Chapter 4
2233 Words
For a minute Martha felt like bursting into laughter. She was not sure if anyone else would have understood her take on the Ben and Lincoln rivalry. It was childish from her point of view. And the toddler in that rivalry was her husband Lincoln and also the biggest loser.
There it was, a chance to get even with Ben. Once in a lifetime opportunity. But she was going to decline it. As much as she would have wanted some retribution against him it was now worth it. As matter of fact if there was a war, scramble and partition for fort Canon she would have lined up with Ben. Not because he would have had a lion’s share but because she would have had a guarantee of safety. What’s money without the power to protect it and use it freely?
"I didn't get you right, Alfred tell me he didn't just ask me to help you go against Ben Richards, the immortal Ben Richards?"
"He did... Mum" Alfred said clearing his throat.
"I thought if it were not for me being in the team you should be captain, Ben took a lot from you"
"Team? So there are more of you imbeciles lining up... Sorry to use that language but you can't go against him. He is fort Canon and fort Canon is him you can't do anything big in fort Canon without involving Ben fuckin Richards!"
She continued to surprise Boaz. He had this weird imagination that she would jump on the deal like fire on petrol. But instead she was disrespecting him. No woman had ever said no to him. Well apart from Alicia Richards but that was not the point. Women bowed to him. He couldn't take much disrespect so he made his pitch short.
"Very powerful men who will help us take all that power away from him look am not saying you should give me an answer right now think of it. Take your time to think about it. Call me if you make up your mind" He said getting up.
"I will put it in consideration but I can't make any promises goodnight"
"Goodnight Mrs. Price"
When Alfred escorted Boaz out of the building she just started laughing to herself. She took her phone and dialed Alicia. They had not talked for long but she wanted to try and reach out. The best way was to use the woman. Only a woman like her would understand.
"You have reached Alicia Richards secretary how can I help you?"
"Leila? Am Martha price..."
"Ooh Mrs. Price Alicia is here sorry the phone is a little faulty I didn't see the name" she apologized.
Even the treatment from Leila melted her heart. She still treated her with respect. But wasn’t she obliged to do that?
"Girl am so mad at you" Alicia said.
"Sorry I didn't come for the wedding you know am still..."
"That's on them, we are still friends even Ben doesn't hate you unless you do"
"No, I have nothing against Ben. I called to make plans for lunch tomorrow if possible?"
"You are the busy bee am free"
"Okay, hotel East port at a half past noon" Martha said.
"It's a date goodnight"
"Goodnight"
When she hang up Martha took a sigh of relief. If indeed they had no bad blood with her then she had a chance to correct Lincoln’s and Melissa's mistake and it is was official. She was on Ben Richards’s side. The question was, for how long?
********
"I like the woman her husband and daughter that infuriate me anyway what did she say?" Ben asked dressing up.
Alicia walked to him, helped him with the buttons of his shirt and kissed him on the lips. Ben released a soft mourn grabbing her waist. Love was in the air and they were not holding their breathes.
"A wedding night after dinner?" Alicia asked sending a trail of kisses on his lips and neck.
"Relax woman at this rate I will have nothing in my scrotum"
"Empty it all baby" She said biting his ear.
"Okay, okay I will try you know me am a Richard we are always full tank so what did you plan with Martha"
"Just lunch and don't worry I will update you when I come back, tomorrow you are going to work"
Their door was knocked. They were still holding each other when Ben gave an okay for whoever was knocking to enter.
"Hey lovebirds" Scott said wearing a smile.
"Son, where have you been?" Alicia asked breaking free from Ben's embrace.
He groaned. She looked at him and smiled hugging Scott. It was time his son moved out. They couldn’t share his mother.
"Am sorry dad, she is your wife but my mother you know" He said getting a warm hug form his mother.
"God I miss my mother" Ben said.
Alicia and Scott laughed off too. Scott went to hug his father.
"Don't worry mum here can be both" Scott said.
"She is my heroine I can't do anything without her" Ben said.
"Come on guys dinner is served I was sent to fetch you two" Scott said holding his mum.
If there was something worth celebrating to him it was the family getting back together. Scott had given up on ever seeing his mother that happy. It was one thing he was grateful for and when they went on a holiday spree all over world leaving him and Paul to run the business he had no objection. If you asked him the two deserved it. They had been through a lot together.
"Look who is seated" Ben chuckled teasing Amber.
She looked happy to see him. Her eyes were glowing with that joy of a kid who couldn't talk just make sounds. She also kept swinging her arms trying to send Ben’s fingers inside her tiny mouth.
"Look at this tiny hands" Ben said grabbing her with him.
"They pinch and grab too much" Arya said.
"She gets it from who?" Alicia asked taking her rightful seat on the table.
They both laughed looking at Scott. He was quick to defend himself.
"You all realize that Lilly is not here so no one can prove it’s indeed Arya?"
"I saw her while she was young and no, she didn't pinch" Millan said.
They all burst into laughter again. The maids led by Paul started to bring in the food. Bowls of rice and chicken, meat and lentils, other green vegetables, fresh fruit and desert. Drinks too.
"Scott have you started planning for her school fees? She is growing so fast" Ben said making her stand on the dinner table.
She kept jumping up and down happily with Ben holding her.
"Yes dad, I think Arya..."
"Told you Ben, it's a ladies job. Arya make sure he contributes to that account or we sue him for custody" Alicia joked.
Ben and Paul laughed at Scott.
"Yeah laugh about it so Funny I see" Scott said feigning sadness.
"Or you can just deduct thirty percent of his salary you two are his bosses right?" Arya asked.
The table went into a frenzy of laughter. Thirty percent of Scott's salary was enough to feed a village in most low and middle income countries for a year. Am talking about a balanced diet with some pocket money.
"Don't joke with a man’s salary" Paul said joining them.
"Thank you Paul at least some one is on my side" Scott said.
"Dude, your mum is always on your side. Hey BR hey AR" Kyle said coming from the kitchen.
They just nodded at him happily.
"You are still here?" Scott asked surprised.
"Am not going anywhere until this food is finished completely" Kyle said taking a seat on the table.
"Okay let's eat now, enough with the chit chat and Kyle if you dot finish this food you are under house arrest" She joked holding the arms of those around her.
"Gladly"
A guard moved Amber's chair closer to Ben. She held his and Scott's hand. Alicia said a short prayer for the food and the family before they started eating in silence. It was one big beautiful family. Only Leila was missing that day. She had to go home early with Ronald after the wedding besides she was a married woman. Ruth was there, Millan and Arya, Paul, Scott, Alicia and Ben not to forget the trophy of the family, the egg Amber. She was busy making noise probably wondering why they were all chewing and she was not.
"So Kyle how is business on the other side?" Ben asked.
"Ben! You know the rules Scott remind your father" Alicia said avoiding eye contact.
"No talking business at the dinner table dad"
"Relive Ben the guy has been dead for too long Kyle said.
They all laughed their hearts off.
"We should really thank Kyle's mum for carrying him that long" Arya said.
"He was a four kilogram baby" Scott said.
"But seriously BR we sat by your grave drinking beer, your grave was among Scott's favorite places now you are back I think he is going back to the kitchen"
They laughed thunderously. Kyle was an embodiment of comedy. It was impossible to sit around him without laughing. Ben however took it seriously, Alicia had told him how much Scott missed him when he was gone but Ben did not believe her. Now it was coming from Kyle through a joke, Kyle’s way of passing messages. To an extent of enjoying a beer by his grave that was motivating.
"Am sorry for not telling you son"
"No need to apologize dad it was necessary that I didn't know"
"Good Arya give Amber here something to eat" Ben said getting up, "Kyle my office on Monday and My wife let's go"
"Honeymoon I see" Paul said.
"It's called a wedding night Paul" Alicia said following Ben.
He waited for her and kissed her right in front of them.
"Enough guys, you are making me regret not going home today" Kyle complained.
The others laughed.
Ruth took Amber and together with Millan they went to the living room. Kyle being smart realized everyone was creating room for Arya and Scott. But typical Kyle couldn't leave without making it awkward.
"I got to leave you two talk about that kiss"
"Dude" Scott said embarrassed.
Arya just looked away. Now it was news.
"Look at you two behaving like preschool children, you love each other so go for it" He said walking away.
"Goodnight Kyle" Arya shouted after him.
There was an awkward silence between the two. No one was willing to spark a conversation. Their eyes had not met since Kyle left. Scott pretended to be busy on his phone. He was actually looking at the pictures of baby clothes he had in his phone. Arya was playing with a fork. She was had finished eating.
"I...” They both said together.
"You go first" Scott said smiling
"No you said it first so you start" Arya said smiling back.
"Seriously?"
She nodded. Every time they were together Love was in the air. And as Kyle had said they loved each other the problem was that they had not realized it yet and also the situation was a conundrum. How they met was the problem. Arya was the victim in that situation. If she fell in Love with Scott it would have made her look desperate. No one would have expected her to fall in Love with a guy who made her pregnant and disappeared. Although it was not his fault. As for Scott if he fell in love with Arya it would have painted a picture of sympathy.
That was their minds trying to protect them from reality. Scott falling in love with her would look like him saying sorry for making you pregnant and running away then letting you sleep on the streets and work as a waitress. Above all ruining the already struggling relationship with your father. But it was time they stipend listening to their minds. To stop caring about what people will say and what picture their love, their genuine love was going to paint. One of them had to make the bold first step.
"Okay am sorry about how I reacted earlier on after the kiss it’s just that..."
"You got caught up in the moment"
"Exactly but I was going to say I thought it would be special, I mean it was special but I wanted it to be like special"
"I get it, and am sorry got not kissing you back. I kinda just froze"
They laughed lightly. Millan and Ruth were looking on from the living room making a thumbs-up sign for their girl.
"Any way to make it up to you, I want us to go on a date"
"Doesn't that just make it more awkward?"
"No, I Will send the driver," Scott said getting up.
He pushed the chair back and leaned in to kiss her on the cheek.
"Goodnight"
She cleared her throat and mumbled, "Goodnight"
It was Amber who saw it this time. She was really happy jumping up and down making funny child sounds.
Author
Relax kiddo daddy and mummy are not back together yet. At least not for now. Don’t be fooled. She was peeing
- Writer
