Alluring Masquerade

Chapter 56 - Daughter And Father

          By now it was just after eight in the evening and the sky was still relatively in daylight. It was very sunny and warm and humid. It made her feel sticky and in desperate need of a cool shower.

          Hira was finally finished with work for the day. She was thankful that she could go home already and rest in her warm, comfortable. Suddenly, she remembered that she was to return to Kael's home instead. Half of her wanted to fly into his open arms and the other half wanted to retrieve quickly into her own house, which was honestly closer in distance.

          She squared her shoulders as she carried her shoulder bag and held onto the strip with one hand. The urge to go to Kael's house was much stronger now as soon as her feet stepped out of the Café. A smile came onto her lips after she'd applied a fresh coat of clear gloss. I did tell him that I'd be back, she thought contemplatively.

          With that last thought she was about to start walking away, when she heard her phone beep. Her dull, brown eye lit up when she had seen the caller I.D. "Alec..." she whispered. She answered it instantaneously. "Hiyah, Alex, how are you?" she asked hopefully. "Are you OK?"

          "Of course, why wouldn't I be?" he laughed.

          "That's good," she agreed.

          "So ... how are you ... after you-know-what...?" he asked knowingly.

          The smile on her face disappeared half way before it was full again. "I'm fine," she assured. "Danny could be jailed for a long time ... I wish he never gets out, but." She giggled halfheartedly and shrugged even though Alec would have been able to see her. "You know. Whatever."

          "I know you," he persisted. "You're not 'fine.' Listen, even though I'm not there with you, call me whenever you want? If you ever want to talk, I'll always find the time."

          She blinked away the tears and sighed, sitting down on a stray chair that leaned against the bare wall. "Thanks," she sighed. "Same to you."

          He laughed shyly. "Yeah..."

          She grinned to herself.

          "By the way, I was called in to the Police Station and they took my statement again, just to clarify things," he explained seriously.

          "Oh...?"

          "They said that they're working on the case," he elaborated, "Daniel has been on their wanted list for years and they won't let him go that easily. He has had several other cases on him. So your case is growing stronger. Hopefully, in the court session everything will go well."

          "Hope so, they haven't told me anything about going to the court – I mean, if they already have so much proof, shouldn't they even bother try him in court?" She gave out an exasperated groan and stood up, putting her left hand on her hip. "Is it just me or is there something fishy?" she asked slowly.

          "Like what?" Alec asked.

          "What if there's someone helping him?" she asked. "What if her gets out of this?"

          "Maybe you're worrying yourself too much."

          "Perhaps ... you're right," she replied after a short pause.

          "Anyway, we'll see what happens," Alec offered.

          "Yes," she sighed. "Listen, I don't want to leave like this but my battery is almost over and I need to preserve it for a little while longer. I lost my charger! Mum might ring me, so, sorry Alec."

          "No problem. Catch you later!" He said helpfully.

          "Bye," she said and pressed the 'disconnect' sign on her phone. "I need to change you," she told her old mobile phone, pocketing it. "I guess I'll catch the bus," she muttered. She started walking towards the nearest and usual bus-stop and thankfully, it didn't take long for the bus to arrive. She boarded the bus, paid for her ticket and took a seat.

          Later, when she was dropped off at the nearest bus-stop from the Xaviers' Mansion, she sighed and shielded her eyes from the hot rays of the sun. It was a good thirty minute walk from the bus-stop on a fast and brisk walk. By the time she had reached the large gates, she was panting. It didn't help at all that the foot path was ever so long and felt quite steep, especially, when one was walking after a working.

          Plus, she felt tired today anyway and the walk only added to her tiredness. She thought that she had to keep fit from now on and regularly exercise. But then she just rolled her eyes at herself.

          She reached over gradually, on purpose because the sun was glaring down at her and she was sweating, too, and pressed a button on the speaker.

          "Xavier residence," a stern, female voice demanded.

          "Please let me in?" she asked. It's hot and it's burning my back! she cried in her thoughts.

          The other person was caught off guard for a moment. "I beg your pardon?" she demanded. "Who may I ask is speaking?"

          "Hira Kaif!" she begged, "I'm going to die!" She was only exaggerating but she didn't care at this moment. She honestly was distressed to drink some cooling water.

          "A car will be sent to you right away, Miss Kaif," the female voice advised, and then the connection was gone.

          Indeed, in less than two minutes a white – expensive looking – car slowed down to a stop on the other side of the gates until they opened, and steadied in front of her.

          She was slightly hesitant but after the driver assured her that he wasn't a kidnapper, she climbed into the air-conditioned backseat. "Oh, this is so much better," she breathed, and closed the door after her. "Thank you very much for the help! The bus-stop was so far away and, well, you know, and it is so boiling out there!" She gestured and then opened the window all the way down.

          The driver didn't know how to respond to that since he was never spoken to so freely and casually. He cleared his throat and blinked at the rearview mirror a couple of times, and then concentrated on making a quick 'U-turn' towards the mansion.

          "I feel so sympathetic towards the poor people who work away in the scorching sunlight every day," she carried on. "Oh, my goodness. Actually, y – you know what?"

          The driver looked at her from the rearview mirror for half a second with wide eyes, as if he was scared.

          "Ignore me," she finished, resting her elbow where the glass was hiding under and her chin in her right handed palm. Her hair flew back from her face and neck as the warm breeze buzzed past her ears.