Chapter 08

Valentine

"Valentine, can you meet the headmistress she was asking for you " A girl informs me.

"Okay " I walk straight to Headmistress's office. Miss Clementine looks worried.

"May I come in Ma'am " I ask poking my head in.

"Yeah Valentine ". Aiden, Mike, Keira, Elijah and Xander are already there.

"Yes Ma'am ". I speak tension raising in me.

"I see a mishap has happened in you. " Before she can say further, I interrupt her.

"Ma'am can we talk privately please " I ask kindly.

"Sure " we walk into the corner of her office away from the boys and my sister.

"Whatever happened wasn't normal. She was the daughter of the Danbury family line and so are you and Aroeira. Why are you both hiding this fact " she asks me as she removes her spectacles?

"Because we have our reasons. For the time being please don't let anyone come to know about me or Aroeira. I'll be thankful to you for the favour" I ask her lowering my eyes.

"Sure, but what if the investigation starts and it leads them to you all ". she says putting her spectacles back.

"I don't know. I only know Xander is the son of a minister ".

"Xander Lewis is the son of the next Prime Minister of UK. Elijah Williams is the son of one of the most influential judges, Aiden Sterling's father owns half of London and Mike Jackson's parents are very good lawyers well they handle royal affairs and not to forget even you and Keira are daughters of the business tycoon. Well, you all of you belong to influential family's child we cannot risk the reputation of our university " she says and we turn back to her table.

"The demise of Isa Valentine Raiford has stirred a lot of commotion " she laces her fingers as she talks.

"With this thing we cannot risk our college's reputation so we have arrived at a decision with the board that you all should remain out of college for some time. You all are not suspended but you need to stay out of college as much as possible we will make arrangements for your classes. You all may leave ". We all walk out and stand in a secluded corridor.

"Is the body gone " Mike asks.

"Hmm " was the only response.

"Then how the fuck did the media catch wind of it, you said no one will know, but here we all are nearly suspended from college. We didn't even start the session properly " Keira yells at all the boys and Elijah looks like as if he is ready to murder someone right there at the moment.

"What the hell have we gotten into " Mike rubs his forehead.

"Right, where did we land. You are not going to throw anymore parties Elijah " Xander says as he sheds his college blazer and hangs it over his hand.

"Guys this is news. Some insider got me this information " Mike shows his phone to us.

'Isa Valentine Raiford suicided at the age of twenty-one found out to be pregnant. '

"What the fuck " I blurt out and start pacing the long dark corridor.

"Valentine " Keira says and I know what she is about it, wrapping her arms around her stomach.

"I'm not going to talk to them " I'm scared, frightened, angry and all emotions flooding through me.

"Wait a second how do you both know Isabella." Mike asks shoving his phone back into his pocket. He also shed his coat, throughout the conversation Aiden is just standing there against the wall watching everything with a bored expression.

"Keira. I guess we have to tell them " With lies we cannot get to the bottom of the case of suicide or murder.

"We are ... I mean our surnames. Uh we both are." before she can finish, I speak " Danbury ".

"Daughters of Eden and Krystal Danbury " I stand Infront of them.

"What in the actual hell. You both are daughters of Danbury's the business tycoon and both of you are on the scholarship" Xander says and looks at Elijah and Aiden who I suspect knew this.

"You both knew it, huh Williams and Sterling " Mike just looks at us and sits down cross legged on the floor.

"Yes. Now if everything is done and said let's get to the root of this and how the hell was Isabella pregnant " Xander sits on the floor cross leg and starts scrolling down his phone.

"Guys deactivate your accounts " Keira says and shows us her phone.

' Isabella Raiford murdered and prime suspects, Aiden Sterling, Valentine Danbury, Elijah Williams, Keira Danbury, Mike Jackson and Xander Lewis. Tomorrows Headlines'

"What the hell and who texted " I take her phone and see the account.

Blackj_01109.

"This guy has no followers or post or followings " I pass the phone to Aiden and check my own. No message.

"Keira is right " Aiden says as he passes the phone back to Keira.

"Wait something's not adding up " I say and remember.

"When did the police arrive " I ask Elijah.

"Just after all of us sneaked out " Elijah says and his glance flits between me and Keira.

"There was no note like a suicide note. Usually, people do write a suicide note "I say and try to remember.

"She's right and secondly she was in dad's room. Meaning she was there for meeting him. She only used his room for meeting him" he looks at me.

"You were there to meet her " Aiden asks cocking his head to the left.

"Yes, and when Aiden dragged me, I texted Keira to meet her but before she can meet her, she died ". I hang my head down. Aiden is in his spot and his hands are balled into a fist.

"Isabella isn't married so how come her name is Raiford it has to be Victor " Keira whispers to me

"Yeah, and we heard a shriek remember Aiden " I ask him and he turns to me, he is all cold.

"Yeah " he removes his blazer and rolls the shirt to his elbow revealing the veiny arm.

"So, let's get this thing sorted. All of us have an angle involved with Isa?" Keira says leaning against the wall.

"We had threesome Elijah her and me " Xander says and smirks.

"I fucked her too " Mike says. All of them say at once.

"What the fuck!" my voice raised decibels.

"Calm down, we were just joking, I mean Elijah and me" Xander raises his arms in surrender and Elijah snickers.

"I had sex with her exactly once that too was because I was drunk " Mike says in his protection.

"Father used to fuck her " Elijah shrugs one shoulder like it doesn't matter.

"How do you know?" Keira asks with fire in her eyes.

"Heard them and flash, Isabella saw me still didn't ask Dad to stop, rather she encouraged him, Such a whore "

"She was our sister " Keira is like a fire ball.

"Whose child was that then?" I eye each of them.

"I guess everyone, maybe it could be Elijah's..." Keira stops mid-sentence because Elijah literally has her pinned to the wall and for the first time, I see him lose control.

"No one wants offspring from a whore " before Aiden can say further. I slap him hard across his face.

"Don't you dare call our sister a whore " I say a stomp away from him.

"Reality doesn't change" Aiden says with a sick gleam in his eyes.

"So should I call you a man whore because even you fuck different women different nights " I look at him but then drop when I see his eyes darkening.

"We need to get out guys. The officers "Mike alerts all of us. Xander me and Aiden to our class and the other to theirs. Before entering the class Aiden pulls me aside and speaks

"Never slap me again" We enter the class.

Soon after we enter the class the officers come barging in. Two officers, Great.

"Miss Valentine Danbury, Mr Aiden Sterling, Mr Xander Lewis can we talk to you all for a minute".

"Yeah sure " Aiden, Xander and I walk out of the class.

"So, Miss Valentine can we know how do you knows Isabella " the officer asks and the other takes out a notepad and jots down.

"Isabella was my aunt's daughter. One year ago, her mother passed but she was already working with Mr Williams, then. That night I heard a shriek and we went to see what's wrong. There my sister lied with her slit wrist ". Tears barge into my eyes. I muffle my sob using a handkerchief.

"That's enough information from your side. Thank you " the officer turns to Aiden.

"Mr Aiden. How do you know Isabella Raiford "?

"I know her because she was a friend of mine " I look at Aiden he is looking all aristocratic. His demeanour didn't change while he puts up a fake story of how he met Isabella at a party and they clicked. If someone doesn't know him, they would have considered it true.

"That's all Mr. Parkinson " Aiden looks at me and gives me a smile behind which lurks a demon. I give him a small smile and the questions turn to Xander.

He gives the same story. Well looks like the four of them always have been together.

"Thank you, Mr Aiden Mr Xander and Miss Valentine. We'll come back later for more interrogation ".

"We'll help you ". I say and we turn to enter the class but the class is just ten minutes more so we decide to talk outside.

"How long have you all been together " I ask leaning sideways on the wall.

"Since grade one. Our families worked together in some ways and we all have been friends for a very long time " Xander is more approachable than Aiden. They look like best buddies.

"How was your experience in Birmingham?" Aiden asks he never asked me anything about my life in Birmingham.

"It was good but I didn't like it there much " I lower my gaze.

"Danbury's hold a lot " Xander speaks in a voice.

"A lot " Aiden agrees. Why am I getting a reliant that these are not talking about the assets and properties?

"Anyways let's eat I'm hungry " Xander says and we all into the cafeteria. Only some students are present. Girls look at Aiden and Xander as though they are Gods. I roll my eyes and we settle down. As soon as our food arrives, we start eating. The food is good but it's not boiled. Mother always made me eat boiled or less calories food.

"Eat Valentine " Xander says.

"Yeah. I am " I pick up my pasta and start eating.

"Will you stop picking up your food Valentine " Aiden says in a pissed tone.

"I'm not allowed to eat these. My stomach turns queasy from so much of calories " I say and push away the plate. Xander and Aiden share a look and call for the person.

"I'm not hungry guys you'll can eat " I cross my hands over the table and look at Aiden. He is handsome I can't deny that fact and well some of his looks make me wet but I'm too proud to accept that.

Keira walks in followed by Elijah and Mike.

"The officers asked us questions " Keira says and eyes the pasta.

"Valentine. Stop following the stupid diet eat what you like. We aren't in Birmingham. She won't haunt you here. That bitch has literally given you an eating disorder" I look at Aiden who looks at me with AGAIN-YOU-LIED-TO-ME look

I get up and walk out of the cafeteria as I was crossing a dark corridor. A strong hand comes around my neck from behind and cages me against the wall. The hold if firm enough not to cut my air supply.

"Don't ever Lie to me again Valentine " Aiden says and kisses my throat where his hands were. I'm transfixed there at the spot.

"Ai. Aiden " I call out he keeps on kissing me and slides his tongue over my neck. My hands automatically fly to cup his head. He bites me hard enough to leave a hickey.

"Aiden ... We are in the college " I say in a breathy voice.

"I don't give one flying fuck to it" He kisses my cheeks and massages my throat.

"Aiden please " I say he leans in his hands on my waist holding tight.

"What please sweetheart " he asks as he licks my lobe.

I turn my head to see him. His lips mere inches away like the same time when he whispered to me in the mall. Before anything could happen further my phone rings.

"Hello. " I say.

Aiden steps back a little but his hold on my waist remains. Tight. He holds me as if he is afraid, I will vanish in thin air.

"Stop finding out what happened Isabella" I look at Aiden who gives me a smug smile.

I put my phone on speaker.

"Who are you " I ask.

"You and Keira won't survive this game of chess. This is just the beginning, just a start of the deadly chess" this person hangs up. My phone slips out of my hand and hits the floor. I push my hair back while Aiden picks up my phone.

"What the hell was that " I recall the man's words. Aiden doesn't speak anything. He is as silent as the sea before a big tsunami strike.