We lost
1826 Words
“s**t!” Dotun cursed as he walked into the room angrily with his wife following behind him.
“Calm down, babe,” she said after him as she walked into the dim room.
She could see him standing before the window with his hand placed on his forehead dejectedly.
“What do you have to say any longer? Uh? It’s over!” He slammed, turning to face her.
“Keep calm, Dotun. We need to think. I never saw this coming though,” she said as she stood behind him.
“Oh, of course I did see this coming! I warned you about it, didn’t I?!” He barked.
“I..I’m still stupefied. How did she get pregnant?” She asked to no one in particular.
“Ask her husband. Ask Daren!” He fired and she sighed and looked away from his face.
“No, Melisa couldn’t have gotten pregnant so easily, no,” she argued, shaking her head.
He kept silent as he watched her speak and he heaved a sigh and turned away from her.
“It was way too fast, Dotun. Can’t you perceive the fishy smell?” She asked as she walked to his front.
“What are you insinuating?” He asked in a calm voice.
“I’m saying that something is fishy about that pregnancy,” she said.
“Like? It’s a fake pregnancy or what?” He asked.
“Leave that to me. But for now, we need to act,” she said and let out an exhale.
“Act? How?” He asked and she kept silent.
“I thought you had a plan B?” He asked as he looked at her face.
She licked her lips and turned with her back facing him.
“Melisa is not having that baby,” she said.
Silence fell in and his eyes bulged as he stared at her back.
“What..what are you planning to do?” He asked in dismay.
“Leave that to me,” she said.
Just then, a knock came on the door.
She hurried over to the door and saw Charles standing in front of the room.
“Father,” she called with a forced smile on her face.
“Where is Dotun?” He asked without a smile.
He appeared on the door and he stood behind his wife as he stared at his father.
“I want to have a word with you,” Charles said.
He sighed and looked at Diana who was standing between them. She walked away immediately and he shut the door and moved out of the room.
“What is it you have to say?” He asked grumpily with his arms akimbo.
“What sort of crook plans did you come up with against your brother?” Charles asked seriously.
He kept silent and licked his lips as his hands lowered to his pockets.
“Father, what plans are you talking about?” He asked as he looked away from him.
“The plan to take over the company from Daren. How dare you come up with such a thing?” He asked angrily.
“Are you here to attack me or what?” He asked in a rather high tone.
“Answer my question!” He barked in his face.
Dotun scoffed and shook his head.
“Father, I will advise you to channel this same energy to my mother and grandmother whom you’re subject to,” he said angrily.
Charles kept silent and shook his head with his gaze lowering to the floor.
“Refrain Dotun, refrain from this path you’re threading before it consumes you,” he warned and walked away.
*
Charles knocked on the door and waited for a few seconds before the door was opened. Daren appeared on the door, wearing white satin pajamas and cotton slippers. He pulled a surprised face as he saw his father and Charles smiled wryly.
“Father, you’re not asleep yet?” He asked as he yawned.
“No, Um, where is Melisa?” He asked.
“She’s asleep already. Any problem?” He asked.
“Um, not really. I just wanted to have a word with you,” he said.
Daren nodded and shut the door slowly.
“Can we go to the balcony, please?” Charles asked.
“Ok, dad,” he replied and they both walked to the balcony.
They stood in the dim balcony staring through space as the cool breeze swept across their faces.
“I’m really happy for you, Daren. Congrats once again,” he said with a smile.
“Thank you, father,” he said with a nod.
“Concerning what your grandma said earlier, about Dotun’s plan for the company. I never knew about that,” he said.
“Same here, dad. But I suspected it, though. That boy has always been known for nefarious activities and he has grown worse with Diana around him,” he said and Charles chuckled.
“Diana seems cool to me,” he said and Daren scoffed.
“Only on the outside. She’s a viper and she has always been jealous of my wife, Melisa,” he said.
“I don’t want you to ruin your relationship with your brother. But I want to advise you to be careful. You and Melisa, especially now that she is pregnant,” he said as he placed one hand on his shoulder.
“Father, that’s why we made plans earlier. I’m flying her out of the country. She will deliver the baby in Cape town,” he revealed.
Silence fell in and Charles nodded as he looked at his son.
“That’s a nice arrangement. When will she be flying out?” He asked.
“In two days time. I will let mother know about it and I want it to be a secret between us,” he said and Charles nodded.
“Nice Idea, son,” he commended as he patted his shoulder and he smiled broadly.
**
The cool morning breeze blew across their faces as they walked towards the private Jet in the hangar.
“Lisa, be safe out there, okay?” Charles said with a smile as they stopped in front of the jet.
“Thanks father,” she said with a smile as he patted her shoulder.
She looked behind him and she could see Elsa’s face staring at her without a smile.
“Mother,” she called as she walked closer to her with Daren following behind her.
“I would have preferred you stay back so we could give you proper care, '' Elsa said seriously as Melisa stood before her.
“No, mother, she will be fine over there. She will keep in touch. Right, honey?” Daren asked as he looked at Melisa who nodded with a smile.
“So kids, run along and have a safe journey,” Charles said as he hugged them both.
“Daren, don’t fail to return as soon as possible. You shouldn’t leave the business unattended to,” Elsa cautioned and he smiled and nodded as he walked over to the jet with his wife.
“Do you like this idea of theirs?” Elsa asked as she turned to her husband who was standing beside her, waving at the couple who were stepping into the jet.
“Why not? It’s for the best,” Charles said with a smile.
“Hmm,” she murmured and his smile broadened as he looked at her face.
*
Melisa heaved a sigh as they moved into the luxury cabin while the jet took off. She sat on the cozy chair and Daren brought wine before her.
“Cheers to success,” he said as he raised his glass high.
She sipped from her glass and smiled while looking at his face.
“You know, before they could think of making other plans against me, I will be in Cape town waiting for the arrival of my baby,” she said as she rubbed her tummy.
“Yes, love. I can imagine the look on their faces when they hear the news of your flight,” he said and they both laughed hysterically.
**
Dotun stepped down the stairs slowly with his wife following behind him. They could see the old woman downstairs, making a phone call with her face beaming with a smile.
As they walked closer to her, they could see the phone dropping from her ear and she turned her attention to them.
“Good..good morning, grandmother,” he greeted as he prostrated before the old woman and Diana knelt in front of her.
“Oh, Dotun and Diana,” Selina called with a smile as she looked at their faces.
“Um..the whole house seems empty, and we are already here for breakfast,” he said as he looked around the house.
“Oh, your mother and father accompanied Melisa and Daren to her flight. She will be flying out of the country today,” she spilled.
Silence fell in and they both took a quick glance at each other.
“I..I don’t get it. Melisa is flying out of the country? Why?” Diana asked in devastation.
“Well, she will be giving birth abroad,” the old lady said as she crossed her legs stylishly on the sofa.
“Wow, just wow! And I wasn't informed?!” Dotun barked.
“It just happened, unexpectedly,” Selina said with a smile as she sipped her tea.
“Unexpectedly?! Really? So everyone is keeping me in the dark now!” He yelled as he chuckled and shook his head angrily
“Dotun, why are you making a fuss out of nothing?” Selina asked in surprise.
“Oh, mother..um..it’s fine. He’s..he’s just.. Not okay,” Diana mumbled as she grabbed hold of his hand and pushed him towards the stairs.
He shoved her hand away as they got to the passage and he began to pace around with both hands on his waist.
“Dotun, keep calm,” she urged.
“Shut up!” He slammed and she sighed and looked away.
“We lost!” He yelled.
“No, we haven't,” she said as she shook her head.
“We did! Or, what are you going to do? Track her down to her location and carry out your plans on her? No, that’s absurd. Even if we hurt Melisa right now, Daren will still have company!” he pointed out and she kept silent and heaved a sigh.
“So, accept the fact that we’ve been defeated,” he pointed at her face and walked out angrily.
She licked her lips and ran her hand into her hair.
“ I can’t accept defeat so easily. We’ve not lost. Like the b***h said earlier, the end is what counts,” she said menacingly as she twisted her neck side to side and walked away.
- Writer
