CHAPTER 4

The White House was booming with activities.

Cyril couldn't think straight.

But why was he thinking about the thief at the market earlier?

He began to regret whether this was the worst decision he had ever made since he got elected as president four weeks ago.

He knew that if anyone found out he was trying to protect and defend her…it was going to go viral and things would get out of hand.

She was the first criminal to be caught during his reign, which made things confusing for him, because why was she a thief?

Sheriff Edward walked towards Cyril, removed his cowboy hat and bowed, then stood silent until Cyril ordered him to.

"What happened?" Cyril asked.

"We found her, Sir". Edward didn't add another statement unless Cyril told him to

"Where is she now?"

"She is at the headquarters with the others" Edward said.

"Good, is there anything else I am supposed to know?"

"Yes Sir"

"Okayyyyyyyy??…"

"It's about the PBP next week"

PBP known as the Position Banquet Party, was a day set out by the White House where the President hires young, less privileged citizens who committed petty crimes and were caught on the spot, shares them in different groups and classes and gives them positions in the White House as work that they will do every day and get paid for it still by the President

"What about it?"

"She is supposed to be in prison, because that's what the people know, so this going live, and the people find out she is among the workers, it will cause an uproar….."

Edward laid things out

"Was her face shown on the news?" Cyril asked.

"Just a rough sketch"

"You think they will still recognize her?"

"Ninety percent sure, rumors have it that everyone knows her as a thief"

"And why wasn't she reported all these while?" Cyril asked.

"The police got tired because she never stopped", Edward said.

Cyril leaned back on his chair and whirled.

"Okay, let's do this, we can't let anybody know she is the one". Cyril suggested

"But….this is ……."

Cyril cut Edward short. "It's gonna be a secret between you and I"

"So sir, are you saying that you are going to give her a class", Edward asked in surprise, because this is not how Cyril was, is and will be

"I don't know yet, but let's just see, I might even change my mind before next week and put her in prison," Cyril said as he tucked his hand into the pocket of his pants and walked out, and his men followed him from behind.

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Maryann looked around where she stood and saw people her age all over the room, including males.

She looked around and found the room surrounded by people, but it seemed to be more occupied with dry hay and wood.

Her eyes spotted a door at the end of the large room and found out it was the only entrance and exit door with one window, but it had no bars.

She rushed to open the door, bent the handle and found out it was locked.

Everyone turned around and looked at her in shock, but no one said anything to her.

She caught sight of the window and she smiled.

It was her normal entrance, so it was nothing new.

She rushed to climb the wall and fly out the window when she was dragged down by a girl almost close to her age, "What do you think you are doing?" The girl asked.

"I want to go home, my Granny is alone". Maryann answered.

"If you step out there, you will be in big trouble" The girl said.

Two more people walked up to them.

"My name is Sarah. Sarah Michael" The girl who dragged her down said

"My name is Lisa. Lisa Duncan" The second girl who came forward, towards them said

"I'm James Peterson". The guy who followed Lisa to meet them said "What's yours?"

"I'm Maryann Taylor, please can you tell me where I am and who are you people?."

"We are all citizens but we each have one crime we have committed, but instead of taking us to prison, the President orders us to be brought in here and at the end of the day…. He gives us jobs at the White House to fend for ourselves and keep all of us in check too," Lisa explained.

"Not big crimes though, just petty crimes…" James added.

"This is a cottage built for us…behind the headquarters generally inside the White House," Lisa continued.

"Isn't our president so sweet…..the former president would've jailed us in no time" Sarah blushed.

"How come I didn't see when I was brought in here?" Maryann asked.

"Maybe you were too strong so they had to give you a relaxing muscle and sleep injection", Lisa said.

Maryann recalled when she was struggling while the police were trying to put her in the car, when she was resisting too stubbornly, they inserted something into her neck and that's all she could remember, and now she was there in the middle of three friendly strangers locked up in a room full of hay and logs.

"Everyone here is the least helper of the president, and we choose to serve him for saving us from prison, and we will be having a PBP next week", Lisa said.

"PBP!!! What does that even mean? And how long have you guys been here?" Maryann asked surprisingly.

"We have been here for two weeks and three days" Sarah answered.

"You counted!!!" James asked.

Sarah laughed. "Yes."

"PBP is the Position Banquet Party, for us when the President categorizes us into different positions and classes to work " Lisa continued.

As they were explaining things around to Maryann, the door to the cottage creaked open and a plumpy tall white woman came in.

Everyone exclaimed and positioned themselves in order and knelt down.

They all chorused; "Welcome Miss Hallington!!"

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