THE GREATEST SECRET

"Mark this isn't the right time to tell Larissah the truth. You've no choice but to zip your mouth. "Rachel said as she sat on a wooden chair. The room was quiet for a moment and the old cottage house seemed like a peaceful place to be. "But time is running out Rachel, and Larissah is almost twenty years old, it's just a matter of two weeks time" Mark replied while fixing his bore tie, you could tell he was from a party according to his dressing code. His shirt as white as snow, a black pair of trousers and his pair of grey shoes seemed valuable, definitely a masterpiece. " This isn't right Mark, I don't intend to hurt your feelings but I'm not losing my daughter, one truth can ruin our entire life " "Which truth Mummy?" Larrissah asked while entering the cottage. "The door was open so I thought there's no need for me to knock. Hope I haven't meddled with your privacy...." "Is there anything to hide here Dad?" "Of course not Larrissah " he replied with a smile. Mark and Rachel Jones were Larissah's parents, they had their own principles regarding work and family, both personal and professional lifestyles were kept separate, despite being rich they led a normal life and all their serious conversations were done in the cottage house away from their family. The reason wasn't well known despite having three trustworthy kids. Larissah being the only daughter to her parents with two protective elder brothers, Joe, twenty six and Liam thirty three. Larissah was known as the best content creator in her town. She lived in the country side with her parents. She was well known for her capabilities, definitely a lady to admire. "Dad, mum, I'm almost turning twenty and I don't want to celebrate my birthday. I don't feel like it is necessary" "But why Larissah?" "I just don't feel like. And I'm an adult, which means I can make my own decisions " "You don't usually celebrate your birthdays. I thought that this year would be different since you're turning twenty. Your father and I were thinking of holding for you a grand party" "Mum you have to understand, and since I was a child I've never been interested in birthday celebrations. Dad talk to mum, please" "It's okay, Larissah, we're fine with your decision, your mother will understand too" Larissah folded her sleeves and adjusted her leather jacket. She then gazed at the wooden ceiling for a second. For a moment she felt a cold breeze pass through her body and her feet heavy. She couldn't even lift the black pair of boots she was wearing. "You're back Liam? "Asked Rachel "Yes mum, I'm done with today's work "he answered as he rubbed his hands on his black curly hair. Then tapped Larissa on her shoulder. "What's up little sister?" "I'm...I'm good Liam" she stammered "Mum I'm going out, and later on I'll be meeting my friends " That wasn't the case for Larissah, she had lied to her mum about meeting her friends, she felt a strange way and it wasn't the first time, it had been happening since her nineteenth birthday as if someone was welcoming her into another world. Henry Anderson clutched his champagne bottle tightly. His heart beat faster than usual. The kind of agony he was in was too much for him to handle . He sat silent in the corner of his mansion. You could hear the ticking of the clock on the wall due to the silence in his house. Pieces of broken glass laid scattered on the floor. "How could you do this to me Tamara "he said in a shaky sobbing voice. "I loved you with all my heart, I was thinking of proposing to you and all you cared about was my money?" "I'll never forgive you for this" Henry stood up and threw the champagne bottle on the wall and headed to the washroom for clean up. Of course, he had to get a grip of himself and prepare for the following day's board meeting. Tamara Grace was Henry Anderson's girlfriend of two years. Henry was just thinking of proposing to her when he found out about her motive: While Henry Anderson was a great business man with four big textile companies, Tamara Grace was a nurse at Lui Hospital. Even though both had a great chemistry between them, their relationship couldn't work out due to Tamara Grace's carelessness. Now, Henry had just turned into a bachelor in his early thirties after his sudden break-up, he was thirty-one, and all he thought of was finding a match to marry and start a family. It had finally dawned to him that Tamara wasn't the one he had been hoping to make a wife, at least not her, she wasn't capable of being a mother to his future children. "Linnah I need to talk to you, could you spare me a minute?" Tamara asked pulling Linnah aside from a patient's bed. "What's wrong Tamara, what is it that I have to know ?"she asked while crossing her hands. " it's over Linnah, all the plan is destroyed" "What? Which plan?" "It's Henry, he knows the truth,he knows that I didn't love him,he knows that everything I did was for his own money, I'm doomed Linnah, I'm so scared, I don't know what he's gonna do. I know he won't let this go " "Relax Tamara, but how did he find out?" "I left my phone unlocked and Erick sent a voice message, he heard everything Linnah, what I'm I supposed to do ?" Tamara explained her lips trembling. "Right now let's lie low, let's wait and see what he's gonna do, we've no choice Tamara,just relax" "Okay fine , let me get to work , as if Erick had no one to send a voice message to...damn it! Erick, you ruined my whole plan" she said , walking towards the outpatient ward. Tamara couldn't understand why Erick, her older brother,could send the voice message after they had agreed not to, especially at the wrong time.He had messed up everything, the fact that he asked Tamara how to lure Henry to handing over one of his company to her changed the whole game plan, it was totally a disaster. "The intensity of love comes in a greater price Rebecca, I just don't think that I should get hurt for love, but look at my parents' love story, they've been in love for more than fifty years" Larrissa said as she snatched the half piece of chocolate Rebecca was eating. "Come on, you should find love Larissah, take an example of your parents, I'm twenty five and still single, you better find it when young. Don't forget you're turning twenty." "We'll see" Which is the worse pain to bear? To watch the love of your life die with little or no help to offer or to be betrayed by the woman you see your future with? This is definitely the question that kept ringing in Henry's ears. But, he had learnt his lesson the earliest . "Henry Anderson's textile company " written in bold was one way of knowing the huge company in Kakuma belonged to Henry. He alighted from his black expensive Range Rover, worth millions and headed towards the company accompanied by Gregory his right-hand man and best friend. Henry looked good with his black suit that represented his work outfit. "Listen to me Gregory, I don't intend anything to go wrong with the new investors especially when I'm in the verge of launching our products overseas" "Everything is well taken care of" "Make sure you don't disappoint me. I hate disappointments, more so now that I'm in my low self" "Don't worry about it. I got you on this one" He replied as he tapped Henry on the shoulder " After this meeting I need to go to the country side in Malini so arrange for my stay " "Why so soon?" "You know quite the reason I have to do this. It's so important for me. I'll be able to put myself together." "Well said, you don't deserve what Tamara did for you" "Don't even mention her name Gregory, but I'm not gonna give up on finding love. I have to get married, before you know it, I'll be serving my late thirties man." He said giving quite an original smile to Gregory, the good part was that he was ready to move on and wouldn't let Tamara's betrayal ruin his entire life. "That's right" Mark Jones checked his wrist watch and exclaimed " I can't believe it's eight thirty pm already! Rachel have you seen Larissah? Hope she didn't get mad at us earlier " "Why would she get mad at us ?" "We were pestering her into celebrating her birthday remember?" "Yeah I do, but I'm so afraid Mark. I don't know what will happen when we decide to tell her the truth. Everything is so complicated. I don't want to lose my daughter" "Relax Rachel let's play with the cards " "If you say so " That wasn't just a conversation, it was more bigger than it seemed to be. Was it something that could ruin the relationship of the Jones family? Or was it just a snitch. The presence of dry leaves in the country side could tell that it was the period of summer, Larrissa's favourite. "Why don't we go have a cup of coffee?" "It's late already Rebecca and my parents might be worried about me" "You're right but you wouldn't miss to have just one cup of coffee, I know your obsession with coffee" "Well, that's true but we have to get out of this jungle, our jungle, we've been walking for like an hour and we didn't even realize that we've come deeper than usual. Let's find our way Rebecca" Larrissah said as she grabbed a stick from the ground. "Hey Larissah wait!"Rebecca shouted. "What's the problem damn it! You almost scared me" "There's fire it looks like someone has set a small camp over there, let's find out what's going on." "It isn't safe Rebecca, why don't you understand " "I'm curious and I really want to know what's going on so it's up to you" The cool breeze embraced Larissah's body, she could feel her heart beat. She felt restless at the moment, it wasn't normal for her to feel that way. "Something's is surely going to happen today Rebecca, I'm telling you ,let's go!" She said aloud trying to reach out to Rebecca's hand but she started running towards the direction of the fire. With the scattered dry leaves on the ground, Larrissah could hear the noises the leaves made as Rebecca stepped on them. Afraid to look back, she decided to follow her from behind. She catched up with Rebecca in no time and both of them walked towards the tent Gregory adjusted his office chair and went through the documents on his desk. He was distracted by the ringing of his cellphone. "May I get to know who's speaking?" "It's Tamara, please don't hang up on me." "What's the point of calling me late at night?You know I won't fall for your words" "Gregory at least hear me out, I know you're Henry's best friend, I really have to speak to him, he blocked my cell phone number and there's no way I can get to contact him" "There's no way I can help you Tamara and as a matter of fact, I don't want to. Henry has gone on a vacation, and I'm sorry I can't disclose his whereabouts to you. Betrayer!" "Damn it Gregory! Guess what? He hung up on me and called me a betrayer." Tamara said in an unpleasant angry voice. "I told you to just let things slow down and you didn't listen to me, right now just focus on your work and tomorrow you're working night shift remember" The night was peaceful, you could hear the sound of the crickets ,the moon and stars shown brightly from above, it could have been nice to take a walk at the park. The melody of the birds had stopped. Singing at night wasn't their welcoming celebration. Larrissah felt something walking behind them but was afraid to look back instead she held Rebecca's hand and hurried towards the tent. The painful roar of a wild animal behind them seemed scary, afraid to move, they turned back to have a look. They watched as it growled in pain with an arrow on it's neck. "You should be careful girls, especially at this time of the night in a lonely forest" "Who are you? And why are you here?" They asked in unison and gazed at each other, still holding hands. The man that stood before them was tall, fit, fair skinned with blonde hair and blue eyes, beyond attractive. He was definitely a Caucasian. He stared at them for a while and then fixed his tent. "I had no idea this jungle has got crazy wild animals,I'm Henry Anderson from Kakuma." He said reaching for a dry wood on a huge tree next to his tent. "I'm just here for a vacation, vacation in this wonderful jungle, just exploring Malini, it's a beautiful place, a good definition of a countryside " He continued. "I'll be glad if I get to know you" "I'm Rebecca " "I'm Larrissah Jones, I stay here" Larissah stared at Henry and wondered where on earth he had come from, she could feel her heart beat first, especially when her eyes met with Henry. Henry stretched his hands to greet them both in a respected way, very satisfying. He couldn't stop looking at Larrissah even though he had broken up with his girlfriend, he felt she was beautiful and pleasing to the eye, such a beautiful soul, he thought . Was it the beginning of the passionate eclipse of love?