"Are you sure?" Isabella asked. No one was more afraid of Loretta running away than her.
"What do you mean am I sure? I am just old not blind," the elderly woman said.
Isabella wanted to say something but her mother stopped her. "Do you have any idea where they went?" She asked.
"I am just a neighbor, if you as her mother does not know how should I?" the neighbor said. She felt this two were acting strange and decided to return to her flat.
"Mum, what should we do?" Isabella asked.
Mrs Gladstone forced a smile, "Don't worry, we would find a way let's hurry back and tell you father.
Just like the mother and Daughter Mr Gladstone also felt that Loretta elope with a man. "She agreed first and seeing that our guard was down she took the chance," he frowned then made a call.
"I want her found and brought back as soon as possible," he instructed.
He then looked at the screen of his laptop, the day's market has just opened and Gladstone company was not doing well. The sell pressure was building up and it was becoming a concern.
While the Gladstone family were anxious, Loretta woke up that morning feeling refreshed. She looked at her phone and was surprised not to see any Miss calls or messages from her mother.
This is strange, she thought after all her actions already caused a sensation online, not just the company even the Gladstone family were been roasted.
"I guess is for the best," Loretta thought. She had no way of knowing that her mother had not called her the previous day to scold her because Mr Gladstone stopped her.
She also knew nothing about the family thinking that she elope. She immediately got off her bed and got ready to visit the water fall, after all it was almost one hour away from where she was staying . She heard one could spend the entire day at the resort without having enough of the view.
Loretta left early, choosing to eat breakfast on the road.The air was cool, the sun just beginning to rise. She wore something light, comfortable, her bag slung over her shoulder.
The bodyguard was already waiting, downstairs with the car. "Good morning," she greet with a smile. This days she had become used to his presence. She did not mind much since he never got in the way of what she wanted to do.
"Good morning, ma" the bodyguard answered opening the door for her.
—
The resort was more crowded than she expected, after all it was a work day.
People moved in groups. Some laughing, some taking pictures, some already heading toward the mountain paths.
The sound of rushing water echoed faintly in the distance.
Loretta stepped out of the car and looked up. The scene before her looks breathtaking already.
She had seen pictures before but it was not like seeing the real deal.
—
She had just taken a few steps toward the entrance when a voice called out.
"Miss Loretta?"
She turned, surprise flickered across her face.
"Mika?"
He walked toward her, dressed in a light uniform this time. A whistle hung around his neck.
"I didn't expect to see you here," he said.
"You work here?" she asked.
"Part-time," he replied. "Lifeguard. Sometimes guide."
Loretta nodded slowly.
"I came to see the waterfall."
"Then you'll need someone who knows the path," Mika said. "Some routes look easy but aren't."
Loretta hesitated for a second, "then, are you free?" She asked.
"Yes," Mika answered. The two went over to pay the entrance fee. Mika asked what she plans to see, in order to help arrange their route.
"I will like to get to the seventh floor though," she added after some thought.
Alright," he nodded.
"Excuse me…" someone called out. Loretta and Mika turned to the direction of the voice.
A couple stood nearby, looking slightly unsure.
"We're also heading up," the man said. "We heard it's safer in a group."
The woman smiled awkwardly. "Would you mind if we joined?" The couples had just gotten married and were out on their honeymoon but they were short on money to pay a guide. Seeing that the young lady already got one they thought to join and cut cost.
Loretta didn't care either way.
Mika glanced at her, since she was the one paying she could make the decision
She gave a small nod. "Sure."
Hearing her agree, the couple were happy, "we would cover half the cost for the guilde," The man said not wanting to look bad.
"There is no need," Loretta shook her head. She could already tell that this couple were short on money, Although she was not rich she already paid the fee. Money did not mean much to a person in her situation.
The couple looked a bit embarrassed but they did not insist.
They started walking, Mika led.
The couple followed.
Loretta walked just behind, her pace steady.
A few steps behind them, the bodyguard.
Silent. Unnoticed by most.The sound of water grew louder as they turn into a new part. The air cooler.
Loretta lifted her head slightly, looking ahead.
Behind her, the bodyguard's gaze shifted.
To Mika. It was too much of coincidence.
First the hotel.
Now here.
Even if he wanted to, he could not believe everything was so simple but since he did not know the purpose of the man he continued to follow.
Up ahead, Mika slowed his steps slightly. "This is the first floor," he pointed at the water freely flowing. A few people were inside swimming and seem to be having fun.
"Since you intend, to visit the seventh floor, I advised we continue to climb and stop half way for rest," Mika said.
Loretta and the couple agreed. The first two floors were easy to climb and they met a lot of visitors on the way.
Loretta and the couples took pictures, she even helped the couples with a few.
"From here, it gets steeper," Mika announced once they got to the thrid floor "Stay close."
Loretta nodded.
Her grip on the railing tightened slightly from anticipation.
The group successful got to the next floor, by now they were tired.
"Let's stop for a break," Mika said seeing them so tried.
"So we swim?" The man asked his wife.
The woman looked at the water and was tempted. They were fewer people here, apart from their group they were less than five other people.
So she agreed to go and swim, Loretta looked at the water, although curious, she didn't want to get into the water.
"You could do a swim lesson," Mika suggested seeing that she was curious but dare not get into the water.
Thinking about it Loretta agreed.
The two soon got into the water. At first it looked just like a swim lesson so he watched silently, until Loretta seems to have missed a move an collapsed into Mika's arms.
The two looked at each other, for a brief moment, Loretta froze.
Mika stilled.
It wasn't the first time a student lost balance during a lesson.
But this time he reacted a second too late.
And now she was in his arms.
His heart stried, but he cleared his throat slightly and stepped back.
"Careful," he said.
His tone was calm, but his grip had tightened for a fraction of a second.
A few steps away, the bodyguard watched. His gaze lingered, the two acted a bit familiar.
Looking at them he said nothing Instead, he took out his phone.
A quiet click.
The moment was captured.
He typed quickly and sent it.
{Ran into the same man from the hotel. Acting as her guide.
This doesn't look like a coincidence.}
Then another message.
{Could this be someone close to her?}
He looked up again, his expression unreadable but his eyes sharp.