FIVE

Two days later, Marian was absent from school, she hadn't been near the school, and it was difficult for Gabby to reach her. It troubled her knowing her situation.

Gabby stood in front of Ruby's door, trying her again, hoping it would ring, but it sang repeatedly, not available. Then she decided to knock.

"Marian?" She called and immediately opened the door. "Mar- Oh, you must be Gabby?" She guessed.

Gabby ignored trying to look inside, but Ruby blocked her, and she looked at her. "Is Marian not around?" Gabby asked.

"Huh? Oh, I thought you-" Fear immediately gripped her eyes like a dark curtain. Ruby was very transparent to read.

"Where's Marian?" Gabby pushed the door, leaving her hand banging against the wall.

"I don't know. Marian left the room even in the rain. I tried convincing her to stay, but..." Ruby replied, her voice shaking.

"Where did she go?" Gabby asked, looking back at her.

"I don't know," she said with her eyes popping out and her hands folded.

"What happened?" Gabby required.

"Do you know where she would be?" Ruby ignored, walking closer.

"What happened!" She yelled,

Gabby had tried all possible means to find Marian. She had quit working at the cafe she used to and had no idea where she could be. She wouldn't dare go to her family's house that she knew. So she sat on a bench frustrated, scrolling through her phone and hoping Marian would reach out before she dialled her stepmother or maybe the police, but it wasn't up to a day yet.

"Mr Wilson," a lady walked in, she wore a green up-and-down suit, and she had in her hands a file.

Noel looked up at the lady, but the file had caught his attention, and she then handed it to him. "What this?" Inquisitive.

"It's MMarian'sfiles," she said.

What?" A small laugh followed after.

"I thought you wanted it," she said, looking at the file pointed out to him.

"Grace, I only said, follow her, not get her information," he reclined in the chair.

"I'm sorry, I thought you wanted me to run a background check on her," Grace said—Grace West— Mr Wilson's assistant.

"So what did you find out." He took it.

"She lost her parent when she was five years old and was placed in an orphanage home two days after and a week, Marian was adopted, and her records say Marian still lives with her adopted parent; hence Marian doesn't," she finished.

"Where does she live?" He asked, looking at her.

"With her friend Ruby, also a final year student, she studies business, but last night" she paused.

"Last night what?" He asked curiously. Grace cleared her throat.

"She drove her out." She said frankly.

"I thought she lived in the dorm," he asked, confused.

"She doesn't. She lives outside of school with Rub, and II believe it was a secret." She said.

"Wait! Hold on. You said she drove her outright? Where is she now?" He asked.

"She stays in a friend's bar and works there at night," she replied.

"A bar?" He raised his brows.

"Yes, Sir," she replied.

"Oh, my goodness," he looked at the file, frustratedly he licked his lips. "Prepare the car. We have a guest," he said, getting up and grabbing his jacket.

"Sir, you have a meeting with your father today," Grace said. He paused and looked back at her.

"By what time?" His voice softened.

"Now, sir, he is at the usual spot," she replied. Noel lowered his head and nodded.

"Tell him something important came up and postponed the meeting," he said.

"Huh?" Grace's eyes bulged out.

"Grace, reschedule. We have to go!" He urged to roll his eyes at her silliness.

Meanwhile, Marian lay on the small mattress, barely fitting in the bed. She took out her phone and sighed, and it had been on aeroplane mode all day. She wasn't going to remove it, and her heart skipped, knowing Gabby was likely to call.

Amidst what happened to her, she thought about Mr Noel. He had popped into her head every time she was free. Last night, she had seen someone that looked much like him. When she remembered she was probably going to quit school, she sighed heavily.

The door opened, "Marian, someone's here to see you," a lady covered in tattoos said, her hair bleached in a buzz cut.

"Me?" She wondered, who knew she was here, or was it the guy from last night?

"Yes, you! Come on out. He looks wealthy," she said.

"I will be out in a minute!" She yelled. The door closed, and seconds after, it opened.

"Miss Carter?" She called, and no one was out. The diner was empty. They hadn't yet opened.

She stepped out, and her heart skipped. She immediately dodged and hearted her nature.

"Isn't that?" She blinked and slowly peeped from the wall, her eyes opened wider "Mr Noel?" She pinched her thighs, hoping it was just her eyes.

"Oh, there you are. Have you seen your guest?" Miss Carter said. Marian shook her head. There was no way she was letting him see her in this situation, especially when she was supposed to be in school. "What are you doing there?" She asked and looked towards Noel. He stood with a box in his hand and Grace behind him.

"I can't see him," she whispered, with hand gestures.

"What do you mean you can't see him?" Miss Carter asked. Her voice was loud enough. Marian sighed, covering her head. "She would be out in a few" She turned to him and smiled.

Now she had no choice, she quickly looked at herself and realised she wore only s a slack T-shirt. Why was he even here for her? She stepped out.

"Mr Noel?" She said through her gritted teeth. "Why are you here?" She said with a small laugh.

"For you, I am here for you," he said. Marian looked at him, licked her lips and hung her head low. He looked dashing as ever. He wore an all-black and had his glasses on.

"What do you mean for me?" She replied, never taking the fake smile on.

"I noticed you weren't in school, so I came with some interesting offer," he said.

"Offer?" She looked at the lady behind him, and she stepped forward.

"Mr Noel would like to offer you a place to stay," she said.