Chapter 1 The Smiths

"Dad! Look what I made", six-year-old Tessa Smith squealed and ran excitedly to her father's study.

It was large and antique, with its huge mahogany shelf reaching the top of the room like hands outstretched to the sky. There was a big oak desk seated in the middle with sheets of papers sprawled all over the surface of the desk.

There, her father sat down, his head down to the work on his desk.

Upon hearing Tessa's tiny voice, he looked up and smiled broadly; a smile that was found on a man who had just met his lover after so long. With a wave of hands, he motioned her to come further into the study.

"This must be an amazing work of art that made my little princess so excited. Now, what do we have here?" he remarked, peaking into what she was holding in her hands.

She giggled, showing off a few missing teeth. "I created an invoice for a business transaction", she responded, proudly showing the sheet of paper in her hands.

James left his seat and crouched to her level, taking the paper and examining it closely.

Most of the invoice's arrangements were messy with the wordings out of place, it couldn't even be called an invoice but he still stared at her with a look of surprise and unexplainable joy.

"Don't go with your usual words of appraisal, just let me know if it's good or not" she pouted.

"Okay fine", he surrendered. "Most wordings are not placed in the right manner but I'm proud of you. Where'd you learn this?" There was no form of amusement or mockery in his eyes.

"I want to be a businesswoman like my father so, I learnt from the best!"

James burst into laughter and ruffled her hair, "of course, you're daddy's best girl"

"Oh common, dad! I'm a lady, you can't mess up my hair" she protested.

"My apologies, milady" he bowed and arranged her hair.

A figure appeared at the door; it was Kiera Smith, Tessa's mother, who looked on lovingly with satisfaction as the father and daughter duo played and chatted happily.

She wanted to interrupt but she couldn't bring herself to do it, she had come to increasing love her child more and would do anything for her; as a matter of fact, Tessa was her miracle baby.

~~

Kiera Smith formerly known as Kiera Jade Stones, a strikingly, beautiful influential model fell in love with James Smith, a business mogul whose success kick started when he just clocked twenty.

Their wedding was like a dream vacation spot filled with pomp and pageantry, it was a luxurious wedding filled with wealthy influential people including the president.

It made the headlines and paparazzi as much as the sands of time were present to show the world the beauty of luxury, opulence and class.

After the ceremony, everyone had expected a baby bump photo on their timeline and subsequently, a baby or two from the affluent couple. But months turned into years and no sign of little feet around their home.

They consulted the best doctors who assured them of their fertility and there was no cause for alarm. But Kiera was still bothered, what exactly seemed to be the problem? She would ask endlessly, her mind drowned in a myriad of thoughts.

Finally their big break came; in the seventh year of their marriage, Kiera delivered the beautiful witty Tessa. But Tessa was the only child they could own as parent, the doctors had warned Kiera on the complications that would arise if she makes any attempt to conceive.

She could even lose her life.

With this heartbreaking news, Kiera took a surprising decision; she retired from her career, her sole responsibility would be her baby girl.

~~

"Hi mommy" Tessa turned to the direction her mother stood.

"I see you've finally paid attention to me. For a moment I thought my husband have been completely stolen from me" she joked.

"Eww, gross mom. Daddy's too old for me, and no one is taking your man away from you", she spoke with sass.

James chuckled and strolled to meet his wife, he held her tenderly on her waist, "you heard that right my love, no is taking you away from me, neither will I be snatched from your beautiful hands".

He took Kiera's hands in his and kissed it; moving up to her lips and lingered, claiming it passionately in his. Kiera's heart warmed up at the gesture, she couldn't ask for another man as her husband.

"Uhhh, do you guys realize you have a toddler here?" Tessa spoke at the top of her voice; she was way smarter than her age. "What's for lunch?" she said innocently with a cheesy smile.

James chuckled and Kiera glared at her; she didn't want this moment to end as it seemed James would be in the arms of their daughter any minute.

They sat at their humongous table with the servants placing food after food; they ate in silence with a classic tune playing from the radio.

James loved classical tunes and they would be played whenever they were having a meal or performing a serious task or the other; he believed playing tunes of such manner would bring relaxation to the mind.

Suddenly, there was a huge sound like a missile was thrown to the ground. Everyone was alert, thinking of the next line of action. It was very unusual for anyone to infiltrate their home.

"Impossible!" James was more was flagger basted.

"What's going on?" Tessa and Kiera asked at the same time, fear rising on their voice.

Their house was a manor located on the top of a hill. It was considered a villa as the manor had an expanse land with well trimmed hedges and garden, a lovely fountain at the centre, they had neighbors' who lived far away from their environs and they had a collection of the best high-end security in the country.