IT'S NOT OVER YETCaleb briefly stopped by the hospital to see Samantha's doctor. He was surprised that the girl knew who he was when he decided to check on her. The live announcement by her father took everyone by surprise. Even himself. He went on to talk about his good qualities, something that no one had ever done. And because of that, his social media handle was buzzing like a beehive. And his phone wouldn't stop ringing. Mr Ramirez was one of those that called and said he was going to pay him a courtesy visit from Madrid. "I feel on top of the world," he said when the man asked him how he was taking the fame. "Yes you should, but it also calls for you to be extra vigilant. Not everyone is genuinely happy with the news. So watch your back." He thanked the man and said he was looking forward to hosting him. As he sat now in front of the doctor, he realised how true Mr Ramirez's words were. "I never knew you were someone of high class until I saw the news. If I must do this w
SEEKING ANSWERS "What's on your mind?" Bella asked Caleb when he stayed quiet for a while. "Does my story make you sad too?" Caleb shook his head. "No. Not really," he corrected himself. "I just wish your mother would be more open about the past. It might help to sort out the future." They were sitting in a secluded area in the V. I. P section. The manager had given them preferential treatment because he recognised Caleb from the last time. The both of them seemed lost in thought. "I think I may know your mother," Caleb said suddenly, breaking the deafening silence. Bella jerked up her head. "Really?" She pushed herself forward. "Where did you know her from?" "At the hospital." "Huh?" "I met her too at the hospital." "You had a conversation with her already?" "Kind of." Then Caleb went on to explain how they were together in the bleeding room the day he donated blood for her stepfather. "What struck my attention was the striking resemblance of your eye colour. That sparkli
BREAKING APART Elena felt hurt at the protective way Caleb shielded Bella from her silent animosity. "Why would a man prefer a crippled girl to a beauty like herself?" she groaned as she sank into the chair. A waiter walked up to get her order but she shooed him off. "I will beckon to you when I'm ready to eat." The waiter felt embarrassed but he nodded and left her be. She was being impolite and she knew it. But her day was ruined already. First, a hectic day at the office, then an embarrassing one at the hospital, and now a crippled girl tends to get more attention than she was getting. "That son-of-a-bitch is making himself more desirable by staying aloof from women. I would fight tooth and nail to have him unless he's completely immune to ladies." Meanwhile, at the corner of the restaurant, the waiter was observing her. After a while, he walked up to her again. "Having trouble with the Don? Maybe I could help you talk to him. He's a regular here.""And what makes you think
THE IN-HOUSE FIGHT Bella took her phone and called Caleb and relayed everything she overheard Hart and Madam Rebecca discussing. "The document you've been searching for is with a lawyer," she told him. "A lawyer? Are you sure of this?" Caleb questioned. "Yes. I overheard them from my room but didn't get the name of the lawyer in question." "Alright. Keep your ears to the ground and let me know when you hear more." "I will," Bella said with a catch in her tone. Caleb noticed and asked her what else she wanted to say. "You're okay?" That's when Bella recounted what Madam Rebecca promised to do. "I don't know what they're planning but I don't feel safe here," she admitted. Caleb felt he needed to help her yet didn't know how. "What about your stepfather? Has he said anything yet?" "No. And that's what I fear most - his silence." "No worries, just let me know if anything happens. I will help you," he assured her. Then he heard the girl heaved a sigh of relief. "Thank you, Don
HANDS ON THE DOCUMENTIt was noon the following day when the comptroller called Caleb to inform him of his findings."Barrister Crusoe says Mr Hart had contacted him asking whether he knew any lawyer that he could hire for something highly sensitive," he began.Caleb straightened up in his chair. He had been home all day making and answering calls. One of the calls was made to Bella El-Zaki but her line was switched off. That got him worried until the comptroller called."And did he refer him to any lawyer?" "I asked him the same question, he told me since he didn't understand what the urgency was about, or rather the young man wouldn't disclose the nature of the deal, he only referred him to one of his distant colleagues." "Did he give you his name?" "Yes, coincidentally, he's someone well-known to me. But he also demanded to know why I was requesting." "Hope you didn't tell him?" "Of course not. I'll forward the lawyer's contact to you. I believe you will handle it from here."
SMEARED IN BLOODThe scene was like a war zone in Iraq. The four men had surrounded the other two. One of the two released fire and nearly caught one of the four.It was a costly mistake. Because the man in black emptied his AK-47 into his skull till his body became folded into a mangled heap."Please don't kill me!" the other one shouted. "My hands are up in the air.""Drop the portfolio on the ground and raise them above your head!" he heard someone say.He obeyed. "Now come out slowly."The man came into view. He was a stoutly built man. "Turn around!" the same voice commanded. Someone searched him for a weapon and found a small gun safely strapped to his waist. He retrieved it and gave the man a hard kick on the groin. "Who sent you?" He started to plead that it was his dead friend that asked him to accompany him somewhere. "I don't know who gave the order. It was my friend that asked me to escort him to get something." "Him?" the man in black asked, pointing to the heap of b
PAINFUL BETRAYAL Both father and son paced about their rooms, each one of them wondering what happened to their source. It wasn't until they couldn't bear it anymore that they decided to make enquiries. Hart was losing his mind. He dialled Barrister Crusoe's line and the barrister answered on the first ring. "I've been meaning to call you. Have you seen the news?" Alfred breathed. "It is for the same reason that I'm calling! What the fuck happened to the barrister? Who shot him and where is the portfolio? How did they know what was in it?" All these questions and more came spluttering out of his mouth. Hart had forgotten he hadn't told Barrister Crusoe about the deal with Barrister Garcia. He was only the link that connected him with the dead lawyer. "I'm afraid I don't know. Although I feel guilty like I'm responsible for his death," he added bitterly. "I want you to send your men to the scene. He was your colleague after all, and if you feel guilty about his death, you should
THE BLACKMAIL El-Zaki welcomed Alfred in his private chambers upstairs. It was the second time in recent memory he had asked the lawyer to sit with him up there. He was downing the second glass of whiskey from a bottle of Tequila Ley he took from his wine cellar. "Join me, barrister, let's drink away the doom that is about to implode and consume the El-Zaki household. Including its friends and business associates," he said in a drawl. It was obvious he had been drinking all morning since after Pablo brought him the empty portfolio. "My son has finally opened the door for my enemies to get at me. If they come for me, I want to go down a happy man," he went on as he belched. Alfred knew he had to do something. "You haven't yet told me what the issue is. Maybe I might still be able to help you," he said as he removed the bottle of whiskey from the table. El-Zaki stared at him as if he was talking nonsense. "Help me how? Haven't you seen the news? Now look over there," he pointed to