Now, he picked up his phone that was by his side to give Denise and Olivia a call. At that moment, the security guard walked in and informed her, “Mrs. Bailey, Mr. Christopher Harry is at the door.”
Arthur and Nichole exchanged glances before he looked at the security guard and back to Nichole. He attempted to view the courtyard from his phone but he could not. Nichole tried to do the same thing but could not too.
Arthur showed worries and asked the security guard, “Why is the CCTV disconnected?”
“I am not aware that it was disconnected. I will find out, Boss,” the troubled security guard declared.
“Meanwhile, let the guest in,” Arthur ordered while he looked at Nichole and she nodded in compliance.
“It is all right, Boss,” the security guard said, and left in trepidation.”
‘Who must have tampered with the CCTV?’ He thought before he ushered the guest in, “You can go in, Mr. Harry.”
“Thank you, Officer.”
Christopher was late Mr. Williams Bailey’s schoolmate and friend who had his eyes on Nichole even before she got married to Williams. He had divorced twice due to strain on the relationships. That day, he had come to see Nichole who had ignored his calls and invitations on several occasions. To prove his love for her, he brought along with him a bouquet of red and pink roses.
Meanwhile, the sixty-two-year-old man was dressed in a casual but cute outfit. The scent from his mixture of perfume and Men’s Cologne got into the parlor ahead of him. His steps carried an aura of confidence which was prompted by his plans with the chef in the house and his intel at the Bailey International Conglomerates.
He was gobsmacked when he got in and saw Arthur’s blank face. Then, he stopped suddenly for a few seconds before he regained composure and walked on. At that instance, the bouquet in his hand was a burden to him because he wished he could hide it and pretend that he was on an unplanned visit.
All the same, he pulled himself together and greeted Arthur, “Hello, Arthur. I’m pleased to meet you.”
Arthur fixed his eyes on him without responding. Then, he looked at Nichole, who had the same expression as Arthur on her face and greeted her as well, “Hello, Nichole. How are you?”
Arthur who was too busy for pretentious pleasantries, ignored his greetings and said perfunctorily, “Kindly take your seat.”
He took his seat with his right hand clenched to the bouquet and Arthur carried on with his discussion with the security.
“Yes, Boss. You called me,” the security officer answered.
“Yes. Have you found out why the CCTV was disconnected?”
“I am yet to find out, Boss,” he answered.
At that juncture, Nichole was apprehensive. She knew what Arthur was capable of doing when it comes to protecting his belongings. However, she must appear strong. She did that by sipping her tea and watching the events unfold.
“Ask the Chief of Security to lock up the main gate. Nobody goes out nor comes into the estate until that is sorted out.”
“It is noted, Boss,” the officer responded and walked away swiftly.
Arthur continued with his discussions with Nichole before they were interrupted by the presence of the uninvited guest. They discussed as though he was not in the house. Meanwhile, when Christopher heard Arthur’s order to the guard, he knew he was doomed.
“Let us call Denise and his wife as we agreed,” Arthur faced Nichole and declared joyously.
“It is okay, dear,” she responded cheerfully.
That day, Nichole fell in love with Arthur all over again for his confident demeanor. He crossed his left leg on his right and rested his head on the headrest of the couch before he called on Denise.
“Hello, Father. I am happy to hear from you,” Denise greeted him.
“Hello, Denise. How is your wife?” Arthur responded gleefully as if nothing was bothering him while Nichole looked on contentedly.
“My wife is fine, Father. How is Mom?”
“Your Mom is fine,” he answered.
He turned and gave Nichole a romantic look before he proceeded, “Congratulations once again. I am proud to be your father.
“Thank you for the compliment, Father.”
“You are welcome. Let me speak with your wife”
“It is okay, Father. Congratulations to you, too. Freya and her family are here too.”
“Wow! You have a full house.”
“Yes, Father. Speak with my wife.”
Arthur spoke leisurely with his family members one after the other before he drew Nichole closer and announced, “Your Mom is here. Speak with her.”
Then, he handed his phone over to her and watched her speak with them. While admiring her, he sipped his tea at intervals. She spoke with them one after the other as well before she concluded with Denise.
“Take care of her, please. I will see you very soon.”
“It is all right, Mom. Goodbye.”
“Goodbye.”
Thereafter, she handed the phone back to him and sipped her tea. Mr. Harry who was staring at the television without paying attention to the program, was petrified. Arthur was not his mate nor his friend, but he feared him like death. Late Williams who was his friend, was an easy-going man compared to his little brother, who was a brute when dealing with a foe. He had avoided him carefully all these years, only to fall cheaply into his hands that evening.
Without paying attention to him, Arthur asked the security guard, who was standing and trying to get his attention all the while.
“Any news?”
“Yes, Boss. We have found out who disconnected the CCTV.”
“Really. That is a piece of good news,” he said and rose to his feet.
Likewise, he removed his jacket and handed it over to Nichole before casting a deadly glance at Mr. Harry. Afterward, he walked with the security guard to the Security Post. Nichole, who collected the suit, kept it carefully on the chair and followed him.
Now, Christopher’s only wish was for the ground to open and gulp him and the chef down.
At the Security Post
The Chief Security Officer played the footage of the activities of the chef in disconnecting the CCTV.
“What!” Nichole exclaimed while Arthur inquired, “Why did she do that?”
“We will find out from her, Boss,” the officer said.
Nichole recalled what she discovered from the chef a few minutes ago and asked aloud, “Was that why she was restless a few minutes ago?”
“What do you mean?” Arthur asked her anxiously and Nichole narrated her encounter with her in the kitchen and concluded with, “I had to ask her to take a rest because I thought she was ill.”
“Get her. She may have a good reason,” Arthur ordered.
Now, one of the security guards got to the staff quarters and met her in her room. She was fraught when she saw the security guard but covered up as though nothing happened.
“The boss needs your attention, Chef,” he informed her.
“I hope there is no problem?” she asked at once.
“I don’t think so,” the security guard declared and walked back to the security post with the twenty-eight-year-old woman.
She had been working for Nichole since her husband died seven years ago and had been very committed. When she got into the security post and saw her bosses, she knew that her game was up.
“I apologize, Boss. I am sorry, Mrs. Bailey. I will say everything I know,” she volunteered in trepidation.
Now, Arthur looked at the chef in amazement and asked her, “Everything you know about what?”
“Please, don’t hand me over to the authorities. I will confess.”
Arthur looked at Nichole, who was sitting beside him, and back to the chef.