Tunde found it difficult to fall asleep the previous night because of what Abby told him she went through four years ago. He couldn't stop thinking about how she broke down and cried bitterly, and it hurts him so much to see her that way.
He wanted to ask her who the bastard that hurt her was but seeing how she broke down while talking about what she experienced in his hands, he had to force her to stop talking, he couldn't let her continue.
As soon as he dropped her off at school he called Josh's phone and it rang for some seconds before he finally picked
[Hey man, I was driving sorry!]
[Need to see you ASAP]
[Oh yeah? I was on my way to your office myself, need to discuss the one thousand buildings housing project with you...but is everything okay?]
[We'll discuss it when you come. I'll be at The Three Kings head office today, so see you there] Tunde said and disconnected the call
"What could be the problem?" Josh wondered aloud. He noticed that Tunde's tone of voice was cold and clipped which got him worried. Even though Tunde comes off as cold and aloof, he had never taken that tone of voice with Josh.
"Is Abby okay?..." He asked himself before he quickly dialed Abby's phone number to see if she was okay.
[Big bro]
[Hey sweet, you in school already?]
[Yeah]
[How are you?...]
[I'm fine]
[...and him?]
[He's fine too...we are good now. We talked about everything and we are good. Ohh, Josh, I'm so happy right now my heart can't contain it. I think I'm in love]
[You think...?] He asked and laughed
[Okay, I-am-in-love!] She drawled out with admission and laughed too
[Sure you are...glad you're happy kid]
[Thank you! So uhmm...I won't be coming home again tonight...is that okay?] She asked sheepishly
[Did you inform them?]
[Not yet. Don't know what excuse to give this time]
[Just tell them you'll be staying over at the hostel more often now that you're in your final semester and school work is more intense than ever. You get?]
[yeah, why didn't I think of that before? Thanks, big bro.]
[Aiit Sweet]
[I want to introduce him to you when is the best time for you to meet him?]
[Uhmm about that, we...]
[Josh let's talk later, please. Class is about to start, the lecturer is here. Love you bye] she hurriedly said cutting her brother off when the lecturer taking that morning lecture walked in
***
The Three Kings head office was a majestic highrise building of fifteen floors, located in the high-end commercial area of Victoria Island. Josh drove into the underground parking lot and parked his car.
He walked inside the building and gave his visitor's pass and id card to the security personnel at the lobby for verification. After the security check, he was walking towards the elevator when it opened to let Ibrahim and Shegz out.
"Good morning guys...he greeted the two of them together, however it was only Ibrahim that responded to his greeting
"Morning Mr. Benson"
"Has Hawk arrived yet?"
"The Chairman is not here yet but the other two birds are in the conference room" Ibrahim answered while Shegzs just stood aside, kept mum, and looking mean as usual.
"The other two birds?" he asked with a raised eyebrow "...are you by any chance referring to the twins?"
"Yes. They are birds too you know" he said with a chuckle
"I like your sense of humor man..." Josh laughed while patting Ibrahim's arm "...but why do I have a feeling that you don't like me?" He cocked his head aside and look up at the humorless face of the mountainous Shegz.
Without answering, Shegz turned and walked out of the lobby. Josh turned back to Ibrahim with a question look on his face like he was asking 'why doesn't he like me?'
"Don't take it personal, he's like that with everybody, except Hawk of course...excuse me" Ibrahim said and went after Shegz. Except for Hawk and Abby, he would have said if he had known Shegz regarded Abby as an exception to his cold treatment.
***
Shegz and Ibrahim were already waiting for their boss by the time he drove into the underground parking lot. Shegz immediately opened the door for him as soon as the car was parked
"Morning boss"
"Good morning boss"
The assistant and bodyguard both said to their boss at once
"Morning guys" he answered and walked towards his private elevator, flanked on both sides by his two most trusted men
"Uhmm...boss you have a little something on your cheek right here..." Ibrahim said showing Tunde where the kiss mark was located by pointing to the same place on his own cheek.
"Has Aaliyah arrived yet? he asked instead, ignoring what Ibrahim was pointing to
"Yes, boss. She's currently setting up in the conference room with the help of some staff. Your brother-in-law is here too."
"What about Mide?"
"He has arrived sir...he came together with The Owl"
"What's he doing here on a Monday morning?"
"Don't know sir"
They entered the elevator and Ibrahim pressed the button for the fourteenth floor where the conference room was located. The elevator stopped and they walked down to the conference room.
"Morning guys" Tunde greeted as soon as he entered the conference room, then he pulled out a chair and sat down.
"Give us the room," he said to all the staff who were busy helping Aaliyah and they all hurried out
"Sit your ass down fool, where do you think you're going?" he asked wonderingly towards Ibrahim who was about living with the people that just left.
Ibrahim was his second in command in the sword tactical commando team since when the team was created up till two years ago when he was forced to retire from active duty because of a fatal bullet wound that nearly took his life.
A year after his injury, Tunde made him his assistant, the position which he wouldn't have gotten in the first place if he couldn't be trusted. Tunde wouldn't even keep anyone around him that has not been fully investigated and verified.
"There's a kiss mark on your face, didn't you know?" Josh was the first to noticed the kiss mark and commented wondering why the two people following him didn't inform him before he entered the office building.
"Didn't you guys noticed it too?" He spoke his thoughts out while facing Ibrahim
"I know...that's your sister marking her territory," he said, his otherwise cold eyes softened with a hint of a smile on his face
"Wait...you knew it was there all along and yet you waltzed around with it displayed on your face...not minding what people would say?" Mide asked incredulously, he could no longer fathom the fact that this particular lion had been tamed into a meek cat.
"What people? People that work for me or people that needed my services? Since when did I ever give a damn about people's opinion?"