Mariam quickened her pace to the car that was parked outside the company. Her heart was racing and her face was drawn with fear. She opened the door and gingerly slid into the backseat, where a stranger was already sitting. Her nerves were frayed, and she was uncertain of what to expect from this unknown person.Mariam turned to the stranger, doing her best to keep her voice steady despite the fear that was coursing through her. "What are you doing here?" she asked, attempting to mask her anxiety.The man smiled, his face betraying his sinister intentions. "I'm here for what you owe me," he said in a dangerously quiet voice, his eyes fixed on her with a predatory gaze."You know we agreed to be discreet," Mariam said, her voice taut with anger. "This is a business environment, and you shouldn't be here.""Well, if you had returned my calls, I wouldn't have had to pay you a visit," the stranger retorted, his voice calm and collected. His gaze held Mariam's, the intensity in his eyes co
With a heavy heart, Tony steered his car out of the company car park, his mind already made up. With Collins being admitted to the hospital, leaving his young daughter without a carer.Collins' wife having abandoned her family years prior, Tony knew it fell to him to provide for the little girl's wellbeing. Determined to ensure the child's comfort and safety, Tony resolved to collect her from her current location and bring her to his home. He was confident that his grandmother, Nicole, and sister, Mariam, would make the girl feel at home.As Tony neared Collins' house, a seething rage began to seep within him as he spotted Helen's car parked by the curb. "What is she doing here?" he fumed, his anger spiking with each passing moment.Bringing his car to a halt and extinguishing the engine, he stepped out onto the sidewalk, his heart racing in tandem with his ire. With measured strides, he made his way toward the front door, the tension mounting with every step he took.Tony wasted no t
Grandma Nicole smiled gently, reaching for Tony's hands with a warm, reassuring gaze."Not now, Tony, ," Grandma Nicole said softly, patting his hands reassuringly. "You're too angry and worked up to understand right now. I'll tell you everything when you're calmer.""Okay Granny," Tony responded, trying to hide his anxiety. Despite being on edge, he couldn't help but feel a twinge of curiosity about what Grandma Nicole had to say. He shrugged and stood up. "I'm going to freshen up," Tony said, giving Grandma Nicole a kiss on the cheek."Alright, dear. Go and rest," she replied, smiling. As Tony left, Grandma Nicole sighed. She knew Tony wouldn't be able to handle the truth at that moment, given how upset and tired he already was. She had decided to wait until he was in a better state of mind to tell him. She didn't want to add to his pain. Tony's mind was a whirl of questions and worries as he drove to the hospital. What was Grandma Nicole going to tell him? What happened when he w
The police van arrived at the station, and Tony was escorted inside to a room for questioning. He sat down, awaiting the arrival of the investigator, who entered the room shortly after.A female investigator introduced herself, stating that Tony was being questioned for the murder of a man named Edward Forbes."I have no idea what you're talking about," Tony insisted, his eyes revealing a fierce conviction that he was innocent. "I've never even heard of an Edward Forbes."The investigator continued her questioning, asking Tony how he could have been in Edward's house if he didn't know him."I can't tell you his name, but I was there for a purpose," Tony responded, his face steadfast and certain, leaving no room for doubt in his words.The investigator leaned forward, her voice lowering to a conspiratorial tone. "Mr. Tony, I believe you are withholding information from us. You claim you were there for a reason, but won't tell us why. What are you hiding?"Tony's expression remained res
It had only been a couple of hours since Tony was thrown in the slammer when he heard footsteps comin' his way. He looked up, and lo and behold, it was the police officer openin' up the cell. The lady investigator, lookin' all serious, stepped in and gave Tony the lowdown, her voice steady but her expression lookin' a bit grim.The lady cop stepped in, looking Tony right in the eyes, and dropped a bomb. "You're outta here, Mr. Tony Eduardo." Tony's eyes lit up, he couldn't believe his luck. He strolled out of the cell, followin' her down the hall. He was too tired to think straight and was oblivious to what was going on, but he wasn't gonna complain about gettin' sprung. He didn't have the energy to ask what was going down, he just wanted to get the hell out there as soon as possible."I am very sorry for how everything played out Mr Tony but I want you to know it wasn't my intention to keep you here in the station," she uttered, her eyes filled with fear and contriteness.Tony was sh
"Mrs. Lugard," Mariam intoned with an assured, steady gaze that pierced directly into Helen's and her mother's souls. "I'm afraid I must inform you that our company will not be entering into a partnership with yours."Helen's mother, who had been silently observing the exchange, audibly gasped at Mariam's words. Helen, meanwhile, felt a chill run down her spine, her hopes of securing the collaboration dashed in an instant."What do you mean, Miss Mariam?" Mrs. Lugard stammered, her face a mask of confusion and anxiety. The seed of fear had been sown deep within her, her heart rate quickening and her throat tightening, as she grappled to comprehend the gravity of Mariam's words.With the same unwavering composure, Mariam replied, her gaze unwavering, "Mrs. Lugard, our company will not be signing any contract with yours. I'm truly sorry if this comes as a surprise." The finality of her statement hung in the air, leaving no room for misinterpretation.Helen, her eyes swimming with confus
As soon as Mrs. Lugard entered the living room, Cecilia could see the rage, disappointment, and anxiety pouring out of her like smoke from a fire. The woman practically collapsed onto the couch, her hands running through her messy hair as if trying to wring out the stress that was coiled inside of her like a spring. Mrs. Lugard was clearly not in a good mood, and Cecilia knew something big was up.Cecilia calmly walked over to Mrs. Lugard, concern in her voice as she gently sat down next to her mother. “What’s wrong, Mom? How did the meeting go?” she asked, trying to get to the bottom of what had put such a dark cloud over her mother's mood. Mrs. Lugard sighed heavily, her eyes shadowed by fear. “We didn’t get the contract,” she said in a low voice, sounding exhausted and defeated. “They said they can’t trust us because of our character,” she explained. It was clear that this news had taken a huge toll on Mrs. Lugard, who was struggling to make sense of what had gone wrong and wh
Helen, her heart pounding with anticipation, entered Philip’s home, her eyes scanning the room for any sign of her target. Finding it empty, she wasted no time, using the password to gain access to the house. With a focused mind, she set to work, carefully cooking up a delicious meal and sprucing up the house, creating a cosy and intimate atmosphere.After putting the finishing touches on the dinner table, she excused herself to take a shower, changing into a provocative nightie that left little to the imagination.Philip stepped into his house, the delicious aroma greeting him like a long-lost friend. His nostrils flared, savouring the familiar scents as he turned to Helen, his eyes narrowed with suspicion. “You’re…home,” he said, his tone carefully measured.Helen, her face the epitome of sweetness, smiled at him, her gaze lingering on his face. “I hope you don’t mind,” she said, her voice lilting with innocence. “I thought you might appreciate a home-cooked meal for a change.”