Florence called Jeff into the lounge and told him to put her name on all Ebuka's properties. She believed only she and her kids are entitled to her late husband's properties.
Jeff wasn't surprised at Florence words. He knew the woman was more hungry for wealth than any other thing, and she has been targeting her late husband's fortune for a long time.
He wrinkled his face and tried to protest wisely on Florence request.
" Ma, I don't think that will be a good idea, because he has already prepared his will a long time ago, before he died, and we can't just change it anyhow.
" It will be good if we respect the dead's wish."
Jeff knew he was treading on a thin line with what he said, but he had to.
" You know I can do this by myself, but I am telling you this because you know everything about his fortune, wealth etc. You are aware of the in and out, and with you it will be less stressful."
Florence stared hard at Jeff and said through clenched teeth. She was annoyed at Jeff and felt piqued at the same time.
Cold sweats dripped down from Jeff's body, and he tried to pull himself together. He was confused, and fear immediately surged in his heart, cause he knew what Florence was capable of doing.
"Mrs. Florence, please try and under....."
Pah!
He didn't get to complete his coming words as Florence slapped him hard in a fit of ire and retorted angrily,
" You are becoming daring Jeff. Have you forgotten who I am, and what I can do?
" I, Florence Nelson don't respect anyone, but I respected you, and you disrespected me!
" How dare you! Aren't you even scared?!
" How audacious!"
Jeff was short of words and wrestled with his next action.
He didn't mean to upset Florence, but she mis-interpreted his words.
" Am sorry ma. I didn't mean it that way please."
He begged but didn't dare to look her straight in the eyes.
" Save your apologies Jeff. If you don't do as I say now, then consider yourself fired!
" This is your last strike, and I mean it!"
She answered back indifferently and with that, she walked out of the lounge.
Jeff sighed and shook his head pitifully. He didn't want to be dragged into this mess and was really tired of the current situation.
He was afraid of losing his life, cause Florence was ruthless and would try to destroy, or hurt anything that comes in her way.
So, he had no choice but to agreed to her request, even though he was very reluctant to do so.
" I wish, I could leave but I can't, until everything is settled."
He thought and also walked out of the lounge.
~~~~~~~~~
Florence ordered two guards to bring Jane out of the basement to the backyard.
All the maids and servants gathered at the backyard to witness what was about to happen.
Jane was violently dragged out of the basement and thrown on the ground.
She yelped in pain and tried to adjust her eyes to the sunlight.
After two days of been locked up, without food, water, and light. Jane was unrecognizable with her tattered cloth, stressed face, and dark circles decorating her eyes.
She was weak, barely able to stand up and heaving slowly.
Jane looked pitifully and awaited what was coming for her. She wasn't afraid and was already tired of living, she just wanted to die, cause she believed there is peace in dealth.
What more, she had a feeling that Mama Liya was dead, but she was unable to accept it.
" Oh my, what's going to happen?"
" I don't think she deserved to be punished..."
"Yes, she is just a kid."
" How dare she kill the senator, she must be having a death wish!"
" She must reap the fruit of her action!"
"What a pity!"
" I wish I could save her."
" You guys, better shut down your mouth and be careful. Don't let the Madam catch a whiff of these."
The guards and servants that surrounded Jane were murmuring and reproving themselves.
Some sympathized with Jane, whilst some snorted at her, and thought she deserved it for killing their benevolent boss.
Jane was least bothered with that, as she hung her head low and, wondered why she was dragged to the back yard.
Soon, sounds of heels clicking the tiled floor could be heard and everyone looked towards where the sound was coming from.
Jane looked up weakly and met Florence icy cold face.
Florence walked in gently, wearing a red suit with a silvery 4-inches heel. Jeff and Ray trailed behind her.
She stopped right in front of Jane and gestured to one of the servants to bring a seat for her.
A golden steel chair was placed behind her and she sat on it. She gazed sharply at Jane and curled up her lips.
" So, you are the one who killed my late husband?"
She inquired calmly and slowly, while she relaxed herself on the chair.
Jane didn't say anything and remained silent, as if she wasn't the one been addressed.
Florence chuckled. " It seems you are really stubborn. Well, guess you now have a competitor."
Jane still kept quiet and didn't bother to react to Florence's words.
Florence was enraged and frowned deeply but almost immediately, she smiled.
" I love this, now I can determine what type of punishment to give you."
Then, she stood up and called Ray.
"Bring those stuffs!"
She ordered Ray and walked around Jane.
Jane stared blankly and snorted.
Her cup of care was empty!
Jeff stared at Jane and tried to hide his empathy for her. He thought about various ways to save Jane without anyone noticing and suspecting.
He just couldn't bear to see her getting punished or hurt like that.
He already vowed to save Jane at any cost, and he wasn't going back on his promise.
Ray came back soon and laid different kinds of tiny weapons in front of Florence, then he stepped back and stood beside Jeff.
Florence shifted her gaze to the tiny shiny weapons that was laid on the ground and smiled sinisterly. She wore her gloves and used her right hand to grazed over the tiny weapons, then she looked up at Jane again.
" You were ignoring me right? I wonder how you will ignore me when I start dealing with you, using these..... beautiful weapons."
Jane smiled for the first time since she was locked up and brought to the backyard.
The servants and guards were surprised and wondered why Jane was smiling.
Florence hissed and picked a very tiny needle.
" You see all these as a joke right? How about... I make it real then. This......"
She paused and showed the very tiny needle to Jane, then continued,
" This is a 2001 killer. You can see it very tiny and even barely visible to the eyes.
" It is laced with one of the deadliest poison in the world, and once inserted into the human body, it will take just one minutes for the person to turn blue and die!
" What do you think?"
Jane smiled again and this time, her smile was wider.
Florence dropped the tiny needle and took another tiny weapon.
She held the weapon close to her eyes and twirled it around.
**************