Chapter 6 Claudia.

"You didn't answer my calls yesterday,mind telling me where you were?"She was in her father's office and he looked pissed.She wasn't worried though,her father never unleashed his anger towards them

She shrugged and replied calmly"just out"

"When i ask you something i expect you to answer me straightforward."

"Am i supposed to inform you of my whereabouts Dad?Am a grown woman you know not some child"she bit back

"Alina Nikita Jeffery"his voice boomed "i am your father,have some respect when talking to me and don't you use your hands when doing so.Am asking you one last time, where.where.you yesterday."

"I was out with some friends dad something came up."she said meekly.

"Am i paying you to hang out with 'friends' little girl?Did i raise you to be so irresponsible or is it that i spoiled you too much?" With every word, his voice rose.

Her eyes teared up and tears started streaming down her cheeks when she said "am sorry dad,it was an emergency"she wasn't used to being scolded by her father maybe that's why she was hurt to the point of breaking down but even when crying her father didn't lower his voice and Ali was shocked by his outburst.

"An emergency like being called to the station?What have you done Ali?why did the detective call you?"

She stood up abruptly and started explaining herself"i didn't do anything father, how could you even think that.Am you're daughter,you know me for God's sake"

"Am not even sure if i do anymore kid,you've been very mysterious lately,sneaking out of the office to meet some 'friends'?if you were in my shoes what would you have thought?"he sounded confused and hurt.

She was now very furious,her own father saying that he doesn't really trust her was a bitter pill to swallow."i would have believed my daughter,one whom i've known for years."she strode off but before disappearing completely her father's voice stopped her "i pray that you've done nothing wrong my child,cause if you have i'll have no choice but punish you for your mistakes until i know for sure that you've learnt you're lesson."

______________________________________________

She was currently in her office, her mind preoccupied with the heated argument she had with her father,'her father didn't trust her' it replayed in her mind over and over again.How could he even say that?doesn't he feel guilty of what he just said?She decided to get out of that reverie and engage herself with something more useful 'work!'she sighed and continued with work.

"Miss,miss Claudia is here to see you."Hours had passed when she heard Alma.She was surprised but happy to hear that her friend was back.

"Send her in Alma"few seconds later an uptight brunette girl who seemed to be her age entered.She had a pant suit on and her hair was tied in a tight back bun,not even a strand was left out.Ali stood up went round the table to hug her friend

"I missed you a lot girl,how have you been?that work of yours took you away from me for so long."Claudia hugged her back but laughed at her friend's idiocy,'her work took her away from her' she can't be serious

"Your acting like am Alex right now,i do have responsibilities and some of them need me to drive out of this city."

"Oh Claudie you two each have a special place separately in my heart,take a seat and tell me everything about your work and the hottie you've found."she wiggled her eyebrows

Rolling her eyes,Claudia smacked her head playfully"don't you ever get tired of meddling in my love life young lady?there is no hottie and my work went just fine.Now tell me about you and this whole situation"her expression had turned serious.

She heaved and started telling her everything from where it started.When she first heard the news,her fathers outburst, the interrogation and the talk she had with her father which left her disheartened.

"My father doesn't trust me Claudia can you believe that?"

"Your father is going through a tough time,you told me yourself that this company means a lot to him,it was built by his father,your grandfather,you have to understand him,he just said all those things out of anger am sure he didn't mean any of it."

"No no no Claudia you should've seen him,he spoke each word with emphasis he meant everything he said"she was crying and Claudia hugged her

"But you haven't done anything so you don't have to worry."she tried calming her

"That's not the problem,i just can't believe that my own father doesn't even trust me.Am his daughter."she was a sobbing mess.Claudia did her best to try and calm her.She succeeded after half an hour as Ali settled down finally.

"Claudia can i ask you for something?"

"Of course i'll do anything for you."

"If anything happens to me w--"

She didn't get to finish her words as Claudia intervened standing up"no Ali no,nothing's going to happen to you i won't let it plus you haven't done anything wrong"

"It's good to know that you'd lay down your life for me hunny am touched"she said and placed her hands on her chest.She was trying to create humor out of the situation she earned a chuckle from Claudia but who still looked tense.

'"Listen, nothing will happen to me i just assured the the hospital that someone else is ready to take care of her if anything goes wrong,and i want you to be that person."She now understood.

"How is she anyway"Claudia asked,filling Ali with so much enthusiasm"she's doing great,the doctors told me she'll be out in a few months and i can't wait for the day to come--"she rambled on about how excited she was,Claudia was staring at her"what?is there something on my face?"she noticed the stare and decided to ask.

"Am just admiring your selflessness,there aren't many people in this world that could help people they barely know.You're one of a kind i must say."

"Oh come on stop it so many people out there are still kind only that most people like you and i know them by their....faces i may say and not their heart"she wanted to say that most people out there are just selfish and cruel,she is a lawyer,she has seen many evils,prejudice against innocent people,unlawful acts,she herself passed in the hands of people like those until she met her, but she decided against it she knew an argument with Alina is hitting a dead end and even her one of the best lawyers in town would not come out as a winner.

"You don't have to worry Ali,you know i also adore that kid so yes,i'll take care of her but nothing will happen to you."

"That's why i love you bestiee,come here give me a hug."they hugged each other then went on talking about other matters till when Claudia decided to leave her to finish her work.

*

*

*

On the other side,the investigation was going on.Detective Martin had asked the security of the Jeff building for the CCTV footage of that day.The Jeff building was a big one, no doubt there were surveillance cameras each corner.As they analysed the footage for any suspicious face,a man wearing a green cap was seen entering the building's parking lot and went straight to were a black BMW car was, opened the door and got inside.His face was not clear but his intentions revealed themselves.After researching about the owner of the car,it was found to be Ali's.

"Detective what should we do now?"a subordinate was talking to detective Martin who had a victory smirk plastered on his face.

"Now we strike Jeremy,Miss Alina was very haughty the day i called her for the interrogation,she better prepare herself very well from now because it won't be easy to get out of this one.

***********

Alina had finished her work early and went to Alex's office to surprise him.He was a workaholic and always left the office later than his employees.

"Hey Mark,is Alex in his office?"Mark was Alex's PA,he was well aware of their relationship and knew he was to let her in whenever she came by.

"Am very fine thank you Ali"he mocked her lack of acknowledgement

"Oh forgive me Mark,i have so much going on lately hope you're fine?"

"You'll get through whatever it is your going through girl,Alex is in his office but--"

"Great Mark i'll go in"

She didn't let him finish because she knew he was going to tell her that he's busy or whatever excuse he always make just so she couldn't get inside his office.He liked Ali but always thought her as a distraction to his boss whenever she came around.

She was shocked with what she saw inside,so this was why Mark didn't want her to go inside.It was Camilla the woman from the restaurant, she was chatting with Alex as if they were long lost friends who just reunited 'well technically they are' a voice mocked in her head.

Although nothing was wrong with what they were doing,she still couldn't help the wave of jealousy that came to her.She didn't want the woman to see that she was succeeding in what she was doing as what she thought was that the woman named Camilla was trying to make her jealous and take Alex from her.

With so much enthusiasm she walked to Alex"Hi babe"she hugged him and sat on his lap.Alex was used to that position whenever she came to his office,what he didn't know was that today she did it specifically to show the woman across his desk who he belonged to.She never new she was territorial.

"Oh hello Camilla i didn't notice you there."She said that purposefully to get under her skin.She did,the woman was now breathing flames but was able to conceal her irritation "hello Alia it's nice to meet you again."

"It's Alina and the pleasure is all mine."Camilla didn't miss the arrogance in that statement but chose to ignore it.She was certain the phrase had an ambiguous meaning to it.

"My apologies then,my memory isn't that good, i tend to forget trivial things easily"a smirk decorated her face,she was hinting that she doesn't pay attention to insignificant things.She just called her insignificant and that alone sent her on the verge of committing murder.

'Yet you still remember old flings.'Ali muttered under her breath.Alex just observed the ongoing conversation, he didn't feel the tension surrounding the air nor did he understand anything.

"Alex, it was nice having this conversation with you.I'll Take my leave now.Alina, have a great day."

Ali mimicked her last sentence in a mocking way making Alex look at her questioning her action.

"I don't trust that woman."she spoke with irritation.Tightening his arm around her he brought her close while she slid her arms locking them to his neck and cradled him.

"Why?did she do anything to you?"he asked warily.

"She didn't do anything but something about her just doesn't sit well with me."

"I don't think so, maybe you're just paranoid or that your jealous" he teased her.

"Do i have any reason to be?"she asked with a serious expression and a perfectly raised brow.

He pulled her face closer and started kissing her jaw."there's nothing to worry about."he reassured her in between kisses and what went on in there was only for the walls to know.

Am currently editing the first three chapters,i did edit the chapters then published them in some other platform but sadly they got deleted so am starting all over.Bear with me for a while.