CATCHING THE INTRUDER

"I won't repeat myself, who knows where Marcus is" Mrs. Bill shouted as all the maids and guards were lined up in the sitting room, and no one uttered a word.

"My husband is not around now but bet me I would sack all of you if nobody tell me where Marcus went" she shouted again. "Ma" they all chorused.

The door opened and Shelly walked into the sitting room with her school bag smiling but she looked at her mum and all the maids and guards and wondered what was going on.

"Mum, what is going on," she said as she went to sit with her mum still in her uniform. "Honey go freshen up and then we'll talk," her mum said and she stood up and left. "Jenny, get her meal ready," Mrs. Bill told one of the maids and she left at once.

She got to her room, dropped her bag on her reading table, and went to take her bath. When she was done, she came out and went to the living room and saw her mum still talking with the maids and guards. She went to the dining and her meal was on the table. She put on her headset listening to cool music as she ate.

Soon she saw James walking toward her and he removed the headset from her ear. "Hay, what was that for," she asked. "Don't you have table manners?" he asked as he sat down. "I'm not in the mood to hear whatever mum is saying," she said. "Fair enough," he said as he forcefully collected her spoon and started eating her food.

"James you could have just asked the maid to get you some," she said. "You can have it," he said. "No way I'm eating that, I've just lost my appetite," she said and stood up. "More for me then," he said. "Your annoying, you all are annoying" she shouted and left, all he could do was laugh.

She went to her room and sat on the bed, thinking of what to do next. She picked up her phone and called John. "Hey, what's up," he asked. "Everyone is annoying me!" she shouted. "Calm down, should I come over," he asked. "No, I'll come over. You won't be able to contend with what is going on in my house" she said. "Okay, I'm expecting you," he said and she ended the call.

She got prepared and went to the living room and her mum was still talking to the maids and guards. "Mum" she shouted as she got to the door. "What honey, and why are you all dressed up," her mother said to her looking at her twice.

"I'm going to Joan's, we'll talk when I come back about what you have spent hours talking about," she said looking frustrated. "Be back early and be safe" her mother said and then she left.

She arrived at Joan's residence by 5 pm and Joan as usual welcomed her in. "Why is it that anytime I come, you'll be the first person I would see, and everywhere is always quiet," Shelly asked as she entered the living room.

"Well, because John is always in his room plus everyone is super busy. John and I are the only ones at home including the maids, of course, so make yourself at home" she said. "I came to see John," she said. "I should have known" she answered.

"Where is he," she asked. "He's in his room" she answered. "Can you show me?" she asked. "You have been to this house countless times and you don't know his room," she asked. "I chose not to know, so can you please show me," she asked. "Sure, follow me," she said and soon they were standing at the door.

"Knock before you enter," she said and was walking away. "Wait! you're leaving?" Shelly asked. "Of course, you don't expect me to stay with you. I'm busy, you came for him, so carry on" Joan said and left. "This girl" she murmured.

She knocked on the door for a few minutes and no one responded. "Is he even in" she murmured. She knocked again and again but nobody answered. She checked if the door was locked but it was not locked then she entered the room and she was surprised.

"I've never been in here before, it's amazing," she said as she looked around and saw John on the bed resting, his headset was on and his eyes were closed. "No wonder," she said and sigh. She didn't want to disturb him so she sat on one of the chairs in his room and she focused on her phone. She charted with Rita for a while before she dropped her phone.

"This room is so neat, I never expected it to be like this," she said as she stood up. The door was still open, she didn't want to close it, so she left it. She walked to his bedside and squatted then she gave him a peck on his cheek. He opened his eyes immediately and he was shocked.

"When did you get here," he said as he removed the headset and sat upright. "I've been here for a long time now," she said. "Oh, I'm sorry," he said. "There's nothing to be sorry for, I enjoyed watching you resting. I didn't want to disturb you, so that's why I left you" she said and sat close to him.

"So you mention everyone was annoying you," he said. "Yes, my mum has been scolding the guards and maid for reasons not known to me and my cousin's brother ate my meal," she said and hissed.

"It's okay, you need to calm down," he said. "Your room Is wonderful, I never expected it to be like this," she said. "Yeah because this is your first time being here," he said. "Yes, and you know why, so do you have room snacks," she asked. "No, I don't, I'm not like you," he said. "Oh why I'm going to ask Joan," she said and left and came back with some snacks.

"Joan gave me some snacks," she said laughing and sitting down close to him. "I can see the same spirit is leaving in you girls," he said. "You won't understand and I won't give you," she said hiding it and behaving funnily.

"I don't even want," he said. "Don't beg me" she said laughing. She brought out a piece of biscuits and drew it close to his mouth and he opened it and she drew her hand back and ate it. "I thought you said you don't want," she said laughing. "You are very cunning," he said. shaking his head.

"Can we go to the sitting room?" she asked. "Sure," he said as they both stood up and went to the sitting room. They watched a comedy show and laughed themselves out. Soon she rested her head on his shoulder and he wrapped his hand around her neck.

She was there for some time and later she checked her phone and it was 7:01 pm. "John I need to leave now, don't want mum to be worried," she said and stood up. They walked to the gate together only smiling at each other.

She called her driver and in the process of waiting for her driver, she hugged him and he gave her a peck on the forehead, she only smiled. When her driver arrived, she waved him goodbye and entered the car, and zoomed off.

The next day Shelly came back from school and found her mum and dad sitting in the living room. They told her to get ready quickly and that they would be going somewhere.

While in the car with her parents, they explained to her what was going on. She found out that Marcus her mum's new driver was behind the reveal of her identity. He disguised himself as a driver just to get information.

They traced him down to the company and her father intended on closing it down but Shelly begged on their behave. But her father still took them to court and they were asked to pay a very huge fine. They paid it but it brought them low but they had no choice but to sell part of the company to bring it back on track because they were bankrupt due to the fine and that's how it ended.

On a Tuesday afternoon, after writing a test, Shelly was in the toilet. They had a free period at that moment and soon she heard people walking in and discussing. She recognized the first person's voice to be Peter and the other was John and she listened closely to what they were saying.

"Why can't you tell her you like her" she heard John say. "I don't want to, she might just reject me" Peter answered. "Who might they be talking about" Shelly whispered to herself.