STRANGE NEIGHBOUR
EPISODE-SIX
I pondered on what I had found out about Raymond Smith last night.
I walked to the bus station and just as I had expected, Raymond’s car drove towards me.
I ignored the car and jumped into a moving bus.
Raymond Smith was a spy.
I had to be careful with the way I associated with him.
I announced his schedule to him that morning in his office and he didn’t say a word. He was looking at me like he had a lot on his mind.
“What happened? Why did you avoid my car this morning?”.
“Your car? I didn’t even see your car”. I lied shamelessly as I met his eyes.
“Liar…”. He muttered and went through some files on his desk. “You will be going with me for my mother’s birthday this evening”.
I gasped. “Your mother is back to Nigeria? I thought she wouldn’t be back anytime soon”.
“My younger sister is sick. She likes to be by my father’s side anytime she is sick”.
“So, your mum had to follow her?”.
“Of course”.
I walked into his office when it was exactly five o’clock as we had planned.
I followed him into his car and sat on the driver’s seat while he sat at the back.
I started the engine and felt his eyes on me. “Why are you looking at me like that?”.
“How am I looking at you?”.
I shrugged. “I don’t know, but that look you were giving me was kind of wierd”.
“You are the only one seeing it as wierd. Well we will stop at Macland boutique. That is a branch of my sister’s boutique in Lagos”.
“You want to get your mum a gift or???”.
“I already gave her a pack of jewelries I got from Dubai for my mum. She is obsessed with jewelries”.
“Whoa! Why are we here then? You want to change your outfit?”.
“No, you”.
“What happened to me?”.
“You need an evening gown for a evening party”.
I gasped. “You want to buy a dress for me???”.
“Why? Is it an abomination?”.
“No, but it just feels wierd”.
He didn’t say a word until we got to the boutique and he selected five gowns and five shoes of the same colour for me. “They will look good on you. Try them all. You will be wearing the purple gown and shoe to the event”.
“Are you the one that is supposed to decide what I wear to the event?”.
“Yes, because I know these things more than you do. How many red carpet events have you attended?”.
I shrugged and avoided his eyes. “You know,my convocation those days”.
He stifled laughter.
I rolled my eyes. “Convocation is still an event sha”
“Go in and change, we don’t have time”. He nudged me.
I made face at him and rushed into the dressing room to change.
I came out one after the other on each of the dresses that he had selected and just as I had expected, his eyes was expressionless.
I finally came out, wearing the purple gown and heels, holding a purple clutch bag that the sales rep had added to the goods Raymond had purchased for me.
I excitedly walked out of the boutique with my packaged clothes.
“Thanks so much, Ray. This is the first time I am wearing something so expensive! I feel so expensive”.
He walked into the car and waited for me.
As I joined him in the car and pulled into the road, I turned to him because of the awkward silence between us. “Are you alright?”.
“I am more worried about you, Laura”.
“Me? why?”.
“Michael Cole will be present at the event. Will you be alright?”.
“I have already accepted the fact that my feelings for Michael Cole is not reciprocated”.
“What if he confuses you again?”
The event was as grand as those events I usually watched on the television.
There was a beautiful spring at the front and shiny sky blue lights beaming outside the hall.
I marched in with Raymond Smith by my side and we stepped into the red carpet, leading into the hall.
Celebrities were in the hall and I could see the celebrant sitting at the high table.
I had seen her on a magazine front cover.
Cassandra Smith.
A beautiful elderly woman.
She was sitting beside Smith Cole Joseph.
Raymond Smith’s father.
After she had given her speech and the celebration had rounded up, I was served one of the most expensive wines and I clinked glasses with Raymond and we sipped and smiled at each other.
Michael Cole finally appeared from nowhere and shook hands with Raymond.
He gasped as he stared at me. “Whoa! Laura, is this you? You look so gorgeous”.
“Thank you”I said good-naturedly.
“Can we talk for a minute, Laura?”.
Raymond cleared his throat. “Actually, my personal assistant cannot leave my side because I brought her here for something”.
Sandra Smith walked to join us on our spot.
She hugged her son.
He kssed her on her cheek. “Happy birthday princess”
“Thank you, my beloved son”
Michael hugged her. “Happy birthday Aunt”.
“Thanks so much Micheal”.
“How is Sylvia?”. Raymond asked worriedly.
“Annabelle has been taking care of her since morning”. Sandra said good-naturedly. She smiled softly at me. “Who is this young lady?”.
“She is Raymond’s personal assistant”. Michael Cole answered.
Sandra was surprised. “Raymond never brings his personal assistants to family events. This one must be exceptional”.
Raymond chuckled. “Stop exaggerating, mother”.
“Happy birthday ma’am. My name is Laura Johnson”.
Before I could finish introducing myself, she had already walked past us.
Raymond placed a comforting arm around me. “Come, let us meet my sister”.
We walked into Sylvia Smith’s large room that was as large as a wedding hall.
Annabelle was feeding her from a plate something that looked like white oats.
Sylvia was definitely going to be three years younger than Christiana.
She looked so young and pampered.
She was wearing pink hair and pink make up.
She was so excited to see Raymond and they hugged each other so dearly.
He pulled me closer. “Meet Laura Johnson, my good friend and personal assistant”.
Sylvia rolled her eyes and looked away. “I don’t like women like this. They come in like a dove and steal other people’s men”.
I watched Raymond and Annabelle exchange a confused look as if Sylvia had spoken totally off point.
Annabelle giggled. “Raymond’s interest is classy girls. Laura Johnson has nothing to do with that”.
Raymond glared at Annabelle. “My personal assistant is classy”.
Sylvia glared at me. “You see? What I predicted has happened! He is taking sides with the woman over you, Annabelle”.
He squeezed Sylvia’s cheek. “You always talk like a teenager”.
We walked out of the house to where Raymond’s car was parked outside.
Michael Cole was relaxing on the car when we got to it.
He looked up at me. “I officially broke up with Angela two days ago. I don’t care how much I have to wait, but I have not given up on you, Laura Johnson”. With that, he walked away.
I entered the car and drove Raymond towards home as if nothing had happened.
He didn’t say a word until we got home.
I parked his car infront of his house and walked towards my compound.
I heard footsteps from behind.
I turned.
It was an elderly man around the age of my father.
I couldn’t see his face clearly because it was dark.
“I resigned as Chief Harry’s personal assistant twelve years ago all because of that your neighbour. Don’t ever move with that man again”. He said softly.
“Why?”.
“His mission here is to kill your father and chief Harry”…
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