“I am so
sorry chairman.” Weyinmi said in a sober tone.
“Don’t
you ever in your life call me chairman,” he said. “Do you want to give me a
heart attack? I gave you a simple task and all you could do is to fail me.”
“I am so
sorry.”
“Have
you gone to the hospital to check on her mother?”
“She has
been discharged and nowhere to be found.”
“Oh my
God!!”
“Please
calm down.” he said to Hector.
“Don’t
tell me to calm down! I can never be calm. Have you tried her phone number?”
“Switched
off.”
“Oh no.”
“There
is something else I need to tell you.”
“What is
it?”
“I think
Michael is involved.”
Hector
made a face. “Michael?” he asked surprised. “How is he connected to this?”
“An
informant told me he saw the two of them at a public garden few days ago.”
“What
garden?”
“The one
you do go to with your sister.”
He
widened his eyes. “That’s impossible!“
“I am
sorry, it is boss.”
He
pressed his lips and sighed. “Have you seen Michael?”
“I have
not seen him ever since he came back from the village.”
“Did you
tell him about the contract I took from him?” he asked Weyinmi.
“Not at
all! I can never do that to you,” he said. “I know how much you paid me.”
“But you
love money and Michael could have offered you more.”
“Michael
cannot pay me like you do and I don’t need your money anymore. I just want to
help you find Renee. We are talking about your heart. I know you are getting
married soon but Renee’s safety is your priority and happiness.”
“I have
to find Renee and tell her the truth about why I have to marry Melissa.”
“What
about Melissa?” Weyinmi asked. “Don’t forget her threat.”
Hector
took a deep breath. “I will beg Melissa to allow me see her. I will go ahead with
the wedding.”
“When
last did you see Michael?”
“I saw
him once and that was the day he came back from the village with my family.”
“He’s
not in his house and his phone number is unreachable, even his car garage has
been shut down. I don’t know what he is up to and Renee’s bodyguard was
dismissed.”
Hector
tightened his face. “I want you to get a very good private investigator, in
fact locate the best. I don’t care any amount, I want to see Renee.”
“I will
get a private investigator to look for Renee.”
“Take
care.”
Hector cut
the call, walked away from his table, and dialed her number. It was switched off,
he smashed his phone on the wall out of anger and frustration. He broke down
and cried.
********
“Are you
sure we are safe with Hector’s cousin here?” Mrs. Alice asked her daughter in a
hotel room they lodged. She was resting on the bed.
“I don’t
trust anyone anymore,” said Renee, her eyes were tender and she had lost some
weight. The ring was no longer on her finger. “I cannot trust anyone again.”
“Don’t
talk like this,” she said. “Please my daughter.”
“Mummy
what do you expect me to say?” she asked glumly. “The man I gave my heart has
abandoned me. He did not only do that but lied to me. I am heartbroken and
angry.”
“Maybe
you two were never meant to be together.”
Renee
turned to look into her mother’s eyes. “I am pregnant!” she said and burst into
cracking sobs.
“Lord
have mercy!” she said shocked at the news. She put her two hands on her head. “I am
finished!”
“Hector
is getting married soon, I believe next week to Melissa.”
Her
mother could not say anything more but weep.
She
walked and stood beside her mother. “You don’t have to cry mother. Please stop,
consider your health.”
“How can
I consider my health when my daughter is not happy? You have not been eating
and you have to because of the pregnancy.”
“I don’t
have appetite.”
“You
have to eat for the sake of your child, please.”
Renee
moved away and sat down on a chair. “I will try.”
“Please do,”
she said and wiped tears from her face. “Why did we have to come here with
Michael?”
“He
wants to take Hector to court and show me off with him by his side.”
Mrs.
Alice widened her eyes and carefully sat down on the bed. “Did you agree to
that?”
Renee
swallowed, closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She opened her eyes and looked
at her mom. “I am still thinking about it.”
“Don’t
do it.”
Renee stood up. “Mum I
am angry, saddened, helpless, hopeless and tormented that I can never be with
the man I love. It hurts so much that whenever I remember him which I always
do, I cry and I also smile just the thought of the happy moments I spent with
him.” Tears swelled up in her eyes and began rolling down her cheeks.
“I am so
sorry my daughter.”
Renee
could not stop crying.
Her
mother stood to hug her. “Please, consider your baby. You should be happy you
have received the employment letter from the company. You have a good job now.”
“I don’t
want the job but Hector.”
“It is
okay my dearest. We don’t even know the true story because Hector is yet to say
anything.”
“But he
is getting married.” She released herself from her mother's arms.
Her
mother heaves a sigh. “I am confused.”
“I am
not confuse but heartbroken.” A knock came at their door. “Who is that?”
“It’s
Michael.”
Mrs.
Alice tapped her daughter’s hand to get her attention. She stared at her
mother. “Whatever he says, think before you talk and make a decision that you
think will make you happy.”
“Thanks
mom.” She walked to the door and opened it. Michael entered with his hands
jam-packed with comestibles.”
“Good
afternoon Mrs. Alice.” He greeted her.
“Welcome
Hect…sorry Michael.”
Michael
frowned and adjusted a smile. He dropped down the things he bought on the table
and faced the direction of Renee.
“I need
to talk to you privately.” he said faintly.
“You can
tell me anything here.”
“What
about your mother?”
“Pretend
as if she’s not here.” Renee said. “I will still tell her whatever we discuss.”
He
sighed. “I will be sending a message to Hector through Felix very soon.”
“What
message?” she asked in a terrified tone.
“That I
know the truth, go to court and collect what’s rightfully mine.”
“Going
to court will cause a rift between you two,” she said. “The best thing for you
to do is go and talk with him about it. He will understand.”
“It
seems you are not over Hector and you still believe he is a good person.”
“I can
never get over Hector, I can never forget about him. He’s the father of my
unborn child.”
“But I
will be a father to the baby.”
“About
that,” she said. “I will take care of my child myself and I don’t need to stand
with you when you go to court.”
“Why?”
he asked surprised.
“Love is
blind and I cannot hurt Hector.”
“But he
hurt and deserted you.” he said with anger in his voice.
“I just
want to be on my own.” Renee said. “I have been given a job at an oil company
as an accountant and I am to resume next two weeks.”
“You
want to live in the same state with Hector?”
“It’s a
big place and we might never come across each other again.”
Michael
looked into her eyes. “I really want us to be together as a couple, don’t turn
me down.”
“I am
sorry, I can never be with you.”
His
phone began to ring and the sight of the caller Id made him frown. He picked
the call.
“I will
call you when I am less busy.” Michael said on the phone. He waited to listen to
what the person was saying and later spoke. “I will call you later for us to discuss more,
please give me time and don’t be greedy.” He cut the call.
“I hope
there’s no problem?” she asked.
He shook
his head. “There is nothing to be worried about.”
******
“I am
begging you, just do this for me.” Hector said to Melissa in her office.
“No.”
she replied.
“I will
not discuss anything with Renee, I just want to see her.”
“I said
no!”
“We are
still going to get married,” he said. “When the private investigator finds
Renee I really want to talk to her.”
“I will
never agree to that.” Melissa said. “Go home and sleep, please!”
“Please.”
She
rolled her eyes. “Maybe if you give me a hot kiss, I might agree for you to see
her.”
“You
might agree?”
“If the
kiss is hot.”
He shook
his head and walked out on her.
*******
Ebube
knocked on Hector’s bedroom door and he asked her to come in. She entered and
fell on her knees. He was surprised at her gesture despite being in a drunk
state. His eyes were red.
“Why are
you on your knees?” he asked.
“I came
here to thank you for everything you have done for me. I passed my exams.”
He
widened his eyes. “You have written your exams?”
“Yes
sir.”
“How
come I did not know about it?”
“It’s
because of the situation that has been happening sir.”
“Please
stand up.” he said and smiled. “I am proud of you.”
Ebube
rose on her feet. “Thank you sir.”
“You can
go.”
She
wanted to turn her back but hesitated.
“Anything
else?” he asked.
“Can you
give me the permission to talk sir?”
“Say
whatever you like, these days I don’t care what people say.”
She
began to cry.
He
opened his mouth. “Why are you crying?”
“I am
sorry for what is happening to you. I am praying that you will not marry Aunty
Melissa. You are no longer the boss I used to know. I even prefer when you used
to insult me than now you don’t care of what anyone does in this house.”
Hector
laughed. This was the first time she had seen him laugh after he came back from
the burial. He rose and staggered but managed to stand well and walk up to her.
“Don’t cry Ebube.”
She
wiped her tears.
“I am a sad man and Renee is the only one that can brighten me up.”
“I am a sad man and Renee is the only one that can brighten me up.”
“She
will sir.”
“Renee
is nowhere to be found.”
Ebube
stared at him surprised. She swallowed and spoke. “I can help you look for
her.”
“I doubt
that. I am beginning to feel she has travelled somewhere.”
“But she
loves you.”
“I know
and I do too but life is unfair to the both of us.”
“I am
very sorry.”
“You can
go to your room now and congratulations on your exams, I can’t wait to see you
in your matriculation gown.”
Ebube
managed a smile. “I will pray for you and Renee so that you can be together
again.”
“Please do,
I will appreciate that.”
She thanked
him once again, and walked and opened the door, shut it and left him behind.
Hector
sank himself on his bed. He missed Renee tremendously.
******
“Mom I
cannot take it any longer,” Hillary said to her mother in the master’s bedroom.
“What is
it?”
“Are you
happy that Hector is an unhappy man?”
“He is
not unhappy but foolish.”
“I have
never seen my brother like this before and I am beginning to get scared.”
“Scared?”
“That he
might harm himself.” She said in a frightened manner. “Mom you need to act fast
and stop the wedding.”
“There
is nothing to do.”
“I want my brother back!”
“But
he’s at home.”
“That is
not what I mean,” Hillary said solemnly. “He has changed and I want the real
Hector.”
“Please
leave my room and goodnight.”
She
frowned at her mother. “Think about your son’s happiness and don’t make a
mistake you will regret later.”
“Get out
from my room!”
Hillary
walked out irritably and banged the door very loud.
*******
(Four
days to the wedding)
“I can’t
believe this Felix,’ Hector said standing beside his car with Felix and Weyinmi
outside his company. “Michael wants to take me to court?”
“I’m
afraid yes.”
“Michael could not tell me he knew he was my brother?”
“Why
didn’t you tell him?” Felix asked.
“I never
knew about it, in fact it was recently I knew Michael was not my cousin but my
brother. My father cheated on my mother with her younger sister. Anyways, I can
give him what he wants.”
“He
wants half.”
“You are
joking.”
“I am
serious.” Felix said.”
Hector
shook his head. “He can take me to court.”
“Not only
will I take you to court,” Michael said behind the three men and he walked
closer to them. “I will take your woman.”
“You can
have Melissa, who cares.”
“I am
talking about Renee!”
“How
dare you utter her name and is it really true you are in contact with her?”
“She is
with me and we are going to be together.”
“That’s
a big lie!” His eyes turned murder. “Renee will never betray me!”
“And
what did you do to her?”
“Is not
what you think!”
“I want
half of everything,” Michael said. “I have endured enough.”
“I am
ready to give you the filling station in Ibadan and two restaurants. I told my father to give them to you but he declined.”
“He was
also my father!”
“But he never called you his son to your face.”
Michael
was breathing out loud. His heartbeat pumping out. “I want half of everything!”
“Never!!”
“You
will give it to me.”
Felix
and Weyinmi pleaded with them to calm down but they bluffed him off.
“You
should be ashamed that your mother slept with her husband’s sister. How could
your mother lay very cheap for my father after what my mother did for her?”
“Don’t
you dare call my mother into this!”
“Where
is Renee?”
“I will
never tell you.”
“Your
mother was a low-priced prostitute.”
Michael
ran and threw himself at Hector and they began to fight. Hector pounce a big
blow to Michael’s left cheek and blood gushed out from his mouth. Weyinmi and
Felix raised Hector away from him and with that opportunity he gave Hector a
blow to the stomach. Hector closed his eyes out of pain and he opened his eyes
and quickly gave Michael a kick on the chest with his right leg. Weyinmi
finally pulled the two of them away from each other.
“You two
are brothers and should not be fighting.” Weyinmi said.
Michael rose
up, cleaned the blood from his mouth, and pointed at him. “Shut up you this
traitor. You are the reason Hector took that contract from me.”
He
looked away from his face.
“Look at
me!”
“Leave
Weyinmi out of this,” Hector said. “And tell me where Renee is!”
Michael
turned to his direction. “She does not want to see you.”
“I don’t
believe you!!”
“Take it
or leave, Renee is mine!”
“I want
the two of you to stop behaving like children and settle this amicably.” Felix
said and glanced at Hector. “You are in the premises of your company, it is an
insult and a disgrace to let your employees see you like this.”
“I don’t
care!”
“You
don’t have to care because you are their boss but respect is reciprocal. You
need to act like a gentleman.”
“Then
ask him where Renee is.”
“She
does not want to see you Hector,” Michael said. “I will be back after your
wedding to take you to court with her as my woman.”
Hector
raced towards him furiously but Felix and Weyinmi grabbed him. Michael walked
outside to his car and drove off.
Hector
forcefully release himself and said to Weyinmi. “I want you to follow him.”
“That is
not necessary, the investigator is doing that already and I am sure, this time
we will know where he is hiding Renee.”
“What
about the wedding?” Felix asked concerned.
“The
wedding will go on,” Hector said sorrowfully. “My past is catching up with me
and I am paying dearly for it. I have hurt a lot of women in my past, maybe they prayed
that I should never be happy and it’s working. The only thing that can stop the
wedding is for a miracle to happen.”
********
(Two
days to the Wedding)
Hector
was talking on the phone when his office line rang. His secretary informed him
Weyinmi and another man was around to see him. He gave her the order to let
them in.
Weyinmi
knocked and entered into his office with a tall and black man dressed in a
brown suit. They shook Hector’s hand and sat down opposite him.
“The
private investigator is here to tell you what he has found out.” Weyinmi said.
“Do you
know where Renee is?” Hector asked inquisitively.
“Not at
all but I am getting close to that sir.”
He grimaced.
“So what is more important than that?”
Weyinmi
cleared his throat. “You need to be prepared for what is about to tell you,” he
said. “I cannot tell you myself because I am totally shocked.”
Hector
made a questionable face and looked at the investigator. “What do you want to
tell me?”
“When I
followed Michael Ike two days ago, he went to meet someone at a hideout,” he
said. “That person is a criminal and I was curious to know why he was visiting
such a person. An insider told me that the criminal is exhorting money from
Michael for a job he did for him.”
Hector
stared at him with his eyes and mouth opened. “I don’t understand. The criminal
is exhorting money from Michael. What could he have done for Michael?”
“It’s
serious Hector.” Weyinmi said.
“Spill
it out inspector.”
“Michael
paid him to eliminate a woman named Alice Kayode.”
“What!”
Hector exclaimed and sprung up from his chair. “How could Michael do such a
thing?! What is he trying to do to me?!”
Weyinmi
rose on his feet to touch Hector on his left shoulder. “Please relax and calm
down.”
Hector flings
his hand away. “Don’t tell me to calm down. Michael did it to destabilize and
scatter my family! He was there when I accused my mother wrongly. Michael wants
to tear my family apart and he might go after that woman again. He did it the
first time without succeeding in eliminating her, if there is a second time,
Renee’s mother will die.”
“I
know.”
Hector
shook his head pitifully. “No you don’t. If they go after that woman again,
Renee will think my family is after her and that will make her hate me and I do
not pray for that to happen.” He sighed loudly. “I have never killed anyone
before, Michael will be my first.”
To be
continued… on Thursday.
Am so scared right now, and to think Renee and her mother are with Micheal
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm, I don't pray 4 d worst o, Renee n her mum must not die, I pray hector get to Michael b4 he d undo
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm. This is serious. Michael kwa. I thought he was calm.
ReplyDeleteHmmmmm. This is serious. Michael kwa. I thought he was calm.
ReplyDeletehmmmmmm. Things are boiling up big time. Really scary.
ReplyDeleteNice job Carina
ReplyDeleteNma's Blog
This is gttn bloody nd scary...
ReplyDeleteCarina I must applaud you, Good job dear
ReplyDeleteThe suspense is getting to me.
Wow! D climax z almst here.. Gud job
ReplyDeleteVisit my blog too 4 short stories @ www.itsdidisblog.blogspot.com
I knew,it was michael.
ReplyDeleteWelldone@ck......michael is a green snake,under the green grass.please ooh ck,dont let renee,or her mother die oooh.
Reading this made my night I gotta say....
ReplyDeletewww.lexhansplace.com
after reading this episode, i tried to get a mental picture of all the scenes, and i could picture a frustrated hector pacing around with confusion and restless, then Renee, i can clearly have a picture of her misty eyes full of tears and more yet to be shed, maybe if that wedding happens Renee probably break down, and Carina please take care of my Renee. i hope the tables will turn around; but that Micheal of a guy...... hmm, i will still be reading.... tanks a lot.....still Ur fan.
ReplyDeleteAtleast things re turning arOund for the better
ReplyDeleteMichael is really angry. Hector shouldn't have taken his contract in d first place.
ReplyDeletePamscrib.blogspot.com
space booked
ReplyDeleteAt this point, I must say you are doing a very good job. Kudos babe.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful and interesting episode
ReplyDelete