The Mafias Heart

Chapter 2

"Hello mum" Daphne said immediately she picked her and answered it.

"Hey sweetie" he mom's voice said through the phone. "How are you sweetheart" she asked

"Am alright mom. How are you?" She replied.

"I'm not too good dear. But it's nothing you need to bother your beautiful head about honey" her mother replied with a sad voice.

"Come on mom. You know I'm going to be worried. Is it my siblings? Did Kelly leave home again?" She asked, trying to know what's making her mother sad.

"God no. Kelly has been good these few days. Mason has also been good, he said he wants to study art in college. The kid is still in his 3rd grade with a lot of ambition already" she said with a soft laugh.

"Good for him. I've always known he'll be the good one" she said laughing. She sighs and stays quiet for one second.

"Is it the company mom?" She asked calmly. She sits on a bench outside the school.

She sighs "yes dear. A file was stolen from the company which contains the new recipe and there is no footage of who did it and now…"

"Is the company going bankrupt?" She asked with a sad voice as tears filled her eyes.

Her mother was quiet, but she could hear her sniff.

After her father died in a car crash some few years ago, her mother has been doing all her best to sustain the company. There were a lot of debt which she tried her best to settle, they barely got on their feet.

This incident must really break her mother.

"We found out that there is a new company using our recipe for their products. We've used most of our resources to sue them but…" she sighs hard and sniffles.

"It's not getting anywhere?" Daphne asked, tears rolling down her cheeks.

"Yeah. And we are beginning to lose our staff too" she said.

"Oh mom. I'm so sorry to hear that. Is there anything I can do to help?" She asked, feeling so sad.

"Honey! No there isn't. I'm meeting with your godmother later. I'm hoping she can help me out" her mother said cheerfully.

"Godmother Sheryl?" She asked

"Yes Sheryl. You know she owns well known businesses around the world. I'm sure she can help a friend out" her mother answered.

"Well I got to go now. It's time already. Love you" she said

"Mom, wait…don't…" Daphne tried to stop her mom but it was too late. Her mother already hung up the call.

She sighs frustrated looking at the phone.

"Yeah. Love you too"

She gets up and returns to the lecture hall.

"My mother doesn't know what she is getting into, oh God" she sighed frustrated.

"Daphne!" Maxwell called out behind her.

She turned and saw him waving at her. She was so excited to see him that she rushed to hug and kiss him.

She pulled away and gave him a slight punch on his chest and frowned.

"You said it was just for the weekend but you spent a week. No calls and you weren't replying to any of my text" she said pouting with a childish expression.

He sighs "I'm so sorry babe. I had to stay a little longer because of some new developments in the family. Guess what?" He said excitedly opening his arm

"What? You got a new car?" She said

"Umm! Close" he laughs "my family just started a new company and its going well" he said hugging her.

"Oh my God babe, that's amazing. Congratulations. This is great news babe" she shouted as she hugged him tightly. She pulls away with a sad expression.

He looks at her concerned. "What? What is it babe?" He holds her hand and puts his hand on her chin to lift her face so he could see her.

"My mom just called to tell me the company is going well, Max. We're going bankrupt and I don't know what to do" she said as she fell into his arms crying.

"Oh God Daphne. I'm sorry. I didn't know" he said, feeling sad as he hugged her.

"How would you have known? It's not as if it's your fault that the company's new recipe file got stolen" she said as she pulled away, wiping the tears off her face.

"I'm sorry" he said, holding her hand as he pulled her for another hug. He hugged tightly, feeling so bad.

"Oh God! What have I done" he thought to himself. He closed his eyes and hugged her tightly, shutting his eyes.

**** **** ****

Maggret stood in front of a tall building. She was staring at it a while wondering if she should go in or not. She decided to walk towards the entrance but was stopped by some heavily built men in black leather jackets with dark shades.

"Who are you here to see?" One of the guards asked with a deep voice.

She scoffed and rolled her eyes. "I'm here to see the godmother," she replied.

They men looked at each other and moved to give way so she could enter the club.

She glared at them as she walked past them.

She walked straight to where she knew her friend would be. She entered a bright room. Her friend was seated behind a table with her back to the door and two men were standing beside her.

She cleared her throat. "Sheryl hi" she said, dropping her purse.

"Hi? That's all I get after 15 years of no contact? Hi?" Sheryl said almost in rage as she turned to face her. She gestured to her guards to exit the room.

She stood up and walked towards her. She stopped in front of her and smiled with her arms open.

"Come here darling," she said.

Maggret hugged her smiling.

"Oh I've missed you my friend" Sheryl said.

"I've missed you too, my friend," Maggret said.

"You look beautiful for a woman with three kids" Sheryl teased looking at her friend with a smile.

"Thank you. You're not looking bad yourself. Always looking young" Maggret flattered her.

"I didn't pay my doctor's to look old now, did I?" Sheryl said smiling

"Definitely not" Maggret agreed

"Come come. Sit" Sheryl said, gesturing to Maggret to sit.

Maggret sat down and she sat next to her. She poured herself a drink and looked at Maggret to know if she wanted one.

"Yes please" Maggret said.

"Hmm look at you Maggie" she teased, smiling. "I thought you no longer drink anymore" she asked.

Maggret scoffed "that's a long story. Besides I'm not with the kids so I need it"

"Oh ok. If you say so" Sheryl said as she poured her a drink. "How are the kids? My goddaughter is in college now right?" She asked.

"They're good. Yeah she's in her second year" Sheryl replied, sipping her drink.

"How's Evelyn and Carlos? They must be all grown up by now?" She asked to take another sip.

"Yes. Evelyn got married last 2 years she and her husband moved across town to open they're restaurant. Carlos is managing the family business" Sheryl said dropping her glass on the table

"I remember sending you an invitation to her wedding but you didn't show up. Words got to me that your husband got the invitation and burned it" Sheryl said crossing her legs as she leaned back on the chair.

"What?" Maggret said in disbelief. "That's not true. Williams will never do a thing like that. He knows I'll love to g…"

"Of course he did. He has always disliked me and the kind of business my family does" Sheryl said, interrupting her.

"I'm so sorry Sheryl. I don't know why Williams would do something like that" she pleaded.

"Well I do. But that's all in the past now. May his soul rest in peace" Sheryl said, making a sign of the cross and kissed her rosary.

"So tell me my friend. What brings you here today" Sheryl asked, taking another sip.

"Didn't you get my message? It's all in there, Sheryl" Maggret said, sighing.

Sheryl looked at her.

"Sheryl come on," Maggret said, but Sheryl didn't say a word.

"This is business Maggret" Sheryl said

"Ok. It's about my company. I need your help to save my company. It's going bankrupt" Maggret said.

Sheryl sighed and leaned forward. "I'm going to help you. But one one condition"

"Sheryl nothing ends well when you say that" Maggret said feeling scared but trying not to show it. "What is that condition?" She asked, lifting the glass to her lips.

"Daphne… marrying Carlos," Sheryl said, looking closely at her.

Maggret spat out her drink, almost choking. She turned and looked at her friend.

"What?" She asked almost in rage and disbelief. "You're joking right? Tell me you're joking?"

Sheryl looked at her without saying a word and shrugged, taking a sip of her drink.

"Why Daphne? Is this some sort of revenge on her father for separating us?" She asked almost in tears.

"Godmother doesn't take revenge. You people are family to me. You know I've always loved Daphne like my own. Even though you forbade me from seeing her because you think I'm dangerous to her" Sheryl said.

"I never said you were a danger to her" Maggret tried to defend back.

"I saw the way your husband looked at me when I first held her," Sheryl said. "But it doesn't matter now"

"I want her to marry my son so we can be family, you won't have to worry about me being a danger to her because she'll be my daughter" she added, leaning back on her chair.

"This is ridiculous Sheryl," Maggret said, shaking her head. "Why are you doing this?" She asked sadly.

"Because I love Daphne and want her to be part of my family…um…think of that as payment for saving your company" Sheryl said, shrugging with her arms open.

"Daphne is still in college and she has a good boyfriend and her life ahead of her" Maggret said.

"My Carlos is a good son too. I promise marrying him won't stop her education" Sheryl said nodding her head.

"What is wrong with you?" Maggret asked is disgust

"Come on Maggie. It's business. Besides, you don't have to pay me back what I'll give you. My lawyers will draft out an agreement between both families. You'll have it delivered to you tomorrow morning" Sheryl said.

Maggret sits quietly, looking at Sheryl. She could feel her heart breaking. The world is turning against her, why did her husband have to die. She felt heartbroken.

She looks around the room, puts her hand on her mouth to her hair. The room was quiet for a while, living her and her thoughts. She looked back at her friend who was drinking her alcohol with a smile.

"Why don't you go home, give it a thought and call me with a good answer? Hm!" Sheryl said smiling.

Maggret finished her drink, she dropped the glass on the table that made a c***k sound, the sound startled Sheryl, without looking at her she picked her purse and headed for the door. She stopped to look at her without saying a word.

She hurriedly turned and left the room. Struggled to get past the people dancing in the club. She wiped a tear from her face as she got into her car and drove off.