Chapter 5: The Mysterious Door

The door had a black knob instead of the normal gold around the house. I walked to it wondering what was behind it. ‘Could it be a secret room? But why would he keep a secret room next to the guest’s room? Well, it’s probably not a secret room’ I said to myself.

I took a deep breath and opened the door. In the room, there was a large mahogany table in the middle with files on the desk and several pen holders. Behind and beside the table were shelves with files and books on them. 

‘Jackpot’ I said to myself. 

To find his name wouldn’t be hard when he has a study or so I thought. 

I started from the drawers on the table. Drawer 1, nothing. Drawers 2,3 and 4 had random files in them. ‘I guess he doesn’t know how to organize’ I said inwardly. I started checking the shelves and he sure liked reading about finances.

Or maybe that was just his weakness in whatever business he does. 

The books were still not arranged so I did him a favor by organizing them in alphabetical order. 

I was so immersed in organizing that I forgot what I initially came in for. After I finished organizing them all, I looked at the clock, it was almost 6. 

‘Shit I have to find it quickly’ I said to myself. 

I went to the files shelf and searched it was still so messed up but I didn’t have time to organize it. I just started looking for any contract. 

I was frantically searching when I came across a file that had my name on it. 

‘Had he done a research on me?’ I thought. 

Just to be sure, I opened the file and read through the contents.

It had every detail about me. From the time I was sick to my first boyfriend, everything was there. 

The first thought that came to my mind was that he was either a pervert, a psychopath, or a serial killer. But then I brushed it off as just wanting to know the person you have in your house, I would have done the same but still, I wouldn’t have gone this far. It was a big intrusion of my privacy. 

I kept the file down where I had found it and continued what I was searching for before I got carried away again. ‘Doesn’t this guy have any contract or property in his name?’ I thought to myself. 

Soon, I came across an old sticky note. It was torn at the side and faded. It read ‘Inside the first painting 1457’. 

‘What did that even mean?’ I thought. Maybe it’s something confidential but I still wanted to check it out. 

There were three paintings on the wall. The first painting was an old vehicle in front of a sting tree in black and white. ‘Weird but okay’ I took off the painting and there was a little keyboard like that of a mini calculator. 

I put 2 and 2 together and imputed the digits on the sticky note.

‘1…4…5…7’ that should do something right? I thought to myself but it didn’t. I was about to put the painting back when I heard a click. 

The safe opened up. There was just one file in it and I figured out what it was. His name, date of birth, allergies, parent, and sibling. 

I read out “Noah Cyrus, age: 27, date of birth: February 21st, 1997, Gender: male ….parents: Mr Nath Cyrus and Mrs Molly Cyrus (both deceased as of 2020)” I stopped there and thought poor Noah then continued reading “ Occupation: businessman… Sibling: Lucy Cyrus..” he has a sister? 

As much as I’ve read his parents died in a car accident so wasn’t his sister supposed to be with him? 

‘Wait I had heard this his name before? My dad mentioned it one time when his business was going through a crisis. Was he the Noah Cyrus? The ruthless man who would stop at nothing to get what he wanted? The evil man also known as the devil? If then I would be in grace danger’ 

I grew scared as I thought about it. “But the Noah Cyrus that’s in this house doesn’t seem to be that kind of person, if anything he seems caring and jovial. Or is this not his file? Did he just do a research on the person?” I looked at the passport, it was definitely Noah, the person I am currently living with. What if?…

My thoughts stopped as I heard the sound of a car entering the compound. I looked at the clock, 7:16. I looked outside the window to see Noah coming out from the car. I kept the file back and locked the safe putting the painting back on the wall and dashing out as fast as I could. 

‘Should I go down?.. no I’m going to my room’ I said as I went into my room. 

He better not come to find me. I was thinking of what would happen if he did. Then I just decided to just go to bed so he wouldn’t disturb me. I was trying to sleep but the sleep wouldn’t come 

Then a knock came. ‘Knock knock’ it must be him. “Audrey?..(knock knock) open up,” he said from behind the door. 

Whether I opened up or not he would still come in but I wouldn’t be the one to let him in.

I heard the door unlocking and I pretended to be asleep. A few seconds passed then he said “Stop pretending” then he sat on the bed. ‘Was I really that bad at pretending?’ I thought to myself. “You are really bad at pretending,” he said as if reading my thoughts.

“Uhghhh” I sighed as I sat up. “What do you want this time” I inquired already feeling tired. 

“You in a bad mood or something? Why the attitude?” He asked 

“It’s impolite to answer a question with a question,” I said slumping back on the bed. 

“Okay, I just wanted to ask some questions,” he said with uncertainty 

“Okay go on” I replied using the pillow to block his sight. He was really good looking but he would have to face the consequences of his action. Look at me talking like we’re already in a relationship. I laughed at myself. 

“What’s funny?” Noah asked.

“I’m just laughing at myself for being so open-minded” I replied 

“You are far from open-minded I assure you” he scoffed. I got up abruptly “What does that mean?” I inquired. He smiled. Of all situations, he was smiling at my anger. I was breathing fire at this moment but deep down I couldn’t help but admire his features. ‘Why would I like him?’ I asked myself shaking my head. 

“What? Don’t want to like me?” He asked 

Was he reading my mind or something? I was shocked. “I’m not reading your mind but you wear your thoughts on your face,” he said 

“Can you be any more cringe? What does that even mean?” I asked. “When you think of something your expression changes and it’s very easy to decipher” 

‘Changes hun? Could he read my thoughts that night’ I thought to myself. 

“Some of them I could but you couldn’t keep a straight face so not all. Want to experience more” he replied moving close to me. 

“You're a weirdo, you know that?” I told him pushing him back a bit. 

“Okay, thanks. But what’s my name?” Noah inquired. Still on that question? I scoffed. Well, he didn’t know I already found his file. 

“Noah” I replied smiling. While his smile faded. “Okay, what’s my surname?” He asked 

“Cyrus, Noah Cyrus age 27, birthday 21st of August, parents Mr Nath Cyrus and Mrs Molly Cyrus, allergies, peanut butter, turmeric, and cyanide…” 

“Okay okay, I got it. But you don’t have a phone neither do the other staff, so how did you find out so much?” He inquired. I wasn’t ready to tell him that I snooped around his business, he wouldn’t appreciate that so it would be better if I kept shut. 

“I have my ways and I’m not ready to let you know about them yet” I replied 

“Ughh” he sighed and continued “so my initial plan was to taunt you and ask you my name but seems that you got that covered so plan 2..” moving closer again and holding my hand. 

“I thought about my feelings for you and I realized I like you. I know you might call it the spur of the moment but just think about it” Noah said.  Noah Cyrus the woman killer? 

They really said, that once men got what they wanted, they tend to want to play more but he wasn’t going to play with me.

“You’re just saying that because you want to have s*x” I scoffed. He paused for a minute. “That’s not the reason” he replied. 

“Then tell me why would you like me if you didn’t want to take the risk of my getting pregnant?” I asked and he looked shocked 

“When did I say that?” Noah asked. 

“You didn’t but the medicine you put in the cup told me everything” I replied to him. Did he think I was a fool or something? 

“Okay I admit that I didn’t want you to get pregnant but that wasn’t the sole reason I put it. Your dad is looking for you everywhere, we had an initial deal not to cross each other’s paths but then you went ahead to eavesdrop so you getting pregnant would mean war to the grave. Not that I would care if I could easily defeat him but it would cause me to lose billions of dollars and I can’t afford to do that, I’m still…. I’m still looking for my sister” 

Noah’s reply made me feel that I was jumping to conclusions. He didn’t want to risk losing billions and his sister due to me getting pregnant. So he just thought ahead…his answer was well explained but deep down, I wanted him not to care about losing billions because of me, I guess it was just wishful thinking.