SHOCKING

The night was cold as Special slept in the sitting room. She returned from the beach walk with her father to find the room door locked. Everyone else had gone to bed in their various rooms. After knocking several times, it became glaring that she was not meant to sleep in the room.Having no cover cloths, Special laid on the sofa, cold and sad. Although she was thankful that the sitting room was available to sleep, she wondered why this was her lot. Her consolation was that come morning, Derek would be by her side. The man who made her smile would cheer her up. Reading his messages over and over again, Special dozed off happily.

Every other person may consider what she had with Derek as fake but she had an original marriage certificate and she was somewhat determined to date Derek for real after this long week of family entanglement.

The next morning, by 3am, Before everyone got up, She had begun making pancakes, pots of tea, sandwiches, scrambled eggs, parfait, sausages and French toast as this was the menu requested by Hope. Everyone woke up to an enticing aroma from the dinning table as Special had arranged the various snacks in captivating forms with little cups of flowers filled with scented water.

Bose the head cook was astonished as she praised Special for a job well done.

However, this even made her more uncomfortable as she was ashamed of the way she acted last night. Mrs Hope had told her to lock the room door against Special knowing that she was outside with her father at the beach.

John the birthday celebrant was late to the breakfast table as he was still bitter over his wife's attitude the previous day. On arrival, everyone took their seats excluding Special again.

"Special!!?" he called out loudly and angrily. Special hastily moved from the kitchen to the dinning room, cleaning her hands on her apron as she walked.

"Daddy you called me. Good morning sir"

"Why are you not having breakfast with us as a family. Or don't you consider us a family?"

"No Daddy, that's not it. I was actually working in the kitchen".

"Please sit down and have breakfast with us. The cooks can handle it after all, they did a great job this morning. Look at this beautiful buffet."

"The cooks didn't do anything. Am sure Special cooked all these meals" Susan stated and Special hid her face as her Father looked at Hope for a reply and none came.

Taking out a seat for her, John served his daughter's food while ignoring the frowning face of Hope and her daughter Treasure. He focused on the smiling Susan who was talking to Special.

As the family sat at the table for breakfast, A knock came on the door.

"Who might that be?" John asked everyone. Are you expecting anyone?"

"Not at all. I didn't even tell anyone we are here right now until Saturday.

Special please go and she who is it" Hope stated.

On getting to the door, the steward at the resort walked into the room.

"Good morning everyone. I have been told to inform you that the king will be having breakfast with you shortly as he has arrived the resort this morning"

So many sounds of exclamation and shrieking filled the room and Special was forced to laugh as she closed the door behind the steward who existed the suite.

"Oh my God! My king is coming to have breakfast with me! The richest king in Africa" Treasure exclaimed in excitement.

"Please calm down before you die of a heart attack" Susan teased her sarcastically.

"Treasure! for heaven sake calm down." Hope shouted.

"Mummy stop shouting at me. Am too excited to calm down and please know who you are talking to. This is a future queen." Treasure fired back at her mother whilst Special looked at them astonishment as she sat down to resume her meal.

"Go and bath you foolish girl. Dress well

your husband is joining us soon." Hope instructed her daughter.

"Which husband? Madam Hope?" John asked his wife as he paused his meal to look at their displays.

"Please ask her Daddy. A king that has not even see Treasure for once" Susan interfered.

"Will you shut up your mouth Susan. My first daughter will marry the king" Hope declared and Special wondered why she was so confident. Thank God she already have Derek, If not, she would have definitely felt so alone. Special thought.

"Can you really hear yourself Hope? Has the king indicated interest in Treasure? You are just misbehaving." John stated and continued eating. Hope was furious but she didn't have the time to reply back so she did what she knew how to do best.

"What are you doing Special?" She attacked with all the strength in her voice.

"Why are you still sitting down to eat with your fat face. Go and prepare more breakfast. The king would soon be here."

"Don't you dare talk to my daughter like that ever again. As matter of fact, don't you ever speak to my daughter without respect." John screamed at Hope.

"Supported" Susan yelled as she spooned some scrambled eggs into her mouth. Her husband who was watching the drama unfolding before him begged her to calm down and not escalate the situation.

"Wait! so who would go and prepare more food for the king?Was she not the one who prepared all these? Do you want the meals to taste different? Who has the recipes? Is it me? Or this pregnant Susan who is running her mouth up and down? or Ashley?" Hope shouted back at her husband as she was nearing her breaking point.

"Daddy please let me go and do it. I made all these ones and its important all the foods taste alike." Special said as she got up, ready to dash into the kitchen away from the hostile environment.

"Exactly! Thank God you have sense". Hope added.

"Special come back and sit down there! you are not a slave in my house, neither are you a paid worker! I gave you money to hire cooks, let them go and cook for the king! my daughter is not your maid.! John yelled holding his chest.

"Daddy! Daddy! Special yelled as she rushed towards her father's seat with Susan moving immediately too close to her.

"Am fine Special. You don't need to panic." He said as they offered him a glass of water "Daddy you know i dont mind cooking. let me go and prepare it quickly." Special pleaded as she hurried into the kitchen to meet Bose and Fiona eating the remaining confectioneries in the kitchen table. Hope still standing on the same spot was infuriated.

"So it has come to this today right. You have chosen to embarrass me after all the sacrifices in this marriage John?

"Which useless sacrifice have you made Hope? John attacked her back.

Walking into the kitchen, Hope told Bose and Fiona to disappear from her sight as she wanted to talk to Special alone in the kitchen.

"Look at me you this demonic girl. I know your mother has given you powers to ruin my marriage since you were. But you cannot ruin my daughter's chance at a happy home.

"Am so sorry ma"

"Sorry for yourself" Hope replied as she landed a hot slap across Special's face. It relieved her to see the girl in pain as she held her palm against her cheeks.

"Secondly Your share of 2 million naira contribution towards buying that ingrate of your father a car, I will collect it tomorrow. You can call that your invisible husband to bring the money when he is coming." With that she walked out of the kitchen feeling satisfied.

Special was alarmed. She was not even pained about the slap but where would she get such an amount of money. She had only a million naira saved up. She didn't want to ask Derek for any money how much more a large sum.

Just then a knock came in at the front door of the suite and an entourage of servants came in bearing gift boxes in their hands. Uyi entered before King Derek as everyone rushed into the sitting room to greet him bowing down. He wore a unique white linen outfit as he didn't want to look too royal but you can't miss the air of authority around him.

"My king you are welcome" John greeted the young king bowing down like everyone else.

"Thank you Prof John. I got the invitation to give a speech at your luncheon this weekend. Something struck me about your name."

King Derek said.

"Your highness this is my first daughter Treasure. A super model and a graduate of fashion design" Hope interrupted, kneeling down greeted the king.

"Please rise. Your daughter is beautiful." Derek complimented as Susan and her husband was also introduced. Although they spoke to him but it was obvious king Derek was looking for some body.

"Your highness, are you expecting someone to join us?" John asked.

"Yes my wife, I was supposed to meet her here".

"I didn't know you are married my king. Sorry your highness" Hope stuttered.

"Yes I am married to a very gorgeous woman".

Everyone smiled except Treasure and her mother.

"But she is not the Queen?. Because I didnt hear any announcement." Treasure spoke out sarcastically

"My wife is my Queen and I intend to have only her."Derek declared as John walked him towards the dinning area.

Main while,Special was busy in the kitchen thinking of whether to call Derek and inform him not to come as he might be embarrassed. Just then, she heard the sounds of traditional salutations and she knew the king was around.

Hurriedly, she carried the bowls of fruit salad straight to the dinning table and from the distance she saw the love of her life looking so handsome in white linen.

Drooping the plate in a hurry, She walked to him, ashamed of hugging him with her stained clothes but Derek grabbed her and clasped her in his arms.She felt she was in heaven when she heard him whisper "My peace of mind, I missed you"

Pulling her away to hold her face in his arms, he roared in anger"Is that the mark of a slap on your face?!!"

"Who slapped you my wife?!!"