Mr. Finley walked into my bedroom to wake me up as usual, but I was already up. He drew the blinds, and opened the windows, his routine ever since he began working here.

"Your bath water has been made Sir he announced.
"I'm not going to school today" I said tiredly.
My nose ached badly, and I was dying to take off the splints plus I didn't want to go to school in my present condition.

"Shall I ask the driver to go back Sir? he inquired.
"Mmmm I replied nodding. I turned back to pull the covers over my head, then remembered something.

"Umm...Mr. Finley? I called out to him. "Can we talk?
His eyebrows flew up in surprise. "Sure Sir, he responded. I'd asked him to stop calling me sir several times, but he'd insisted, so I was used to it. After all he wasn't the first, and he wasn't going to be the last.

"Umm, I continued, "How do you apologize to people? He blinked, obviously taken aback by my question.
"Not that I don't like know how to apologize or anything, just how do you properly apologize for a serious offense? I probed.
"Well Sir, you could write a letter to whoever it is he suggested.
I frowned. I wasn't exactly the literary type. "What else?
"A thoughtful letter is always best Sir, he smiled. I cupped my chin in my palm."Well she'd probably rip up the letter the moment she finds it's from me, I whined.

"She? Mr Finley asked me, surprised. "Yeah, I acknowledged. Miss Highty Tighty.I did some really wrong stuff to her I explained hence my nose, I said pointing to my nose, currently clad in a nose splint. I need to make amends."

"Looks like she's very strong Sir! he joked.
I nodded. "Very! We laughed together for a while.
Mr. Finley placed his arm on my shoulder. "I'm very proud of you Jayden, he said slightly shaking me. He was aware of my past mishaps and he was obviously impressed. "Look at you apologizing for your mistakes and trying to make amends!

I smiled back. "So what do you suggest? I reminded.
Girls love makeup and makeovers don't they? He asked me. I shrugged. "Maybe? "Well I have daughters, and that's all they talk about. "You could treat her to a spa day or something... Mr Finley recommended.
A bulb went up in my head." Do you still have the contacts of Jade's makeup team? He nodded " I could call them Sir he offered.

I shook my head, getting off the bed and put on my velvet indoor slippers. "I'll call them myself" I said. "Also call our Spa team as well! I added. Bay Spas is the best after all, I said proudly. Talk about promoting family business or should I say businesses.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
Jessie's POV
I called Elaine this morning to make arrangements to have her wait for me at the school gates so we could walk in together, but she was not going to be able to make it today, she had a doctors appointment.

I gripped the electricity pole tightly, surveying my surroundings like a hawk. I'd tried everything in my power to get Ma to let me stay home, but of course she didn't yield.
I stood outside the school gates, lurking around the bushes like some spy. Ordinarily I'd just walk in, but I was scared. Ma always said that I acted before thinking, and right now I couldn't agree with her more.
"Why did I smash his nose in?! "Why?????? Ughhh!!!!!
Why didn't I just tell him off, or warn him or something why did I hit him so hard?
I must have stayed outside too long, because Mr.Ofori the security man,came to me outside.

"Jessica Arthur Mensah, he said in his singsong voice. "No school today? He asked. I stared at him, like I'd never seen him before. I blinked, processing what he'd just asked.

"I......umm" I stuttered.
Aha! Mr. Ofori? I said, remembering last week's incident.
"About the school magazine article,.......
"I know Jessica, he stopped me kindly putting his arm on my shoulder. "I know it was falsified."
I heaved a sigh of relief. He was actually one of the few people in this school who's opinion I cared about.
I smiled offhandedly. He'd forgotten about my having to go in.

He snapped back to reality too quickly. "Go in now child he said, gently pushing me towards the gates.
"I'm going, of course I'm going, why wouldn't I go? I asked him.
I let go of the pole slowly, dragging my feet on the gravel floor. I looked back. He was there all right, watching eagle eyed to see if I was really going to walk in.
I sighed, there was no way I was going to elude school now.

I crouched behind the mini statues that lined the courtyard. So far so good. No one was looking at me like they knew something I didn't know, or like they wanted to murder me.

I took out the brochure I had been given when I first started going here and buried my face in it, leaving only space for my eyes.
It was time to walk into class.
Just a little more.... I thought. Just a few steps more and I'll be in class.
I paused when I rounded the corner. There, right in front of the door, were two burly men in black suits.

They were stopping the students as they walked in, looking at some piece of paper they had in their hands before letting them in. I noticed something else.

They were stopping just the female students! Jesus Christ of Nazareth! What was I going to do?

I turned to leave. School could wait today. I walked quickly, picking up speed. 
I nearly fell when I saw what or should I say who were there at the gate. Two men, exactly like those I had just ran away from, were conducting the same search exercise. 
I gripped my bag harder, my breath quickening. I closed my eyes, and ran my hands over my face as if it could change my looks somehow. I took my hoodie out of my bag and wore it over my uniform, pushing the hood over my face.

I took a deep breath and started to walk into the crowd of girls gathered at the exit. I tried to mix in acfwith the crowd, moving as inconspicuously as possible. I breathed a sigh of relief as I neared the exit. "Free at last! I whispered, maybe too soon.

One of the men reached out and grabbed the handle of my bag. "One minute, young lady" he requested in a gruff voice. I paused, my back to them.
"Young Lady? The man called out again. I took a deep breath and turned around, trying to look as innocent as possible.
"Can you take your hood off? He asked me.
"Uhh...... no? I asked half begging half pleading. He didn't insist. He raised the paper he was holding, and I felt my stomach drop. He was holding a picture of me! It was the very one I had on my student identity card.
Jessica Mensah? He asked, looking back and forth between me and my image he was holding, probably trying to figure out if he had the right girl.

"No! I blurted. Technically I wasn't just Jessica Mensah, I was Jessica Arthur Mensah.
"I'll need you to come with me miss, the man ordered.
My heart went to overdrive. "I'm sorry to say this but I'm really busy. "Maybe next time hmm? I said quickly walking away.

Miss! The man said thunderously, walking after me. I walked faster, increasing my pace.
He'd been chasing me for quite a while, and was probably running out of energy. I, on the other hand was having a field day. I loved to run, and it wasn't exactly a problem for me.

I danced around, poking fun at the red faced man huffing a few meters behind.
He stopped, pulled out a walkie-talkie and something into it. He'd probably called for backup. He looked up at my retreating figure, and started to run. I looked back and to my dismay, I saw he was gaining ground. I looked behind as I ran, and soon bumped into another man in black.

He pulled out a handkerchief and put it over my nose. I struggled, and then, I blacked out.
••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
I opened my eyes and I saw a bright light flashing on my face. The environment smelled heavenly, like rose water and air conditioning.
I heard voices in the distance, and the sound of people walking around. I felt hands rub against my back and legs.
Hands rubbing against my body? People, someone was touching me!!

I started, and sat up. My uniform was no where to be found. Instead, I was clad in a silk robe with my hair in a towel. There were at least three women in the room with me. They had on masseuse uniforms with the letters Bay Spa embroidered at the back.

Bay Spa? Bay.....Spa, where had I heard that name before? On TV? Or on the radio? Where?
"Who are you?! Why are you touching me? Where is this place?! I asked all my questions in a rush.
"As you may already have noticed we are masseuses from Bay Spa, and we have been commissioned to give a full relaxation massage. "Please lay back down while we finish the treatment. One of the women said professionally.

"Who asked you to do this? I asked her. " Who put you up to this? I repeated.
"We're not allowed to disclose the identity of the person, but you'll definitely find out when everything is done" she smiled.
Person? She'd used neutral gender terms, so I could barely discern if it was a male or female.

I sat still as she poured the rose oil in my hair. I'm currently growing my hair naturally, and I knew rose hip oil is dead expensive and I didn't want a drop on the floor. She massaged my head and body, then I was ushered into a dressing room.

There was an outfit already picked out for me, waiting to be worn. A black dress with a small black belt in the middle, with a pair of black platform heels, black crystal earrings and a matte black pendant with a single diamond stone set in the middle, with a silver head piece.

Why was everything in color black? I wondered. Of all the colors in the world, why black?.
A woman was seated on a cushioned chair waiting for me.  She had loads of makeup on the table. Foundations, concealers, eyeliners, lip liners,everything. A little friendlier than the first one, she chatted away talking to me as she did my makeup.

I wasn't very big on makeup, and when I did apply makeup I always preferred Gabby doing it for me since I was most comfortable with her, but somehow I had landed myself here, and I didn't really have a choice.

"How did you do it? The woman asked me curiously.
"Did what? I replied
"How did you do this? All of this? She winked. "He's one of the richest teens in Ghana, Africa even she went on, and no offense but, you're not exactly the perfect girl she said sizing me up.

"Why thank you! I retorted. Thanks for reminding me!
"How did you manage to get him? She asked.
"I don't even know who you're talking about" I said seriously.
"She smiled, "You'll know soon enough!
I sprang out of my seat and smoothed my dress. "Thank you". I said still mad about what she'd said earlier.
A kindly old man who introduced himself as Mr. Finley escorted me down the hallway.Tens of maids in uniform walked past us, some stealing glances at me.
"Uhh...Mr. Finley?
"Yes miss?
"Oh.. there's really no need to call me that. "Why are all the maids looking at me like that?
He nodded. "You're the first girl the young master has ever brought here apart from his friends. That's probably why" he responded.

We walked on in silence, and I looked around the place as we walked. I hadn't really seen the interior, since I was comatose when they brought me in, but I could see the interior now, and it was grand. The floors were gleaming marble. Portraits hung from the walls, and I took a few pictures to show Yaw.

Crystal chandeliers suspended from the wall, and there were beautiful drawings on the ceiling. I could just sit there with my head thrown back and look all day. We walked past cases and cases filled with china plates, porcelain, glassware you name it.

There were beautiful high arched windows,with black velvet framing them. The lace inner curtains remained drawn allowing the daylight to enter.  I saw a gleaming black grand piano in the corner, but didn't want to ask Mr. Finley if I could touch it.

I paused a while when we got to a balcony, and asked Mr.Finley if I could look outside. I took a few steps towards the banister and looked out. It was beautiful. The fresh air fanned my face messing my hair but I didn't care.

Tons of trees surrounded the courtyard, and the grass looked so nice I resisted the urge to go outside and dig my feet in. The sprinklers watered the grass around, keeping them evergreen. Statues of almost every kind were sprinkled all over the place, giving the courtyard some kind of outdoor museum look. A walkway had been paved right in the middle of it, separating the courtyard into two.

It was a big courtyard. As big as a football field. Scratch that, this place was as big as four football fields put together. Then I saw the men who were patrolling the courtyard. Wearing black suits with devices in their ears and walkie talkies, then I remembered how I got there in the first place.

"Someone kidnapped me Mr Finley, and brought me here, and I intend to find out who it is! I said as he led me away from the balcony.
"You'll find out soon he said quietly. "But please take your time with him, he's really trying he said, pleading with me.
I frowned "Who was it exactly? And why was he asking me to go easy on him?"

He finally opened a large door, led me in and closed the door behind me.

I looked around. The place was quite dark, except for the reading lamp on the desk. I moved over to the large curtains, my heels clicking on the wood paneling floor.
In one swift move I opened the curtains, and a flood of sunshine greeted me.

"Close the curtains. A voice said to me.
It was just so dark in here......, I was merely I started to explain, but stopped. I knew that voice, I had heard it multiple times. I whipped around and there, was Jayden standing behind me, his hands in his pockets. He had on a yellow polo shirt and black shorts. The yellow complemented his dark skin, but I wasn't going to tell him that.

"What are you doing here? I asked him annoyed. He rolled his eyes, like I just asked a stupid question. He waved his hand over himself. " What does it look like I'm doing here? This is one of my houses!
One of my houses.
Ah!....., so you brought me here? I fumed.
"Are you only now realizing that? You must be really dense then! he berated.
"Do you want a matching black eye huh? I could definitely give you that! To match the other one you've got!
He ignored me and pushed me in front of a mirror." Look at you! He said as he looked into the mirror with me. "See what money can do? "Money really can do everything can't it? "I just turned you an ugly duckling into a peacock! He said proudly giving me a once over.

I sighed. " I believe the proper saying is from an ugly duckling to a swan, and you kidnapped me! He rolled his eyes. This was all to teach you a vital lesson." Money does it all. "Do you know how much I spent on you?

Your hair, the massage, makeup, clothes, shoes, jewelry,to your shoes? An average of twenty thousand cedis.
I gasped. Twenty thousand?!
"But this is nothing compared to all the money I have

"Money does not do it all. There are many things money can buy Jayden, but there are tons more money cannot buy. I lectured.
"Really! He said sarcastically. "Like what?
"
"Are you asking me because you really don't know or you're just trying to annoy me? I demanded.
"Nope, he said sitting on a plush couch and crossing his legs.
"Like air, life, true love and real family affection."These things are so cliche I thought even you would know"
.
"Even me?! What's that supposed to mean?
I'm not in the mood to argue with you. Give me back my stuff now!

I sat down on the couch and took off the shoes, then the earrings. I swiped a Kleenex tissue and wiped the makeup off my face. I twisted my arm behind me to unzip the dress, but remembered I couldn't exactly do that here.

I looked up to see he was still standing there, staring down at me.
Massa! I shouted. "Give me my uniform back!
He sighed and dialed a number on a telephone.

Half an hour later and I was done and ready to go. Mr. Finley escorted me outside, and I was soon on my way. I met Jenai as soon as I rounded the corner. He was on a large white motorcycle.
"Hey Jessica! He waved, signaling me to stop.
"Hi.....
"What are you doing here? You do know whose house this is right? He asked me, gesturing towards the mansion.
"I know who lives here. "Your idiot friend kidnapped me!
"What? Why?
Apparently to show me the things money can buy!

Jenai said in his usual quiet manner."There are many things money can't buy, life, love,natural beauty, .

I nodded. Here was someone who knew.

"Jenai laughed."Well you look pretty good for a kidnapped person.........he started."You're okay right?
"I'm good. I responded."I'll have to get going now, it's getting late.
"Well do you know the way out? Maybe you haven't noticed, but this is an estate, and you'll have to get authorization, especially since you weren't seen coming in.
He patted the passenger seat behind him." Sit down, I'll take you" he offered.
"Umm.....no thanks I refused.
"Sit.. down!

I sat behind him and he helped me out.
"You can get home from here right? He asked.
"Yeah thanks I grinned.
"You're welcome he smiled back. "See you around.