Walking towards the entrance of the gate, Elena beheld a massive pentagon building with its colour looming in snowy white. From the gate, she could see officers and bodyguards dressed in their formal uniforms with guns discreetly yet visible holstered beside them.
She was afraid but had a goal to achieve .
So, Elena summoned Courage and took a bold step to the entrance but she was shouted upon by an officer "Hey,who are you? And where do you think you are going"?Those were the exact words the officer said coming forward towards her direction. She thought for a second about a tangible reason that would make sense while he was approaching her.
"I came to help my sick aunt in the kitchen to prepare some meals for the officials that arrived," Elena said, with her voice quivering and trembling in fear.
He stared closely at her and said Miss Anne does not have any close relatives and immediately, she told him that she just got back from Moscow. He stood there gazing at her with his eyeballs sternly bulging out of its socket.
Finally, the stare came to an end and he said, the kitchen is that way, directing Elena with his hands pointing in the direction.
Immediately, she released a deep breath and followed the path he showed her to the kitchen.
However, they where lots of security guards that where all over the place so she couldn't go to another part of the building. So, she maintained her focus and headed straight to the kitchen.
As she opened the door of the kitchen, a sweet aroma immediately struck her, reminding her of the tasty pastries in the bakery and made her realise, how hungry she was and how she didn't eat before coming.
The kitchen was very big and busy with a lot of people in it making dishes and some carrying them out. So, she looked around the kitchen, clueless of what to do next.
She approached a woman that was ordering and giving instructions and with a gentle tap, Elena asked the woman, " excuse me ma'am, who is Miss Anne? I'm looking for her" with her soft voice.
The Woman stared at her and with a warm smile she said, "she's standing right here looking at you" She was so gentle, and friendly making Elena comfortable around her. Miss Anne asked her, "what is your name beautiful?" My name is Elena Gregory she answered. "Ooouh thats a beautiful name" Miss Anne said, while directing her to another space entirely different from the kitchen, but still in that same building. It was like an office, it had couches, desks, and other things that makes up an office space.
Elena stared at the office so closely, especially the walls. There were so many trophies and history about people on the walls and the beautiful paintings aswell.
While standing and still staring at the walls Elena came across a picture that had a name on it and the name was the exact name she was looking for 'Mr Williams' Andrei.
Out of reflex she screamed, "He's the one!" And it caught Miss Anne's attention. So, miss Anne came closer, to see the picture then turned and asked Elena, "what's the problem? Do you know him?"
"Yess, I know him" she answered.
"Come, sit and lets talk. What really brought you here? Is it the man on the picture frame ( pointing at mr Adrei picture) hanging on the wall? Miss Anne asked showing deep interest and concern.
They both sat on the couch together and with her face so curious she asked Elena again, "why have you come to see me?"
Elena narrated the whole story to her without missing any part out of it. She also showed her the letter of EVACUATION that was given to her mum at the bakery.
After Miss Anne was done reading the letter, she told Elena that she can't really do much because, the situation was a serious one and Mr Andrei wants to carry out that project by all means.
However, She assured Elena that she'll speak to someone on her behalf. With a warm smile, Elena hugged her tightly and thanked her.
Miss Anne gave Elena her complementary card to keep in touch with her. Elena, out of curiosity, inquired from miss Anne, if Mr Andrei was around? She said, "yes, but he's currently in a meeting and he won't be able to see anyone who didn't book an appointment with him.
"Can I come tomorrow and book an appointment?" Elena asked her. With a heavy breath Miss Anne sighed, and said, "it's only top officials that he meets and moreover he'll be travelling tomorrow but Mr Andrei intends to host a party this weekend for a successful approval of his project from the Governor." but it's strictly on invitation."
Elena still persistent asked, "Is it possible for me to attend, so that i can see him?"
Elena, miss Anne called, "i know how how desperate you are and willing to save your bakery but the party is strictly on invitation and trust me you won't be able to see him."
"Why? Why so? Why won't they allow me see him if i eventually get into the party?" Elena asked in a bit of frustration.
"Hmmmmmmm this is hard but give me a call later we would come up with a plan." Miss Anne assured her as she stood up.
While she was standing up from the chair, her countenance immediately changed. So, Elena stood and turned to her and asked, whats wrong?
"Elena, I just realised that this mountain may be insurmountable" miss Anne said while looking at Elena.
"How do you mean?" Elena so curious to understand what she meant.
"The thing is, you can't tell him that" miss Anne said.
"Tell who what?" Elena asked.
"You can't come to the party and tell Mr Andre that he shouldnt demolish your bakery, it wont work like that and besides commoners are not allowed. You'll make it even worse, cause how would you explain how you got into the party in the first place."
"Stubborn Elena, not wanting to leave asked, so what should i tell him? Cause I thought telling him will change his mind."
Miss Anne laughed ....
" Elena you are so naive. What makes you think he will change his mind? For someone who has gotten approval from the government and he's hosting a party for the success of the project already."
Miss Anne replied.
"So what do I do now? Give up? No! I won't" Elena said with strong affirmation like there was a way out of it.
Just then, a knock interrupted their conversation.
Miss Anne's eyes wide with concern, looking towards the direction where the knock came in from, she responded, who's there?
"
It's officer hearts he replied, your presence needed urgently" his voice firm and dripping in urgency.
"Just give me a minute I'll be there" Miss Anne responded.
Miss Anne turned, and looked at Elena and said, "Just call me later in the evening, we'll figure it out together. For now, just be calm okay?" Miss Anne words sounded comforting as she walks towards the door with her hands clamped with that of Elena's.
While they were leaving, Elena thanked Miss Anne and with a warm smile she waved at her good bye.
Heading out of the kitchen, Elena noticed that the officers had increased in numbers. The entrance had so many officers and they all stood at attention in a single file. With all curiosity, Elena was so eager to see what was happening.
So, she quietly rushed to see and behold... her enemy.
It was the exact picture she saw on the wall in Miss Anne's office bearing the name Mr Williams Andre. For a while, she stood gazing at him from a distance.
Her head, wrapped with all manner of thoughts and plans to execute at that moment. Just as she was lost in thoughts, an officer's loud voice jolted her back to reality as he said, "young lady" his voice sent shivers to her spine.
Immediately, Elena put herself together, turned to the officer and said, " if you would excuse me, i was just about to leave the building" she said to the officer ,while leaving the building. With confused thoughts wrapped in her head on who she had seen, she frowned for not been able to do anything or come up with a plan.
She was able to see a direct vehicle going straight home. She entered the bus still pondering if Mr Andre saw her and why she didn't approach him immediately she saw him. It was as if the world was against her that they held her back from doing anything, even to think of a better strategy at that moment.
As the bus drew closer to her street, she was so delighted. It was as if she had good news to share with her mum at home.
While she was anticipating home, her stomach growled loudly protesting the emptiness that had been gnawing at her for long.
It drew so much attention that they stared at her in the bus. The incessant growl of her stomach, made her feel embarrassed making her want to crawl under a seat and disappear.
Finally, the bus halted and everyone singled themselves on a straight file to come down from it.
Instantly, Elena rushed down from the bus as if a ghost was chasing her relentlessly but she didn't mind because she was too ashamed already.
She walked so fast without looking back heading straight home.
Seeing that the weather had changed, Elena brought out her phone to check the time and saw it was past six o'clock in the evening, with ten missed calls from her mum.
Immediately, she called her mum and assured her that she was already close to the house.
As soon as she got home, her mum, at once, seeing how she looked, told her to sit at the dining table and she brought Elena's favourite meal and desserts.
Without delay, she dug in and left no crumbs on the plate. Mrs Gregory stared at her daughter while she ate in a haste.
"Let me serve you more Elena, you still look hungry," mrs Gregory said to her.
Elena nodded in affirmation of what she said and so her mum served her another plate but this time around, she didn't rush this one. Cause, in between the meal she struggled to accommodate more food in her stomach.
"Thank you mummy for a delicious meal" she said to her mum with a warm smile.
Elena helped her mum clear and carry the plates in the kitchen and on the dining table.
In a flash, they were done washing the dishes in the kitchen so, they came to the sitting room to relax for a while as Mrs Gregory brought out the family's picture album and gave it to her daughter.
As Elena flipped through the pictures, a wave of goosebumps instantly washed over her when she saw a family photo of her dad, mum and herself in the baking store at her eight years old birthday.
She lost grip of myself and began to cry like a baby desperately in need of the mother.
Her mum hugged her and gently rubbed her back and said, "Elena don't cry please, you are all I have now."
Mrs Gregory's words sent so much shivers down Elena's spine that she hugged her tightly the most. She cleaned her face after a long cry, and said, "I won't disappoint any of you." With a warm smile, her mum cleaned her tears with her soft palm.
"We have to go to the baking store tomorrow. Let's see what we can unpack from the store" mrs Gregory said to Elena with a gentle tone.
Suddenly, the whole event that played out in the morning flashed back to Elena's memory, from when she entered the pentagon building to where she met Miss Anne and to the part when she saw Mr Andrei Williams. She narrated every single detail to her mother and she was pleased to hear such great news.
"Go and rest for today Elena, you have done well" mrs Gregory said to Elena, with her eyes smiling at her.
Elena hugged her mum and wished her good night. She headed straight up to her room and sluggishly undressed and took a warm bath.
The warm bath was just what Elena wanted as the water went down from her head to her toes like a gentle massage given at Spars. The warm water sent shivers down through her spine giving her a sense of relaxation.
She didn't want to leave the shower but she had to sleep. So, she turned off the shower and came out of the shower, dried herself up with a towel gently dapping the drains of the water from her head.
She walked towards where she kept her hair dryer and dried her hair up. She wore a comfortable nightgown and laid on her bed.
Shortly, her phone beeped.…
Elena started wondering where she must have kept it and where traced where the sound was coming from.
It was coming from the couch, where she kept the two piece she wore earlier in the day. The cloth was covering the bag she used to put her phone and the letter of EVACUATION.
Without delay, she took her bag to bring out her phone and she came across the complementary card that Miss Anne gave her.
Elena was so happy that she saved the number at once and was tempted to call the line even though it was late.
Regardless, she stayed glued to her phone, on her bed, trying to compose a message to send to miss Anne.
Immediately after she did that, there was no response for like three to five minutes. Out of curiosity, Elena decided to place a call.
While it rang, She prayed so hard for Miss Anne to pick up her phone and immediately she picked the call.
"Hello, Hello who's on the line please?"
Miss Anne said with her soft voice. For a second I didn't know what to say but I summoned Courage to answer.
"It's Elena Gregory, the girl that came to see you in the pentagon building earlier today."
"Oooh yes! I remember, the beautiful Elena that wants her fathers baking store at all means she exclaimed."
The expression of joy was all over Elena's face not because she picked the call, but because she could remember the exact reason why she met her earlier today.
Shequickly reminded miss Anne of the unfinished plan and conversation they had earlier regarding how she can see Mr Andrei and plead for my father's baking store and how it can be granted.
"Elena, I have an idea but I really can't tell if you are up for the task" Miss Anne said with her voice sounding serious on the phone.
I wondered what it may be and said;
"I am up for any task. What is it, Miss Anne?"
"Till we meet tomorrow by 9am at the Espresso Zone coffee shop. For now, have a good night rest." Miss Anne said as she abruptly ends the call.
Elena Couldn't imagine herself sleeping as her mind raced with excitement counting down the hours until the dawn of the next day.
...
The long night finally came to an end and the Sun was set. Elena quickly grabbed her toothbrush and cleaned her teeth. She wanted to ensure that she didn't end up going late, she wanted to be there on time.
Immediately, she quickly took a cold shower and picked a flowery gown for that meeting. She didn't have the time to have break fast at home, so, she hurriedly left the house with an empty stomach.
Elena, took a bus to the coffee shop and then secured a table for two in a quiet area that they could stay and have a conversation that was a bit free from the crowd and noise.
Elena couldn't wait to know what the plan was, so, she decided to call her.
She dailed miss Anne's line and before Elena could say hello, a fair young woman with a black dress and a red lip stick approached her waving at her.
To an extent, Elena couldn't recognise the woman that kept waving at her and giving her a warm smile until she came closer and it was miss Anne.
Miss Anne was absolutely stunning and entirely different from the person Elena met at the pentagon building in the kitchen area.
Immediately, like a baby, Elena rushed with her arms wide open and a smile on her face she said, "Good morning miss Anne" as she gave her a warm hug.
"Good morning Elena she replied, smiling back.
Your hugs are so warm and comforting. You should hug often" miss Anne complemented.
"Let's have a sit, so that I can share with you the plan I thought of.
Elena, I pondered about your case yesterday and thought of how it could be possible for you to get your father's baking store back. So I came up with an offer for you," Miss Anne said with a low gentle voice.
Elena's eyes widened and ears attentive to hear what the offer was as she shifted her chair closer to miss Anne.
"The offer is for you to act as a mistress to Mr Andrei for a night."
"What! Elena exclaimed with so much furry as her voice sounded like that of a thunder.
How do you expect me to do that?" Elena asked her with the intention of getting an answer.
"Elena! Miss Anne exclaimed, bring down your voice. I know it's really hard for you but that's the only way. I will make a legal document binding your bakery. You only need his signature.
I can help get into the party and then you can offer him a glass of champagne that is drugged. In that case, he will be a bit unconscious so that he can sign the document. You necessarily won't have to bother having to sleep with him cause, by the time the drugs start taking effect in his system, you'll give him the document and after that, he'll fall asleep. The drugs in the glass of wine will do the work." Miss Anne said with all form of boldness and certainty.
"What if I get caught?" Elena asked
"You won't. It will be sorted" Miss Anne assured Elena.
Elena was left speechless and confused. Her thoughts shattered and her mind was in disarray, it was a though plan to make. She can't even hurt a fly let alone drug someone.
"I would leave you to think about it and please get back to me on or before Thursday cause the party is this Saturday so that I can help you arrange everything." Miss Anne said while standing up to leave.
For a while, it was as if Elena was dreaming. Immediately, she stood and headed straight home and thought of not saying a word to her mother.
She got home and met the house rowdy with men carrying things into the house.
She called out for her mum instantly.
"Mummy, mummy".. she called with her voice so loud.
" I'm here, come to the kitchen" mrs Gregory said.
Without a second thought she went straight to the kitchen to ask her mum, who the men were? and what things they were bringing into the house.
"Elena," her mum called sounding distressed and so disturbed,
"Yyes mummy," i responded.
"The officials that want to demolish our baking store for the project has asked these men to bring the equipment from the store and other baking materials that are in the store to our address. That is why you are seeing these men." Mrs Gregory said in a quivering tone.
"Hmmmm.. her mum sighed Elena, they will demolish the entire building very soon."
My mum said, with her hope lost.
Elena was so bothered that she thought of what Miss Anne said to her earlier about the offer, but the guilt of putting it in words and telling her mum hunted her.
So, Elena and asked her mum,
"Mummy if you were left with only a decision to make for you to save daddy would you have saved him even when it's to your detriment?"
Her mum looked at her and said, "YES, I will do anything to save my husband as long as it doesn't mean me dying" mrs Gregory answered.
At this point, Elena got her answer to the offer Miss Anne gave her and her mind was made up.