A day had passed and still not a word. Todo was feeling agitated he considered his trip a waste of time. He expected a no show from Wale but he was sitting next to him, sunglasses on, tanning by the beach with a sangria in his hand. He seemed happy, or was he the kind that got a thrill from making people furious? He had a knack for it that's for sure.
Todo thought it was best to play his game. Luckily, Wale had not been too strict, giving him orders to switch his phone off or hide his location, he had allowed him to communicate with his team as freely as he wanted. Which begged the question, why was he here? Wale had been the one who contacted him first. Finally he surrendered and decided to take everything as it came. Wale called the shots at the moment and he needed some rest after all. It had been a hectic week for him.
They sat by the beach enjoying the morning sun before someone came calling for them to have breakfast. Todo had been suspicious of Wale the previous day when he invited him to dine. Wale had politely explained he understood his suspicions and was not the one who ordered Kind's drugging. Still, he made sure Wale was aware his team knew where he was and Wale had laughed at his statement and encouraged him to even record their conversation to which Todo declined. They agreed to meet after all as long as Kind was not aware of it.
"I was famished," Wale stated as he stood to leave the dining area. Todo stopped him. "Did you invite me here to waste my time? A day has already passed and you haven't said a word. Where is this place? I could ask my team but I'd prefer you told me of it yourself." Wale smiled at him then suggested they hold their discussion inside, since it was too hot outside.
"The reason I invited you over is unrelated to what you are thinking. Additionally, you seemed like you would drop dead any minute yesterday when you got here that is why I suggested you have some rest first. I trust you had a good stay so far." Wale said, his smile still on like it was part of a uniform that he wore everyday. Todo thought it was hard to read him, but then he was brought up to deal with such kind of people. He'd encountered far much worse than Wale managing his family's business. "Tell me what you want so I can leave. I'm a busy man." He replied simply.
A help came in and offered Todo a folder to which he took and asked Wale what it was. "These are a list of assets owned by my relatives that were ursuped from me. When my parents passed on I was too young to claim anything so a lot of people grabbed the opportunity to snatch whatever they could get their hands on under the disguise of being my guardian. I have managed to collect a few however, I'm unable to find some of my relatives since some sold the properties or are no longer alive and have passed them on to their children. The file you hold in your hands was given to me by my lawyer, in each their last contact details and since they are all in hiding, I'd like to solicit the help of your security company. It is the best in finding people, after all, you found me within a day of my disappearance being discovered so I'm sure we can work together." Leaning back, Wale continued. "I am willing to pay as long as you name your price and I'll co operate with any of your requests so what say you?"
Todo was surprised but didn't show it. He had never anticipated this. Looking at the file, he asked if Kind was aware of what he was asking of him to which Wale admitted he had not told him. "The last of the things Kind knows is my family and I are not close and I'd like to keep it that way. The reason of my disappearance is to keep him and my friends safe. Some of my relatives hold powerful positions in the country as you will find out when you check the file." Wale concluded and Todo briefly scanned the file's contents to confirm his statement. Apparently, he had been in contact with a lot of people close to Wale. The file contained a list of three segments, each a list of names and properties they owned, where they lived and their titles. Each segment seemed unrelated to the other since they bore different names of people. Looking back at wale, Todo stated. "The price will be quite high since the people you are after might sue my family's company but for you to chase after then, it seems you are confident of the consequences, I presume?"
"I've been planning this for years for this moment." Wale's reply was simple and Todo placed the file on the table and continued. "I had mentioned the price will be high, I hope you can cooperate."
Wale had expected this. Some way somehow even if he didn't want Kind involved, he was thrown into his dealings. "You wish to include my friend in this deal, correct? That is why you rushed here after all." Leaning back to his seat, Wale rubbed his forehead then asked Todo what he wanted. "I saw the bite mark you left for me. You needn't hurt Kind that way but what's done is done. Kind belongs to me now and I would like to request you still keep your distance from him." Todo was feeling impatient and wanted to just end it. He'd beat two birds with one stone; get the business and his man at the same time.
"Is that your price then?" Wale asked, amused at Todo's offer. "No. I'm claiming what's mine. Secondly, I accept to help you with the search so before I can take the file, I'll get in touch with you of a rough estimate which you'll have to sign a contract with us after which a fraction of the payment will be made before my team and I can proceed with the search. You'll be updated incase of any additional charges or changers but I doubt it will come to that." Todo stated.
For a while, Wale looked at Todo, his smile still in check then said. "I apologize for being rough on you the other time, perhaps if we had met under different circumstances, we would have been good friends." Reaching for the file Todo had placed back on the table he went on, "Your offer I'm confident I can afford however I have one question though, what gives you the confidence to declare Kind as yours? Did he already stop loving me?" Wale thought he'd play a little with Todo by provoking him and it worked. Todo was fighting to control his temper from the glare he was giving him after he had asked him the question. "I don't mind you having feelings for him since it was only recently, I also discovered it was possible for me to find a man attractive sexually but how is it possible for someone to fall out of love for a person he has been involve with for more than ten years?"
"I'm sure you are unaware of this but Kind and I share an open communication. We don't keep things from each other so he informed me of his feelings for you which I find undeserving considering you are making him and your fiancé worry without a care of how concerned they are of your well being. I find you a very selfish individual." Todo had his fists clenched as he said those words. He wanted to punch Wale so bad just as much as he had done it to him before.
"You wound me a little with your statement, of course I do care for Kind the most that is why I'm keeping him out of this and I'm confident I do not need to explain to him why. However, your case is different. Your team found my location within a day yet, you've been quiet about it. None of them knew I was missing for two weeks which is quite disappointing however, I got a lot of messages asking where I was, Kind included and that was when I purposely used my credit card and you found me. I'm surprised you never disclosed this information since I kept getting messages asking where I was and if I was safe. I finally gave up and told my lawyer to get in touch with you, Frank, I'm sure you spoke to him and heard my request. Did you also hide that from Kind?"
Todo was furious. He couldn't stand Kind anymore so he stood up and walked to him. Wale stood up from his seat too and they locked eyes. Todo hated that smirk on Wale's face. It was as if he was mocking him. "Stay away from us Wale. I do not wish to make an enemy of you but if you insist I will oblige." Suddenly, Wale's smirk disappeared as he looked at Todo from head to toe. "I have no intention of revealing your secret to Kind neither do I care wether we become enemies or not. I brought you here since I personally wanted to see the kind of man Kind replaced me with." In a split of a second, Todo threw a punch to which Wale reflexed throwing another.
"Damn you!" Todo exclaimed, wiping blood from his mouth. "What do you want from me?" He demanded. "You are engaged for crying out loud, yet you make the person who loves you hurt the most! Just stay with Cherry Damn it!" Todo felt frustrated. Grabbing Wale by the collar with both hands, he demanded again, "What do you want from me you bastard?"
Wale pushed him away to wipe his bleeding nose then smirked looking at the blood. "You broke my nose, I guess I deserve it since I broke yours too." Smiling again, he looked back at Todo and said, "I'll give you a new location. Send Kind over for a day and I'll let him go to you afterwards. All I'm asking for is a day with him then I'll leave you two alone."