"Sir, should I follow her?" "No, not today. She looks like she's having a rough time." Emille leaned back in his car, resting his head on the headrest."Fabiola…" he called her name out loud. He really wished to sit down and have a casual conversation with her, but fate had other plans. She would not even look at his face for more than two seconds. Perhaps, if he'd met her again right now, she'll probably not recognize him."Sir, should we wait here?" His driver asked."Yes, hold on a little, I think I want to gaze at her one more time." He said the later part more to himself.Emille lingered around the restaurant until Mila walked out.Every step she took, she emitted concentration. He could not help but admire her from a distance.All these months, he'd been sending other people to get her, to no avail. But not this time. He decided that it was time to get her himself. There was one person standing in his way….The Grandmaster. When Emille got back to base yesterday evening a
"Do you know any of Mr Rivers' brothers?" Linda asked as soon they got back into the car and hit the road."I know his parents, they live in Central Ville, I have no idea about any brother. I mean, if he had a brother, then my father would never have had to take over the company." Brant reasoned."At least, we are sure of one thing, your father seemed to have been clueless about everything." Linda stated."This whole thing is confusing. Why did the cops never know of all this?" Brantley had a puzzled frown on his temple."Perhaps, because whoever is behind it all, probably has power over the justice system." Linda stated."Or, they silenced everyone who appeared as a threat." Brant reasoned."True, but why did they keep Mr Walborn alive?" Linda asked."The mysteries just keeps on piling." Brantley's gaze was focused on the road.They rode for a few more minutes in silence, everyone occupied by his or her thoughts."Do you want to tell Fabiola everything we know, or would you want comp
"Tornado! Fabiola!'' Carl snapped his finger in front of Mila, bringing her back to reality."Where's your brain?" A tear ran down from her eyes.She quickly caught it and wiped it off, but was still slow, Carl noticed it…her red face could not lie either."Hey, what is wrong?" Carl approached her with a worried look and a deeply concerned voice.Fabiola cleared her throat, "Nothing, I need to go!" She abruptly stood up on her feet and pushed her way past him, swallowing the remainder of her tears.She hated this new side of her___soft and emotional, all of this because of Brantley. 'Where the hell do all these tears come from when my tear ducts have been a desert all these years?' she could not help but ponder mentally."Hey, cut the crap, Fabiola!" Carl grabbed her hand and pulled her back.She shrugged her arm, trying to get away from him, but he pulled her in his arms and engulfed her."Stop fighting," he whispered softly in ear.The tears, suppressed emotions, anger, disappointm
"Fabiola?" Linda's voice echoed.Fabiola quickly turned to the direction of the familiar voice, lo and behold! there he stood….the one person she dreaded setting her eyes on."Why does fate hate me?" She muttered to herself before stepping out of the car and walking towards Brant and Linda.She was nervous as hell and her heart was at the verge of falling in her stomach, but the last thing she needed right now was to make Brant get a sniff of her feelings."Hey Linda." Mila called out with a bright smile, embracing Linda in a friendly hug.Brantley stood behind Linda, hence, he and Fabiola were facing each other.Brantley's eyes were swollen, she noticed it. Her heart ached. She knew that she was the cause. She held his gaze, displaying little to no emotions.He looked like he had a thousand questions to ask her but just did not know how to ask. 'He better not!' she thought."Hey Fabiola, I Heard what happened, I'm so sorry that you had to go through that." Linda pulled back, support
"Do you think that I am stupid! I know that you work here at night under a disguise, I even saw you beat up that Monty guy! Oh, you thought I would not recognize you with heavy make-up and a fake blonde?" Brant fired.Mila froze! She unconsciously dropped his hand.Linda was lost. She had no idea what they were talking about, but she knew that things just got pretty messy."Ma'am, are you ok?" A guard approached them.Guess they caused one hell of a scene.The guard's voice brought her back from dreamland. "Yeah, I'm cool." She cleared her throat when her voice came off crooked, not taking her eyes off Brant.'This exactly what pop's meant by, I have to work on controlling my emotions.' Her mind sped kilometers away. Her facial expression had already betrayed her, so she could not actually deny it, but…."How did you know that I was Phoebe by then? Hold up, but you said I beat up Monty? I barely get in contact with him while working at the bar." She did not flip her countenance, but sh
"The moment you decided to lay your hands on him, that was when you pissed me off. Just so you know, I don't forgive easily!" 'One minute, you hate me. Next, you fight for me. Just how does your brain operate?' Brant pondered.Linda, for the first time, got to see the beast in Mila unleash."She is scary!" Linda whispered behind Brant."This is just the tip of the iceberg." Brant whispered back. He'd seen Mila handle a gun perfectly, he'd seen her in action…including when she first whooped his ass at the hotel…his balls, to be precise.Mila took a deep breath, mentally scolded herself for indulging in Brantley's stupidity, but she was already deep down that she could not back out again.The guards said something to her, but she ignored them. With her eyes closed, she concentrated on the sound of the wind.She was injured, dehydrated and partially malnourished. There were four hefty well-trained security men against her alone. She needed to win and fast. One strike from either of these
"And who are you to her?" Emille asked."Nothing you should be concerned about." Mila replied quickly."Her boyfriend!" Brant added simultaneously.A deep frown lined Mila's temple, she slowly turned her face and glared daggers at Brant.Brant ignored her pissed off glare.Emille raised his brows questioningly.Linda bit her tongue, suppressing her words. They all could feel the tension brewing between the estranged couple.Somehow, the crowd had dispersed.Randolph had arrived, Linda's driver and a bodyguard too were around.It was a showdown of personal security, but for Mila who was her own security."Hmmm," Emille cleared his throat, drawing the couple's attention."I think I have an idea where the commotion started from, so I guess I'll just leave you guys alone." He took a sharp 360 degree turn, heading back to the club."Well I guess I should get on with my job." Mila passively provocatively said, intentionally riling Brant up."Damn! She's stubborn!" Linda whispered almost ina
"I asked, why now? First of all, you sent your men after me from nowhere, then they tried to kill me, shortly after, you are here telling bullshit!" He smiled mechanically, "One day, you'll understand." He stood up and left."weird." she scuffed.She took some time to ponder about everything that Emille said. Deep down, she knew that she was not even supposed to be thinking about him in the first place, but she just could not help it. He did not sound evil at all…perhaps she was already used to so much evil so much so that everything around her appeared either too evil or too calm.“Why am I not scared of him?” she asked herself.“Scared of who?” Brantley's voice brought her back to reality.“Jeez! You startled me. What the hell are you doing here?” “Coming to fetch you.” he replied plainly, drawing the seat beside her. She sighed. “What do I have to do to get rid of you?” she asked with an exasperated sigh.“Start by telling me why the hell you broke up with me in the first place?
THE END."What order, Mr Walborn?" The attorney went ahead to ask Mr Walborn."That Mr Rivers should be eliminated." Silence.Emille clenched his fist beside him.Even though Mr White only walked in, he was sitting on needles. He had his secrets, he knew what was going on. "We have the videos." One of the Court's IT workers announced.It was there, everything….from the squabble in the office to the phone call in the garage.Everyone gasped and turned to look at Mr White.Mrs White passed out.Brantley rushed to his mother.The twins held each other's hand tightly.Brenda leaned back in her chair.Mila's mind was teleported Somewhere else. Carl was bamboozled, he stayed motionless in his chair.Mama Rivers and Papa Rivers….well, there were no words to describe everything.……..All along, Mr White had been pulling the shots. He'd hired Mason based on Mason's greed.Mason had been working for him the entire time….he was the real Grandmaster.He found out about Mr Walborn being alive o
COURT TALES OF TRUTHFourteen minutes.It was almost time……"It is already time, your Honour, we should proceed." Grandmaster stood up and said.That was the advantage of representing yourself."We still have some more seconds, your Honour." The prosecution quickly added.The judge nodded. Grandmaster stood up to say something again, but his words were interrupted by the loud opening of the door.Everyone's attention was directed towards the door.One after another, all those who were against Grandmaster released breaths they never knew they were holding…surprisingly, even the judge.Disappointment was evident on Grandmaster's face.Dr Edgar accompanied Mr Walborn in the courtroom. Mila and Freya waited outside.When Brantley did not see Mila in the two-man procession, he immediately stood up on his feet and went outside."Which of these men is the supposed witness?" The judge asked even before Dr Edgar and Mr Walborn could reach the front of the courtroom.Dr Edgar indicated that i
THE CLOCK IS TICKING"Can the prosecution explain to the court why your said witness is not yet available?" The judge asked. She was getting impatient, it was evident."Technical transportation issues." The state lawyer responded.He leaned towards Emille and asked, "what is keeping your witness?" He asked in a whisper."What is holding him back is the only reason why they would not want him to testify, but don't bother, he's being escorted by one of the best bodyguards." Emille replied."Excuse me." Emille stepped out of the court to call for Mila.Brantley had arrived in the court too. He was worried, not that Mila could not take care of herself, but because he loved her, so it was natural for him to worry."What the hell is going on?" Emille asked in a concerned tone as soon as Mila answered."We got company." Mila replied."Do you need more refreshments?" Emille asked."I got it, I guess water would be enough to entertain them." Mila said over the phone."Good then, tell me where
THE AMBUSH.Randy rode in another car, tailing closely behind Mila.When she got to her condominium, she did not step out, rather she called Dr Edgar to bring Mr Walborn outside.Dr Edgar had personally selected a suit for Mr Walborn. The different clothes made him look 10 years younger."You look handsome, Mr Walborn." Mila smiled as she held the door open for him."Thank you, child. At least this doctor here has fine taste in quality clothes, only if he could put those skills to what I put in my stomach." Mr Walborn glared at Dr Edgar. Mila could not help but laugh."You look handsome too." She mouthed to Dr Edgar when Mr Walborn got into the car. Dr Edgar was dressed in a simple shirt and trousers, he had a clean shave. That alone made him look really different."Thank you. You look stunning yourself." Dr Edgar complimented back. Compliments were being poured at randa."Thank you for coming with us." Mila smiled at Dr Edgar."I have to do my job as a babysitter." Dr Edgar gave a sh
NAKED SLEEPOVERThe newly bonded family decided to spend the night together.Carl and Phelix were pals, they warmed everyone's heart, especially Mila because she never known that he was good with kids. She had no idea whether or not he loved kids, she did not even know what he loved.Pops had ruled their lives in such a way that all their likes were buried within them and only what he approved, that was what they did…to his face though.She allowed the cold water to run down her body. Everyone together, the smiles, the crying, the hugs, the laughter…this is what she'd ever wanted, not tension, the type of atmosphere she grew up being used to under Pop's roof.It was less than twenty four hours, and everything changed. For once in her life, she did not have to worry about tomorrow. Only if everyone she loved could be here…Only if Dom had lived to experience this different breeze…even just for a day."Fuck this life!" She cursed, turned off the shower, threw a bathrobe on her wet body.
BRENDA IS SCARYBrantley laid down on his bed, staring at the ceiling while he pondered about what Brenda told him earlier.Brenda was nosy, everyone knew that, but she wasn't a liar. She could be blunt sometimes, but the kid sure knew when to keep her mouth shut.She was smart too, probably more than all of them…well, except him, he had a photographic memory after all.He knew that she would not tell him all those things except something more was going on in that house. He had plans on saying hi to his mom before leaving, but he left without saying a word. He felt guilty, but he could not do otherwise.With the revelation, he wasn't sure to face anyone, especially his father.He needed time to think. He could not just jump into conclusions, he had to get more details about everything before concluding."She said that she was pushed, by who? Who would want to hurt you?" He pondered out loud.'Then why did she keep quiet only to say it now?' He thought."Who are you going to see in th
WHAT BRENDA KNOWS'Why do good men die and the selfish monsters live?' Brantley pondered as he walked down the corridors of his father's house empty mindedly."Do you want to bulldoze me before you notice that something is in front of you?" Brenda was starting in front of him, with her short self and crutches.He halted abruptly, for real, he had not taken note of the girl."Oh, I see you've upgraded to crutches. They're cute." Brantley rubbed her head like a kitten.She supported her weight on one crutch, freed her other hand and used it to slap his hand off."Why are you always fighting with father?" The youngest White asked.Bran was stunned, he did not expect that question from here. He was speechless for a few seconds, trying to think of an appropriate response to that."We were talking, maybe a little of a disagreement, but we were not fighting." Brantley looked down and said."You were loud!" She raised one side of her lip, confident about her statement and presumption."Wha
SWEET REUNION"Nice meeting you." Carl forced a smile.The expression on his grandparents' faces changed immediately.He sunkened his shoulders, 'Just as I had expected, outcast!' The words reverberated in his mind.He wished he could turn back the hand of time to just a 5 minutes ago, he'd make sure to get away from here and prevent none of this from happening."Mason had a son?" Papa Rivers looked at his wife. "Isn't he handsome? He looks like an angel." Mama Rivers praised.Carl raised his brows. 'Did they mean the opposite of what they said, or…he had judged the situation wrongly.He looked at Mila, she smiled at him."How old are you, boy?" Mama Rivers asked."I'm 28 years old, ma'am." Carl held his hands together in front of him as though he was for a religious procession.Mila raised her brows and hung her mouth open at his lie."Nonsense, don't call me ma'am. I am your grandmother. Come here!" Mama Rivers rebuked him and hugged him."Just for the record, he is still 27 years o
OUTCAST"Why do you want to see Fabiola?" Brantley decided to ask at one point. He just refilled their tea cups.Mama Rivers who was about raising her cup to take a sip, paused mid way. She stared at her husband who also had the same look on his face."Oh, we knew her when she was a kid. Since we were in town, we decided to drop by." Papa Rivers replied."Oh, ok. I see." Brantley nodded. There was an awkward silence among them."We'll see your father and enjoy the view a little before going back." Papa Rivers added."I will be glad to show you around town. I bet they'll be so much to entertain both of you." Brantley smiled."Yeah." And there goes the silence again. ________"I got a text from Brant, he said that the package was at my doorstep." Mila looked at her brothers. They were just touching down back in Limesville."Just as we thought." The ever nonchalantly Emille said.Carl was silent."I bet they got my address because of the media." Obviously."So…we are going to your hou