Where is she? President Leo's Pov

My car pulled up in front of Lila's mansion.

 The expanse was thrilled with tiled floor, chrysanthemum flowers, hibiscus and rose flowers.

 Green flowers lined the compound like railed lines and the guards worked the flowers, trimming and clearing weeds.

 I stepped out, aided by my chauffeur and best friend, Mario.

 My hands tucked into my pocket and for a moment, I gazed at the huge building in front of me, it was the supposedly biggest building in Tadley.

 "Wow. This should be a tourist attraction site." Mario observed as she stood beside me.

 "You think?"

 "I believe." He added.

 "Then should I buy it? Anything to make the business move." I suggested with a grin.

 Mario gasped unbelievably. "Are you serious?"

 "Of course, I'm joking. C'mon, let's go inside, it's cold outside." I said.

 Head guard Morrey sighted me and bowed to greet me, I waved accompanied with a much more smaller bow and a smile.

 Mario strode after me with the bagged gift.

 The entrance door opened with a weak rumble and we stepped in. The living room was more expanded than I thought, pure snow white paints decorated the room and large picture frame of Lila from when she was a baby till the beautiful young woman I adored was hung on the wall.

 She really looked like an heiress in her most recent photo frame. With almond eyes and blond hair that I love, she stared at the camera with such vigour… I love her!

 "President Leo!" Ophelia called from behind.

 I turned to look at her running toward me with smiles and excitement.

 "Hi Ophelia." I waved, hoping to see Lila. "Where's Lila?"

 Now in front of me, she stopped smiling and assumed her kill-joy stricken expression.

 "Uhm…she uhm…she's-she's out of town. May I ask why you're here?"

 "What? She didn't mention leaving town to me at the ball last night?"

 "Yes, it wasn't something she wanted to announce. Something really unpleasant has happened and she had to go." She explained.

 "That's bad. May I ask what was the unpleasant thing she went to handle?"

 "Family! Family sir. Deep family secrets."

 I nodded miserably. "Oh I see…"

 "Now you know sir, she's not here so you can…"

 "I thought I told you I would come by today. I brought some gifts for her."

 Mario extended the gifts and I could tell, I saw she wasn't happy with it but however, she accepted it.

 "I'll let her know of the gifts." Another forced smile.

 "What of grandfather Gilmore?" I asked with an extended brow.

 "He's having a rest and wouldn't like to be disturbed. If you will leave now."

 I noticed her fidgeting. Her ear twitched and her speech was more like a stutter.

 Mario stepped up close as whispered to my ears. 

 My brow creased and I looked down at Ophelia whose forehead already gathered some bead of sweat.

 "May I know where exactly she went to?"

 "It's some secret journey sire. She didn't permit me to tell."

 "Then I must see grandfather Gilmore."

 "Like I said, he's deeply asleep."

 "Well, I'll wait."

 I helped myself to one of the leathery fine sofa in the room and crossed my leg. Mario waited on me.

 Mario told me something was not right. If Lila had gone on a journey as she claimed, she wouldn't go with her head maid Ophelia who was practically her hand maid.

 Furthermore, Morrey was supervising few guards while they worked the garden. Something seemed suspicious and I was determined to find out.

 "Sire, you can't possibly wait until Mr Gilmore wakes, he's not exactly feeling okay, he needs all the rest he can get and sometimes, his dementia prevents him from acting normally." She cried out.

 I could hear fear coming out from her voice but I didn't bulge.

 "I've got all the free time today. I'll like to formally greet Mr Gilmore." I flashed a warm smile.

 I thought it took five minutes or more, then she sauntered off. 

 "What would you like to take sire?" One of the maid came to ask a minute later.

 Her long curly black hair dazzled under the living room lightening. Their uniforms; wine coloured flay gown with short sleeve was really alluring.

 "A coffee will do." I answered.

 She took a slight bow and strutted off, then appeared a while later with two mugs of coffee, steam rising of the rim. 

 My throat itched just at the sight and I salivated. The hotness was just what I needed for the cold weather.

 "I hope you enjoy it sire." She said warmly, a meek smile at me and she left.

 I was relaxed at her receptiveness. Ophelia couldn't be this warm and pretty. 

 Mario took a seat besides me and took one of the beverage, a gentle sip and he nodded his head, slid his tongue round his lip to express satisfaction.

 "It's good." He commented as his grim eyes watched me take mine.

 Barely after we finished the coffee, pleasant drowsiness enveloped us. Mario couldn't stop yawning and my eyes was so heavy like the weight of heavy rock. 

 "I could use a little sleep, Mario. Wake me up when grandfather Gilmore comes." 

 Another yawn from him again, I noticed.

 I was heavily drifting into sleep to know what actually was going on. My eyes narrowed, blurry and wet, a figure a

ppeared in front of me and I swore, I couldn't make out the person, nor the strength to put up a resisting force.