(PHOENIX CORP---MONDAY MORNING)
(Phoenix POV)
Today was the day; the day that was going to set everything right in my life. I was ready for anything—to face my fears and conquer it. I looked at my neatly done nails before picking up my phone and calling Liyah into my office. Not long after I hung up, Liyah got in.
“Hey, Liyah,”
“Good morning boss,” Liyah smiled at me.
“Good morning, Liyah. You look stunning today, your man treating you alright?” Liyah blushed at my comment and I couldn’t help but smile at her.
“Yes ma’am, he is,” she smiled brightly.
“That is good to hear. Well, I’d like you to send the invite to ‘Mr. Hugh Hancover’ stating the location which is my own apartment and not Sterling’s apartment. State the time and the kind of outfit too,” I stated.
“Okay, ma’am,”
“Good, thank you. Let me know when you get it done,”
After Liyah left my office, I picked up my phone again and called Don Luca.
(Mr. Mills POV)
In a way, I knew she recognized me or so I thought; I wasn’t sure. The only thing I knew as I awaited to get the mail from her for the dinner was that I wasn’t going to go there unprepared and if something doesn’t happen, at least I will know her house and subsequently, I will do what I have always dreamt of doing to her since she left the house—make her life a living hell.
I checked mail again and there it was; the invitation for the dinner. I glanced through the mail and got the details I needed. I called my assistant so we’d have a solid plan on what to do when we get there. What could those clueless business clients of hers do? And even if they tried to do something, I was going to say that she was my daughter and they had no right to interfere—family matters.
“Russo, how is the plan coming along?” Russo can be a little forgetful and sometimes I wonder why I keep the moron around.
“Everything is ready sir, we just need the address and everything will fall in place when it is time,” Russo said, and I could depict a hint of delay in his voice.
“Okay, I am sending the invite to you now and Russo?”
“Yes sir,”
“Don’t mess this up,”
(Phoenix POV)
“Hey, baby Nyx, how are you?”
“I am doing okay, papa,”
“That is wonderful,”
“Yeah, about today, Papa, how is the preparation going?”
“About that, everything is almost ready but we still have the time to fix that up before the dinner,”
“Okay, let me know if anything comes up, alright?”
“Yah, I will do that. Don’t worry, I got you,”
Immediately after hanging up, I called Sterling to give him the last bit of information before getting things done around my office. I literally forgot that I was supposed to inspect all of the properties owned by PHOENIX CORP. today. I dialed Sterling’s number and he picked on first ring.
“Hey, babe,”
“Hey, how are you?”
“I am good, just stuck with work but I’m okay, what’s up?”
“Yeah, I wanted you to be prepared to call the cops in when I give the signal. I don’t know if you’ll pull some strings but I feel it is better if they police officers come in plain outfits and pretend to be working on the house. That way, when he comes, he won’t suspect a thing, what do you think?”
“I think it is a good idea. I will see what I can do,”
“Okay and please, get back to me when you do,”
“Okay, later,”
After doing what I thought was necessary, i checked my watch and it was about time I left for inspection. I picked up my belongings, went to Liyah’s spot and we both left to get the job done. The money wasn’t going to make itself, was it?
(Author’s POV)
The time for the dinner was drawing near and everyone was getting set to come to Phoenix apartment. The cops were set, Don Luca was set, the rest of the gang was set and immediately it was 4:30pm, they all started trooping into Phoenix villa. Finally, it was 5:00pm and time for the dinner to start.
Phoenix stood up with her champagne glass in left hand and a spoon in the other hand. She looked at everyone and inwardly, she smiled because the band kept the plan in motion by acting their part and they sold it completely with their corporate outfits. She used the spoon to tap lightly on glass, getting their attention.
“Good evening everyone, I want to thank you all for coming to this impromptu meeting but like I said, it is always business before pleasure. You all are my business partners and in one way or the other, you all have patronized my business and for that, I thank you. You all will have the time to get to know each other properly; probably after this meeting but straight to the matters at hand, I was given a secret information that I have been nominated for the female category of the ‘Best Entrepreneur of the year’ award in the upcoming business gala and award night and I called you all here solely for that purpose. I need solicit for your support when the time comes,” Phoenix said, with half a smile and sat down giving room for other guests to say their mind.
“Well, you have my support. If it is true that you have been nominated, then it is only necessary that we show our support. What do you all say?” Olivia said, looking at everyone and they all nodded in agreement.
“Okay, while we are at it, dinner is served. You can dine whilst you converse amongst yourself and get to know each other; if you all will excuse me for a moment. Denzel, a moment please,” Phoenix said, getting up from her seat and putting her arms in between that of Denzel’s and moved him to a vacant room.
“Did you bring it here?”
“Yeah, I did; it was last minute but I managed to work it out,”
“Okay, I’d like for you to set it up here while I go get something from my room,”
“Okay, be quick about it,”
Denzel started setting up the project while Phoenix went upstairs to get the evidence she kept away from the world for years. Hidden in a safe behind a huge portrait on the wall, Phoenix opened the safe and pulled out a disk from it. She picked up her laptop, shook her head and heaved a sigh before leaving the room. On reaching the room that she had just left some seconds ago, Denzel was no longer there but he had set up the projector and the room was very spacious enough to accommodate everyone in it perfectly.
When she saw that everything was good, she went to the dining room and called for them.
“Hello everyone, I beg to crave your indulgence, can you all please come to this room; I have arranged a little entertainment for everyone,” Phoenix said with such grace before turning back and heading to the room.
Everyone trooped into the room with a puzzled look on their faces--- this wasn’t part of the plan. Sterling was no exception. With the seats being occupied, Phoenix excused herself from the room, went to the dining room and took a champagne glass with champagne in it and went back to the room.
“I am sorry for that short delay; let us begin, shall we?”
Phoenix inserted the disk into her laptop, played the video and went back to her spot which was her, leaning on the door with a glass of champagne in her hand.
And the horror began..
The film in the disk stopped playing after what felt like an eternity to everyone. With shaky breathe and legs, Phoenix walked backed to where the laptop was, removed the disk and closed the laptop before turning back to face everyone but there they were, livid!
Phoenix spoke up to get their attention; she couldn’t bear to be in the same room as that man.
“That is the evidence I spoke about. Don Luca, I’d like you to beat up that man and his goons and please, make it quick,” Phoenix said, casting a side glance at Don Luca. Don Luca came out of his daze and immediately did what was asked of him. After the deed was done, he looked at Phoenix but there she was, emotionless—he just couldn’t fathom her at this moment.
Phoenix spoke up again but this time, to Sterling “Let the cops in,” Sterling did as he was told and without wasting much time, the police officers came in and read the rights to Mr. Mills before taking him away and Phoenix didn’t forget to hand over the evidence to them.
After much drama, Phoenix finally looked at everyone in the eyes without a word and what felt like the world had come to an end before saying a word.
“If you all will excuse me,” Phoenix turned back and walked back to her room hurriedly. She looked through what was left of her wardrobe before opting for a loosed grey t-shirt, a blue fitted skinny jeans, a grey sneakers and a sunshade, she changed into her outfit and waltz out of the house before anyone could say a word.
She got into one of her cars which was a G-Wagon and drove off leaving her supposed guest more stunned.
(Sterling’s POV)
Was there a way I could un-see what I just saw? When Phoenix told us that she had evidence, she didn’t tell us what it was but this, this was too gross—I don’t even know the right words to use in describing the act. When she told me about her past, I knew she had gone through the worse kind of pain possible but after seeing the horror, I realized that she went through this despicable act for years before running away to stay with Don Luca. I felt like everything happened in a flash and before everyone could get a hold of themselves, Phoenix was out of the house in fresh clothes. I was afraid that she was going to do something crazy, so the only option I had was to go after her.
“I have to go after her guys,” I told the band before leaving them.
This wasn’t part of the plan, Phoenix.
(Phoenix POV)
After everything happened, I felt like some huge part of me was finally free. I left the house with the aim of celebrating alone and I couldn’t do that with my friends; I still had to give them time to digest the information. I was going to celebrate but where? I didn’t have a place in mine so I opted out for my favorite ice cream spot and got Pecan Butter Ice cream with maple syrup and a cherry on top of it before heading for the amusement park.
On my way to the park, my phone kept ringing and I looked at who it was and it was no one other than Sterling. I picked up the phone after much hesitation and answered the call.
“Yeah,”
“Where are you? You can’t just stomp out of the house without telling anyone where you are going to,” Sterling said, frantically.
“Sterling, I am fine,”
“Then where are you?”
“I will call you back when I’m on my way home,”
I hung up, not giving him the chance to say anything and drove with speed to the amusement park.