Chapter 26: The birthday party

"The day is finally here", Maya thought as she yawned and opened her eyes.

The time was seven thirty pm already. Maya knew she didn't have enough sleep because everyone kept talking about this and that while they all try to catch up with themselves.

After she, Ann and Sam had gone into the room, their mothers came to talk to them making them go all out again.

The decorators were not able to finish the decorations they previous day so they slept over at the boy quarter where they maids sleep since the rooms in the penthouse was already occupied.

At around eleven pm the previous day, the gurls finally had time for themselves after the rest had retired to bed.

That was when they continued their conversations and Sammie knew about Professor Doyle.

* * * *

THE PREVIOUS DAY

"Tell me why you're looking thinner than Ann?", Sammie asked, in a matter of fact tone.

Maya had bonded so well with Sammie since she noticed the positive change in her.

She and Ann had always done a video call with Sammie where they talked for hours but since Professor Doyle came, it was as if Maya didn't have time for anything else than to think or fantasy about him.

"She's like that because of a boy. Or better still.... a man", Ann blurted and quickly held her lips like she spilled a dark secret.

"Such a blabber mouth....", Maya thought.

"Ohhh..... ", Sammie gasped with mouth wide opened like she was deprived of oxygen.

"Is that true Maya?. Don't tell me that guy is giving you issues already", Sammie said as she gazed at Maya intently.

"She has ended things with Steve already. Its someone new this time", Ann said again and Maya looked at her angrily with ears and nose literally flaring.

She swore she was going to literally flog Ann after everyone left.

Sammie knew about Steve because they had carried her along then.

"Let her talk herself Annie. Geez...", Sammie said and Ann grimaced.

"Oops...", was what she said and Sammie grinned.

"Ready to spill it all out now Miss Williams?", Sammie said playful and Maya already gave up. She knew there was no other reason to hide things so she spilled it up.

Occasionally, Sammie would give reactions like; "Geez..", "Ohhhh my....", "Ohh my goodness", "Really", "Take a snap shot of the professor and send to me. He must be really worth it".

"And why does he have the same name as my 'supposed to be husband'?", and the pieces finally came together.

"Yes....!!!!", Maya said and both Ann and Sam looked at her in surprise.

"I mean... That's it....!!!!", Maya said with a smile.

"Is there a problem", Sam asked and Ann looked at Maya with a worried face.

"Sorry to scare you ladies. I just thought I heard that name somewhere", Maya said and Ann and Sam both heaved a sigh of relief.

"Better... but... he can't possibly be the one. Remember I told you he has never been seen?. Moreover we can't be so sure since we don't know his last name", Sammie replied and Ann and Maya both thought for a while before they agreed.

"That's true Sam but I and Ann have been having a feeling something is definitely up with Jer..."

"Jer..?", Sam cutted in.

"Yes, Jer... That's the pet name Maya gave to him", Ann said again and Maya literally threw her daggers.

"Awwnnn... so sweet. That's romantic...", Sammie said and saw Maya rolled her eyes and Sam chuckled.

"Okay.. Enough of the tease... Kindly continue from where I cut you off", Sam said blinking innocently with puppy eyes.

"Okay... I and Ann have a feeling something is up with Professor Doyle. Most especially now that a red haired woman has shown up as his fiancee without a ring to prove it", Maya said and Ann immediately bursted into laughter.

"What's funny?", Maya asked and Sam looked at Ann expectingly.

"The engagement ring has always been Maya's problem since day one", Ann said and Sammie also bursted into laughter both leaving Maya to sulk.

Maya explained the rest to Sammie and Ann never got a bored moment because she kept on laughing or saying something funny to tease her friend.

"I'm so gonna throw her out of the house", Maya thought in a joke as she saw both Sam and Ann laughed at her.

Sammie was so glad she abadonned everything she had to do to come over to the girls penthouse but she had a new assignment no which is to help the girls find more information about Professor Doyle.

* * * *

BACK TO PRESENT

Maya yawned but was still lying on the bed. She felt something heavy on her body from her left side. She knew what it was as she wasn't new to it.

It was the leg of her friend who had annoyed the hell out of her by teasing her the previous day.

Maya gently sat up and carried Ann's leg from her lower body.

She saw Sammie peacefully sleeping on the right side of the bed and she smiled.

It had always been a surprise to her. Who knew she and Sammie who be so close.

As she went to wash her face and brush, she heard a slight knock on the door.

"Yes...?, some minutes please", she answered with muffled words and quickly washed her mouth but she heard the door open already.

"Thanks Sam", she heard and mother say and quickly sprinted out of the bathroom.

"Good morning mom. How was your night?", she asked as she dry her face with a face towel.

"Never slept better", her mother replied and they both embarrassed themselves.

This would be the third time Victoria and Sarah would visit their children ever since they both moved to the penthouse.

Maya and Ann only went home during the holidays to spend time with their families.

* * * *

Jerry woke up to hear the loud ringing tone of his phone. He had forgot to silent it after talking to Cam while he saw a strange light flash across the adjacent building.

He groaned as he took his phone and tilted it to his face direction still while lying down.

"And what does she want now?", he asked himself as he saw the caller ID.

"Jay baby.... ", he immediately heard Megan say as he picked up.

"Its too early Meg, what do you want?", he grumbled and heard Megan give a scoff.

"Morning to you too Jer. Don't tell me you've forgotten what today is", Megan asked again, still irritated.

This wasn't the Jerry she knew. He had changed so much. Even if he was grumpy and cold to every other person, he always behaves soft towards her but now he has changed.

Changed to a much more cold and annoying man. Totally irritating with a blank face.

"So its your birthday, what's the big deal. Is anything the matter?", Jerry asked her coldly.

"Well, open the door. I'm outside your door", he heard her say and the sleep immediately cleared from his eye.

"What are you doing here?. Couldn't you wait till I call you?. Just go back to the car garage and wait for me there. I'd be there in fifteen", was all Megan heard Jerry say and she grumbled back to the garage where her car was while stomping her feet as she walked.

Jerry immediately had his bath and went out to meet her.

"How are you doing?", Jerry asked but Megan pretended to be mad even if she truly was by not giving him an answer.

This was the first time he behaved like a gentleman to her since she came back.

Jerry looked at her but didn't mind her expression but rather overlooked it.

"She is mad at herself not me", Jerry thought as he sat at the driver's seat of her car.

He didn't trust her to take his car yet.

"What if she planted a bug? I don't even know how she knew of my where about since she has decided not to answer that yet", Jerry had thought while contemplating if he should take his car out with Megan while having his bath.

Megan looked out the window. She didn't have the strength to to nag at the man.

Moreover, she knew she wouldn't even dare because he had scared the hell out of her the other day he told her not to nag at him.

She would never forget the cold sweat that ran down her back that moment.

"Where would you love to go?. And know this is not a date Meg. I'm just doing this for old time sake", Jerry said as he ignited the car.

"Whatever. To the park", Megan replied rolling her eyes.

It was evening and the time for the party was here. Maya looked as beautiful as ever. She looked radiant and bright even though she was thin.

Her blonde hair matched the color of her golden eyes and dress that one would think she was a princess.

"My princess... She's turning twenty one. She's all grown", her mother, Victoria thought as a tear dropped from her eye while she smiled brightly.

"Congrats Maya.... Congrats dear. Congrats sweetie... Congrats... Congrats... Congrats....", filled the air as most of her departmental friends came to give her hugs and pecks.

The ceremony proper had began at the penthouse huge garden only for everyone to shift there attention from Maya to another direction.

Maya noticed the distraction and also shifted her gaze to know what had stolen her spotlight only to open her mouth wide.

"Jerry.....????"