Her eyes darted up and down in quest for answers. She searched for over twenty minutes, yet, nothing. She opened some files but all she saw were company documents, agreements and other related stuffs. Then, she noticed a paper sticking out of a file somewhere on the shelf. She reached out and pulled out a clean sheet. She also noticed a drawer that wasn’t properly shut. She opened it and his bank card was there, staring at her. Her mind leapt for joy as she thought of the financial abundance that lay before her. This was his black card and she knew it contains thousands or millions of dollars! She grabbed it and put it inside her bag without much thought and focused again on the paper. The paper looked unimportant. It carried a few names, some funny scribblings and date. She sighed and went back to where she got it.
“This losuy piece has no information. Now, back to where you came from.”
Before she could do that, she heard footsteps and boom, Alice Stratford entered the study.
Where could she hide, no, hiding wasn’t a good option. Alice had hawk eyes and would spot her out so easily. What was she to do? She was still raking her head for answers when Alice’s cold gaze towered over her.
“Good…good morning madam.”
“What are you doing here?”
Thankfully, a quick lie came into her head.
“I’m cleaning ma. I came to clean the study.”
Alice looked at her wrist watch and around the room.
“Clean the study? At this time of the day?”
“Emmm…yes ma. I had to do it again to make sure it was properly done. I’ve actually done it before ma. I was having running stomach when I was doing it before so my concentration wasn’t a hundred and I didn’t want to do any haphazard work so I.…”
“Enough! I didn’t ask you all those nonsense. When you are questioned, you go straight to the point. No one has time for those stories. And why’s that paper in your hands?”
Maryann crumbled it quickly.
“Dirt. It’s dirt ma.”
Maryann expected her to ask more questions and so, she prepared lies before hand. She couldn’t give herself away like a rat.
“Out of the way,” Alice replied.
“Yes ma.” Maryann stepped aside and Alice passed. That was the end of the conversation to her greatest glee. She scurried away immediately, she might not be lucky the next time. And that was the last she appeared in the Stratford mansion.
“Hmmm… interesting. So, that was how come you have this in your hands. Why didn’t you bloody loose it all these years, you slimy bastard!” Nathan screamed after hearing how she got it.
“Well, it didn’t make any sense to me back then. But when Ethan was sacked from his place of work, I remembered that he had a rich father. Worse still, Stratford group was thriving and making great profit but Nelly was the only child who was recognised. There was nothing I could do until this opportunity presented itself. I did my findings with him and we were able to decipher the codes. Mind you, we didn’t stop there. Now, I have full details concerning the incidence at the back of my palms. I can recite it even while I sleep. Funny, right? I’ll say what I want in plain words. Nathan, I want more than what my son, Ethan wants,” Maryann grinned and sat down again.
“And what is it you want? You disgusting whore!”
“Remember, I have your life and freedom in my hands with this paper. Either ways, you loose. So, it’s best you go as I want, okay?”
“I said what do you f**king want?” Nathan yelled.
“Ethan my son, wants the company. I mean, he deserves it. Isn’t he your offspring? And I, I want a good percentage is of the shares at Stratford. In fact, I want the largest share too. I want…”
“Hey! Shut you dirty mouth, you idiot. Do you not know how outrageous your demands are?”
“No, they aren’t. Think about it. And very well at that. If you refuse to do my bidding, I’ll report you to the state security with all these evidence. You will loose your property, your name, fame, freedom and finally, your life. You will be charged with attempted murder or even murder. Haha. This is getting more interesting than I thought. But if you do as I say, I’ll have the shares I want, my son will have the company, you can keep your house, your fame, face and freedom. Now, compare and contrast. Which do you want?” Maryann asked with bright eyes.
Nathan sighed deeply and exhaled. He was between the devil and the red sea. Everything Maryann said was true. If she handed him over to the law agents, he would be done for. And if he agreed to her terms, he would go bankrupt. That would be equivalent to giving up Stratford group without a fight. Stratford group was the major reason he had done all these things in the past. Why then will he give it up like a nobody?
“I’m waiting for your response and be quick too, Mr Nathan.”
“I agree with your terms.”
Maryann’s face lit up in excitement.
“Really? That’s great. You made the right choice. Here,” she opened her bag and pulled out a clean sheet.
“What’s that?”
“It’s a copy of the agreement. It isn’t just enough to say it verbally. You can always deny it tomorrow. So, here, sign it.”
Nathan’s face dropped.
“Give me the paper that contains the details of the past years and I will sign the document.”
“Hahaha… jokes on you. Do you think I’m dumb? I know you too well. Once this gets into your hands, it’s all over. Sign this first, then, I’ll destroy this paper here and now!”
Nathan picked a pen from his reading table and took the document from Maryann. He sat down and read the agreement. When he was done, he opened the last page and held up the pen. It was time to endorse his signature. He sighed in exasperation and proceeded to do that.