LUSTING TO HAVE HER WAY

WHATEVER MEANS NECESSARY

CHAPTER 8

Angela walked outside to confront Bismarck.

Angela's voice was sharp.

"Why are you trying to destroy my marriage?"

Bismarck looked at her calmly.

"I don't understand."

"Oh, you do."

She stepped closer.

"You refused my offer, yet you're still here waiting for James. Do you expect me to believe you're planning to say good things about me?"

Bismarck remained composed.

"Please give me some space. I'm not here because of you. I'm here because I work for my boss, Mr James Odogwu."

Angela's eyes hardened.

"You know the man you call your boss is my fiancé."

"That's your concern," Bismarck replied evenly. "My concern is doing my job. No one but God will stop me from working for Mr James Odogwu."

"That's why you're making me uncomfortable in my own home. You know things that could destroy my marriage."

"And I won't let that happen."

For several seconds, Angela simply stared at him.

Bismarck did not look away.

That calmness unsettled her more than anger would have.

She had expected fear.

She had expected hesitation.

Perhaps even another request for mercy.

Instead, the young man stood before her as though her threats meant nothing.

"Do you know what happens to people who stand in the way of powerful people?"

Bismarck's expression remained unchanged.

"I don't concern myself with power. I concern myself with what is right."

Angela gave a humourless laugh.

"You're very confident for someone who has only just started working here."

"I don't need to be here for years to know what I believe."

"You have been warned."

Bismarck nodded once.

"I heard you."

"Good."

Angela held his gaze for another moment.

"Then don't say I didn't warn you."

Without another word, she stormed away.

After Angela disappeared into the house, the housemaid, Joyce, walked over to Bismarck.

Lowering her voice, she said,

"Your food is ready. Please come to the kitchen quickly."

Bismarck followed her.

The aroma of freshly prepared food filled the kitchen.

As he ate, he smiled.

"Joyce, this is excellent."

She smiled back.

"Thank you."

She hesitated before speaking again.

"Angela instructed me not to serve you any food."

Bismarck paused.

"I know"

Joyce looked at him curiously.

"What exactly is going on between you and Miss Angela?"

Bismarck smiled faintly.

"We'll talk about it another time."

Joyce studied his face for a moment.

She could tell he was deliberately avoiding the subject.

There was something unusual about the tension between him and Angela, but she sensed that he was not ready to discuss it.

"Alright," she said quietly.

Bismarck nodded and continued eating.

For the first time since arriving at the house, he allowed himself to relax.

The meal was simple, but the kindness behind it meant more to him than Joyce probably realized.

Joyce quietly placed a glass of water beside his plate.

"You look tired," she said.

Bismarck glanced up at her.

"It's been a long day."

"Because of Miss Angela?"

He gave a small smile.

"Partly."

Joyce looked at him for another moment.

"Whatever it is, don't let it break you."

There was something gentle in her voice that made Bismarck pause.

He had been surrounded by suspicion and hostility since arriving at the house. Joyce was the first person who had spoken to him without wanting anything in return.

"Thank you," he said softly.

He lowered his eyes to his plate, but the faint smile remained on his face.

For a few minutes, neither of them mentioned Angela again.

Bismarck simply ate in silence, grateful for the opportunity to sit somewhere without feeling watched or questioned.

Joyce continued with her work, occasionally glancing in his direction.

Whatever trouble had followed him into the house, she could see that he was doing his best not to let it overwhelm him.

Outside the kitchen, however, Angela was still thinking about him.

The more she tried to understand why he remained so determined, the more frustrated she became.

She had dealt with people who could be persuaded with money.

She had dealt with people who could be intimidated.

Bismarck appeared to belong to neither group.

That realization frightened her.

Moments later, Angela's voice echoed from outside as she walked towards the kitchen.

"Joyce!"

"I'm sure you're done in here. Lock the kitchen and give me the key."

She stopped abruptly.

Bismarck was calmly finishing his meal.

Her eyes blazed.

"What are you doing in my kitchen?"

Bismarck continued eating without looking up.

Angela turned to Joyce.

"And you... get out. I want to lock the kitchen."

Joyce straightened.

"No, Angela."

Her voice was firm.

"This is my workplace. It's like my office."

Angela laughed scornfully.

"Your workplace? Your office? If you're looking for an office, go and become an office cleaner."

Joyce swallowed her anger.

"I won't respond to that because you're my boss's fiancée."

Angela cut her off immediately.

"My boss's wife. Get corrected!"

She lifted her chin proudly.

"Our wedding is only days away. Don't call me a fiancée again."

Joyce said nothing.

She simply returned to her work.

Angela stormed out.

Joyce and Bismarck exchanged a silent glance.

Neither said a word.

Back in the sitting room, Donald looked up as Angela entered.

"What happened?"

"You know exactly what's happening," Angela snapped.

Bismarck entered the sitting room.

He looked from one face to the other.

"Is everything alright?"

Donald smiled.

"Everything is fine. Angela is just upset."

Bismarck nodded.

"Shalom."

He walked away.

Silence settled over the room.

She walked away.

Donald watched her disappear down the hallway.

For a moment, he remained where he was, staring after her.

gone.

Donald rubbed his forehead.

"This is getting out of hand," he muttered.

He glanced towards the hallway where Bismarck had disappeared.

The young man's arrival had seemed harmless at first.

Now, barely a day later, his presence had become a threat capable of exposing secrets that could destroy more than one person's future.

Time was slipping away.

Gentle persuasion had failed.

Angela finally reached a decision.

If there was going to be a wedding on October 21, Bismarck would have to be silenced—

by whatever means necessary.