Authors: Janet Adeyeye
Chapter 17
I felt the cards turning on me already. Though I was yet to tell Angel the complete whole truth about how we planned on destroying his family, and I still don't plan on doing so. I felt really sick from within. I guess finding out the truth about someone or something wasn't as easy as it sounds. All this time, my mom and I had been busy running after an enemy that isn't even an enemy and we've been hugging a friend that isn't even a friend. Shipwreck knew my dad's company went bankrupt and was sold to him, yet he said absolutely nothing. I felt even more sad that I had allowed my thirst for revenge separate Angel and I before our marriage even started. But even after knowing all this, even after discovering that my husband's family isn't the bad guy but Shipwreck, I still wasn't ready to continue what I had with Angel. My mom died thinking they killed my father and took his company and so I could not bring myself to remain with him, even after all this have ended.
I couldn't help from pacing around the room that night as Angel slept. Most times, I'd look at his face and then feel sad again. I lost my baby. And he'd been so happy about the news of having a baby. And it felt like I was jinxed and that anytime something good happens, life comes and take away something else in return. Life is such a bitch in disguise.
My husband's company was doomed to fall anyway, but this time, I'd restore back what was lost years ago by my father. Sleeping next to Angel was something I didn't think I'd never be able to do anymore. But I was glad that the one good decision I made was to save his mother, and it happened before all this.
And like a demon suddenly possessed me, I grabbed a bag I'd kept some of my stuff into and left. Angel was going to wake up and find out I was gone, but to me that was the only option left.
I called Shipwreck as I walked out from the mansion and got into my car.
"It's late," he whispered into his phone.
"I know. I'm sorry. But something came up."
"What? Tell me."
"I left the mansion."
"YOU WHAT?!"
"Calm down. I just can't keep living with an enemy. Don't you get it?"
"Okay, okay. But our plan still stands, right?"
"Yes, most definitely. Now more than ever I want this over and done with as soon as possible. Should I come over to your place so you brief me again on how this is going to work?"
"Right now?"
"Yes. Is there an issue?"
"No..." He hesitated. "No, of course not. I'll give you my address."
"Don't bother. I have it right here. See you in 10."
I didn't wait for a reply before hanging up. If I wanted this to work, I had to keep on pretending everything is alright even when I knew it wasn't. Then after all of this, I'll leave town and move to a totally new place to start a new life like I deserve. The last couple of weeks have been a mistake that should have never occurred, but I was willing to give myself another chance at life and see where it leads.
The drive to Shipwreck's apartment was a short one, but I'd used the map on my car to locate him easily. Who would have thought that Shipwreck was behind my family's fall? I knew something wasn't right when he willingly volunteered to help us, but now, it all made sense to me. He wanted to destroy the Moreroes as much as my mom and he took advantage of her vulnerability and brainwashed her. I wish everything could have just remaiedn the way they were two years ago, when I was still with Alex and my mom's wicked plan of revenge hadn't been borne. Maybe if I knew what I knew today, I'd run to tell her she was wrong and that Shipwreck was the enemy. I got out of my car now and sashayed to his door then gently pushed the bell. It rang for only a minute before the door opened up and Shipwreck stood before me again. I wanted so badly to hit him, even more so because of the fake smile he had on his face. But I didn't. I embraced him instead like I was the victim here and didn't let go until his hands were fully wrapped around me.
"I couldn't do it. I felt I would explode if I spent another second in the house." I said, slipping away from him almost immediately. I invited myself in and went straight to the living room. "My mom was right. Those monsters should be destroyed. I was just so stupid I fell for their trap." I continued, sitting down on one of the couch in his living room. With how rich this man was, he stayed in a modest apartment, nothing too flashy that would attract attention. So maybe that was why no one really suspected him to be the bad guy.
"Yes, I'm just surprised you came here to my place." He came in to the living room. "Coffee?" I nodded then watched him serve me some into a mug.
"I am eager to see the look on their faces when they realize who bought their company." I smiled now as Shipwreck handed me the mug.
"Okay. Here is how we will go about this. They shall receive a bank order tomorrow, then a grace period of a day which of course they won't be able to meet unless they sell the law firm. The money they recover from it after paying off their debts will still not be enough to pacify the debt for the shipping company, which of course will warrant a court order. Then after it has been seized from them, we shall meet with the bank and buy that company from them too."
"Don't forget the part where I get to own them."
"Of course."
"Can I see the paperwork?"
He stopped to look at me for a second. "Why?"
"I have the right to. Don't I?"
He nodded then left. I took that chance to look around a bit. Nothing unusual or strange... I didn't want him to think I was snooping around so I hurriedly took my seat again waiting for him. It took a while before he finally emerged from the corridor again, but he wasn't holding the files I'd thought he went to pick, but rather, he had a gun in his right hand. I hadn't even noticed he wore a black glove until now. I jumped up, shocked at first.
"What are you doing?"
"What does it look like? I am going to do the same thing I did with your father and your mother." He laughed then marched slowly towards me with the gun pointed straight at me. "Or you think I am foolish? I knew you'd confront that idiot Angel and he'd tell you everything. But you know what, I thought you were a lot smarter."
"I don't know what you're talking about. Drop the gun."
"Noooo... C'mon, let's not play games here. Listen, I'll tell you a secret, okay?" He came very close. “Sit."
I hesitated at first but when he pushed the gun against my belly I rushed to sit on the couch. He sat beside me.
"Killing your father was like taking candy from a kid. I remember very well the night he came over to my place for help. Oh, that fool. I bet he didn't notice I'd tampered with his brake before he rushed out of here that night, foaming with anger and threatening to put me back in jail. I couldn't allow that now, could I? So when he died, I took over all his properties and sold them in pieces. But one family that always fascinated me was the Moreroes."
"Why?"
"Why?" He laughed again then got up and went to pour himself some liquor. Meanwhile, I was busy scrutinizing how I'd make it to the door and escape. He turned to look at me.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you." He murmured then strolled back and sat beside me "You wanna know why, huh?"
I nodded.
"They always manage to work it out. And they always have this huge smile on their faces. I wanted so badly to crush them with my hands. But ever since that incident with your father and his reckless mistake and how it affected them, I knew they weren't so strong anymore. Funny, huh? You and your mother were just the perfect bait to go into that family. Of course they knew me well and wouldn't have nothing to do with me if I had approached them, but with you... It was as easy as it was with your father."
"All these years I have hated the Moreroes thinking they'd killed my father and snatched away his properties, meanwhile you were behind it all this time? You're a monster."
"Shh-hh... May I should remind you that I am the one with the gun?"
I became mute now
"That's good. Just good. You know, your mom wasn't really a saint ,too. And that was what made it so easy. I used your mom to get to you."
"BASTARD! I hate you! You killed my mom? You made me lose my baby? What did we ever do to you? Why are you this cruel? WHY?"
"Aww... You see Kayla, that's the world we live in. You, me, and everyone. You are black Kayla, and in this world of ours, blacks are nothing. So even if you have me arrested, trust me, I will be out within an hour. Should we bet?"
"What are you going to do with me?"
"Keep you. You might come in handy, you know."
"Angel won't fall for it. He knows you too well."
"Yes. Yes, I know he would never sell me the law firm, but..." He went mute, then smiled sipping his liquor. "…if he knows you're here. With me."
Unbelievable! This man is heartless. "You won't get away with this asshole! I promise! Karma will surely get back at you."
"Oh c'mon, what's the worst that could happen to me? I get arrested? Go to jail? Die? Those are all bullshit."
I shook my head in disappointment.
"Okay, okay. Enough of the chit chat. Let's show you your room shall we? Get up!"
I didn't.
He rushed up and pointed the gun to my brains. "Get the fuck up! Don't make me lose my fucking temper!!"
I slowly got on my feet heaving heavily. "Angel will find me. And you're get exactly what you deserve."
"Move." He pushed me towards the corridor. Then out through the back door. He kept on pushing me until we got to a particular spot. I don't know what I'd expected to see, a cabin maybe, but definitely not an underground basement. He opened a small door on the ground which revealed an array of staircases that led under the ground. "Yes, move on. C'mon. You know how this is done, don't you?"
He forced me till we entered inside, then shut the door close again. Only one bulb hung on the wall making the place more or less dim. The cobwebs that filled the entire way was enough to prove that no one had been down here since forever. I coughed when he suddenly opened another door. The smell and dust were excruciating, like something died down there.
"Oh, it's just the rats." He pushed me inside, and then switched on another light. There was a small bed at a corner and a wardrobe. A perfect fit for a bedroom like someone had been locked down here before.
"What happened here?" I turned around to look at him now, confusion written all over my face. He just kept on smiling and coming closer and closer till I staggered and fell over the bed. "What are you doing?"
"I always admired your beauty."
"Please don't."
"Let's have a little fun, c'mon." He slowly dropped his gun on the floor beside his leg, then started unbuckling his shoes. Then he slowly unzipped his trousers and pulled them down revealing only just his shorts. I can face anything but rape. I quickly rushed up to my feet, still on the bed with tear filled eyes. But it only lasted for a second as he grabbed hold of my legs and pulled me down back on the bed till I was lying down flat. He jumped on me now and held together my hands with his. "Don't make this anymore difficult baby doll."
"NO, NO! HELP! SOMEBODY HELP! PLEASE! ANGEL! MOM! HELP!" I screamed wiggling from side to side trying to get him off me. I bit his hands and for a brief second he left me. I rolled off the bed to the floor. I spranged my feet in an effort to get back up so instead I hurriedly started crawling towards the door. He grabbed my legs again and pulled me back to him. "LEAVE ME! LET ME GO!"
And then a huge slap landed right across my face. I felt suddenly weak like I'd die right at that moment. Still wriggling on the floor as he knelt above me tearing up my top, my hands touched something and without thinking twice, I smashed into his head. It sent him screaming in pain in less than a second. I rushed up now and then looked into my hands. I had the gun with me. I immediately pointed it at him as he tried regaining his poise.
He laughed, still on his knees. "You can't."
"You bastard! You killed my family and destroyed my entire life. You turned me against my husband's family." I started crying. Angel was right. I slowly started marching backwards towards the door. I opened it with the gun still pointed at him. "I hope you rot in hell." I shot him in the chest, then watched him fall to the floor.