Chapter 148

Olivia made sure that nobody in the house noticed Chase's absence, she occupied herself with work, making sure there were no pending. This was very important due to her new office as a Senator. She was to hand over her duties in her Dad's office to Mira, part of her reason for bringing in Pat to manage the fashion and other businesses. While she kept busy, she also was conscious no to allow anything that would bring about leaving the house to come up. She knew that such a thing would need Chase to accompany her, and as such it would become obvious that he wasn't around. 

She had made sure she kept in touch with Chase, so as to get progress report on what was going on there in the party. At some point she had asked Chase if he had seen Mike, when his answer came back negative, she was confused. She wouldn't know if he had left town back to Africa or he was avoiding public exposure. Whatever be it, all she wanted was a good and favourable report from the investigations. 

In the party, no one noticed what was going on, the chef couldn't raise alarm too. He knew the implication of doing so, the job he had involved himself was enough to sack him from his job. It was am illegal act, bringing a total stranger to spy on someone in the house. He had only one choice and that was to keep quiet and watch as the young lady was being interrogated. He was fortunate enough that at the time this was happening, there wasn't any need for his duty. He shivered as the huge guy standing by his side cautioned him not to shout or he would be arrested and announcement would be made in the house on his act. 

The young lady was also in fear, she felt that it was the end of the road for her. She wouldn't know what the next thing would be, whether she was going to be jailed. She was just nodding her head to every instructions she heard from Bruno. They asked her where Mike was, and she pointed towards the staircase leading to it. Bruno turned to the chef who confirmed with a nod also. Chase who watched as the drama unfolded, was the first to move, while they followed. This time around, they were left to walk on their own having made it known to them the implication that would follow if they made any wrong move. 

The chef and the lady were ready to obey and do anything to avoid such exposure, so they followed Chase as they directed the way to the room. They climbed the staircase to the next floor, there wasn't anyone around the corridors, so they were clear from any kind of suspicion. After a few steps, they arrived the door of the apartment housing Mike and Margaret. Chase knocked on the door several times, there was no response. He asked chef how sure he was that they were at the right place. The condition the chef was, made his answer not to be doubted. Chase looked around, and made sure nobody was passing, he gave Bruno a sign, and he (Bruno) was quick to understand what it was meant for. In less than two minutes, the door of the apartment was open, and Chase walked in. To their amazement, there wasn't anyone inside. 

There were clothes on the bed which indicated that some people had changed to another cloth and left the one they were putting on before on the bed. Margaret's make up kid was also left on the table upon which the mirror hung, another sign that she had done her make up there. Chase went through their belongings, to be sure they were still very much around. He checked for their passport and other documents. There were nothing to show that names was changed, nor were there document written or typed that showed plan to marry. When he had satisfactorily searched all the corners of the room and there luggages, he asked that they leave. 

Meanwhile the party was full of fun with everything going as planned, he guests were enjoying the different kinds of entertainments rolled out one after the other. Margaret and Mike were also seated with Grand pa, amongst other family members. All the other undercover agents except Chase, Bruno and the Chiefs girlfriend, were waiting to see Mike, they believed that's he was yet to come out, or possibly he must have left the house. Their mindset was focused on the picture image of him which they had seen. This would have been the same with Chase, if not for the different approach he adopted. 

Once he noticed that Mike and Margaret were not in the room, he asked that the chef and the lady be freed and instructed Bruno and his men to search for Margaret in the crowed. All that came to his mind was that if they find Margaret and Mike was no where to be seen, then it was either he was in danger or he must have escaped from the family. Immediately, Bruno and his men swung into action, it took them quite sometime before they  recognized Margaret.

Before the abduction of the chef and his girlfriend, Mike had disguised himself the much he could, he had earlier, those times he was left alone to move out, thought out the best way to figure out somethings himself, with his little knowledge in security skills. One of those days, he went to the the boutique and bought some clothes that would help him look different. This he had kept waiting for the party day, so while the event was about to start and guests were trooping in, he disguised himself and walked out in the crowed. It was then he was able to spot out Bruno and his men as undercover agents, he also saw Chase when he was hiding beside the stair case, though he didn't know why, nor was he able to recognize him. 

When he had taken notice of various people he suspected as spies, he called Margaret's attention to what he had seen. Although he did not tell Margaret how he was able to carry out the investigation, Margaret was shocked. She felt that the plans of unveiling Mike in the public as a prospective son-in-law, had failed. She must find another way around it, she thought. Margaret left Mike in the room, under he guise of having forgotten something, she hurriedly approached he Grand pa in his room. When she related the news to him, Grand Pa's face changed. He asked Margaret to leave him for sometime so he could think out option B. It was the Grand pa that brought the idea of making Mike invisible by dressing him in such a manner that was difficult to recognize him. 

Lucymang and the journalist were troubled all the while as they hadn't seen Mike in the party, they were afraid that perhaps something bad had happened to him, she had been called Brains to inform him that Mike wasn't anywhere to be seen in the house. This got Brains worried, he wondered what must have happened. He put a call across to Philip and informed him. Philip had a hunch that some things fishy must have been playing out there. He had to take Laucymang number from Brains and called her by himself. When she picked and after introducing himself, he advised her not to give up easily as he felt that he (Mike) must have appeared in an attire that made him look different. 

When the Journalist heard got the information from Lucymang, she brought up an idea which she believed would solve the puzzle. She suggested that the took time to cover every face in the party. This they did without missing any. They went through the entire guests, and when they got to the family seats, they made sure no one was left behind.

When Bruno and his men spotted Margaret, although Mike was seated right there beside her, they were not able to recognize him. All they did was get back to Chase and informed him that they had seen Margaret. Chase had to follow them to where they would see the clearly those seated at that row. When he finally saw Margaret, he searched for Mike in the entire seats around there, without success. He felt so disappointed, wondering what would have happened. He and Bruno had to get back to the Chef, they wanted to make sure Mike wasn't in any kind of trouble. 

The Chef couldn't believe it when he was told that Mike wasn't in the building, he was sure he took dinner together with the rest of he family the previous night, and he served him and Margaret breakfast in their room that morning. His duty post wouldn't allow him to see when someone left the house, he told Chase, but he directed them to the house keeper who he was sure would know those entering and  leaving the house. The challenge before Chase, became how to go about asking the house keeper without raising suspicion.