Chapter 2 LOST OPPORTUNITY; I HATE BOSS LILAH.

The Francisco family had invited one of their family friends, the Archibald family to welcome each son. The women were dressed in elegant matching blue flowing gowns and were adorned with jewelry while the men just wore casual yet expensive outfits. They were seated outside the mansion, under a well-covered place receiving the fresh air while waiting for the arrival of their sons.

Inside the mansion, Sara couldn't stop peeping at them once in a while to know if he was back or not. She was getting anxious and she was sure that the anxiousness had risen to an abnormal level while waiting. The head of the maids passed by and caught a glimpse of Sara lazing around.

"Sara!" She called suddenly and Sara squealed a bit before covering her mouth. Even though she was twenty-five, she still had the brain of a child.

"B...boss?"

"Why are you looking through the window? Are you trying to steal something?"

"What? What could I possibly want to steal? The window?" Sara chuckled.

"No, you should steal the mansion, that would be better," Lilah replied sarcastically before glaring at her. Sara swallowed hard and smiled anxiously. She knew something unfavorable was coming next.

"I can see that you are less busy, that's why your mouth is loose these days and you are planning to steal the mansion. Why don't I occupy you with some work?"

"She has gotten into trouble again."

"Idiot."

"Such a blabbermouth." The other maids who saw the situation as they walked past them murmured.

"Er...boss Lilah, I..."

"Security," Lilah called and a man standing not too far from them answered.

"Escort her to the basement and make sure she doesn't leave until 7 pm when her time strikes. She has a particular work to do there." Lilah instructed and Sara felt like crying. Her boss simply smirked and left the poor girl alone.

"Let's go, Miss." The security man ordered.

Jane walked with heavy feet towards the basement. Was she going to lose the opportunity to see Alfred now?

***********|************|

Alfred and Archie landed at Alfred's private airport a few hours later. The surroundings were clean and a bit desolate as it was private property. A man dressed in a suit walked quickly to them.

"Welcome, sirs. Your ride is this way." He led them to a big black car. Gauging from its appearance, it was probably worth a billion dollars. Alfred entered and so did Archie. The driver started the car's engine and zoomed off.

On the way, Alfred stared at the road with full concentration before turning up the window. Everything had indeed changed after so long but he wondered if everyone he knew had changed as well.

After thirty minutes of driving, they finally arrived at the mansion and the driver drove in accompanied by two other cars. The elderly ones, on seeing them, smiled and rose to their feet. The door was opened and the men came out like royalties and walked towards them with no hesitation. They hugged one another.

"My darling, I miss you so much." Mrs. Ursula Francisco said as she hugged Alfred tightly.

"Look at how thin you two are." Mrs. Rachael Archibald spoke as she looked at the two men in front of her who could never be called the two young boys she knew again. They had grown to become strong, handsome, and powerful just like their fathers wanted them to be.

"That's what the mothers will always say but for the men, they look more appealing this way. Welcome back home, let's go in." Mr. Mark Francisco said as he pats her son's back.

Meanwhile, inside the mansion, the maids were already running helter-skelter. Some were fawning over how hot and handsome they looked. When they sighted them coming, everyone arranged themselves and bowed to greet them.

"You must be hungry. Have something to eat." Ursula said as she spread her hand over the large delicacies that were on the dining table. Soon the whole family settled down for lunch and discussed joyfully.

Josh looked around for any sign of Sara but he couldn't find her. He wondered where she could have gone to. After eating, the family decided that the men should rest for the day and that a welcome party would be held on their behalf the next day. The Archibald left after a while. As Alfred walked to his room majestically, the maids and security men bowed to acknowledge his presence either slightly or deeply but he didn't say a word.

When he got to his room, it had been redecorated and refurbished. It wasn't the old boy's room anymore instead, it carried a sense and smell of manliness.

*******

Sara could hear the talking of the maids that walked past the basement once in a while. Alfred was back in the house but she wasn't privileged to see him and this was all thanks to her boss. She had just lost a very good opportunity.

"I hate you, boss Lilah." She gritted her teeth.

Afterward, she got home feeling more frustrated than ever before. She looked depressed because of two things. One, she was overworked and two, she couldn't get a first glimpse at Alfred. Just great.

"I am back." She said with a tired voice before sitting down on the chair. Vicky who was in a corner of the sitting room trying on a new color for his art spared a glance at her.

"We can see that." He replied. Their mum, Danny, wheeled herself out of her room towards her daughter.

"Why don't you try being a bit considerate?" Danny asked her son. Vicky dropped the box of colors in his hand and stood up. He walked to Sara and bowed with a sly smile.

"Dear favorite sister, you are back? Welcome, you look stressed like a monkey. Do you need some water?" He asked and Sara rolled her eyes.

"Save the pretense." She replied.

"It could have helped much longer before I stood up."