashback....
The night had come like every other winter evening - quiet, moonlit, and cold. A silver fog veiled the roads as Mr. and Mrs. Adams sped through the snow- dusted avenue in their sleek black Bentley. Their laughter echoed within the warm cocoon, the both atimes arriving home together and leaving work, same.
Megan had called them earlier, her voice sweet and chirpy. " Bring us hot chocolate, mama,"
" And cupcakes!" Morgan had added, snatching the phone to yell before their parents hung up, laughing.
It was supposed to be a simple drive back home. But then, halfway through the Marlowe Bridge, the road was blocked.
A car. An Aston Martin DBII. Stationary. No lights. Not even a warning. Mr. Adams slowed the car, confusion creasing his brows. Beside him, his wife gripped her coat tighter. Then-
Bang. Bang. Bang.
Three sharp gunshots cracked the silence like thunder. The windshield scattered. Blood smeared the dashboard. Screams drowned into the wind.
There were no witnesses. No Survivors.
Only silence.
-----
The Next Morning....
The mansion gates had never been that still. Snow blanketed the garden, and icicles hung from the rooftops like frozen tears.
Megan stirred first. The fireplace had died down sometime during the night. She reached for her phone. No calls. No texts. That was odd.
Morgan yawned beside her. She had slept with her yesterday night, giggling as they waited for mother and father. It kept her warm though.
"Mom and Dad aren't back yet?"
" No." Meg's voice was creasing with worry. This was unlike them.
There was a jingle on the doorbell. It came twice. Nanny's knock came on Meg's door as she began downstairs.
" Morning already girls. Seems they're back...." Yet, Nanny knew it might not be. Even the jingle was unusual.
Meg hurried out of the bed and followed Nanny first, and Mo fumbled on a coat.There was silence in the morning's chill as Nanny opened the door in her robe, her brows furrowed.
A man in black stood outside. Police.
"I'm sorry, " he began, "there's been an incident."
-----
The Screams Tore Through The Walls
" No!" Megan collapsed to her knees, her voice hoarse, her hands trembling.
Morgan froze, her eyes wide, disbelief gripping her like ice. " That's a lie. You're lying!"
Nanny Fiona stood behind them, her face pale, her lips trembling as she whispered, " Oh no.... God, no."
The world shattered that day.
The house dimmed.
The lights were never the same. Neither were the girls. Mo stopped smiling, Megan stopped singing. For months, their house was like a graveyard. No one was ever happy for that lasting period of time.
Presently....
"You know Nan," Mo began bitterly as she punched on her keyboard. "I think Mom was still going to give us a brother before her death," she stopped and looked at Nanny, tears almost forming. "Don't you think so?"
"Oh my dear Mo, I'm so sorry if bringing her up have ruined your mood." Nanny said as she gave her a sympathetic gaze. Mo shook her head.
"You know what? It's fine. I'm... fine!" She yelled, angrily shutting her laptop and running upstairs. Nanny sighed and dropped the sweater she was knitting. Now remembering, she had always offered to knit them for Mrs. Elizabeth Adams every winter. Their death had been a big blow, to everyone around them.
-_-_-_-_-_
Michael stood at his veranda at the very top of his mansion, gazing around and admiring the view, his wine in his hand as he gently spun it. Then he thought of Meg. Only if... only if he could have her. She was different. She was special.
He had had other girls to himself, but never actually loved any of them. Infact, they were the ones always circling round him, back then in Italy, and even here in London. They still do. He was everything any girl would admire in a guy. But Meg? Meg was different. She didn't care. She didn't allow anyone and was so strict even their first time meeting. Strict about loving her. No girl has ever done that.
His phone rang and it was his cousin, Luca.
""Ciao, Michael! È da un po', come stai?"
(Hey, Matteo! It's been a while, how are you?)
"Ciao, Luca! Tutto bene, grazie. E tu?"
(Hey, Luca! All good, thanks. And you?) Michael replied, his tone a little lit as he smiled, surprised he called. Luca was his favorite cousin when he was still with his uncle, the one he normally hung out with.
"Come vanno le lezioni? Ho sentito che ora sei a Londra, all'università."
(How's lectures going? I heard you're now in London and on campus.)
"Beh, non male. Mi piace qui. E tu? E il lavoro?"
(Well, not bad. I like it here. You? What of work?)
"Beh, come al solito. Papà non ci dà tregua. Per lui conta solo l'azienda."
(Well, as usual. Dad won't give us a break. The company is all that matters to him.)
"Come sta?"
(How is he doing?) Michael asked as he tried remembering his uncle's face. It has really been a long time.
" Sta bene. Solo la sua solita glicemia bassa. Ti ho chiamato solo per sapere come stavi."
(He's fine. Just his low sugar as usual. Just called to know how you were doing.)
"Grazie per esserti preoccupato, Luca. Sto bene."
(Thanks for caring, Luca. I'm good.)
"Va bene, amico. Abbi cura di te. Ci vediamo di nuovo in Italia."
(Okay man. Take care of yourself. Till we see again in Italy.)
"Ci vediamo presto."
(Till we see again.) He said and ended the call. The last time he had seen Luca was in a party by coincidence which he attended with James, and he never mentioned him leaving the country. Then he remembered that James was with his contact and might still be chatting with him.
"Talking of that fool," he muttered as he felt his pockets. "Shit, he left with my key."
_-_-_-_-
He already had his car brought to him and had his shower before he decided to check on Meg. Still on his bathrobe, he was descending the stairs before his eyes caught her already lying on a long sofa fast asleep. He smiled and gently came to where she was lying. He bent and admired her for what seemed like million hours.
"God, she's so beautiful. " He muttered to himself. Her breath was calm, her lashes tightly resting on her cheekbones. When he reached out to touch her, her lashes suddenly flickered open, and that was when Michael barged in.