Chapter 2 The Evil
2000 Words
“Good morning, my esteemed members. It's been a while now, the founder, the CEO have been ill from an unverified disease! Before we proceed to the agenda we have this morning, it's no longer news that he has appointed me as the new CEO to manage the affairs of the company,” proud was written over him as he explained.
Others echoed, “yes” but Sonia was mute.
The company has gone bankrupt and investors are leaving, “what do we do for the productivity of the company?” the chairman asked.
“I will suggest we partner with another company with the same vision and mission.” Sonia said.
“Partnership is okay, it will help bring a new Innovation and credible relationship with the company.” First stakeholder said.
“Uh, I actually wanted you to bring your ideas and hear what you have to say about it. As a man who has the growth of the company at heart. There's an investor who has the capacity and the ability to uplift this company from its dying state, he is willing to offer a huge amount of money to the company.” Leo continued.
“Yes that's a good idea, Sir” - 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th Stakeholders echoed.
“You can't do that, Leo! Not on my watch!” Sonia made a loud noise by pushing her chair out. She left the meeting with rage! Her secretary followed suit immediately.
“Hey, Sonia , where are you going, the meeting is not over yet,” he chuckled.
The arena was quiet. They've all left the meeting although the CEO and other stakeholders continued on their next plan.
“Yeah, about what happened earlier today, don't take it into heart. He doesn't actually know what he was saying. I think he's up to something, but it won't work” Bethel said as he consoled his sister.
“Yes, he is planning to get back to me. He doesn't want me to occupy the rightful position that belongs to me. And that, I won't allow.”
“I'm ready to do anything to make sure he doesn't stay more than next year.” she continued.
“Yes, I'm here with you. Do you mind going for a walk?”
Sonia 's phone chimed.
“Hello, Sonia it's me Aria, I'm at your gate, and the gatekeeper doesn't want to let me in.” Aria proclaimed.
“Give me a few minutes, let me talk to him.” She politely stated.
“Okay, ma'am, I would do as you said.” The gatekeeper did as instructed.
Sonia stepped out with her brother to welcome her best friend. Sighting her got her jaw set, a smile wrecked her face.
“Here's my baby …. Come in, come in. You're not looking bad, Aria”
“See who is talking as if you don't look astonished.” Aria replied.
“Meet my lovely brother, Bethel. Bethel met my bestie, Aria." A brief introduction by Sonia .
Aria shook hands with Bethel and it took them about two minutes before they could move their hands apart.
“So, Aria, when did you arrive in New York?” Sonia continued.
She refused to let her know since she has been going through alot, she felt not to bother her with her coming but chose to surprise her.
Bethel served them the available juice in the freezer trying to be an errand boy.
“So, how did the trip go?” Sonia continued
“Anyways, it was cool. I'm happy to see you again after a very long time in school. Anyways thank God for technology.” Aria replied.
Sonia and Aria were the best friends in their entire school. Their friendship was a talk-show in the school. The relationship was firm to the extent they call them birds of the same feather.
“Yeah, less I forget, how about your dad and your step mother. How are they fairing? Aria continued.
Her face turned red. She didn't say a word to her.
“Why the face? What have they done? Aria was curious.
Sonia 's face was pale, “How can you be asking me about that woman? For your information, she is not my step mother.”
“Why are you sounding this way, Sonia ?” Aria's eyes were fixed on her.
“I will see you guys later,” Bethel left without finishing his conversation with his sister.
“Do you know that my father chose his secretary over me. He chose him to occupy the CEO position, the CEO position I told you about.”
She continued, “What kind of father does that to his own daughter? See, Aria, I don't want to talk about it.”
“Calm down.” She sat by her side and offered her a comfort touch. “So what did your step mother do about it?”
“What else, to support him of course. I hate them, even that illegitimate descendent secretary.”
Aria tried to calm her anger to the minimal level but she hastily rushed out. “Where are you going?”
“You i***t, how could you? You lied to me. Go inside and get me the papers. We are done.” Sonia said.
“What?! Why?” Justice held her hand but Sonia pushed it out.
She slams the door as she leaves the house.
“Do you know that fool has a girlfriend? Hate seethed like a poison piercing all over her body.
“Calm down, Sonia . Who told you that? How did you know?” Aria asked.
“A… are you calling me a liar or what?”
No. No, not at all. Trying to make sure you have not been tricked. “Is your cousin brother aware of this?”
“It's all his fault.” He added pepper to the injury she had. She could have searched for a handsome billionaire who has no girlfriend herself.
“Don't say that.” Aria had to leave to work, she was already late “be ok” she left.
“What are you doing here? How could you, Bethel? Leave my house.”
He rushed in immediately when he received the call from Aria, she was sounding pathetic, “Sonia needs you now.”
“Hey chill. What's wrong with you?”
“It's all your fault.” Sonia said
“My fault?” Bethel was confused, “what do you mean?”
“Ain't you aware that your friend, the so-called billionaire, has a fiance who is studying outside the country. Why am I telling you this, it's your friend you should know better.” Hate seethed like a poison.
He was dumb at this moment, he didn't know what to say, nervous as a cat on what she was saying. He looked confused, “Do you mean Justice has a fiance, I knew about it and I didn't tell you, is that what you're insinuating?”
A new dawn, on her way to work some masculine men crossed her path and beat her up, they didn't stop there but took her along with them. She was unconscious. She realised herself upon getting to the kidnapper's destination.
Her feet clenched; her lips pursed, a knot in her stomach, her hands, and feet were fidgeting. “Um… Ah… w…who are you people? Please, I want to go home.”
“Short up!” said Kidnapper 1. He commanded her not to say any f*****g word unless she would receive a beating of her life. She had no choice but to adhere to their instructions by holding her lips.
Sonia 's phone chimed, it was Leo, her rival.
She never picked his call ever but this time she needs all the help she could get to leave that fierce place.
“Hello, I… I … I need help, please” She stuttered.
“Where are you?” Leo asked. Before she could reply, one of the kidnappers had snatched the phone from her ear.
“Give me back my phone. My phone, please.” Her eyes brimming with tears and her voice fading away.
“Who's on the phone?”
“This is Leo” The kidnapper stepped out from Sonia .
“Hold her till I inform you to let her go. Sonia continued, "Return the phone to her.”
“Sonia , I will get you out of there, just do whatever thing they ask of you, okay? He said.
Okay!
“Where did you keep my sister, Justice? Do you think with the billions of money you have, you can do anyhow you want, uh?”
“What's happening here, I don't understand you. Hey, bro, calm the nerves. What are you saying, I don't know anything about your sister. You know me, nothing about me I don't tell you or you don't know.”
“Come on, What happened to your sister?”
“….We don't know where she is. We have been calling her phone number but no response.
“Have you reported it to the police?” He asked though to proffer solutions.
“We haven't done that yet. Aria and I have been searching for her. We kept it secret so that it wouldn't get to her father's ear.”
“Why keep such a thing a secret?”
“Because of his father's health.”
Unfortunately for them, he has been told by Lucia, Sonia 's stepmom.
“Dad? How is your health?” There was silence, she looked at Lucia. “What happened, why didn't he say anything?”
“Stop pretending, haven't you heard, Sonia has been kidnapped.”
She held her mouth in shock, how could they have known, she thought.
Bethel's phone ping, immediately he stepped his foot in the room where Sonia 's father was lying.
“Who could be hiding his/her number, calling me at this time of the day.” He was not familiar with the number ‘cause it's private.
Lucia echoed, “pick the call”
“Yes, pick the call, it might be the kidnappers,” Aria concurred.
Hello?
A deep voice from the other end replied, “give the phone to Phil,” Sonia 's father. He didn't instead he clicked on speaker
“Okay, he's listening,” he said.
Phil, you're a wicked man. You have such Money and you can't recruit youth in our State.
“We have something valuable to you…”
“Please, how much do you want? Mention it.” Phil didn't hesitate.
“You think everything is money right? We are not ready for your money, you need it the most.”
At this moment police arrive at the man's house, listening to the voice recording and making some investigations.
“So what do you people want?" he asked intensely.
“Now you are talking, we want 30% of your company shares duly signed and stamped by our name.”
“Ok. I will call back later. Please don't hurt my daughter.” His heart raced.
“Oh, yeah we won't if you oblige to our terms.” They said
They prepare the documents and some amount of money to deliver to the address they mentioned. Perhaps the police officer's hands are on deck, working tirelessly.
“Leo? Go with the other five staff with the police officers to deliver the documents and the briefcase,” Phil said.
By texting, Leo secretly informs the kidnappers the confidential information which had been disseminated to him.
After the exchange for the daughter and the briefcase, the police opened fire, gunshot all over. They were able to secure Phil's daughter safely but Leo didn't return with them.
Lucia phone chimed, Mum, I will be back tomorrow evening, Leo texted.
“Welcome my daughter,” they were lovely and hugged. “Hope they did not hit you that bad?”
She nodded.
- Writer
