
Meg POV
"Meg?"
The sound of my name being called jotted me out of my dazed stupor. I had planned everything to the later, but Amy hadn't been part of the plan. I thought after our episode in Abuja, I wouldn't have to face her for a long time. So what the fuck was she doing here? Had she followed me to Lagos to distort my plan? Had she been on to me all this time?
"Do you know her?" I heard Mrs Bola ask, as she stared between me and Amy.
"This was what I've been trying to tell you, mother," Charles started, "Meg is--"
"The question wasn't for you Charles." Mrs Bola interrupted, "It's for your sister, " She finished, with her eyes boring into Charles with an emotion I couldn't fathom.
"My sister?" Charles barked in disbelief. "What the fuck mother?"
"That's what I was trying to tell you when you rudely interrupted. Amy here is your sister. I am sorry Charles, I had wanted to tell you a long time ago, but your father--"
"Oh please, don't pull that emotional crap on me mother." He barked, "How hard was it for you to blurt, you have a sister Charles, just like everyone other crap you've ever spilt. How?"
"Charles, calm down, " Amy chipped in, "I'm just getting to know you too. I've always wanted a complete family. My father told me my mother had died at childbirth and--"
"Oh fuck no. So you are my half-sister? That is why you have that tattoo on your wrist. Our father's insignia." Turning to his mother he said, " You lying whore."
"Language Charles!" Eric harshly whispered, finally stepping in to cool things down.
"Really? Is that what this means?" Amy asked Mrs Bola. Disbelief plastered on her face. When Bola didn't answer, she continued, "But how can I have his insignia when I'm not his daughter? What the fuck is going on Bola?
"It's for your protection-" Mrs Bola started but Charles cut her off. "Her protection? From what exactly Bola?"
"I can't take this right now," Meg said and tried to move away but Charles caught up with her.
As I watched everything spiral out of control, I took a few steps back. Everyone was so hot and bothered by each other that they had forgotten about me, and I was very grateful to be out of the spotlight. Things were now very complicated. If Amy was a Harrell, then my plans just automatically went to hell.
I took a glance at Mrs Bola and caught her staring at me with curiosity. I sent her a nervous smile, trying to hide the heavy beat of my heart as it pounded within my chest. She took a step towards me and I involuntarily took a step back.
"Calm down my dear," she whispered lowly as she reached me and grabbed my hands. "What do you say? Should we get away from here so we can talk? I'm so sorry about my family drama. Can I make it up to you?"
I could do nothing but nod my head nervously as she said, "Follow me." I didn't have a choice anyway because as she slipped away, the hands that were holding me pulled me along with her. She kept an iron grip on my hands as we went through the sea of bodies, politely smiling at a guess as we did.
She got to an area that was labelled restricted and spoke quietly to the bouncer that was blocking the entrance. He let us through the curtains and we were met with a beautiful corridor with endless rooms on each side. She opened one of the rooms and dragged me inside, shutting the door behind her.
The room was dark as we got in, but it was only for a moment because we were suddenly flooded with light as Mrs bola located the switch. As my eyes adjusted to the light, I realized we were in a master bedroom. It had a large bed which looked freshly made, some couches, a fridge and a bar to the side. I didn't know something like this could be found in a public place. Except it wasn't public at all.
Mrs Bola went to one of the soft-looking couches and sat down, then gestured for me to do the same opposite her. I nervously nodded as I made my way to the love shaped couch opposite hers.
"Would you care for a drink?" She asked as she gestured towards the well-stocked bar to her left.
"Yes, I wouldn't mind, " I cloaked. I sounded surprisingly durable when in truth I felt like a deer caught in a headlight.
"Okay then, " she said as she stood up to go fix us our drink. Within minutes she was back with a glass of scotch for me and a wine for herself.
"I figured you'd need something stronger after the scenario you just witnessed."
"It's fine Ma," I muttered with a smile. "Good." She concluded, pleased at my choice of answer. Just as I placed the glass of Scotch to my lips and took a sip, she spoke.
"So, tell me, Meg. What's your real name?"
I began to cough hysterically, almost choking on the few sips of scotch I had gulped.
"Careful darling, I don't want you dying on my watch."
I dropped the glass on a side stool I hadn't noticed was there before, then raised my eyes to hers.
"As I said before ma'am, my name is Meg--"
"Yes, yes, yes, I'm sure Meg is the only real thing you said tonight. So, now tell me, what's your mission in my family? Who sent you?"
I stared at her in shock. She had made me the moment I had opened my mouth to speak earlier. This woman was more dangerous than I thought. I began to think about my next choice of words. What exactly should I do right now? Should I fabricate another lie or just tell her the truth. She had already made me. The only thing that could save my ass now was the truth.
I sat up straighter and told her everything from my meeting with Charles to the way he had treated me to my plans and how I got here. I told her every fucking thing. When I was done, Mrs bola just stared at me like she was just seeing me for the first time. There was no anger in her eyes, she almost looked impressed even.
After a few minutes of awkward silence, she began, "Wow Meg, that was one hell of a tale."
I bowed my head in shame.
"Please ma, don't send me to jail." I pleaded desperately. With the amount of money she had, there was nothing this woman couldn't do to me.
"Prison? Oh no, Meg. On the contrary, I have a proposition for you."
I stared at her then. "A proposition?" I asked suspiciously. Who knew if she was trying to set me up.
"Yes dear, a preposition. I want you to marry Charles and force him to take over his father's company."
"What?" I spurted, surging out of my sit as I stood to my feet.
"What's the matter, dear? Wasn't that your plan anyway?"
It wasn't that I was shocked at the plan. I was shocked that she could give me such a preposition. Never had I ever imagined my day to turn out like this.
"No ma, it's not that, why would you want to force your son into a company he doesn't want?" I asked curiously as I paced in front of her.
"Weren't you planning to force him into a marriage, using me?" She asked, eyebrows raised.
I bowed in shame. I wasn't one to talk in this matter, because I wasn't any better.
"This is preposterous!" I wailed, "He already knows who I am! How am I supposed to convince him now?"
"How were you planning on doing it before?" She asked calmly.
"Well, I was going to convince you of who I was and hope you'd convince him too," I said, as I settled back on the couch.
"Well, we'll do the same. But this time, the story will be that you wanted to experience how it felt to be a normal girl after you got back from the states, so you choose to act like a maid. Don't worry, I'll make sure to convince Amy too." She said, taking a sip of her wine. How could this woman be so calm?
"Wow!" I mumbled, "You have this all figured out."
She chuckled.
"Know this, I'm always a step ahead. Always."
"So, what's in it for me when I'm done marrying your son and convincing him to take up the mantle of running your husband's company?"
"What were you expecting from a marriage with my son?" She asked as she stood up to go fix herself another drink.
"A part of his inheritance of course."
She busted into a fit of laughter.
"Oh Megan, ever the ambitious. One million dollars. No more, no less."
It was my turn to laugh. " You can't be serious right?" I began, "You can't expect me to--"
"It's either that or a lifetime in prison. It's your choice, but I'll advise you to choose wisely." She finished with a smirk, then walked toward the couch and took a sit again.
"You in?" She asked as she stared at me with her piercing green eyes, which looked more like contacts than the real deal.
In this matter, a million-dollar was a good deal. It was going to set me up for life. And truthfully, if I could get Charles to trust me, then all I had to do was double-cross this bitch.
I smiled.
"Yes. It's a deal."
"Good." Drowning the rest of her wine in one gulp, she stood up and made her way to the door. As she took hold of the handle she turned to me.
"On the counter, there is a card. Store the number and wait for me to contact you."
"How will you contact--" I began.
"Don't worry Meg, I know everything." With that said, she went out of the room and shut the door.
I slumped into the couch with a heavy sigh, glad to be done with this intense encounter.
What the fuck had I gotten myself into?