"I was surprised you had booked an appointment to see me when we could have met at my place." Todo had requested to see Swalha in her office insisting there was an urgent matter he had wanted to discuss with her. "Well, your distraught friend is at your residence, I couldn't have her listen to us after what she said, her being pregnant and all. Additionally, the issue I'd like to discuss with you does involve her too." Leaning back to her seat, Swalha couldn't wait to find out what was going on with Cherry. She had returned that very morning and insisted on taking her stuff back to Swalha's claiming she broke up with Wale. "Well, I do have two hours before one of my patients come in so we have plenty of time."
"I met up with Wale the day before yesterday...actually, I left his hideout that very day." Seeing that Swalha was surprised at his confession, Todo felt he needed to explain further. "He contacted to meet me privately and I agreed. The reason I'm informing you is because I can not speak to Kind about this since it was strictly business and the nature of the business touches you all since you are affiliated with Wale, each of you differently." Todo took a breather to check if Swalha was following and she gestured for him to continue. "He has asked me to investigate his family, some of whom hold very high positions in the country, and are business partners with my family too. This is some good evidence against them that I could use to my advantage in the future, however, I fear your friend Cherry may be involved in some way." Seeing that Swalha was not surprised, he continued. "Before I accept to do business with anyone, I like to be prepared and as my team searched for Wale, I took the opportunity to get to know about him too. That is when I discovered many years ago, Wale's parents had found themselves in a terrible predicament and the fact that they were affluent individuals, they became victims to an erroneous crime which left Wale an orphan. I however do not wish to get into the details, I'm assuming you know about this." Swalha nodded. "When I met with Wale, he seemed to have been after his parents assets, though it appeared this is something he has been taking care of by himself behind the scenes which I would say is quite brave but naive, and that's where your friend Cherry comes in. She has been in constant contact with some of these people, passing information of Wale's whereabouts."
Swalha couldn't hide her surprise anymore. She informed Todo Cherry had said she'd not been in touch with any of Wale's family members for five years. "That is true, but they seem to be using another person close to Cherry to bring down Wale." Swalha pulled her chair so she could sit closer to Todo. "What are you talking about? How can she be in constant contact with Wale's family when she is not directly talking to them?"
"Cherry has an elder sister, who has access to her account and she tells everything to her apparently, including issues to do with her relationship with Wale, his plans and his whereabouts too. I would not be surprised if that was the reason why Wale disappeared for a while."
"I know her sister but I have never met her. Cherry had mentioned that she has been out of the country since she was a child , leaving her behind to take care of her parents." Swalha was becoming more and more confused. She wasn't sure if she understood what Todo was insinuating, or maybe Cherry had been unaware of this. "From what you are saying, her sister is the one directly in touch with Wale's relatives but is using Cherry's identity?"
"Correct. Cherry may have been in touch with Wale's relatives then stopped, but her sister continued. She has been active the last five years, using whatever information Cherry gave her to extort money from her sister's boyfriend's family." Swalha stood up and paced briefly. This information was too much to take sitting down. "Wale however has lived a life of hiding all his life...maybe that is why my team is unable to find him again otherwise I would have gone to fetch my beloved Kind..." Todo stopped himself midway, he was tempted to talk to Swalha about his worries but figured it was better to focus on the issue at hand. "Anyway, apparently Wale's parents must still be watching over him since no harm has befallen him so far. My guess is there are people still loyal to his parents that are on undercover protecting him and that is why he is still alive, and those affiliated with Wale too like yourself." Todo concluded, watching Swalha's face turn pale. "Do not fear. His family may not be making direct attacks because they have been benefiting from the assets Wale's patents left behind for him, but as per the report I read about Wale, if any harm befalls him, they loose everything so they benefit more by keeping Wale alive."
"So we are all safe for now?" Swalha couldn't help but worry for her safety. "Actually, you all are much safer just being Wale's friends. His undercover team are very efficient its even hard for my team to reach them. I wouldn't be surprised to find out my mother may have been friends with Wale's parents because some of the decisions I make need her approval and she has lately been keeping a lot of information about Wale's parents as classified." When Swalha stared at him blankly, she explained, "The security company I now manage is my mother's."
Returning back to her seat, Swalha asked Todo, "So what do we do with all this information?" Todo did not reply immediately for he wanted to take his time to rephrase his words correctly and carefully. "I will accept to help Wale seeing that my mother is not against it and besides, this search will give me thrill. I've always loved finding lost things. Additionally, this is something much deeper than Wale believes it to be since it puts you all in the spotlight, but not in danger. If there should have been any harm to have become any of you then it would have already happened." Todo could observe Swalha was unconvinced with his statement so he decided to change the subject. "So, what do you think is happening between them as we speak?"
It took time for Swalha to grasp what Todo was talking about before she replied, "You should have known Wale was going to keep Kind much longe than a day. He had always been glued to Kind so imagine not seeing him for a week. How could you have fallen for that cheap trick?" Swalha said as she threw a gentle punch at Todo's chest. He couldn't help but smile. Wale had made a fool out of him indeed. "Honestly, I'm worried about us, me and Kind that is. I accepted to date him knowing the truth but I find myself conflicted. I had thought I loved him enough, but apparently one can love someone more and more each day. I want to fight for him yet I'm unable to bring myself to do it knowing full well I agreed to let him go if I ever felt hurt for loving him. Kind was the one who suggested that idea. He was afraid my feelings for him would hurt me so he took responsibility for it even before it happened and yet, here I am, still unable to admit I'm hurting." Todo spoke in a low tone, his face down as he rubbed his forehead in frustration.
Swalha couldn't help but feel sorry for him. He would have preferred Kind to end up with Todo, however, it was not her choice to make. "I know how you feel believe me, I've been there. I used to be in love with Kind when we were in collage but he loved someone else." Todo slowly looked up after Swalha's revelation. His face was twisted in shock, then relaxed to a smile, then a laugh. "I know right?" Swalha said as she joined in the laughter.
"I can't believe he got you too!" Todo said in-between his laughter reaching for Swalha's shoulder to extend a pity pat. Swalha mimicked his gesture saying, "Pity yourself. I managed to move on and so can you. Kind is like my best friend, we've become so close, I'd take a bullet for him, though when I think about it, it's always a competition with Wale so he would probably push me out of the way to take the bullet for Kind instead." They both broke into hysterical laughter after picturing the image in their heads. "Wale is an idiot." Swalha concurred with Todo's statement and replied, "Always has and always will be."
Checking the time, Todo glanced back at Swalha, "I guess I should be leaving then seeing that you have half an hour before your next appointment." Swalha glanced at her wall clock and jumped to her feet. "How time flies!" She exclaimed as she dragged her seat to it's previous location. Todo watched her in silence as she took a folder and placed it on her table. She assured him he could stay a little longer since she had already prepared for her next appointment.
"Swalha, you know what, Kind is the best boyfriend I've ever had. He is my best top, he knew when to take it slow and whenever I wanted him to be rough, he was rough." Swalha's face beamed with excitement as she asked for more details. Todo laughed and said, "You're a little naughty pervert." Swalha was not ashamed in her response, "and I'd like to remain that way so tell me more. I always assumed you were the top...it's amazing to hear about a fiesty side of Kind." Todo couldn't help but laugh at her statement, after all, this was not the first time someone had told him the same. "Kind is too hot to be a bottom I had to surrender after seeing him naked."
Swalha's office was filled with laughter. She admired how Todo was handling his predicament, wishing that Cherry would do the same. "So what will you do now?" She asked giving a look of concern to Todo. "I still want Kind to be part of my life and since you were able to do it, it gives me the confidence that I can do it too.