Chapter four: Before their path cross

Morning arrived but the air inside Montuigo Group still carried as much tension as the day before, every department working seriously, the gossips has died down, everyone is now very careful so as not to draw unnecessary suspicious.

Outside the executive's floor door, guards stood guard checking identification cards and recording every visitor who entered the restricted floor.

Inside the Executive Director's office

Alexander Montuigo had yet to leave his desk, his shirt crumpled, his face looking tired and sleepy but still his eyes shone with determination and dedication, the untouched sup of coffee beside him had long gone cold, stacks of files littering every inch of the mahogany desk

Proposal drafts, meeting minutes, visitor record, security logs, digital access reports. Not a single document had escaped his scrutiny, yet the truth remains frustratingly out of reach.

A knock came at the door

"Come in" he called out, his voice deep and hoarse

The door opened quiet, his secretary stepped inside carrying another cup of freshly brewed coffee and a neatly organized stack of files

"Director Alex, these are the visitor logs you requested" Sophie said

Alex looked up, "thank you" he replied

She placed the files neatly on his desk before replacing the cold coffee with the fresh one.

"You haven't eaten breakfast"

Alex gave a faint smile, "oh right, I didn't even notice" he replied with a faint smile

"I'll eat later, thank you" he added

Sophie hesitated for a moment before saying " ....you should take care of yourself sir"

"I will" Alex replied before putting his attention back to the filed in front of him

She gave a respectful nod before leaving the office

As the door clicked shut, Alex reached for the files she had brought. Without realizing it......he had just accepted evidence from the very person responsible for the investigation.

_Meanwhile_.....................

In the other side of the city, a modest two bedroom apartment stood quiet in one of the aging neighborhoods, the paints on its walls had long begun to peel, and the ceiling fan creaked every few seconds as it struggled against the summer heat, the floor boards creaking with each step. The apartment wasn't luxurious but it was very warm and cozy, it felt like home

Upstairs.....it was complete silence, calm and peaceful

Then....

BANG!!!!

The bedroom door flew open so violently it slammed against the wall

ELENAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!

A girl with shoulder length brown hair stormed inside like a hurricane, Emily.

Without the slightest bit of hesitation, she marched straight to the bed and glared at the sleeping lump buried beneath an old blanket

"ELENA MILLERS!!!" she screamed out

No movement or acknowledgement, Emily folded her arms, "I know you're awake"

Silence........

".... seriously?? Elena Millers, you wanna do this again this morning? my utmost pleasure dear" she said with a mischievous smile as she took a couple step back, crouching as if ready for a race

The girl under the blanket stealthily lowered the blanket to see what Emily is up to and she was just in time to see Emily flying towards her bodyslaming her against the bed, she had no time to react and can only groan in pain feeling Emily's weight thrown at her suddenly.

"You stupid, I just need five more minutes" she managed to forced the words out between her gritted tooth, she pushed Emily out of her bed as she moved to the inner side of the bed and covered her head with the blanket again

Emily blinked on the floor as if she has been betrayed by her lover

"You're always saying that you pig head!!" she said

Elena ignored her, Emily frustrated by Elena's determination to remain in bed today climbed on the bed and say in top of Elena's body

"You have work"

"Mmn" Elena mumbled

"You'll be late"

"Mmn"

Emily, tired of the empty got up and left the bed, turned around to walk out of the room saying

"No problem, sleep as much as you want, I'll eat the meat your mum kept for breakfast"

The blanket suddenly flew back over Elena's head, she sat upright at once, her hair messed up, looking like she just went though a fight

"Don't you dare threaten me with poverty!"

Emily turned back with a mischievous smile

"Oohhh, thought you were asleep"

"Yes, I am" Elena replied going back to lying down, drapping the blanket over her head

"You literally answered me"

"............... I'm sleep talking "

Emily pinched the bridge of her nose, " I can't believe I've been friends with you for eighteen years, I wonder how I survived all those years" she said cinematically

A muffled voice came from under the blanket, "my condolences"

Emily took a deep breath and looked around the room looking for something

"Since nothing is working, gotta go for my last resort"

She spots it, the old fan that has been there since God knows when, it belonged to Elena's dead father's mother, too strong and everlasting, no one dared to use it if they don't wanna freeze

"Ahhh, found you" Emily said, with a cruel smile on her face

She walked to the fan and plugged it in the socket near the bed

Elena pulled down the blanket hearing Emily's footsteps all over her room, seeing the fan, her eyes became wide awake

"Emily...no....." She called out

Just as she said that finish, Emily switched the fan to the highest speed and aimed it directly at Elena

The blanket inflated like a balloon

"AAAAAAHAHHHHHHHH!!!"

Elena screamed as she shot right up, clutching the blanket around herself as her hair whipped wildly in every direction possible.

"YOU MENACE!" she screamed though the noise from the fan made her words barely audible

Emily burst into laughter so hard she held onto the wall

"You should have seen your face" she said almost choking form the laughter

"You almost froze me to death!"

"It's thirty-three degrees outside!"

"I HAVE A DELICATE SKIN!!! and you know that fan is capable of freezing the sun itself you dumbass!!!!"

"You're so dramatic "

Emily hmphed

Elena almost went crazy, " You stupid shit, me dramatic???! Come here and let me do you the same favour" she said as she attacked Emily to seize the fan from her

Emily released the fan, screaming and ran out of the room, running down the stairs while laughing hysterically almost falling down the stairs with Elena right behind her, the fan long forgotten.

As Emily ran straight toward the kitchen to Mrs Millers who was making breakfast so she can save her from the raging Elena

She ran into the kitchen and hid behind Mrs Millers, feigning kindness

"Ohh aunty, you must be soo tired, what do you need me to do for you ma? You're too pretty to be stressed" she said massaging g her shoulders

Mrs Millers seeing Elena heaving, her face red as if she's ready to send someone to heaven couldn't help laughing at her daughter's frustration and anger

"Oh my baby girl, look at you" she said between laughs

Elena hearing her mother's laughter feels even more wronged and pouted her lips, her hands folded, Emily seeing that started making faces at Elena to piss her off even more if that's possible

Elena seeing that was bewildered and almost passed on spot

Just then, Levi, Elena's brother and only sibling entered the kitchen to get water shaking his head at the two girls he's always known as his sisters

"I can't believe you two have decided to start again this early today"

"We're just having a very matured and civilized discussion" said Emily

Levi looked back at his sister and shook his head "civilized discussion indeed, I'm not getting involved" he said as he left the kitchen with a cup of water.

"See?! Even your brother knows you're impossible!" Emily taunted Elena

Elena was short of words, she just gasped exasperatedly and walked into the kitchen to help her mother, seeing this, Emily ran out through the other side to avoid her, she joins Levi in the living room

"Or do you two need my help" she asked the two females in the room

"NO!!!!!" Both replied at the same time

" I mean you can just sit with Levi and have fun, the food will be done soon" Mrs Millers said with a tailored smile

Emily backed away, looking like a child who has been denied a candy "I'm better now you know?"

"You're being so much help by just staying right there"

Emily just looked at her and sighed once again before moving to the living roomAfter about ten minutes, Mrs Millers called out to the two to get the dinning ready, it's time for breakfast

Emily and Levi swung into action immediately, setting everything up as it's always been done

Soon enough, Elena came out of the kitchen carrying out the breakfast with Mrs Millers following her behind

The three of them say quietly at the table waiting for Mrs Miller to serve them breakfast like good kids

Breakfast was simple, breads, fried eggs and a little vegetable stew with sachet coffee

Nothing extravagant yet everyone ate as if it were a feast

Emily took one bite and widened her eyes

"Auntie, this is amazing" she said with her eyes shining brightly

Mrs Millers smiled, "I'm glad you like it"

Levi grinned proudly

"I always tell my friends my mum's cooking beats every restaurant"

Emily nodded enthusiastically

"If restaurants cooked like this, I'd never leave

Elena rolled her eyes

"You'd never leave anyway"

Emily just snorted and ignored her an then faced Mrs Millers giving her puppy eyes

"Auntie....can you adopt me?

Levi frowned immediately

"No" he said

Emily looked offended "excuse you mister, I wasn't asking you"

"I answered anyway, what're you gon do about it? Levi replied taunting her

"You little brat, I can see that you've decided to be like Elena "

"I'm just a cool boy"

Elena laughed

"No, you're just a headache"

"But seriously if she adopts you, you'll move in here, I can't deal with you and Elena everytime" he said depressed as if it's gonna be the worst thing to ever happen on earth

Emily and Elena couldn't help but burst into laughter at his dramatic expression

Even Mrs Millers couldn't help laughing, she forgot about the pills waiting beside ger cup

Seeing her children laugh was enough to calm her troubled heart

After breakfast, Elena stood up to clear the dishes

Her mother gently stopped her, "you go prepare for work, I'll do the dishes"

"No ma, you should rest, I'll do it"

"I'm not made of glass"

"I know" Elena retorted

Elena smiled softly as she took the plates away

"But humor me" she added

"Stubborn girl" Mrs Millers said with a warm smile

"I learned from the best" she chipped before she disappeared into the kitchen