Painful Smiles

The Larabee’s were elated to receive their daughter back. Though Claudia was more impressed on how they found her within twenty-four hours.

She got her answer when they confessed that they did not actually find her but saw her unconscious near the point of her kidnap.

It became more suspicious to Claudia. Was this all a hoax?

The police said that she had a bleeding heel and was awfully dehydrated but with where they found her, they couldn’t fathom how those had happened to her.

They only concluded that the kidnapper had returned her back when he noticed the police on his tail.

Claudia immediately got a call from Michael and quickly answered it. “Clara is back now?” he asked, excitement in his tone.

“No, why? Do you have a clue where she is?” Claudia played dumb.

Michael was quiet.

“I really hope she’s okay. The police would surely find out this kidnapper” she faked a teary voice.

“But Claudia, Clara should be back. Wasn’t she found? Tell the police to search around the place she was kidnapped” he said.

Claudia shook her head. Now she was double sure that Michael knew more about this kidnap.

“What exactly do you have to do with this kidnap, Michael? Clara is here, she was found around the place she was kidnapped. Tell me what you know about this or you’ll be telling the police” she threatened.Content from NôvelDr(a)ma.Org.

Michael tried calming her down and convincing her he was just speculating but she wasn’t buying it.

“When Clara wakes up, she’d tell me about everything. Any detail that sounds related to you and you’ll sleep in cell. I don’t know why boys can’t control their obsession over pretty girls” and with that she hung up.

Michael was speechless. Why was he the enemy now? Pretty girls? Did Claudia think he kidnapped Clara because of your obsession?

He tried calling her up but she didn’t respond. Surely Clara would say something about some men in black rescuing her and it would make tings complicated.

If one thing leads to another the whole world would know about the French mafias his father had underground. Not that it was illegal but the U. S government wouldn’t just like it.

He had to find a way to wade off her suspicions.

“You are having a meal with your father by eight tonight in a fancy restaurant so I won’t be cooking” Mrs. Peniel said to him. She was panting from climbing the stairs to his room.

Michael simply nodded while still looking at his phone. “Is something wrong?” Mrs. Peniel asked.

He exhaled and shook his head, not wanting to inform her of anything that would trouble her.

“Clara is back I suppose. You should be glad. You know that man must have seen that picture of Clara and that was why she became a target. I can’t even find that picture anymore but I guess you don’t need it since you are close to Clara now”.

Mrs. Peniel sat sown besides him. He wished she’d leave but didn’t dare tell her. He was feeling drained. With Claudia’s temper, she’d surely react.

“By the way, Clara and Claudia are sisters. You were right” he muttered.

Mrs. Peniel smiled broadly, “I knew, I saw Clara at the hospital, you know, while she was still on bed. She and her sister, Claudia, must be identical then right?”.

Michael shook his head, “Clara’s hair is curlier. I noticed. They are fraternal. Very different. Who you saw at that house was Claudia. You haven’t seen Clara before.

Mrs. Peniel wanted to say something else but he just stop up. “I have to talk to dad. I’ll be back”.

Mrs. Peniel let him go while she pursed her lips as her unspoken words played in her head.

The girl she saw at the house was the girl she saw at the hospital. If she’s called Claudia, then she was Michael’s life saver.

Michael stormed into his dad’s room just as his secretary was almost kissing him. He stood at the door startled as the woman disengaged startled too.

“What is this? That’s no way to act with your boss?” he said calmly. The secretary put her head down.

“Get out your fired” he added calmly. The woman raised her head and looked at Mr. Louis who just diverted his eyes away.

“I’m so sorry. But I was called in by Mr. Louis” the lady practically kneeled.

Michael waved his hands in the air, “You’re not fired. Just leave”. The lady as well as Mr. Louis was confused but she sped out nevertheless.

You are having an inflow of reactions right now right?” his father asked with his eyes still diverted.

“I am not mad. I know you are promiscuous. I have inflow of questions instead right now” he sat on his dad’s table. Mr. Louis wanted to protest but didn’t.

“You said the man needed just money. If he needs just that why diet you give it to him and had to deploy those men?”.

Mr. Louis nodded but said nothing.

Michael began narrating how a girl named Claudia, Clara’s sister was so sure he had something to do with the kidnap.

Her thought on it was coming from a and angle and she was going to the very bottom of it.

If her sister tells her of some men in black, speaking with a French accent that rescued her, Claudia was sure to pin it on him which would be disastrous.

Michael felt less disturbed after sharing everything.

His father didn’t look bothered at all. He then explained how he had ordered his men to drug Clara when she hot to the helicopter.

She wouldn’t be able to remember the last five minutes before the drug intake. She would assume she was saved by some farmers.

The men who saved her had also dropped her at a farm site while she was gaining little consciousness. So she would agree with it.

The drug wasn’t harmful and would wear off after few weeks and whatever memory she would have would’ve useless and only confuse her.

Michael was awestricken by his father’s tactical potency, he was sure now that Claudia won’t find anything on him.