Chapter 4

★★★★★

THE NEXT DAY..

•The White House; 8:49PM•

People call it exquisite..

You could call it magnificent but the luxurious state of the house can't be properly described.

The exterior parts were more breathtaking than one could imagine with manicured lawns, lush gardens, private golf course and tennis court stretched across the expansive property.

The architectural style of the house was a masterful blend of modern elegance and classic sophistication with sleek lines, floor to ceiling windows and a subtle curvature that seemed to hug the surrounding landscape..

The state of the house was enough for someone to wonder how much time, effort and funds were put together in building, having every part of it screaming wealth and power.

Harrison Brooks alighted from the car he was driven in with, standing tall in his perfectly tailored suit before sucking in a deep breath.

'Cancel every appointment and come over to the White House this morning as early as 8!'

His father had mailed him just a short while ago.

Without a response to the greetings from the hundreds of workers bowing their heads, he walked into the gigantic mansion while the guards struggled to catch up with his pace.

"I have just seven minutes to spend here!" he announced loudly from the door and everyone in the large parlor turned towards the direction where his voice came from.

His eyes were swift enough to notice everyone present in less than ten seconds.

There was Austen Brooks, his father..

Karen and Kathy Brooks, his twenty-four year old younger sisters who are twins..

Cecilia Brooks, his step mother..

And then, the entire Smith family..

He stopped on his tracks immediately he sighted Ashley, his so-called betrothed and then he turned to his father with a cold stare.

"What's this all about?.." he said coldly.

"Ji An!" Karen called in excitement, rushing to hug him immediately while Kathy remained on her seat, smiling shortly.

"Have you suddenly lost your manners?.. what's so hard in uttering some words of greeting!" Cecilia said harshly to Harrison while Austen tried his best to control himself.

"What's so hard about minding your business?.." Harrison responded, glaring daggers at her while reciprocating Karen's hug with just one of his arms.

"Sit down, Harrison" Austen said in usual deep manly voice.

"I have five minutes remaining.." Harrison said firmly, sitting on an empty couch and Karen returned to her seat.

"I apologize for that. Can we get back to the main reason why we're here please" Austen said, staring at the Smith's parents in turns while Harrison's eyes remained glued to his wristwatch, waiting for the five minutes he gave, to be over..

"Erm, I think we should start by allowing the betrothed duo to sit beside each other.." Drake Smith, Ashley's father said and without hesitation, Ashley walked over to the couch where Harrison was seated.

"I am allergic to dirt, don't come closer.." he said coldly and Ashley folded her fists tight, sitting on the couch without moving closer according to his instruction..

"The wedding is going to take place in six months, after the launching of my oil company in Paris but for now, the betrothal agreement needs to be signed by you, Harrison..." Austen said and Cecilia rolled her eyes secretly..

Harrison sighed..

"I am not interested.." he said simply.

Ashley turned to him with raised brows.

"But babe —"

"My name is Harrison!" He cut her off and she gulped.

"Call me what I bear.." he added, stressing his words in a mutter.

"It's high time you realized that she's your fiancée!" Scarlett Smith, Ashley's mum said furiously.

"I don't want a fiancée, it's as simple as that!" Harrison replied without staring at anyone in particular.

"My heir can't succeed me without a family!" Austen yelled, finding the rage in him already beyond control.

"Carl is four years younger than you, yet he uses his senses!" he added, a bit calm this time..

Cecilia smiled.

"My son isn't a bastard" she mumbled under her breath.

"Does it look like I care?.." Harrison said fearlessly, staring at his dad with a smirk.

"Your son could have all the senses he wants, I don't care!.. But with this senseless head.." he paused, pointing at his head with a mean smirk.

"I'll succeed you as the first son, whether anyone likes it or not" he continued..

"Are you –" Austen tried saying but got interrupted by Harrison's words.

"My time is over. I'm leaving" he said, standing up.

"You dare not walk out on everyone seated!" Austen yelled

"I remember telling you I have just seven minutes to spend here. I'm sorry, your excellency.." Harrison said, proceeding out of the house.

Cecilia snickered and Drake Smith clenched his fists.

Without hesitation, Ashley rushed after Harrison, grabbing his arm and stopping him in his tracks as they were now outside.

Harrison sighed frustratingly..

"What do you want huh?.. satisfaction in bed? Good food? Tell me what you want in a woman. If it's a more-curvy shape, I can always undergo a surgery. I'll do anything that pleases you" she said desperately while Harrison kept glaring at her grip on his arm..

"Just accept me and give me a chance.." she added and he slowly looked up, causing their gazes to snag.

"Why?.." he asked intentionally with raised brows.

"Huh.." she hesitated for a second, itching the back of her neck.

"Because.." she paused, biting her lower lip in embarrassment.

"Because.. because I'm your fiancée" she said gently and he scoffed with a grunt like he was disgusted.

"You meant to say, you're my dog right..?" he scoffed. Her eyes widened..

"I'll either remain unmarried forever than to marry someone like you.." he said, forcefully releasing his arm from her grip.

"Harri –"

"Don't touch me again, till you die and even when you die and see me in heaven, pass by me like we don't know each other.." He interrupted with a glare and with that, he walked out.

Ashley folded her both fists, breathing heavily while staring at him as he walked towards his car.

"I'll marry you, I swear!" She screamed as her breathing intensified.

"Stop pushing me to go for plan B" she thought..

•

"To the Office.." Harrison instructed his private guards, settling at the back seat of the car.

"Okay boss.." the two men chorused in unison, sauntering into the front seat of the car.

Just as the car moved out of the house, Harrison's phone rang and his eyes caught the caller's ID 'PERSONAL AGENT', before swiping green.

Cole Zach was his personal agent and only friend and although Cole is eleven years older, he regards Harrison with respect.

"Good morning boss.." the deep masculine voice said from the other end.

"Any updates about her?.." Harrison questioned impatiently, ignoring the greetings.

"We searched the web for the name you gave us – Iris Norbert, but it was confirmed that no one bears that name in the whole of California." Cole said.

Harrison brows instantly furrowed on their own.

"What?!." he exclaimed in a whisper

"That's the name she called herself, I'm sure" he muttered, still so shocked while the car kept moving at average speed.

"That means three things sir. It's either that there's a mistake in the name or she truly doesn't exist or she's not a registered citizen of this country, she might probably be a foreigner.." Cole explained.

"There's no mistake anywhere, that's her name and she exists, I didn't meet a ghost!.." Harrison said, heaving a deep sigh afterwards.

"Can you describe her features? Like her hair, stature, height, eyes color and other features. That will help in the search sir.." Cole said and Harrison sighed again.

"I have no idea what she looks like," he said in response.

"Each time I try, her image appears so blur in my head. I was so drunk that day.." he thought..

"That's a problem. I'm afraid, finding her will be so difficult" Cole admitted.

"Do something Cole. Find her somehow, I've been having sleepless nights since then. I feel so guilty to have roughly handled her despite how she was telling me about her hellish experiences. I took her virginity too and —" Harrison kept speaking without realizing..

The private guards in front turned to each other on hearing those last words.

"Seriously?.." they whispered at once.

~~~~~~~

•WILLIAMS VILLA•

"Nina!" Gilbert called loudly, searching everywhere for her. He was actually working out in the gym when he received a text message that made him rush home quickly.

"Nina!!" he shouted again, walking into the kitchen.

"What is it this time?" Nina asked, appearing from behind him and he turned immediately.

She was right there, staring at him with folded arms.,

"So you're in here and I've been shouting your name since I returned!" He reprimanded.

"I didn't hear you, okay!" she replied rudely and he breathed.

"You know, your rudeness is getting out of hand. I am your husband!" Gilbert said furiously as beads of sweat dropped from his forehead.

"Oh really?.." Nina scoffed and Gilbert breathed, trying to control himself.

"Where's she?.." he asked and she raised a brow.

"Who?.."

Gilbert sighed.,

"Where's the girl you named Velvet after injecting her?!.." he demanded, requesting for Iris whose name they had now changed.

"We need to give her a new name, calling her Iris might trigger her memories especially when the cops keep questioning while calling her that" .. that was Nina's suggestion yesterday before they gave her the new name.

"Oh, she should be in her room. She hasn't talked to anyone since she woke up.." Nina said with a shrug, walking past him to check out what she was cooking.

"We need to get her out of our house tonight" he announced suddenly and Nina turned to him immediately.

"What?!.."

"I got a message. We might be arrested for human trafficking if we don't get her out tonight. The state government has implemented a strict policy, remember she has no citizenship status.." he explained.

"My goodness.." Nina said in a whisper, while widening her eyes.

"We'll surely be arrested for human trafficking if we don't swing into action immediately, the officials are coming to this estate before dusk for the citizenship status confirmation.." He said frankly.

"That's nonsense, why would they come up with that policy suddenly?.." Nina said and Gilbert stared at her with a frown.

"How am I supposed to know that?.. stop the stupid questions and let's find a way to dumb her tonight!" He said.

"Why don't we tell them the truth about her then?.." Nina asked.

"What truth?.." Gilbert asked with an unfriendly smirk.

"That we bought her from some traffickers in Korea when we needed a child and then when we got Dorothy, we stopped seeing her as our child and turned her into a slave?.." Gilbert questioned..

"How can we tell them that?.. You must be mad.." he scowled, hissing.,

"I mean, we should tell her that –"

"Shut up!" he cut her off, walking out of the kitchen immediately.

Nina followed him immediately.

"We can't take her out, who will do the chores if we do?" She shouted.

"I know you feel like going to jail. You can put her in your shop after I take her out" Gilbert hissed, heading to Iris' (now Velvet) room.

Dorothy appeared from a corner.. she had actually overheard the conversations.

"Why do I suddenly pity her now?.." She thought, walking to her room.

"Hi Velvet, it's dad," Gilbert said with a fake smile as he entered her room. As expected, she was lying on the bed, staring blankly into the space..

"You're going on a journey now" he said sweetly. He had been so nice to her since they made her lose her memories. All he and his family were trying to do was create a good impression in her so even when the cops come around, there won't be any suspicion.

"I have a better idea.." Nina said walking into the room.

"Nina, get out of -"

She leaned in before he could finish speaking and whispered into his ears.

"Let's sneak her into the Brooks house. She'll live as their maid without suspicion since they have too many maids to recognise."

Gilbert's lips curved into a smile.

"You're so right!.."

•