The Chess King Necklace

Episode 3 :My Necklace is gone!

Stephen's POV:

The time was 8:15 am when I woke up. Shoot! That was really late and today was a Monday. Amora was gone by the time I woke up. She left me a goodbye note. Her leaving very early didn't shock me as I remembered her telling me yesterday about the morning flight she had to catch.

As I got up from bed and stretched, I touched my neck and couldn't feel my necklace.

“Holy Jesus!!!” I screamed.

I began to look for the necklace all over the room. In the bathroom, under the bed, under the sheets, in the wardrobe, on the floor, however, I didn't find it.

“No God. This can't be.” I can't lose that necklace. It was such an important treasure of my family and was given to me by my grandfather.

In our family, whoever is the wearer of that necklace holds a very important position of authority. He was the leader of the Eagle Family Empire and every other family member was subject to him.

Grandpa, the former wearer of the necklace passed it on to me two years ago, officially making me the leader of my family. I'm also expected to pass it on as well at the right time to any future Eagle blood who I believe is worthy of leading our family after me. I can't lose that necklace. What type of leader will I call myself? What will my grandpa and dad think? And my jealous cousins?

No, I have to find it.

I quickly got ready and left the room to see the hotel management. With my power and influence, my request to see the CCTV footage of my room was granted.

Watching that video made me realize how much Amora and I devoured each other. I smiled inwardly at a job well done.

I watched the video as carefully as possible but it was only at the second viewing that I realised all that had happened. The necklace had come off when Amora and I were busy last night and she had mistakenly put it in her purse this morning while leaving.

I was relieved to know the whereabouts of the necklace. But then it dawned on me that I didn't know who Amora was and I also didn't have her phone number. Plus, she was flying to the UK this morning.

“Goddammit!!”

My phone beeped and I saw a text from my secretary. I had an important meeting to attend by 11:00 am and it was 10:30 am on the dot. As if planned, my to-do list for the day also popped up and I groaned in frustration. Bells were ringing in my head. I was alarmed.

“Until my neckalce is found, I have to be extra cautious. No one can find out,” I warned myself.

Stephen's POV:

I arrived at the office by 11:27 am. I had asked my secretary to cancel the meeting and reschedule for 1 pm if possible. Thankfully, it was.

Before coming to the office, I rushed home to change clothes. I managed to struggle through my commitments for the day, feeling so frustrated and guilty. I even started to doubt myself as a leader. How can I lose something that important over a one-night stand?!

My secretary, that good lady noticed that something was off with me no matter how hard I tried to look okay. She asked me but I couldn't bring myself to tell her. Never.

I knew that Arc and his wife must have arrived at their honeymoon destination and it was wrong to disturb them, but I had no choice. I needed to get all the information I could on Amora to find her.

“God, what if she has thrown the necklace away, knowingly or unknowingly, or even sold it?”

“Get that thought off your mind Stephen.”

After much contemplation, I picked up my phone and called Arc.

“Hello Arc”

“Hello Stephen. How are you doing?”

“I'm fine but not too fine bro. Please I know it's wrong to disturb you on your honeymoon but this is really important.”

“I can tell. What's up?”

“I slept with one of the guests at your wedding yesterday and she mistakenly took an important belonging of mine. I need it back but I don't know how to find her. All I know is that her name is Amora and that she flew to the UK today.”

“Ahh! Bro! Hmmm. Ok. I'll do this. Give me a few minutes, let me check the guest list for any Amora.”

“Oh thank you very much Arc,” I said, truly thankful for his willingness to help me out.

A few minutes later, Arc called back.

“Bro, I checked our wedding guest list and there is no Amora, not even one on the guest list. Are you sure that's her name?”

“Yes. I even heard her friend Anna calling her that yesterday. You know maybe she came representing someone. Who knows?”

“Representing someone… Oh my God! Wait bro, I'll call you back soon. Let me confirm something.”

Office hours ended by 5 pm and it was past 6 pm. I was pacing and pacing the floor of my office thinking, blaming myself, and waiting for Arc's call.

Other calls I was getting from Mr. Romero, Miss Winfrey, and even from my dad irritated me. I didn't want to talk to anyone. I just needed my necklace.

At some point, I considered switching my phone to airplane mode but I thought better of it. How would I receive Arc's call?

After what seemed like decades to me, Arc called me back.

“Hello, Arc. You got news?”

“Yes, bro. Look, two of our wedding guests didn't come in person. One sent his son and the other lady, she hasn't picked up her call yet. So I will call her tomorrow to ask her who attended in her place. I can't remember now. Please get some rest and don't worry. You will get it ok?”

“Thanks bro. I'm so sorry for disturbing you on your honeymoon. I owe you one guy.”

“It's fine. Goodbye.”

“Bye.”

I banged my fist on my office table as I dropped my phone.

“Goddammit!!!”