"Hello, ma'am.""Yes, Kazim? Are you in yet?" I asked.The reason I'd asked for the code was because I knew Derek would not give up the company up so easily and right now was just not the best time for court cases. In fact, someone like Derek didn't do legal issues. I didn't want to do anything that would make him know it was me and come for my son. Being the background, getting back what was mine was the way to go. When I ran the plan by Jared and uncle Pete, they saw my reasons as valid and supported me. "No, ma'am. The passcode is incorrect. I've been trying to break in but nothing's happening." He explained."What?" My eyes were now hazy, all I could see was red. "Are you sure of what you're saying?""Yes. Did it twice, nothing. I didn't want to risk a third time." He informed.Anger swirled. "I'll call you back." I ended the call. "That bitch!""What's wrong? It didn't work?" Uncle Pete was studying my expression."Incorrect passcode. She gave me an incorrect passcode." I repl
"oh God no! No. No." With trembling hands, I picked up my phone and dialed the line again. It made a disconnected beeping sound. I tried again, same thing. "This is all your fucking fault!" I yelled at her. I heard footsteps. There was uncle Pete. "Hey, what's going on?""She..." Words failed me as I thought of dad on his deathbed asking me to take care for the company and turn it into a great legacy. Dad had told me the story how he started that company. And I'd given it away to the wrong person for love. A stupid, blind, one-sided love! "Derek was already there, at the company. He was already siphoning the cash when we called." Denise provided, although she was talking in a voice that didn't sound like hers. "Damn!" Uncle Pete sighed. "Come here, Hailey." He pulled me up from the floor I'd subconsciously reached on my knees. "So long as you still have the company, we can make it grow. Your father's legacy will continue.""How?" I cried. "The bastard wants to blow up the place
"So her father is...was the owner of Codza Company?" The President eyed me in surprise."Yes, Bronx. She came from money. She's not poor as many tend to think." Uncle Pete replied. We had gone to visit the President after uncle Pete had spoken to him. He had asked us to come to his office, Jared wasn't invited but he followed regardless. He was still upset with me but at least, he wasn't totally ignoring me and the fact that I had helped saved Nina. No one talked about or knew anything about her kidnap or release, it was kept under wraps, from the prying eyes and ears of the public, which was a smart idea on my part."Oh. That's a surprise though." He regarded me with a simple look before facing uncle Pete once again. "What's your plan? I've called the Chief of Police and they are yet to get back to me with any useful information.""So it was basically useless coming here." I rose from the chair, fighting back my tears and anger, with the intent to leave. "Hey, watch your mouth, y
"This will solve nothing, you know that." She complained bitterly as the policeman cuffed both her wrists. "It'll put you in jail for killing my father." I spat at her.We had just returned from the President's place, I'd called the police to come arrest Denise and take her away. "And then what, Hailey?" She reached the base of the stairs where I was, standing in my face. Her hair and eyes wild. "Then what?!"The policeman was pulling her away from me but she stood her ground, unmoving, still in my face. I took a step closer and our noses were almost touching. "And then I'll find your step father and make him pay for what he's done.""You don't know him like I do, Hailey. Derek Kellers is smarter than you think. You need me to find him. I can help you find him." The policeman was pulling her back, struggling to have her head towards the door. "Let's join hands and defeat him, Hailey. I can find him. I know him.""I don't need your help." Her stubbornness and insistence roused more
PHILIP"I'm going to kill her! That bitch!" Rage had me in a choking hold."She might be innocent, you know?" Derek said, climbing in after me.We were on our way to the airport, about to leave the country. It was midnight and Derek had pulled some strings, landed us a private plane. For a man who came from nothing, he had connections.Well, he did have money now."She's not innocent...well, she used to be. But that is not the woman I married. I don't understand her anymore. Damnit!" The more I thought about that letter and the fact that my wife had sent it to threaten me, knowing she had gone through my privacy was enough make me resolve to kill her."Whatever man. Let's just leave the country first, revenge will come. Your company is in good hands, that's all." He assured me with a companionable slap on my back. "What are we still waiting for? Let's get going." We were yet to board and the pilot was ready and waiting."I'm waiting for someone." His gaze was searching.Even though i
JARED I know what I was about to do would cause trouble, but I had to do it. Moreover, if she never found out, there would not be a problem. I drummed my fingers on the desk, waiting patiently in the visitor's room. I wasn't the only visitor here, there were others, some were waiting as I was."Well, well, if it isn't the man of my dreams." She was brought before me, taking a seat opposite mine. "Let's go." I began to rise from the seat. "Go where? And just like that?" She raised a brow."Just yesterday, you didn't want to go to prison, today, you're reluctant to leave?""I believe the right word is hesitant. How do I know you're not taking me out of here to go kill me?" She retorted."Kill you? What for? Of what use will your death be to me, Denise?" I sat back down, meeting her gaze. She shrugged, her eyes not leaving mine. "You tell me, Jared.""See, I wouldn't be here if it's not important." I began."Ah-ha! So I'm guessing Hailey doesn't know you're here." It was more of a s
"Hello babe." I drove to the side of the road and parked there the moment his voice came on the speaker. "Hi, Jared. Where are you?" I inquired."I-I'm...I went for a meeting." He replied, I noted something in his voice but couldn't specifically say what it was."Are you okay? What kind of meeting? You don't have a secret company you're running, are you?" "I'll tell you as soon as I'm back." Came his reply."I've missed you. You've been absent from home these past two days. By the time I woke up, you weren't by my side." "I'm sorry baby. I'll get back home soonest. I'm trying to figure out how to keep my life running with the election just five days away and Jerome still in charge, I can not remain idle." "I understand. Will you be long?" I missed him, even Zion as well. Our son had been asking about him, wanting to know of his whereabouts. "Zion misses you too. Says you no longer play with him.""Tell him to forgive me, I'll be back soon and we can play all he wants." I heard a
DENISE"You sure do know how to pick a woman's dress." I admired my body in the mirror, casting my gaze to his with a satisfied wink. His face gave away no emotions, he merely stood from the sofa he was seating. Impatience radiating off of him. "Can we get to the part where we rehearse?""Calm down, cowboy." I cat-walked towards him. "Have no one ever told you not to rush a lady?""Denise, Hailey is beginning to suspect something is up. I have run out of lies and I hate lying to her. So let's just get this over with." Impatience was really singing a tune now. "Where's the phone, recorder and cash you promised to get me?" I held out my hand to him. He pointed to a designer bag on the console table. "In there."My eyes widened in excitement. "You got me a bag! A designer at that!" I ran towards black expensive leather. "You really do know how to shop for a lady.""Yeah, when your ex-wife has expensive tastes for extravagant things, as a man, you'll need to catch up. Alright, here's w
THREE YEARS LATER...I stood outside in front the prison's huge gate, Zion and Zaya, still having their sibling rivalry, stood beside me. I paid them no mind. The day they would not argue, I would be genuinely worried. Jared stood beside me as I held a cardboard paper in view, waiting for her. "Where is she?" I questioned impatiently.Uncle Pete and Miss Nancy were home, they couldn't come because Miss Nancy had just put to bed a beautiful set of twin boys. The twin gene was really strong in the Johnson family. Celine was due at any moment. Funny right? Dylan had proposed a year after my wedding. Celine was expecting her first child but was advised to stay home and to stress as little as possible. That was what happened when your husband was a big shot doctor.The gates opened and there she was. I beamed.Zion and Zaya, now eight years of age, ran forward in unison, forgetting their meaningless squabble. "Aunt Denise!""Hey!" She opened her arms, stooping to hug them only they wer
When I finally came to, the first thing I heard was the steady beeping of the heart's monitor. I blinked reflexively as the bulb overhead hurt my eyes some. I tried to raise myself to a sitting position but a groan escaped my lips."Hailey." Someone rushed to the bed, helping me to sit up.It was Jared. "W-what happened? I had a dream. A weird dream." I told him, looking quite disoriented. "Really? What kind of dream was that?" He asked, tucking hair behind my ears. "I saw Zaya. Zion was holding her hand and they...they..." Emotions swamped me, making it difficult for me to continue speaking.I swallowed hard, trying to dislodge tears suck in my throat. He heaved a sigh. "It was not a dream, baby. Zaya is alive. I'm as shocked as you are but after uncle Pete and Miss Nancy explained all that happened, I am just thankful she's alive." Emotions rose to his throat. "No." I shook my head, not wanting to believe. "No, no. Zaya died. I saw her body. She...she laid there unconscious an
"Thank you Brenda, you did a superb job." I shook hands with the very pretty bartender dressed in revealing clothes as the cops threw handcuffs around the wrists of drugged, oblivious Philip and Derek.Finally, I did it. Actually, to be fair, I had help. Jared and me had tracked them to the location Denise had provided and it was true. I realized they frequented a rundown bar at this remote area and they were smart to because no one would have ever traced them here."It's my pleasure. Plus, the money was too good to pass up." She seemed pleased with herself. "Just a second." I left her to go get my checkbook and pen from my bag sitting in the car. I returned to her with these, wrote a figure and extended it to her. "This is thank you for a job well done."She took the check, her eyes bulged in both excitement and shock. "This is freaking much! What the hell do I do with so much money?"My eyes did a quick sweep of her work environment, then moved back to her. "You can pursue your dr
"I don't know why you brought me here. You could have come alone." I folded my arms, staring with a displeased expression at the entrance of the police station. "You need this." Jared said, turning off the engine and unbuckling his seatbelt. "Aren't you getting out?""I told you I'm not ready. I don't know what to tell her. I'm not even sure I want to talk to her, I can't forget the fact that she had a hand in my father's death.""Fine. Then don't talk, let me do the talking. I just want you to be available so you can hear the information she has. You want Philip and Derek to pay for what they have done to you, don't you?" He shifted to face me. "I guess." My tone was reluctant."Good, because I want Philip to pay for killing my father." His jaw tightened.I frowned a little. "You've never been this upset ever since...I don't know, he was your father-in-law.""A big mistake. My father's death ruined my family with my mother as an accomplice." His words were bitter to the ears. I pl
I was dressed for the event — a simple tank top and distressed denim shorts. It was time to pluck off another adversary.I opened the door and turned on the lights. "There you are." My smile was anything but welcoming or friendly. "And I thought I smelled a rotten fish." She spat, looking unkempt and dirty. And she was tied to a chair. "Oh, that'll be you seeing as you haven't had your bath in like...well, weeks." I drew a chair from the wall, placed it few feet from hers and sat. "Forgive my lack of hospitality, I've been busy.""It's been a while. What do you want?" Her once shiny red hair was now a matted mess. "Revenge." I simply said. As though on cue, I heard a rap on the door. I opened it to allow Celine and Jared walk in. Jared was carrying a box of things I'd asked for. "You bitch! You think I'm scared of you?" She was trying to act strong but the little quiver in her voice gave her away. "I think you already are." I emptied the contents in the box.I heard her gasp. "
"Room 48." I mumbled, blowing nerves away. I was here and there was no turning back. Uncle Pete and Jared had no idea where I was going. I'd lied about picking some things for Zion from the store. This should be over in no time. I raised a fist and rapped gently but firmly on the door. "Who's that?"Two of the cops had followed me upstairs but were hiding from view. That sounded like the President's voice. I knocked again, cleared my tone in a bit to disguise it and said. "Room service."There was seconds of silence, then the padding of feet coming towards the door. The door opened. "We didn't order any..." The rest of his words were drowned by shock."Hello, Mr. President." I plastered on a smile. "Can I come in?" He was yet to see the cops."Get out." Fear and anger had him growl out those words. He tried to shut the door in my face but before he succeeded, I had a foot stuck between the door and used all of my power to push it open, making him lose balance and fall to the gro
"Uncle Pete!" I dashed into the room to envelope him into a hug, not minding the presence of Miss Nancy and a nurse. He hugged me back, his chuckle a bit weak. "I missed you too."I blinked my eyes, struggling back tears and swallowing emotions lodged stubbornly in my throat. "I'm so glad you're okay, uncle Pete. I...I... thought..." I couldn't even say the words out loud. "You thought what? I'm going nowhere for a long, long time, babygirl."My heart swelled with both gratitude and love for the man. It was the first time he would be using such an endearing term in that soft, affectionate tone. "You'd better not.""Can't...breathe." He said, still hugging me. "Thank you for saving my life. Thank you." I sniffled. "I owe you everything, my life included." "I did what I'm supposed to do, Hailey. You don't have to thank me for that." He rubbed my back. I held onto him for a few more moment. "Save some for us, Hailey." Celine who had come with me chuckled. I let go, finally paying
Jared unbuckled my seatbelt and pulled me onto his laps, I could not stop sobbing. "Shh. It's okay.""I...I..." I hiccuped, words failing me. "You don't have to say anything now." His hand on my back, comforting and soothing was a bit helpful."But...oh God. I don't want to believe her, but..." I trailed off as more tears interrupted my speech."Me too. I thought she just being her sly self but when I heard her talk, I knew she wasn't lying."I sniffled back snot, raising my head to look at him. "You heard her talk? When?""When we worked together. See, everyone makes mistakes, including your father. And that mistake led to his untimely, unfortunate demise. Denise too and we both know where the mistake landed her.""I can't imagine being poor and having a rich father who didn't want you. I know my dad was wrong to have pretended Denise didn't exist but killing him didn't solve anything. She only killed the man I've loved all my life till the day he died.""And I'm sorry for that. I
"He's not our son." Was the only argument I could come up with. Disappointment and disbelief darkened his eyes. "So you're prepared to let that young boy who left his country to provide a life for himself and his family to die in a fight that doesn't concern him? Coming from you, a mother?"Guilty speared, so I kept mute, partly to reflect. "Look, babe, I know you've been through a lot and Kazim was giving every information to bring every injustice to an end and the people responsible to book and he has done a wonderful job so far, but it was getting too heated. He was digging in too deep and I feared it was only a matter of time before he would wound up dead probably in some remote location. I know you're a good person and would never want to put his life at risk, you just wanted to fight back the only way you knew how."I hated that the anger was no longer aimed at him. I felt ashamed that he'd considered the risks while I was only interested in what Kazim had to offer. "Where is