Charlie and Franklin sat while the others; probably the thugs stood glaring around in vigour. Charlie was at home now, his mood was alit with joy. From the bottles of wine that stood hither and thither on the massive table and the plate of pepper soups suggest he's throwing a feast -kind of.
"I never knew you were this threatening..." Franklin spoke out of excitement and a touch of real feeling. "Well...you served her right, that's was really a start."
Charlie smiled; this man had been his confederate since they shared the same ambition. Although he was not with him on the murder of Patrick neither was he with him on the murder of Ben, and Charlie had regretted why he didn't approach him in the first place. Charlie was much wealthier than Ben Antonio, but of course he was greedy and that what lead to the murder of the latter. Franklin being a young man seems awkward in the game, he's just like a play boy and perhaps don't know what had been stuffed under his nails. They were both greedy and that was their driving force.
"She'll come for…" Charlie sat up drawing a flimsy breath. "She'll request for a documentation proofing soon."
"True," Franklin chortled making Charlie snigger as well.
"And we'll prove to her that we're right about this documentation of a thing," Charlie laughed raising his glass as Franklin brought his own glass closer until both glasses collide with some wine spilling on the flour.
"-Cheers!" they both chorused.
∆∆∆
The buzzing of the phone persists, Carly feeling discomfort all over her body rolled from side to side on the couch she laid in front of the swimming pool outside the building at the backyard. She fumbled sleepily for her phone on the stool adjacent to her. After a tremendous effort, she succeeded in bringing it to her ear, without much expression, she spoke into the phone.
"Hello…?" she spoke out in a faint voice, trying not to disturb her weak body.
"I shall presume I'm speaking with Carly Antonio?"
She rubbed her eyes and wore a complicated gaze of which she flashed towards the sky, trying hard to figure out who it could be. She held the cell phone against her ear in silence.
"-hello? Carly…?" the voice jabbed her consciousness awake.
"Yes dear, who speaks?"
The line went dead on the other side, Carly brought the phone out from her ear and peered her complicated gaze at it; it was still on, didn't disconnect. She took the phone towards her ear and discovered that the voice was already speaking.
"…whatever that had happen to you, all will be alright okay?"
Carly didn't get all the speaker was saying, she didn't know if she should ask the speaker to start all over again or to just feign ignorance.
"Who are you please?" Carly transferred the phone to her other hand and became keen; trying to get what the speaker had to say.
"Oh, you didn't get me?" the voice spoke out terribly loud. "I said," the voice began again. "I am Leonard and I have some little thing to tell you…"
"-but I don't know you." Carly's brow narrowed in complication.
"Don't worry, meet me at the pizzeria today; perhaps, you'll know who I am then."
"-which...?
"-Pa-Ben."
"I will. Thanks for calling"
The line went dead. Carly wondered who had called her line and what on earth gave the fellow her cell number. She didn't give much thought to all that the fellow had said, she just needed to see him face to face and of course know why he had called. She stood up and walked gracefully towards the main building, her face was not all that red; she is brightening a bit.
She walked in the building and proceeded to her room. Before, she wanted to have a pool bathe; but now all she could think was to meet this fellow, so the swim didn't interest her anymore.
In her room, she made all necessarily arrangement that a lady needed before a bathe. After she was done dressing in a bathrobe, she went straight into the bathroom drawing the blind closed and turned the shower on.
Minutes later, she stepped out of the bathroom looking all fresh and beautiful again. She walked to her wardrobe, pulled it open and ran her hands and gaze from side to side trying to decide on what to wear.
She seems lost on what to wear; she didn't know the nature of the man she was about to meet; perhaps a youth or old man. Finally, she found something to wear; a polo and jean.
She took the attire out and wore them immediately.
She felt so much alive as she trundled her hair into a doughnut, slipped her feet into a pair of red flats to match her polo; grabbed her phone from the bed where it lay and sprayed herself. With that, she walked out of the room a happy woman.
"Mrs. Pauline!" she called as she ran down the stair smiling.
The latter looked puzzled. She wondered how the young girl who was all moody yesterday suddenly became all bright and cheerful today.
"What's the matter?" she asked feeling concerned.
Carly moved and stood in front of the woman still smiling, she held up her head; looking the woman directly on the face. The puzzled Mrs. Pauline chortled making Carly to laugh out loud.
"-what the matter, Carly…?"
"Oh, the matter…? Nothing serious..." Carly said in a jumbled manner.
"-Okay, Okay…" Mrs. Pauline began. "Where are you going to now?"
"To see a friend," Carly let out a chortled and continued. "I don't even know him; just said I should check on him now."
"This is awkward." the latter bellowed.
"-he said he needed to tell me something about daddy's issue."
"I see," the woman placed her hands on her mouth in joy. "God never sleeps; did he put his name across to you?"
"-Leonard…"
The woman stared at the latter in shock; making her to feel uncomfortable. Carly peered at her trying to know why her mood suddenly changed.
"What's the matter?" Carly glared at the woman in front of her.
"I just hope is not what I'm thinking…" She patted the young woman on her back. "Just go at once and find out who he is, and where he resides."
"It's not that easy ma'am." Carly declined against the wall behind her.
"Okay then, just make sure at least you know him very well. Take care of yourself." Mrs. Pauline drew the young woman close to herself and shook her gently to wade off her dull spirit.
Carly walked blankly out of the woman's sight and proceeded out of the building with her car.
∆∆∆
Franklin drummed his finger against the desk trying to figure out what to say. He knew that if he can't come to an acceptable conclusion, Charlie will not be pleased.
"So what do I stand to gain if I comply with your demands?" franklin spoke startling the mid aged man before him.
"What I promised. Trust me." Charlie tried to convince the latter, for sure what he was asking was a strong decision on its own and one have to be careful in deciding whether to accept or decline. He sounded convincing and perhaps; the young Franklin is now convinced.
"Okay," Franklin smiled.
With that, Charlie brought out his brief case and dropped it on the desk, he unlocked it and brought out a large brown envelope. He tossed the envelope to Franklin after closing the brief case and stared at him altogether.
Franklin took the envelope and tore the lid open, without staring at the latter he brought out the white sheet of paper and then he gazed at him.
Strangely, Charlie nodded towards him and the latter took out a ball point pen, flipped the lid open and began to sign where ever needed in the document while Charlie glared at him blankly.
After what seem like an hour, Franklin raised his head and smiled.
He had agreed to do something wrong; one that will prick his conscience for the rest of his life. But then, the reward was what he couldn't resist and best of all, Charlie had promised that they will be allies henceforth.
He slumped on his chair, and tossed the document back to Charlie.
Charlie took the document and brought out a new envelope from his briefcase and let the document slide into the envelope. He extended his hand towards Franklin for a shake; the latter took the hand reluctantly.
"-the girl will really know how to approach a stranger after we strike her." Charlie laughed and Franklin smiled.
Charlie stood up, gazed at Franklin, and then smirked.
"I will speak with you some other time," he glared at the brief case that he was holding and then back at Franklin. "Good job signing those document, I will see to your reward immediately I reach my office."
Charlie took a void look at Franklin and afterwards wobbled off.
∆∆∆
"But why did he leave me so soon?" Carly sobbed softly. "Did he get tired of me already?"
Leonard turned his gaze toward the young lady before him, then stood up and moved around to where the girl sat.
"-you see; your father didn't get tired of you." He placed his arm on her back. "My friend loves his daughter so much. If you want his happiness my dear, stay strong…" He patted her on the back and walked back to his seat.
"Mr. Leonard…" came Carly's husky voice.
"Yes my dear…" Leonard glared at her.
"Who are you…?"
Leonard grinned, he didn't want to disclose his identity just yet; but the young lady seems demanding.
"-somebody you'd want to associate with, are you okay by that?"
"-no," Carly spoke almost startling the latter.
"Okay, let's get down to why you are here…my identity shouldn't border you, perhaps; I don't have teeth outside my mouth."
Carly glared at him blankly.
"-you don't tell me who you are, we are done!" Carly yelled underneath her breath but the latter seemed not so bordered.
Carly wiped her tears and faced Leonard expectantly.
"I was your dad's personal assistance," Leonard lied. "I know a great deal about him."
"-so tell me Mr. PA, did my dad sign a document that will warrant the automatic belonging of his property to anybody?"
Leonard wrinkled his forehead.
"-what…? A document…?" He shook his head in variance. "I don't think so dear; your father lived an honorable life…" He bowed his head slightly in amazement.
Carly's face lightened up and she sniffled.
"I'd bet it; you were an observant PA to my father." She sighed and glanced at Leonard.
"How did such a question even get to your head?" He questioned; showing his own disappointment all over his face.
Carly let out a mild smile and ran her hand on the glass of wine in front of her; she took a sip from it and resettled it on the desk.
"As I'm speaking to you, sir," she took the glass of wine on her table and sipped it again while Leonard observed her; he knew that the latter was seeking comfort with the wine. "There's a man heading my father's eatery with the help of my father's secretary, claiming he's the rightful owner of the company."
Leonard observed her for a while with his lips curled out for a nice laughter, as he couldn't hold back the urge to laugh; he laughed so hard, making Carly search her words for what could have been funny but there was none. She looked puzzled.
"-so that's what has been your problem? Draining your beauty for nothing, Carly?"
Carly nodded mildly, still surprised.
"Well, solving this, is easy…" he glared at the latter and let out a mild smile. "You're educated, you schooled abroad…"
The words sounded as if it was meant to give strength but she was still not getting it. He continued, "You've been exposed to certain things if not all, so how come a court hearing didn't cross your mind?" He grimaced, giving the girl who just found light amidst darkness a stern look.
"You just let them take advantage of you with what was not certain." He glared at her again.
Carly's face lightened up, she thought perhaps; how come those things didn't come across her mind, maybe the saying which goes that two head are better than one was real, and it's not just two head but two good heads.
"Will he come to an agreement?" Carly fiddled with the wine in front of her.
"Force him. Give him a reason to…" Leonard declined against his seat.
"I'll need a good lawyer for the court hearing, or what do you think?" Carly bellowed.
"Well, of course you need a lawyer, not just a good lawyer but a trustworthy one." He dipped his hand inside his breast pocket and brought out a passport of a young lady and tossed it over to Carly. She took the passport from where it lay on the table and examined it, she found a cell number at the back of the picture; probably the lawyer's number.
"The lawyer should be trusted by you."
"You think?"
"Sure…"
Carly sighed and sipped her wine.
"Thanks a lot Mister, what would I have done without you?" she stood up, turned round the table and gave the sitting man a hug. Leonard accepted the hug in complete silence. Carly began to sob again, shedding a tear on the man's shoulder.
"It's okay now, Carly."
She freed him. "I'll be leaving now. Thank you, sir"
"I'm always here for you, feel free to give me a call whenever suites you." He said slowly.
She smiled, nodded and walked to the door. She opened it gently and soon she was out of the room.
Leonard smiled and drank deep from his wine for the first time, he brought out his cell and dialed a number.
"Hello," a feminine voice spoke.
"This is Leonard," he smiled. "A lady with the name Carly will call you soon."
"-okay sir, I will do accordingly…"
Leonard nodded mildly and sipped his wine.
"-make sure you don't annoy the lady; since she can be very demanding, okay?"
"Okay sir."
"…bye for now."
The line went dead and Leonard brought the cell out of his ear beaming.