The Hostile Takeover: KAZMIR
Throughout the week, I reached out to Darius in the same way he reached out to me.
“Everythin’ is under control,” he said early in the mornin’ when a call was placed to ‘im. “I’ll let you know when there are issues, boss.” And that was the end of our conversation.
By late in the afternoon, there was still no call from ‘im. Does that mean everythin’ was still under control? I wondered in the comfort of the livin’ room where I watched a show.
It wasn’t long ago when I got back from work, and I was hungry. The women in the house, one of them had made somethin’ for us to eat but in the same way, I lost appetite for this meal – whatever it was.
“What’s the matter?”
Someone walked into the space, causin’ me to look up and at the same time, snap out of my thoughts. It was Ophelia, she looked at me with a questionin’ gaze and asked. “Is anythin’ the matter, Kazmir? Why do you have such a look on your face?”
I managed a smile now. “I am fine,” I said and looked at the screen of the television. “Is Nyssa with Mrs. Ariadne as usual? Do they have another session today? I haven’t laid eyes on her since I got back from work.”
“Oh, brother-” my sister sat on a couch and said. “She isn’t with any woman, unless it happened when I was asleep.” She relaxed and let out. “I wanted to talk to you ’bout somethin’, Kazmir. Are you free for a moment?” She looked at me who looked away from the screen of the television, lookin’ at her face this time around.
“What is it ’bout?”
The glass she sipped from, was placed on a table next to her. “It’s not a big thing, actually. Just wanted to let you know that I’ll be leavin’ in a few days, possibly tomorrow.” She said with a smile, almost makin’ me smile too, but I didn’t so that she doesn’t know it’s been a long time since I wanted her out of the house.
“Oh, that’s-unexpected.”
I changed my words before they could come out. “Is there a problem? Don’t you like it here?” I looked at the door of the art studio, and back at her face. “Is my wife makin’ your stay here hell? You can actually tell me and I’ll make things right.”
“No!” She shook her head.
“Nyssa is a good person, for as long as I know and have been here.” She hailed and I felt proud for a moment, still wonderin’ what the woman was up to in the art studio. What else if not a moment with the portraits, as usual? I looked at the studio door and back at my sister who looked like she still had more than a lot to say.
“So what happened?”
“Nothin’,” she said. “I came only to spend some time with you as my brother. I have missed some moments with you, that’s why I came.” She explained further, causin’ a smile to appear on my face.
“Thank you,” I said to her, still smilin’. “Trust me, I appreciate you comin’ to spend some time with me. Somehow, my wife and I got closer and I believe that it will help us in a way although I’m not sure exactly. And also, let me know on the mornin’ of your departure so we can take you to the airport.”
“Oh, that’ll be nice, but you shouldn’t bother ’bout me,” she said and got on her feet. “Would you like somethin’ to eat?” Walkin’ to the diner area, she turned back to look at me who shook my head, noddin’ it the next moment. “I’ll serve you in a jiffy.”
It took until evenin’ for her – Nyssa to make it out of the art room. “So was it only you in that space? Weren’t you bored at some point?” Worried, I asked the woman who shook her head, settlin’ next to me on the couch. “You didn’t even bother comin’ to check in on me.” I sighed, relaxin’ on the couch after sippin’ from the glass of juice my sister served me.
“I’m sorry,” Nyssa looked at me and smiled. “Where is she? Your sister, I mean.” She relaxed on the couch also and while she was still speakin’, the door to the room Ophelia stayed in in the meantime was opened, and there she was – leadin’ her way out of the space with a smile on her face. The kind I always suspected.
“Did I forget to tell you I’ll be leavin’ in a few days?”
Nyssa sat up.
“Really?!”
Shock evident on her countenance.
“I didn’t know that. You didn’t tell me too, but why is that? Are we becomin’ uncomfortable for you? You know you can always talk to me.” She let out, turnin’ to look at me and also askin’. “Did you know ’bout this? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“I was goin’ too, but she came in and said it on her behalf-” I explained to the woman who still looked shocked. “She’s leavin’ in a few days. The least we can do for her is take her to the airport and then leave her to find her way back home.” I looked at my sister who looked at my wife and I. “Send my regards to everyone in the house and let them know I’ll show up when I can for a visit. I am busy in the meantime.”
“I’ll do that-” she said and looked at my wife who also looked at her. “Tell my brother that he doesn’t have to take me to the airport. I came here on my own and can also go back on my own. Is it hard for ‘im to understand?” She heaved a sigh while I got on my feet. There was a need for me to reach out to Darius in regards to the issue on ground.
“Where are you goin’?”
I turned to look at my wife. “I need some time to myself, baby. I’ll talk to you later.” I said and turned around again, walkin’ through the stairs in moments and catchin’ up with the door of our bedroom. I looked at my hand to be certain I came with my phone and when I did that, the door shut and my legs walked to the bedside where a seat was taken.
Why was Darius yet to reach out to me?
A grimace came on my face and I looked at the face of my screen. There then came a knock at the door. “Babe? You have a visitor.” The words shocked me and I didn’t believe I was hearin’ it directly, but rather, in my mind. Who would come to look for me? I got on my feet and walked out of the space.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me, boss,” I had to look in another direction where Darius stood. “I come with news.”
I rushed down the stairs and caught up with ‘im. After blowin’ my wife a kiss, we walked to the veranda and took seats. “What’s the matter? Why are you in my house at this time of the day? Is everythin’ even okay?” I looked at ‘im, lookin’ around and heaved a sigh. “I’m not sure I like this, Darius. What is the update, anyway? Has Theodore Crowley said somethin’ else?”
“I’m afraid he has.”
“What?” I looked at ‘im.
“They know ’bout Nyssa’s case and he’s willin’ to use it for himself-” Darius let out. “I mean, the story behind her accident. This looks like a case of threat to me and I don’t think it’ll end well, Mr. Draven. Theodore Crowley sounds ready and I know we both know what he is capable of doin’ to you – the company too.”