***
“Don’t you think I should go with you?” Joel asked as he trailed closely behind Emily.
“About us.” He added.
“She should be the first person to know. Huh? Please, pleasee…” He pleaded.
Emily rolled her eyes, groaning. “Ahhh, arassoooo!”
She turned around and resumed walking.
Joel grinned, balling his left hand into a victorious fist. “Yes!”
He had made up his mind to never leave his wife’s side, for the main time at least.
The couple made their way towards their car and got in. Before he could turn on the ignition, Joel’s phone began ringing.
He dipped his hand in his pocket and brought out his phone. He furrowed his brows at the unknown number calling him before he swiped the answer icon.
“Yeoboseyo?” his deep voice went straight into the mouthpiece of the phone.
“Joel…” came the voice from the other side of the call.
Joel pressed his lips in a thin line. He knew who the voice belonged to, Danielle.
“Why are you calling me even when you’re in prison?” Joel asked grimly.
The night Anderson’s plans failed, Joel had ordered his men to throw Anderson, his men and Danielle into the prison.
“Joel, please come over. I want to talk to you about something.” Danielle pleaded.
“About what?” He asked, groaning.
“Please, just come.” She replied.
Joel rolled his eyes and ended the call.
How on earth would she ever think he’d go to the prison because she wanted him to? Joel had previously decided he would go see her in the prison, maybe now was the right time.
The last he would ever set his eyes on Danielle.
“Who called?” Emily, who had been staring at her husband, asked.
“Danielle. She wants me to see her.” Joel replied.
“Wae?” Emily inquired.
Joel shrugged his shoulders. “I don’t know…”
“Ahh… So… what to do now?” She asked, twitching her lips.
“We’ll go over to the prison yard first and then go over to see mum.” Joel replied and started the car.
***
And just to his words, Joel drove off to the prison.
“I’ll stay in the car.” Emily declared as soon as they had arrived at the prison.
“No. We’re going in together. Let’s make her the first person to hear the news.” Joel replied as he stepped out of the car.
Emily shook her head disapprovingly and also stepped out of the car.
Her husband now wanted her to go anywhere and everywhere with him.
“Kaja.” Joel smiled and led Emily to the visiting room.
Not long after they had taken their sits in the visiting room did a policewoman lead Danielle into the room.
Since it was CEO Joel, the policewoman didn’t dare to tell him he only had few minutes to speak with the prisoner. She simply bobbed her head and walked out of the room without much ado.
Joel folded his hands on his chest and watched Danielle’s every movement. He didn’t know what she was up to and he wasn’t ready to take any risk.
Unfolding his hands, he placed his right hand on Emily’s shoulder and squeezed it lightly. He had sensed that since the moment Danielle had stepped into the visiting room, Emily’s body had grown tensed up.
Danielle stopped in her tracks and eyed Emily.
“Why did you come with her?” She asked, resuming her walk and settling herself on the chair opposite the couple.
“None of your damn business, just go straight to the point. Why did you call me here?” Joel waved her off.
Danielle proceeded with stating her agenda. “Well… I want you to give me a second chance.”
Joel removed his hand from Emily’s shoulder, locked his hands and placed them on the table. He stared blankly at Danielle, the cold aura emanating from his body making the room turn cold.
Danielle and Emily felt chills go through their spine as the room grew silent.
After a while, Joel removed his hands from the table and rested his back on the chair.
“It’s too late” were the words that proceeded out of his mouth.
“You and I know that I’m not one for second chances. You fuck up once, you fuck up for ever.” He added sternly.
“Joel…” Danielle whispered silently.
Unable to take any more of her irritating attitude, Joel hit his fist on the table, staring coldly into Danielle’s eyes.
Even Emily couldn’t help but shiver in fear with Danielle as the CEO’s body grew rigid and the room grew even colder.
“I know what you did that night.” Joel stated out slowly.
He winced, “you drugged me, knowing fully well Vincent was going to come to you that night.”
Danielle opened her mouth but no words came out of it.
As soon as Joel was done talking, he turned to face Emily and nodded his head.
Taking the cue, Emily rose up from her seat and watched silently as Joel stood up to his feet.
Before Joel could turn around to leave with his wife, hastily, Danielle stood up on her feet and slipped her hands around his waist.
Joel stopped in tracks, fingering his temples as he squeezed his eyes shut at Danielle’s shameless attitude.
Opening his eyes after a few seconds, Joel sent his hands down to Danielle’s and shook them off of him. He turned around and stared into Danielle’s miserable face.
“You don’t do that next time. I’m a married man.” He blurted out.
“And considering the fact that my wife is watching us right now, I don’t want her thinking anything negative about me.” He added.
Joel smirked as he watch Danielle’s already miserable face turn into grimace, bmaking her look even more miserable.
“Oh! I forgot!” Joel paused, broadening the smirk tugging at the corners of his lips.
“There won’t be a next time cause this is the last time we’ll be meeting. You can’t come to my wedding when you’re in prison…” He paused again, now grinning.
“Don’t worry, I’ll do you a favor by sending you videos.”
And with that, Joel reached out for Emily’s hand and they walked out of the room.
‘Married? When? How?…’ Danielle felt her head twirl in despair.
‘To Emily?…’ she slumped hard to the floor and stared into space as tears brimmed down her face.
Vincent who had his behind the door as Joel and Emily walked out of the room came out of hiding and walked into the room.
“Have you been this shameless?” He voiced out after a while of watching Danielle sob with irritation.
He had decided to come see her, to console her and assure her that he was going to help her get out of prison, but when he got to the prison he had been told Danielle was with Joel. He had been filled with jealousy and hatred for Joel.
The officer who had told him Danielle was in the meeting room with Joel had offered to take him to the meeting room, thinking Joel and Vincent were still friends.
Vincent had agreed and as soon as they were in front of the meeting room, the officer left.
Vincent wanted to open the door to confront Joel but then the statement he heard stopped him: “You drugged me, knowing fully well Vincent was going to come to you that night.”
Vincent let go of the doorknob and shook his head in disbelief. He waited for Danielle to deny the fact but she didn’t.
“Have you been this shameless?” Vincent asked again.
He fought back the tears that were crying to be let out and shook his head.
“Is it true?” He asked patiently.
Knowing what Vincent meant, Danielle nodded her head.
Vincent shut his eyes tight and balled up his hands into fists.
He opened his eyes and stared at Danielle for a while before walking out on her.
Danielle gritted her teeth as she cried. It was now all over.
***
Joel looked over at his wife for the umpteenth time he drove to the Chens’.
Emily had her hands folded on her chest.
She was pouting and looking out of the window.
Joel chuckled at his wife’s childish attitude, he knew exactly what was bothering her and decided to tease her.
“Yeobo.” He called silently.
No response.
Joel nudged her arm gently with his elbow as he drove.
No response still.
Joel sighed. He swiveled the car the side, parked and turned of the engine and unfastened his seatbelt.
He turned to face he cute little wife and smiled. He reached for her face and turned it to his side.
“What’s wrong?” He beckoned.
Still pouting , Emily shook her head.
“Yah… How do you expect me to believe that?” Joel asked, also pouting, making him look more handsome.
“Are you not the one at fault?” Emily murmured.
“Mbo?” Joel arched up a brow.
Emily scrunched up her face, “You let her hug you from behind.”
“Me? Ani.” Joel shook his head vigorously, trying really hard not to laugh.
“Did she hug me? She only wrapped her hands around my waistline. She didn’t hug me.” Joel replied teasingly.
” Yah!” Emily yelled angrily.