Chapter 11

AFTER Shola and Alexis finished their dinner, Are your butterflies calm now, Shola?" Alexis jokingly asked her.

Shola followed and innocently caressed her stomach."Yes, I think they are sleeping quietly now. Thank you," she said with a smile.

Alexis automatically smiled when he saw her smile. This woman made him smile; just a simple word had an impact on him: "So, where else are you going before going home, Shola?"

"I'm going home; I'll be back here tomorrow." She wanted to see something else. She might find something that can be used to make soap or shampoo, like in their tribe. But she doesn't think there's anything here, so she needs to go back to the tribe to get what she needs.

"Okay, where do you live?"

"Just take me there where you dropped me this morning."

"I cannot," Alexis objected.

Shola looked in his direction. It was also right that Alexis looked at her. Their eyes meet, and they stare.

Shola's heart beat suddenly differently; it sped up. Her hand rose spontaneously and landed on her chest. She felt this already when an incident happened to her not long ago. She was wondering why it was like that. "Why do you think of me like that?" she still stutters now.

Alexis sighed secretly. He wants to hug her because she is so cute to look at; otherwise, she might be surprised and even angry with him."You too, Shola."

"I was just looking at you, but why?"

"Huh? What's that?"

"Feel it."

"Huh! I can feel it. Which one?" Alexis asked.

"Here." Shola pointed to her chest.

Alexis suddenly felt nervous. "A... what? That's not possible, Shola."

"Why can't you? You have hands, Shola said innocently.

"I mean, how can I tell you this? he is restless.

"Feel it so you know what's being said then, she said, and without a doubt, she took Alexis hand to place it on her chest.

Alexis quickly pulled his hand."No, Shola. It's not possible and it's not right; you're a woman, I'm a man." He could not do it ungentlemanly if he did it even if she had permission."Don't do this to others, Shola."

"Wait, even though I'm a woman, if Abet does it, I can do it too. I can beat him, she said, referring to her sibling in the tribe.

Alexis frowned because of a man named Shola mentioned."Who's Abet?" he asked.

"My sibling."

"Oh," he thought, thinking it was her boyfriend.

Alright, do it now," Shola insisted.

"Shola, listen to me; it can't be okay; it's not right."

Shola frowned. She doesn't understand why he can't do it."If you don't want to, just don't."

Alexis opened the car door for Shola to get in."Hop in," he said.

Shola didn't say anything; she just went inside the car.

Alexis took a deep breath. He sensed that Shola was upset.

While they were on the way, Shola was so quiet."Where shall I take you, Shola?" He asked to break the silence between them.

Shola's eyes moved outside the car. When she found a house, she said, That's it." She pointed to the house on the side of the road.

"Is that your house?"

Yes, why?" she lied.

Alexis looked at the woman and said, Are you sure? I know whose house that is."

Shola scratched her head, wondering whether she would tell the truth to him.

"Shola, don't lie to me; are you from Morale or not?" he had to ask. Because he thinks that he doesn't know anything about their place.

"I'm from here, of course, but..." she stopped and looked at Alexis.

Shola wants to wear the mask so she can find out if this person can be trusted or not. But he cannot know her secret.

Alexis was waiting for what the woman had to say.

"Can you help me find a place to sleep?" just came out of her mouth. But she can go anywhere; sometimes she and Abet even sleep in the forest.

"So, you don't have a house here or a place to stay, Shola?"

"There is, she replies, but she can't say that the Monticello mansion was her house.

Alexis frowned and looked at her."I'm confused by you, Shola. You have a house, but you're asking for a place to sleep, right?"

"My house is the Monticellos, she said straight. She doesn't know why she can't lie to him.

Because of what Shola said, Alexis suddenly stepped on the brakes.

Shola almost bumped into the dashboard, but luckily she was able to stop.

"Sorry! Are you okay, Shola? Are you hurt?" he asked worriedly.

"Why did you stop suddenly?"

"Because of what you said."

"My house?"

"Yes, how come the Monticello mansion became your house, Shola? Are you a Monticello?"

Shola took a deep breath before she answered him. She must know if he can be trusted. So she can tell that yes, she is a Monticello."Can you close your eyes, Alexis?"

"Huh why?"

"Just do it, please."

He didn't want to do it, but he trusted Shola."Okay, but don't leave."

"I'm not leaving."

Alexis closed his eyes. Shola stared at his face. And she smiled because he had a handsome face. In their tribe, there were a lot of good-looking men. But not like him.

"Are you okay, Shola?" He asked because he couldn't feel anything or because she moved a bit.

"Yes it won't be long. I tell you if you can open your eyes."

Alexis nodded his head."Okay, tell me if you finished."

"Yes, don't worry. I won't do anything bad to you," she said with a smile.

She wanted to know something about his personality—if he was a good or bad person. She put on the mask. Shola brought her face close to Alexis's, and they breathed in each other's breath.

----

Alexis's mind was confused."What is she going to do? Is she going to kiss him? because he can feel her breath and he smells her naturally sweet scent, which makes him dizzy. He tries to open his eyes.

"Don't cheat, Alexis; just close your eyes."

Alexis nodded his head again.

Shola grabbed Alexis head so that she could control his mind.

Alexis felt the girl's warm palm stick to him. For him, this woman makes him crazy. He needs to control himself because Shola is sweet and innocent; he knows this.

"You can open your eyes now, Alexis, she softly said.

It seemed like slow motion to Alexis' when she heard what Shola said. And he slowly opened his eyes, directly to Shola's eyes. His mind is blank. He is just stirring her.

Shola sees everything from children to young men, as well as having a girlfriend. Even when Alexis made love to his girlfriend, Shola saw it. So she suddenly released him and bent down to remove the mask.

Everything went back to normal with Alexis when Shola let him go.

"What happened, Shola? Didn't you touch me?"

"Yes, I just looked at something."

"What is that?"

"There's nothing." She couldn't say that she saw a woman and that they were both naked. Shola knew what it meant because only a couple did that.

Alexis frowned when she said nothing when he remembered what he asked her: Just no.

"I asked that a moment ago, Shola. Are you a Monticello?"

"You're already married," because what she saw couldn't go away from her mind.

"What?" He is strange; who is his wife? Where did she get the idea that he was already married? I don't have a wife, Shola."

She wouldn't believe him; she saw it."You just don't want to tell me the truth."

Alexis faced Shola."Look at me, Shola. I swear to God. I don't have a wife. I'm not married yet." He even raised his hand to show that he was telling the truth."Why do you think I'm already married?"

"Huh! Nothing! she couldn't tell him what she saw.

Alexis breathed a sigh of relief when she heard that Shola was giving her a good time."So tell me, who are you, Shola?"

Because she saw that he was a good person, nothing connected to the Morale family."Alright, I'm going to say it, but I hope no one finds out about it. Can I trust you, Alexis?"

"Sure, of course you trust me. I promise nobody will know this conversation between us, Shola; just you and me will know."

"I'm a Monticello, Alexis, she said directly.

Alexis stared at her. Will he believe that she's Monticello? Wait, Shola, I remember you saying to the Mayor that you are Padilla, right?"

"Do you know my Father's wife?"

"Yes, I read it, Clara Padilla Monticello." Alexis doesn't want to believe that Shola is a Monticello, but Padilla is indeed the wife of the late Leiden Monticello.

"It's because my mother told me that I can use it, not Monticello, so no one will know I'm a Monticello."

"Who's, Mother?"

"Mother Amina."

Alexis thought. He heard the name Amina. Now he's remembering, The Monticellos' maid is Amina? You mean she's alive?" Alexis can't believe it because it says in the files that he read everything as well as that Amina is dead.

"Alexis, that's why I'm here; isn't it because I'm alive?

Alexis couldn't believe what she was hearing from Shola. Monticello is still alive and well after twenty years.

"Alexis, can I ask you something?"

"Say it, Shola."

"I would like to revive Monticello and restore it."

"But, Shola, is this not a good idea? He will kill you." Yeah, he knows it. If Fernan knows that she was a Monticello, he will definitely do something to make her disappear.

“Alexis, do you know?"

"Yes, I also investigated what happened here. And I found out everything: Fernan Morale is the killer of the Monticellos."

"He's not the only one; there are a lot of them. Shola clenched her fist.

"Yes, did you come back for revenge, Shola?" she asked. Even though she answered him no, she definitely came back for revenge.

Shola smiled; she had to disguise herself."I'm just a weak woman, Alexis. How can I do this if they're so strong, like I'm fighting wild animals in the jungle when I take revenge on them?

"Why did you come back here, Shola? You will only put yourself in harm, especially at the hands of Fernan Morale."

Shola looked at him."If he kills me, Alexis, did you allow?"

Alexis stared at her. He wants to say no, even if he just touches her; he will not allow anyone to touch her.

"I am a police officer, Shola. My job is to protect anyone, especially someone as innocent as you."

Shola nodded. But he was not convinced by his answer. She wants to hear that he is protecting her because she is important to him.

"You need to rest, Shola. There's a hotel here; I'll take you there, then we'll talk seriously."

Shola nodded to Alexis.

Alexis took her to a fancy hotel. When they entered, the people who were there looked at them because they knew Alexis.

They headed for the counters.

"Good evening,  welcome to the FM Hotel," said the woman at the counter.

"One room, please."

"Sir, is it a VIP?"

"Anything as long as there's a bed?"

"Oh, sure, Sir, is it overnight or a short time?"

Alexis looked at Shola."Why?" she asked him.

"Nothing, Shola." Alexis returned his attention to the woman."Overnight, Miss."

The receptionist immediately gave the key to Alexis. Enjoy, sir, maam," she added.

Alexis just nodded to the woman. He knows what she meant.

They were waiting for the elevator to come down when it opened.

"Alexis?" said a woman going out.

"Erica?"

Erica's eyes lay on Shola."What are you doing here? And who's she?" she even pointed.

Shola looked at the woman, mesmerized by her beauty. Yeah, she had a beautiful face and a curvy body. In her mind, is this the girl she saw? At Alexis mind because she didn't see the face of the woman Alexis was making love to.

"She is Shola, my fri..."

"I'm Alexis' girlfriend," Shola answered quickly.

"What?" Erica looked at Shola from head to toe."Really, Alexis? She's your girlfriend? That's your taste. Why don't you tell me so I know, I can be like her. Her style, I mean."

"She's a nice woman, Erica."

"Good at what, Alexis? Oh, in bed? I don't think so; I don't think she knows anything; even how to kiss, she didn't know how. Like she's from the Jangles. She's Jane?"

"You have a green mind, Erica. Yeah, she's an innocent woman; a man with her can be proud to be with her. Shola, come on." Alexis held her hand and helped her enter the elevator.

As the elevator slowly closed, Alexis could clearly see the annoyance on Erica's face.

"Damn you, Alexis!" she said before the elevator door closed completely."Ahhh! No, not with someone like her, Alexis. She's nothing compared to me; I want to get rid of that woman!" When she was about to leave the hotel, her friends were speechless because they knew her. What she says, she will do; for Erica, she is a Morale who should be feared just like her Father.