SWNOVELS Chapter 102: Rita at Li's residence
A woman came to find him. She was mad and angry about why he was taken away from her. She said she had been looking everywhere for him until she had a clue that he was there.
She wanted to take him away but she was restrained. The director of the orphanage asked her to go and get a police report that the child was hers before she could be allowed to take little Lanre away. She sobbed when she was refused her son. Then she returned with the hope of getting a police report and a lawyer to help her get her son back but she never returned.
When Lanre went through the writing, he sighed. That woman must have been his mother. Had someone taken him away from his mother without her consent?
Was he abducted? Had someone whisked him from his parents. He looked at the director and told him he is the boy in question.
The director squinted and said that's all he can reveal to him. He was worried he might say something he wouldn't be able to defend.
Lanre assured him that he was not lying. He showed him his adopted papers his foster parents gave him to help tracing his real parents, only then did the director believe him.
Lanre asked who was the director of the orphanage at the time the woman came sobbing? The director answered him accordingly.
When he asked to see the surveillance camera of that day, the director said it was beyond his reach. Lanre left and returned to his Penthouse.
He was sobered. He sat and thought over the little information he got. He was brought to the orphanage at one month old.
Why would anyone want to take a one month old baby to the orphanage and would not leave her name and address?
Why would the management of the orphanage accept a child without a convincing excuse and let the woman go who brought the child?
Something is fishy. He smelled a rat in the plot. Otherwise how can he believe what the director showed him in his file?
What happened to the woman who came and sobbed that the child at three was her son? If she was sure and wanted to get her son, why wouldn't she return?
Why did she disappear and never come back? Is the woman his mother? He wants a lot of answers to his question. But how can he get them?
He would have to get insider info. He would ask if he could meet with someone who works in the orphanage.
He poured himself a cup of tea. He needed someone to help him. But he doesn't have a girlfriend anymore, otherwise, Rosa would have been by his side to offer her own help.
His mind drifted off to Xixi, the intern student under him. She's reliable and has shown signs that she is responsible.
He called her and Xixi answered the phone quickly. He asked her how she's doing and what challenges she is experiencing.
Xixi said everything was fine. But everyone misses him in the hospital and wish that his leave would be over soon.
Lanre smiled and said he would come around soon. He asked her if she knows someone who works in the city orphanage?
Xixi asked him if he needed anything. Lanre answered by saying he was undergoing research and needed the help of an insider.
Xixi said a friend of her mum works there. She would reach him back in a couple of minutes. She called her mother's friend and asked that she help a senior colleague and friend in doing research.
The woman agreed and Xixi called Lanre back, giving him information on how to reach her mother's friend. Getting the information, Lanre called her.
They agreed to meet that evening at 7pm. Lanre sighed softly. He was glad and hoped he got the answers that he sought.
Julia sent a message to Rita. The chauffeur would pick her up for dinner with his parents that evening. She replied and said Ok.
Rita works in a manufacturing company as a sales director. She had been working there long before she met Julia. So though married, she still worked there.
She was rounding off the day's work when Julia sent her the message. She tidied up her work and closed for the day.
She had expected him to take her to meet his parents before they got married but he never did. She was a little excited that finally he was taking her to meet his parents.
That is a good sign that he was already accepting her as his wife. She had informed her parents that she was pregnant and had married the father of her unborn child.
Her parents had asked that she bring her husband home for them to meet. She said ok. When he was not busy, she would let him come to see them.
She got home and refreshed herself. Got into a different dress and applied makeup to make herself look prettier. She waited and soon she heard the car horn as it drove into the mansion.
Rita came downstairs and carried a cross bag. She looked beautiful in her dinner wear. She went out and stepped into the car.
As she sat in the car, she was surprised to find Julia inside. His eyes were glued to the screen of his laptop. He didn't spare her a glance but concentrated on his work.
"Hello" Rita greeted but the fellow didn't answer her. She made herself comfortable and completely ignored him. She's getting used to his silence whenever she says anything to him or greets him.
He only answers her on whatever he is interested in or he asks her a question. She rested her head and closed her eyes momentarily.
The car was moving fast and soft music was playing and the rhythm made the atmosphere create a romantic moment.
"Change the music to hip-hop" Julia instructed and the chauffeur immediately did. Julia suspected that Rita was enjoying the music and it makes him remember their romantic past.
Rita also thinks the music makes her remember the good times they both have shared. Countless times in the past, she had been romanced, kissed right in the car where she now sat at an end and Julia on the other.
Once they made love inside the car. But today, they sat in the same car as strangers and Julia wouldn't even answer her greetings.
But she loves him. Julia knew she did and yet wouldn't even make her feel the privilege of being his wife.
They were quiet until the chauffeur drove into Li's residence. When the car came to a halt, Julia shut down his computer and stepped out.
Rita followed and Julia simply strode into the house without looking back at Rita whether she was following or not. He got in and was welcome by his mother.
"Julia dear" Carol Li called out, giving her son a warm embrace and the latter kissed her chin.
Carol Li saw the woman following closely behind Julia and knew she must be his wife. She walked past her son and went to the younger woman with smiles all over her chin.
"Welcome dear" Carol Li said and opened her arms for a hug. Rita smiled "Good to meet you Aunt" she said and hugged Julia's mother.
"She is Rita mum, "Julia said simply and walked away. That's all of an introduction he would make.
Carol Li noticed her son's cold attitude to his wife and knew he wasn't in love with her. She pretended not to find offence in her son's attitude but walked the young woman to a seat. "How's dad?" Rita asked politely. Her mother-in-law's welcoming gesture made her feel at home. She seemed not to care how or in what situation she married her son.
"Your father is fine. He will be out of his exercise soon" Carol Li said. She took Rita's hands in hers and smiled.
"I had looked forward to your coming. Julia called me a few hours ago and said he was bringing you home to us. Welcome child"Carol Li said, smiling a megawatt smile.
Rita's eyes became moist. Such a good woman. She nods her head as a tear escapes from her eyes. She said she was looking forward to meeting her.