Michael felt like a bucket of ice had been poured on him. He struggled to hide the beads of precipitation building up on his forehead despite the air conditioned office.
“Where madam?”
Nelly pushed the file to him and sipped the wine she was served.
Damn! He thought he had closed all mistakes. The few minutes short notice Nathan gave him wasn’t enough to do this. He thought of a quick lie to give.
“Well, yes, I understand your doubts ma. But this account was carried over to another month because of certain issues that occurred in the accounts department at that time,” he explained and immediately regretted saying that.
“What issue is that?”
Nelly was a very careful person and never missed even the slightest details.
“Emm.. it’s all sorted out now, ma. The company is running smoothly now.”
Fortunately, Nelly let it slide. She was finally satisfied with what she saw and was out of the company in no time.
“Mummy,” Emma called tapping her mother’s thighs with her little hands.
“Yes sweetheart.”
“Mummy, can I get an ice-cream? I promised to bring one to share with grandpa.”
Nelly laughed so hard that her stomach hurt. Emma wondered what was amusing. She stared at her mother with sad eyes.
“I’m so sorry baby. I didn’t mean to laugh. It’s just too funny. Grandfather doesn’t need ice cream. He’s not a kid. Moreover, his health is not too good to take cold stuffs like that.”
“But mummy, he agreed to share my ice cream with me,” she pouted and looked pitiful.
“Alright. I’ll get you an ice cream to eat with your grandfather, alright?”
Emma’s face lit in a smile and she hugged her mother.
“I love you mummy!”
“I love you too sweetheart.”
Emma and her grandfather ate her ice cream together and laughed heartily. Nelly stared at them from where she stood at the door and smiled. She remembered how she used to gist and laugh with her dad and mum when she was a little girl. Her father did his best to cover the lapses when her mother died. He played the role of both parents so well that she didn’t feel her mother’s absence too much. She smiled again and left them in peace.
She came back an hour later to see Emma snoring away next to grandfather. When Nathan saw his daughter, he smiled and motioned her to come.
“Sit. How was your visit to the company?”
“It was fine dad. The company is doing well.”
Nathan smiled inwardly at that thought. He would commend Michael for a job well done.
“That’s good to hear. See, I told you. You don’t need to worry about the company. Emm, Nelly,” Nathan called.
“Yes Dad.”
She noticed his tone changed from casual to serious.
“I want to have a word with you. Your daughter is really nice, jovial and lovely. Did you get married in Germany?”
Nelly felt a lump form in her throat. She knew her father would ask one day but she didn’t expect the question to come too soon. Her father didn’t know what she did to save him. She lied to him that she used the money she got from her final lead role as an actress to foot the hospital bills. She didn’t tell him that she was married to Ivan Landers. Somehow, she managed to hide that truth from him for the period of time she was married.
“No dad. I didn’t get married in Germany. Something happened but everything is fine now.”
She added the last part to avoid making her father worried. She couldn’t bring herself to tell her father that she got married to Ivan Landers and even had his baby!
Lily Landers was seated in the sitting room watching the television but she wasn’t concentrating on the movie. She was lost in thought. Ever since she stepped out of Ivan’s company, Vintage group, her mind hadn’t been at rest and she hadn’t been herself. The most puzzling question in her head was why Stacy was working in Ivan’s company and worst still, as his secretary!
Was she there to seek revenge? Did she intend to harm him, steal the company or what?
Meanwhile, Daisy waited for Ivan’s message but it didn’t come. He only sent her a text, saying that he was on it. Daisy was running out of patience. Each time she saw her mother, she wanted to grab her and ask her all the questions in her mind and demand all the explanations! She couldn’t stand her sight! Damn! She lives in a house with a murderer, gross!
“Ivan?”
“Hello. Good day my dear. How are you?”
“Ivan I am not fine. I’m loosing my mind. Each time I look at her, I want to grab her and have her vomit all the details I need to know. It’s..”
“Take it easy. I understand how you feel. Trust me. How about I tell you that I found something? And I’m…”
“What? Spill please. Tell me, what did you see?”
“Relax. I’m still on it.”
“Please, can you be faster? I’m really curious. I want to get to the bottom of this. And as soon as possible please. Can you tell me the little you have found out?”
“Emmm… I’ll tell you that over a plate of spaghetti and french sauce.”
“Ivan! You can order it from any top restaurants. You are the richest CEO in the country for goodness sake!”
“Hahaha! Well, dear little sister, I’m sure you are not ready to hear it,” Ivan teased.
“What? I’m coming over right now!”
“Good. Do you need me to send my driver over?” Ivan offered.
“No. You will probably bring out a new outrageous demand when it’s time for me to go. I’ll drive there. And you better not play tricks on me!”
Ivan smiled as Daisy placed a hot plate of food in front of him. Daisy was a very good chef and Ivan loved eating her food, although he had to use tricks to get it.
“Can I see it now?” Daisy demanded with her hands on her waist.
“Here.” Ivan said and pushed the laptop to her.