Lora walked into the garden in anger, but she did not find her grandma there, she turned around immediately to check for her grandma in her room.
On her way to her grandma’s room she saw Michael being escorted out of the mansion with Rodrigo in front and a guard holding Michael's bag walking behind him.
“Michael...” Lora shouted his name from where she was standing, as she doesn't know what is going on, and where they're taking him to.
Michael turned around at the sound of Lora’s voice, but before he could say anything, he was hurled into the car that was standing outside the compound.
Lora ran as fast as she could outside but before she could get there, it was too late, the car was already gone.
“Where are you taking him?” Lora asked, shouting to her dad who is standing at a corner smoking a cigarette.
“To where he belonged.” Lucio said rather calmly and then gestured with his head to a guard standing next to him to take her inside.
“Let me go.” Lora shouted at the guard who tried to hold her hand.
“Grandma Rosa, where is grandma?” She asked angrily, as she walked back into the mansion. “I want to see grandma.” She said again, and then, turned towards the direction of Grandma Rosa’s room but was stopped immediately by the guard who guarded her towards her own room instead.
She opened her room door and once inside slammed the door in anger.
Why is she treated this way? She thought as she sat on the bed. Was all this planned by her grandma and papa? And where are they taking Michael? She thought again and reached for her cell phone which was inside her hand bag.
She dialed Michael's number but it couldn't connect, she threw the phone angrily on the bed.
“Not again.” She said as she began to cry.
Her phone rang few minutes later and when she reached for the phone, she saw that it was Michael calling.
“Hello, Michael are you Okay?” Lora asked immediately, wiping tears off her eyes, as she answered the call.
“Yes, I’m fine Lora.” Michael replied over the phone.
“Where are they taking you to?” she asked again, feeling agitated.
“I’m about to board a plan right now back home, I hope there's no problem, your dad and the man that drove me to the airport, suddenly entered the room and asked me to follow them, your dad said that it's for my own safety.” Michael told her over the phone.
“I don't know what is going on here Michael, but I think it's best if you go back home, and please text me when you arrive okay.” Lora said, feeling a little relieved.
"Are you okay Lora?" Michael asked, sensing that something might be wrong with her because of the way she spoke.
"Am okay Mike, just text me when you land." Lora replied.
“Okay then, take care of yourself.” He said to her, not wanting to pry further, he knew if she wanted to tell him she would have done that already.
“I’m sorry Michael, this is not the kind of treatment I expected for you.” Lora said apologetically to Michael.
“It's okay, I only hope to see you again.” Michael said.
“Me too Michael.” Lora replied. She hung up after they said goodbye.
Lora covered her face with her palms feeling a little relieved, at least Michael is safe.
***
“Miss Lora...” Paula, one of the maids in the mansion called as she tapped on Lora’s door.
“Yes, come in Paula.” Lora said as she heard her voice, she knew the voice of each maid and how they call her name.
“Good evening Miss Lora.” She said, as she walked into the room.
“Evening Paula, what time is it?” Lora asked sitting up on her bed, she had stayed up most of the time yesterday and even at the early hours of this morning.
She's been thinking who her dad wants her to get married to and why all of a sudden did he want to get her married, but she did not have answers to her questions.
“Its 5 pm and I’ve come to get you ready for the guests, your Papa said they would be here by 6 pm.” Paula explained.
Lora slowly stood up and stared at Paula for a while.
“Where is Grandma Rosa?” she finally asked knowing Paula may not have answers to her questions.
“She's in her room.” Paula answered as she walked around the room making preparations.
“Can I ask you something?” Lora asked Paula who nodded for her to go on.
“Did you by any chance hear anything about me getting married?” Lora asked not being able to hold back anymore, she has not been able to communicate with Grandma Rosa again after their first meeting in the living room.
“No Miss Lora, this is in fact the first time I am hearing of this, are you getting married?” Paula asked, from the look in her face Lora could tell that she is not aware of the marriage.
“Well, Papa told me so, and am wondering if they have discussed it before you know, Grandma Rosa and Papa.” Lora said shrugging her shoulders.
“I guess you are not happy with it, Miss Lora .” Paula said, looking at her closely. Paula is a woman in her early forties and she could tell what's going on here, she is about the same age as her Lora’s mum and she treats her like she where her own daughter.
“I just don't know why Papa suddenly wants me to get married you see.” Lora said and shrugged her shoulders again.
“Are you in love with someone else, Miss Lora?” Paula asked still looking steadily at her, she saw what happened yesterday, how her guest was taken out of the mansion.
Lora looked at her without saying a word to answer her question, the question just resounded in her head.
She does not know how to answer the question even to herself, she knows that she is happy with Michael but she can't really tell if what she truly feels for him is love and if he truly feels the same way for her as well, giving the fact that they are not from the same race and there's also some age difference between them as he is younger than she is, it would have been much easier if the reverse would be the case.
Michael is not from a wealthy family as well, not that she cared about that, but her Papa certainly would, again she does not know if what she and Michael shared will make them want to spend the rest of their lives together.
“Miss Lora?” Paula called, bringing her thoughts back to the present. “ Are you alright?” she asked.
“Yes, yes I am.” Lora said and shook her head sideways.
“You need to get ready now Miss Lora, so you don't keep your guests waiting.” Paula said as she helped Lora out of the bed.