C2 Chapter two

The screech of tires on the concrete driveway and sound of sirens shattered the evening silence, a clamour that drew Harper out of her sleep. Groaning, she stretched her body, she had fallen into a weary- dreamless on the balcony for a few minutes. The event of the night still fresh in her mind, her family’s social state a permanent cause of worry at the front seat of her mind.

A muffled wails, followed by a series of firm yet hasty voices, sent a wave of panic through her. Fear e shrouded her, her fingers felt cold and clammy. She scrambled out of the chair she was resting on, her heart pounding at a rhythm faster than the beat of African drums against her ribs. She rushed downstairs.

She stopped dead in her tracks at the sight that met her. . Flashing lights illuminated her practice, making the outside look brighter than the stage of a boy and concert. FBI agents occupied the lawn, their faces stern and firm, very professional too. They had come for her father. There were also media personnel and paparazzi who had come to capture the juicy story of her father’s arrest. Their estate security could do very little to keep them at bay.

The FBI had their guns drawn like they had come to take a Mafia don into custody, she couldn’t believe that her Father, whom seemed so prim and proper would one day be treated the same as cold hearted criminals. She looked around looking for her mother, there she stood leaning against a pillar , her face ashen with horror and shock, her eyes distant.

Harper rushed towards her, her voice shaky, “Mom, what’s going on? They are here to take Dad.”

Her mother, who looked to be so lost and oblivious to her presence let her out a loud wail as she watched the agents handcuff her husband and lead him to their van. She looked haggard, her face bloated and red from tears that didn’t seem to be ending. Her face A shadow of the woman who stood proud and unwavering. Her Father, his face still indifferent looked towards her and her mother with regret, his lips trembling.

Harper let out a Sigh, tears streaming down her face as she watched the agents tuck her father into the van. A man who once embodied power and authority now looked so small. Her very being felt struck . Her Father, who had commanded wealth and respect, taught her to be proper, showered her with privilege and affection to the best of his ability was now a criminal . His name and reputation tarnished with the stigma of deceit and greed forever following them.

The News men and paparazzi crowded their property the flash of their cameras causing Harper to feel dizzy, and their onslaught of questions that just seemed to make the situation more hopeless. The once calm environment of their home, disturbed by the chaos that unfolded, their home a spectacle for all to see. Harper shielded her mother in her arms as the estate security led them inside, the reporters regardless, continued with onslaught of questions increasing the flashes from their cameras.

“Mrs. Kings! Mrs. Kings! What can you say about you husbands arrest?”

“ When you aware of you husbands fraudulent activities?”

“ What is the fire of Kings corps?”

“Ms. Kings are you aware of your Father’s crimes?”

The questions echoed through the air, each one a bullet hitting her already scared heart. A cruel reminder of their downfall and the severity of their situation. Harper felt overwhelmed by the barrage of questions, feeling very bare and naked in front of the cameras. She felt the need to protect her mother from the judging, venomous eyes and tongue of the media.

“Stay away from us we don’t have any comment for you ” Harper yelled , her voice shaky with anxiety.

The reporters sensing her state on disorientation , focused their cameras on her, increasing the intensity of their questions on her, in order to make her slip or do something that would further turn public opinion against her and her family.

“Ms. Kings, You’ve been living a life of privilege, how do you feel knowing all you’ve enjoyed was stolen by your father from poor suffering citizens”

“Do you believe there a way out for you and your family? Or is this the end? ”

The Estate security took Harper and her Mother into their house blocking the paparazzi from gaining entry. Harper and her mother sat together in a corner hurdled together, her mom now sobbing frantically. “ It’s alright Mom, everything is going to be fine” Harper said trying to console her mother “ we are going to be just fine.”

Her mother looked at her , her eyes red and swollen. “How would it be alright, Harper? Your father… he’s ruined us. Our lives, our standing… How would we ever be able to raise our head high.” Her mom said, her voice filled with despair

Harper hugged her Mother tightly, offering reassurance that she didn’t feel “We’ll scale through this mom.”

But she herself could hardly believe such words, they had lost everything, their wealth, company social standing and connections. She felt emotionally drained and exhausted, she just wanted to sleep the day away and wake up hoping it was all a dream.

She looked around at their expensively decorated home, filled with properties that cost hundreds of thousands and dollars which now seemed to mock them, a reminder of how they might not be able to keep any of them again.

“It’s not fair at all” she whispered in despair, how could fate deal them such a bitter hand.

After some time, there was peace and quiet, the media people had dispersed . Harpers Mom took held two cups of steaming hot tea, offering Harper one she sat on the sofa adjacent to the one she sat in. “ Everything is falling apart, but we won’t drown with it, we would rise back up even stronger” Her Mother said her face filled with a little hope . Harper wished she could mirror her mother’s faith even a little but that is easier said than done.