Alina's head ached as she absorbed what Dr Jason said, she started getting dizzy as she heard voices in her head.
' Ladies and gentleman, our very own, a philanthropist, a pathfinder, a waymaker, the owner and establisher of Bridge Groups, I introduce to you ..... Dr Neil Bridge '.
' Dr Neil and Miss Alina, your meeting with the board members starts in 30 minutes '.
' Tell him that Dr Neil sent you '.
' Dr Neil, she is asking for 10 billion dollars '.
' Miss Alina, Dr Neil wants to see you '.
' Dr Neil !, Dr Neil ! what do you have to say about the fire? '.
' Dr Neil.... Dr Neil ... Dr Neil sir ... Dr Neil! .... Dr Neil save my daughter .... Dr Neil we love you .... Dr Neil increase the wages ... Dr Neil ! '.
Alina's head started spinning as she heard Dr Neil's name called by different people in her head, then she lost her consciousness.
Dr Jason who saw her grimacing and covering her ears, held her so that she won't hit the floor when she lost her consciousness. She had just gotten some pieces of her memory that was not clear, she have to get the other pieces to have a clearer picture.
He purposely told her her uncle's name because he knew that by that some of her memories would come back to her.
He placed her gently on her bed and placed her right hand on her stomach. He was about placing her left hand on her right hand when his wife entered the room. Immediately she comprehended what happened, she rushed to the bed.
' What happened? '. She asked as she placed her fore finger and middle finger at the base of Alina's thumb to check her pulse.
' Some of her memories came back to her but it was more like noise and she did not get a clear picture '. Dr Neil answered, looking at Alina. From her grimace and how she tried to close her ears, he could successfully deduce what happened to her.
Mrs Neil looked at her watch as she counted Alina's heart beats. After 32 seconds.....
' Her heart beats normally '. She reported her findings to her husband. She had checked her beats for thirty seconds and used the remaining two second to do the mathematics.
Dr Jason nodded his head but did not remove his gaze from her. Mrs Jason placed the back of hand on Alina's fore head and flinched the next second.
' Her temperature is very hot '. She said as she wiggled her hands and blew air into her skin, trying to minimize any burn.
Dr Jason looked at his wife in confusion. Does she really have to exaggerate? He knew what hot temperature meant. What very hot temperature implied.
' Why are you acting like her temperature is fire? '. He asked in both confusion and annoyance when she did not stop blowing air and wiggling her hand.
' You think I am acting? Then check her temperature '. She said and kept on blowing air on her skin.
Dr Jason turned to Alina and move to touch her head. Maybe his wife was just exaggerating. But was she?
The moment he touched her forehead, he too flinched and almost fell down. Her temperature was extremely hot. He started what his wife was earlier doing, wiggling his hand and blowing air into his skin. He stopped when he saw his wife giving him that ' i told you so ' look and rushed to the bathroom to place his hand in water. Mrs Jason did not think about it but he did.
' We have to check the electric signals '. Dr Jason said when he came out from the bathroom.
Mrs Jason nodded. She was just thinking of it. She was very sure that the chip was behind the hotness of her body. Her head was so hot that it literally burnt her hand and that of her husband.
★
' Oh wow! Look at the bride-to-be .She is beautiful. Trust me sis, your fiancé won't wait until the wedding night before he takes you down '. Mina complimented as she saw Rosella sitting on the dressing table after the makeup artist left.
' Stop overstating. Am very sure he won't even want to touch me on our wedding night '. Rosella said and sat down on the bed to buckle her shoes.
' Oh! Let me help you with that. The bride of Josh Stone should not be wearing her shoes on her own '. Rosella smiled at her rhyme.
' Buzz off. I can do it on my own '. She bent down and buckled her shoes on her own.
Mina chuckled and walked to Rosella's dressing table.
' I saw the maids carrying out a broken mirror from your room this morning. Could Miss Rosella Neil Bridge tell me what happened to the mirror? I mean like what really happened '. Mina asked as she rubbed Rosella's lip gloss on her lips while looking at her reflection in the mirror.
' It broke '. Rosella replied nonchalantly as she buckled her second shoe.
' Broke? Oh yes, I know that. I would not have said it was broken if it did not break. Rosella, everyone knows how careful you are, but even if you were careless ..... '. She paused and rubbed her lips together, generously spreading the lip gloss round her lips.
' The mirror would have fallen from the sides and procure cracks, take note I did not say break because we all know how strong and firm our bathroom mirrors are. They can't just break that easily. They only procure cracks. But your mirror, my darling, got broken from the middle. Sweetheart that won't just be a mistake, would it? '. She asked as she sauntered towards Rosella.
' What are you trying to imply? '. Rosella looked up and saw Mina walking to her at leisurely pace.
' Rosella, you are my sister. You can lie to everyone but you can't lie to me. We both know that even though it was daddy's order for you to marry Josh Stone, you would have still found a means of escape because you would never marry someone you don't love. You, my dear sister did not agree to marry Josh because it was dad's order, you agreed because of the advantage or rather advantages it will bring to you '.
Mina spotted as she held Rosella's hands.
Rosella knew that she could not lie to her sister. Her sister was her most trusted friend who have always supported her on several occasions.
' I am hopeless Mina. Alina is coming back and am very sure that when she comes, the things I thought I could get out of my marriage to Josh would just go like that and I would never get to hold them '. Her eyes welled up as she admitted to what Mina said.
' So let me guess. It was your aggression and wish to see Alina die, that broke the mirror '. She tucked Rosella's hair behind her ear as she spoke.
Rosella nodded in affirmation. Alina was her major opponent. As long as she is still her alive, she will never be able to have what belonged to her.
' And you think that if daddy gets to know what you are wishing for his precious niece, you would still be alive tomorrow? '.
' Dad wouldn't kill me. He won't kill his daughter '. That statement was more like to her than to Mina.
' Stop trying to assure yourself Rosey. He would not even bury your corpse when you die. He would rather throw it to the dogs to devour or the vultures to eat. Or maybe less, dump it in the dustbin '. Mina smiled as she spoke, letting her words sting Rosella's heart.
Rosella trembled when she heard Mina's words. She knew her father was more than capable of such acts. She had witnessed him twice shot down some people and asked his men to dump their bodies in the river. She forced her heart to believe that her father won't do such a thing to her, but her father's demon-form threatened her heart to rupture as she pictured her father pointing a gun at her.
' Daddy won't do such a thing to me. He won't! '. Rosella retorted and got up from her bed.
' I know he loves that bastard more but I know he won't hurt me because of her '. She continued and started pacing down her room.
' All I have to do is to ..... '.
' All you have to do right now is go downstairs and drag a smile unto this face of yours. For your future in-laws to see and admire '. Mina said as she held her chin to face her.
' Why do I feel like you have a plan in your head? '. Rosella asked out of suspicion when she saw how relax Mina was.
' Plan? I am so young for that. But I am not so young to spy on people. From the little I was able to discover about Josh, he is a womaniser, but who don't know that?.. '. She paused and walked to the door, opened it and checked the corridor, then she closed it back.
' What are you up to? '. Rosella asked inquisitively when she saw Mina's action.
Mina then walked back to Rosella, rose her gown up, brought out something from her underwear and placed it on her hand.
' Diaphragm! '. Rosella shouted when she saw what Mina placed on her hand.
' What? Don't tell me you are still a virgin '. Mina said as she eyed her.
' Mina! '. Rosella was utterly shocked when she heard Mina's remark.
' Yes . I am not a virgin '. She replied then enclosed the diaphragm in Rosella's hand and placed her hand on top Rosella's.
' If you really want everything then you should give Josh everything. Seduce him and sleep with him tonight, make him love you and you will get everything when you marry him even with Alina's presence '. She continued and then turned and walked towards the door. She was about turning the handle when she remembered something, she turned again to Rosella.
' It is not by force Rosella, it's by choice. I am only giving you an option, it's up to you to decide. Your fiancé is waiting for you downstairs '. She concluded, opened the door and left the room.
Rosella stood transfixed as she looked at the diaphragm in her hand. Her younger sister gave her a diaphragm. Was she trying to tell her that she has disobeyed their father's instruction of keeping their virginities for their husbands? Why did she disobey their father?
Even when her father asked her date Joshua, he instructed her not to sleep with him on any condition. He only permitted her to kiss him. To him when a lady sleeps with a man, she had totally become the man's property and his daughters belonged to no one expect him while they were younger and their husband as they get older.
But Mina disobeyed him, did she not know what would be her fate while she was in the act or even before she decided to get involved in the act?.
She sighed and kept the item under her makeup kit, she was not going to use it. She would give her husband her body on their wedding night. It was not the right time, at least not yet.
She retouched her makeup, readjusted her body fitted gown and left the room with her purse in her left hand.
As she walked down the stairs everyone looked in her direction and watched as she walked gracefully. Dr Neil smiled at his daughter's beauty. She was indeed her mother's daughter and she looked just like him.
Tears gathered in her eyes as she watched her daughter coming down the stairs. She had the chance to escape this ill fate but she chose to stay and follow her dad's order. Ready to risk her life for her father.
Mrs Rebecca Stone watched in awe as her future daughter-in-law walked. She started imagining her as she walked down the aisle. Rosella in that beautiful wedding gown with her veil covering her face. What a beauty she would be that day, much more beautiful than today.
He just watched and that was all, there was no feeling attached to it. She would be his future daughter-in-law nothing more. She was his ticket to more wealth. With this marriage, he would hold shares in all of Dr Neil's companies. This was the reason behind the marriage.
As he drank his wine, he glanced at her. She was indeed beautiful and very sexy, he must confess. But that was all, she would only share his name and his bed and bear him children. To him she would be his sex machine and his baby factory.
She smiled as she watched her sister. More than a beauty she was. She just hoped she accepted her option. This night would be a glorious one if she did.