The Beginning of the End

By Carol Lwamba Kabanda

Miranda Daniels a girl from a rich family was quite conscientious. One thing she didnt want was to date a movie star, but fate has a way of twisting things when she meets Jimmy Santino a movie star.

Jimmy was blown away by her allure. His fascination with Miranda takes him nowhere in winning her affection, he has to lure her.

But before she could learn to accept him, she is kidnapped. Could it be him who has done it out of love? Or is there someone else? Read the book and uncover the twists and turns of the story.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris UK
• Release date: May 31, 2012
• ISBN: 9781477114148

Carol Lwamba Kabanda

A graduate of the University of Zambia, Carol Lwamba Kabanda has an inimitable way of telling her stories. She keeps in touch with her readers and makes them feel a part of her exceptionally told stories. She tells it like it should be told.

Book preview

Chapter One

As the sun emerged from the morning skies, it shined like a diamond in the sky. It seemed so perfect; the day no doubt began with a definition to it. It’s not every day that the sun shines so superbly. The swishing winds could be heard from inside the house. The house big enough to house dozens of people with each one having enough space was a home that Miranda had grown to love. Having lived here for as long as she can remember she did not like to be away. The holidays she had spent at the cottages in the northern part of the country and at her friend’s house were short lived. Her bedroom had a terrace and on it she had a breathtaking view of the city. As a person who had become so busy and was usually away from home, she needed every second she could get to stay home.

Miranda awake in her blankets, she had been thinking about what this day had in store for her. She glide out of bed and knelt down to pray, it was her daily morning practice. She had no choice but to seek god’s help each morning after being raised in a Christian home. She went downstairs for a cup of coffee.

In the kitchen with her cup of coffee in her hands, she stood beside the coffee maker on the counter placed in the middle of the big kitchen with two of everything. She looked around, the place was quiet. She was all alone in the house. Her parents had gone for a business conference. The Daniels had become prominent people after their business empire had done so well in the economic crisis that saw to the close of many businesses.

‘An entire house all to myself and no one to bossy me around, no one to ‘push’ me to do anything.’ She said to herself aloud as she poured steaming coffee into her cup. She gave her words a big smile.

She was about to sit down when the phone in the living room rang. The lounge was big with nice white and blue ceramic tiles. The lounge suite was a white six piece. A designer hired from Italy, had to make the place everyone’s dream home. Everything suited so perfectly well, the design and the decorations. The living room was likable no doubt; the big window, a feature that could not be missed was designed to resemble the ancient windows in the Taj ma Hal. It stood from the ground to the roof. The art collection of ancient swords and drawings matched with everything else. The freshener added to the perfection of the room. Mrs. Cobar, the house keeper always liked the lemon scented freshener and she used it every morning after a thorough cleaning and dusting of the house.

Miranda ran to the living room to answer the phone, she reached for the phone as she sat on the settee beside the table where the phone was positioned.

‘Hello, Miss Daniels on the line.’

‘Hello Miranda it’s me’ her mother was on the other end of the line.

‘Mom, goodmorning mom how are you and Dad doing,’ she was excited to hear her mom’s voice after a few days.

‘Well let me say good afternoon because it is afternoon here. We are fine I hope you are fine as well my sweetheart.’

‘Oh don’t you worry about me mom just do your job. So tell me how is the conference going?’

‘It’s great, there are a lot of people attending this one than the last one we had.’ She said with a high pitched voice.

‘That’s great. And Beijing?’

‘Sweetheart you’ve got to see this place it’s amazing.’

‘I thought we had already been there?’ she stretched her hand to look at her nails, inspecting them one by one.

‘I just never get tired of this place sweetheart, it’s amazing.’ She said.

‘Can I speak with Dad?’

‘You want to talk to him?’

‘Yes, please let me.’

‘Hello Miranda. You know how your mother loves this place.’ He said in a deep voice. He had a calm personality, he did not tolerate any mistakes even his own mistakes; people who worked for him nicknamed him ‘Mr. Perfect’. He was a business man as well as a family man who was admired by people he thought were his influencers, people he thought were greater than he was. They just had to; he had a family many of the people in their class did not have. They were either divorced or having problems; a successful empire and on top of that he was loved by the people for being a people’s person.

‘Hello Dad, I have missed you so much.’ She was quivering her knee

‘Randa it was only last week we left home.’ Mr. Daniels said.

‘Dad.’ Miranda said surprised. ‘Are you telling me that you are not missing me even just a little bit?’

‘You know I miss you too sweetheart I promise I’ll bring you something when coming back. Ok sweety?’

‘Yes Daddy?’

‘Promise you won’t hesitate to call on us and whenever you’re going out make sure you have someone go with you.’ He was serious about this. He knew that paparazzi were everywhere his family went. He hated them and always thought they were a danger to his family especially after princess Diana.

‘I promise Dad don’t you worry about me. Am great Mrs. Cobar is here with me am not alone.’ She said.

‘I know baby, am just worried I won’t be there to monitor you I know what kind of trouble you are especially when you are with Mrs. Cobar.’ He said to her.

‘Dad you know am a good girl’ she gave it a smile. ‘I always wonder why you are so protective of us but sometimes it’s worth it.’ She tried to think about it. She rolled her eyes and said. ‘I think.’

‘Remember, we love you very much.’ He said to her.

‘I love you too.’ She smiled.

‘Bye sweetheart.’

‘Bye Daddy,’ she put the receiver down.

Miranda loved her family so much and they too loved her. The family tie was strong; they had been to every part of the world together, for conferences and tours and charity work. Before now everyone had been around and the house was full and noisy. Miranda was the loudest of all of them. She was appreciated by everyone. Just as she was stepping away from the phone, it rang again.

‘Hello, Miss Daniels on the line, please?’ She loved being addressed as Miss Daniels. This time it was a different voice, at the back of her head she remembered having heard this voice before now.

‘Hello Miranda it’s me Victor.’ Victor, her only brother was studying at a university in Australia. It had been two years since he left for Australia but he came home for vacations.

‘Ah! Oh my word Vic it’s you. How are you doing?’ There was a big smile on her face.

‘Why I caught you by surprise or what?’ he said. She could here in his voice a giggle.

‘No it has been forever since you called home.’ She said excited.

‘I was chatting with you yesterday.’ He said.

‘It just seems like forever. I miss you guys a lot. The house is all quite.’ She gasped. ‘Guess what, am home alone. Mom and Dad are out for a conference.’

‘I know I was on phone with dad this evening. It would have been a perfect time for me to have been home.’ He said jokingly.

‘And they say am the bad one.’ She commented.

‘I thought we had confirmed that fact already.’ He teased her. Victor was the second child although he liked to assume the role of the first born child. He did not tolerate any guys that took advantage of his sisters.

‘It is really cool although I miss you guys so much. Have you spoken to Tanzie lately?’

Tanzie, their sister and the first born was studying in Germany. Ever since Tanzie was young she had wanted to go study in Germany. She loved to come home for special occasions and vacations as well.

‘The last time I spoke to her was yesterday she was fine so she said.’ He answered her. ‘I miss home.’

‘I bet school is giving her trouble, anyway how is school and the studies?’ She asked.

‘Everything is great. I just can’t wait to come there. So much studying here. I can’t wait to come home. And rest.’

‘Don’t forget my birthday, Vic.’

‘I wouldn’t,’ he said ‘ok I have to run, talk to you soon alright. Love you.’

‘Love you too Vic, bye.’

‘Goodbye. I’ll see you soon.’

Miranda put down the receiver. She smiled to herself and turned.

‘Good morning Miss Daniels. What would you like for breakfast, please?’

‘Oh, Mrs. Cobar I didn’t see you.’ She crossed the living room to sit on the settee facing Mrs. Cobar. ‘Anything will do but first I have to shower.’

‘Ok Miss Daniels.’ Mrs. Cobar said and walked out of the lounge.

Dressing up from a nice long shower there was a knock on her door.

‘Come in’ she responded to the knock screaming lightly, the door was opened before she even finished her words.

The door opened and Alexandra entered. she was about Miranda’s height although slightly taller. She wore blue and white faded jeans, a Jimmy Choo blue blouse and stiletto shoes.

‘Alexandra. What’s up girl,’ Miranda shouted at the sight of Alexandra. Alex as she was popularly known had been good friends with Miranda for a long time they were practically sisters.

‘The fact that am here to