TWO

“Miss Mariah, you have a visitor,”

Sally, the maid, informed me, as she stood at the door of my room.

There was a confused frown on my face. 

“A visitor?” I asked her.

“Yes, Madam.” Sally had answered curtly.

It was odd to have visitors at the Beach House. I lived here alone. Besides the people who worked for me and my Grandfather who lives here part time, it was a lonely place here. No one ever came to look for me. 

“I’ll be down shortly,” I decided to go downstairs to know who couldn’t possibly want to see me.

My curiosity was immense. 

“Would you like anything else, sir?” I heard Sally asking the 'visitor' as I walked down the stairs and closer into the living room.

 “No, the coffee is fine. Thank you,” A deep male voice responded to her.

I halted instantly at the familiarity of the voice, suddenly unsettled.

“Ohh, Miss Mariah, you are here." Sally had found me standing in dumbfoundedness at the stairs, "Here he is,” She gestured into the Living Room. 

Looking there to see the face, I did a double take.

“You?” I could not believe my eyes. It was him, the rude Bastard from the party. He was in my living room, sitting on the main sofa  “Why are you here?” I asked him. 

“Mariah,” He said my name without answering,  gently dropping the coffee mug on the table.

The man dared to even drink Coffee in my own house.

 “Mariah winkle, right?” He asked me.

“Yeah, no shit,” Sarcasm rolled off my tongue. 

“About the other day at the party," He went straight to the point, "I didn’t mean to be so rude. I actually didn’t know it was your party.”

"So, if you knew it was my party, you would have pretended to not be an asshole?" I questioned him, "So, what, you go around calling girls who don't seem 'important' to you mid?"

“I’m Daniel," He said to me, "Daniel Carter.”

 Like he expected me to know who that was. He said it with so much pride. Like it would have compensated for him being an asshole.

“And I don't care," I made it clear. 

“Feisty," He acknowledged. “We could make good friends. Even better partners."

"Excuse me?" I raised a brow in disgust. 

"Business partners," He immediately clarified, "Shimmer and Carter Jewelry lines are meant to be a collaboration. I have been making some deals with you and your team and it's not been finalized, but it seems to be going on a steady path."

The Carter name quickly rang a bell for me. So, that was why he had introduced himself so openly to me. He expected a laugh of recognition and laughter, following. 

“So, that’s why you came here,” I stated with irritation in my voice. “You just want to make sure that the collaboration between our companies is still on.”

“No, I came to apologize,” He said to me.

“That flimsy excuse of an apology is what you’re calling an apology?—”

The front door opened, distracting me in mid speech and I turned to see Grandfather, walking in through the two way entrance doors of my living room. 

He seemed to be pleasantly surprised to see Daniel.

“You did not tell me I would be having a visitor today,” With a smile and a vibrancy in his steps, he handed his jacket to sally.

For an old man, he looked agile. Although his hair was white, it was full like a forest. His beards were long, and his body seemed health. Although, I knew his health, wasn't. 

“Good day sir. Actually, I am here to see Mariah,” He

curtly said to my Grandfather.

“Oh,” The old man chuckled. “Mariah, do you mind introducing me to your friend?”

“He is not my friend,” I started off, "But, meet Daniel Carter, the co-owner of the Carter Jewelries. I have no idea why he showed his face up at my house and I am seconds from calling the police.”

Daniel laughed in embarrassment.

"I believe you have heard of The Carter Brothers," He spoke in favour of himself to my Grandfather, "We have been proposing a big deal with the new owner of Shimmers, your granddaughter."

Grandfather's eyes were wide with interest. He shook Daniel's eyes, and it was most certain he had heard about him, even if he hadn't seen him before. 

"Wow, One of the Carters is before me? Is this a dream?" He was delighted, apparently.

Daniel only laughed. “Nice to meet you, Sir Winkle,” His smile was warm.

“You too, Mr Carter,” Granddad responded with a smile back, “I hope you would be joining us for dinner?” 

I winced. If only Grandfather was steady with the news, he would be aware that I had punched this guy on the nose the other day. If only. 

“Actually, I was about to take my leave sir,—” 

Thank God.

Daniel picked up his keys from where he dropped them earlier, on the centre table.

"I am sure there are many other days we can set an arrangement," He said to Grandfather.

“Oh okay, my boy," The old man was down. I tried not to roll my eyes. "Maybe, some other time then, alright?” 

“Sure thing.”

I rolled my eyes at his response and wanted him out of my house. 

And to never return again.

***

“I ask again, where’s my wrist watch?” Grandpa asked in a loud and angered tone.

His Patek Philippe diamond and gold plated wrist watch gifted to him by his father was missing. It was one of its kind and was the first and only time the Patek Philippe brand collaborated with Shimmer to make wrist watches. Only six wrist watches were made in a unique way. pops kept the most expensive and valuable one for himself and sold the rest. Pops could not find the glass he placed in his bedroom. He had summoned all the workers in the house.

Everyone, including me.

“I’m about to call the police, so anyone who did this or knows anything about this should speak up now.”

I knew he wasn't giving empty threats.

Grandfather was two different people when he was happy and upset. I hated this side of him.

He picked up his phone and waited for a few seconds, giving us a chance to speak, before he made the call.

Who could have possibly done this? Nothing has ever been stolen in this house until…

DANIEL CARTER.

I could be wrong, but how could this be a coincidence? The one time something goes missing in the house was after Daniel came visiting. It was suspicious. If it was truly him, I would make sure he got what he deserved.

The cops started questioning the workers immediately they got to the house. Pops had already given a description of the wristwatch and pictures too. He also took them to where he kept the watch. The cops went round the whole house hoping to find clues. They were not able to find anything and they came to the conclusion that the person who stole the watch most likely sold it. Seeing as it was a really expensive watch, they said they’d receive a large credit alert and they were going to check the workers' banking records for anything outrageous.

The house was in so much chaos and all in the same day that man stepped foot into it. 

***

The front door of the Living Room opened.

“Hello,”

The crow was back again. 

Daniel’s annoying voice echoed in the living room as he walked to where I was sitting.

“It’s you again,” I rolled my eyes. 

“You seem so excited to see me,” Sarcasm filled his tone.

“What are you doing here?” I asked bluntly.

“Your Grandfather invited me for dinner, remember?” He said to me, with a smile on his face.

 And he said he wasn't coming.

What on earth was Daniel up to?

“Mr Carter!” Grandfather popped out soon enough, making his way down the stairs to the living room to shake his hand.

The forming 'bromance' between that man and my Grandfather was unsettling. I knew I had incoming problems to worry about. 

***

The chef came to the dining area with a variety of dishes which he served us.

I was simply repulsed by the audacity Daniel had to come to a house where he stole and still eat with us.

“So, Daniel, how was your ride here?” He tried to make small talk as we ate our food.

“It was swift; the road wasn’t really busy,” He responded to the old man.

“Sorry about the police interrogation at the entrance,” Pops drank out of his cup of red wine. “My Patek Philippe wristwatch went missing all of a sudden.—”

“—Which is surprising actually, because nothing has ever gone missing here, until you visited,” I added, without taking my eyes off Daniel.

I was shocked at how Grandfather did not seem to suspect Daniel one bit. If no one was going to say it, I would. 

“Well, Mariah, as a matter of fact I bought three out of the five that were auctioned,” Daniel responded, looking straight into my eyes. “Mr Winkle, if you don’t get your watch back, I would love to give you one of mine.”

“Thank you, Daniel, that’s very kind of you.” Grandfather replied, "But, I hate nothing more than theft and I want the culprit out of this house once caught."

I had to find a way to expose Daniel if he really is the thief. I needed to show my Grandfather that he was not trustworthy, one bit. 

“So, are you two a couple ?” Pops smiled as he looked between Daniel and me. 

Almost choking after hearing my grandfather’s question, “What? No, far from that.” 

Daniel let out a chuckle. “We’re not dating sir,” 

“Mmm. So you’re just friends then,” Pops makes his conclusion. “ How’d you two meet in order to make the partnership agreement?”

“Funny story actually, we actually—”

“Pops, What’s it with the questions?” I cut Daniel off before he completed his sentence.

What was all of this? 

“We shouldn’t be talking while eating. We will fill you in on all the details on how we met later, okay?” I said to my grandfather, knowing the last thing he wanted to hear was how I slapped him at my party.

“Son, tell me about yourself,” Pops continued his interview with Daniel Carter.

"Well aware. Son of Bruce Carter," Grandfather smiled proudly, "The Carters of the Jewelry line."

“My father was the one running the Carter jewelry line at the time of the first collaboration with Shimmer. He handed the Carter jewelry to me before he passed.”

Oh, his father was dead...

Daniel paused for a moment to sip his wine.

“I would like our jewelry lines to collaborate again. It will do well for both our businesses,” He turned to look at me, “Mariah, what do you think?” Daniel turns to look at me as I mistakenly drop the cutlery which made a loud tinkling sound.

“That’s a great Idea, but all plans of collaboration has been cancelled till further notice.”

Not wanting to have anything to do with him, I deaded it with that. 

“I’m sure you can change that. That decision was made when I was in charge, and now there is a new boss.” Grandfather had to involve himself.

I couldn’t say 'no' now knowing that my grandfather obviously wanted me to agree to this collaboration.

Luckily, I had not a chance to give a response.

The door came opening wide as Alison walked into the house. 

Alison and I have known each other all our lives. She was the closest person to me, asides from my Grandfather. Her parents and I were very close friends in college, after my parents got married and her parents got married too, they moved to the same estate just so they could live next to each other. My mother and Alison’s mother both got pregnant about the same time and both gave birth to us in the same hospital on the same day. 

We both have lived like sisters ever since then. We have always done everything together. We both went to the same high school, Alison was the most beautiful girl in school and the most popular girl in school too. She was known for her outstanding features like her dainty auburn hair and her crystal-like hazel eyes.

Things changed when her parents had to move to Scotland three years ago and we totally lost touch with each other. I never thought I would see her again.

“Oh my God, Alison,” l sprung from the dining chair and ran to Alison giving her a big hug.

 Sally helped to take Alison’s bags to the guest room.

“I missed you so much,” She whispered in my ear.

“I missed you too,”I replied, hugging her tighter.

“Wow, look at you. You have grown taller. And your boobs got bigger too!” Alison laughs.

“Shut up,” We both laugh. 

“Now, where is Grandfather?” She looks around in her spot. “It’s been so long since I saw my favorite winkle!”

“I will take you to him,”

As I took her to the dining area where my grandfather was with Daniel, I couldn’t help but think of things we could do together now that she was here. At least, she showed up to make this 'Daniel Carter's experience less traumatizing for me.

***

Dinner was done and Pops asked me to see Daniel off, which I did. I came back inside and  took Alison straight to my room.

“Not much has changed since I left,” Alison walks around my room scanning every little detail. She went to my table which was right in front of my window. She looks outside the window and sees the window of the house beside mine. That used to be Alison’s room. “What are the neighbors like?”

“They are really chill. They don’t come out much. Always indoors.” I explained 

She looks through my drawings. A number of them were spread over the table surface in an irregular manner. I never take my time to clean up after I’m done drawing.

“These are so beautiful. You have gotten so much better Mariah,” Alison compliments.

“Thank you.” I smile. She’s the only one I ever let look at my drawings.

“So who is he?” She sits on the bed with so much force scattering my already made sheets.

“Who is who?” pretending not to know who she was talking about.

“The super handsome dude with dark brown hair and crystal green eyes,” I gave her a puzzled look pretending not to know who she was talking about. “The other male at the diner that was not Grandfather,” She described further, and I pretended not to listen to her.

“You like him, don’t you?” she teased.

“Hell no!” In a loud tone I disagree.

“So you do know who I’m talking about,” she smiles. “Come on, tell me. What’s his name?”

“Daniel. Daniel carter,”

“THE Daniel Carter?” She threw a flip, emphasizing on THE like that will make me know who he is. “Owner of the carter jewelry line, the product architect of BoltX Inc —the most famous car company in the world,”

The Car part… took me off guard.

“He's like one of the youngest and most handsome multi-billionaires in our city!” She gushed.

“And the rudest too,” I chimed.

“You can not deny the fact that he is handsome though,” She said. 

“How is Alex?” I immediately changed the topic of the conversation. “Why didn’t he come with you?” 

Alex was my childhood crush and was also my first kiss. We both had feelings for each other but we never acted on them because I did not want anything ruining my friendship with Alison. Alison was strictly against any of her friends dating her brother. It was either my friendship with Alison or going out with her brother and I chose my best friend.

“He had some business to finish. He’ll be here by tomorrow or next.” Alison assures.

 It has been so long since I last saw Alex. He would probably look different now but not beyond recognition. 

“Ohh, I see.” My response to Alison was in a low tone which seemed sad.

***

 A day has passed since Alison’s arrival. I and Alison had planned on going to the movies later on today. Actually, she made the plan. I insisted on her resting since she just got here and needed to rest but she refused.

 The chef had made a delicious breakfast sandwich for Alison and I that morning when the police drove into the compound.

“We found the thief.” The police officer makes his way to my grandfather. 

“Who is it?” My grandfather asks curiously.

“Sally.” I am frozen on the spot as my eyebrows raise out of shock, the police officer revealed the name of the thief.

 Sally had worked for our family for as long as I can remember. She always told me stories of how she started working for my father when she was nineteen and how nicely they treated her. He started working for my grandfather after my parents passed. She was the one who babysat me as a kid when my parents had to stay out late working.

 She was one I was closest to amongst all the workers in the house, she was my friend. There has to be a reason as to why she would steal from my grandfather.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you.” The police officer cuffs her and walks her out the front door.

Following them, I watched them put sally in the back seat.

“No no, you can’t let them take me,” Tears rolled down her cheeks as the police officer slammed the back door.

“Well that was unexpected,” Alison was as shocked as I was.

“But why would she…” still shocked and confused I try to let out words but I couldn’t complete my sentence 

What could have possibly been the reason for her stealing from my grandfather? Sally is paid quite generously and is the highest paid worker in the house. None of this made sense to me.