TOXIC ATTRACTION

TOXIC ATTRACTION EPISODE TWENTY SIX

Richard took a good look at the photo again and he realized that wherever Robina had taken that photo was actually some sort of hospital as he could see a few equipments and it dawned on him that she had decided to push through with the idea of terminating the pregnancy. He called Robina to ask her if she wad okay but his phone went unanswered and he thought of looking for her to stop her from doing whatever she wanted to do. He was hurt that she even thought of aborting his child but going through with it was something else.

Tosh noticed the discomfort when he came back but despite wanting to know what was going on with him, Richard could not just trust him anymore, it was going to take a while after the police incident that got him taken the cops to the crime scene. That was behind them but he still had to prove himself.

I left the house and went around looking for a job, where i worked previously was no longer available because i went missing for months and no one even knew where i had gone. The boss made calls and i could not be reached. My parents who knew where i was decided to keep quiet and because i did not disappear with any of the company's properties, they decided to forget about me. I was a good employer, one of the best they had until my father ruined my life.

I went to shops after shops and boutique, super markets but no one was really hiring . It was a tiring and disappointing walk but i knew i had to find a job not just for myself but for my baby. I thought of the life both him and I would have and that gave me more reason to keep walking and at some point i fainted on the road and woke up in a hospital with my mother staring me in the face when i opened my eyes. Whoever found me or saw me lying on the road mist have called my mother because she was among the people on my speed dial.

Cleopatra: you scared me for a minute, how could you faint in the streets, haven't tou vern eating Robina, you know you need to rat enough for you and that unborn baby.

Me: please mum, don't come here acting like you care. People faint every day for different reasons.

I tried to get up but she pushed me back

Cleopatra: the doctor says you need bed rest for atleast two weeks. This stress in you is not good for the baby.

Me: and what would you rather i do mother. A few months from now, this baby I'm carrying will be eating and dressing and i have tp prepare myself for all that. Id rather faint right now, get up and continue walking than look in my baby's face and tell them there's no food.

Cleopatra: well I've called Richard.

I looked at her quite surprised that she would have the guts to do that after the show that went down between her and Richard's family. I knew my mother wanted the best for me but until my father stopped calling the shots, nothing was really going to work.

Cleopatra: don't look at me like that Robina, Richard is your husband and he should know what's going on with you.. I want to ask you something.

I kept my eyes fixed on her but did not respond.

Cleopatra: would you want to go and live with my mother until all this wind blows over, Richard obviously chewed more than he could bite when he agreed to marry you and as you know, unless your father states otherwise, I can't provide a lasting solution, i could keep checking on you, sending you money and..

Me: I'm not doing such a thing mum. I'm not just about to become another burden fir that poor old lady in the countryside. I will be fine, all i need is a job, any sort of job. Can you help me find that?.

Richard: why do you need a job when I'm here and i made a promise to take care of you?

Richard made an entry into the ward and my mother got up a little bit nervous of his presence.

Cleopatra: I think i will leave you two alone.

She said grabbing her hand bag and walking out of the room. Richard rolled in his wheelchair and sat next to me. He looked at me like he had alot to say but he did not know how to say it.

Richard: i came as soon as i heard. Are you okay?.

Me: yes, I'm fine.. I just fainted and its not like anything bad happened.

Richard: fainting for a pregnant woman is not something we take lightly. Listen, you need to come back home. I can take care of you and watch over you from there. I know I'm the last person you want to be around but atleast you are safer at my place.

He tried to reach for my hand but stopped halfway.. I didn't know what was going on in his mind but he was acting strange. When with him at the hospital, a call came through my phone and on looking at the screen, it was Devis. I had promised go spend the afternoon with him and he was ready to take me on that date.

Richard sat still waiting to see if i eould receive the call or just switch it off like i did when we had dinner at his place i received the call and turned away from him.

Me: hey..

Davis: i have beautiful flowers for the most beautiful woman i have come across.

I smiled and i could feel Richard's eyes on me.

Me: I'm not feeling so well Davis, i thought I'd be able to make it but its vern a crazy day and doctors think i need to rest.

Davis: doctors... Are you in a hospital, what happened?.

Me: nothing serious dear, i fainted and its because of a condition. Nothing serious i promise.

Davis insisted on coming to see me at the hospital and he said if o didn't give him an address, he was going to search every hospital until he found me. I gave him the address holing that by the time he got yo the hospital, Richard would be gone but when i finished my conversation, he was still seated there with his arms crossed to his chest.

Richard: so that's the guy who has stolen your heart from me huh, what's his name?.

Me: you never had my heart Richard and there is nothing to steal really. Davis is my ex. The one i was with before you and my father decided to screw my life over.

Richard: wow ..we are back to that?

There was a bit of a silence.

Richard: is he the one you want to date when in a marriage with me?.

Me: i thought we had an agreement.

Richard: you talked and i listened. Let me ask you something, if that Davis guy loved you so much, where was he for all those months you were in my house...

Me: you mean when you kidnapped and locked me in your house then made me pregnant do that i would bot be with any other man, oh.. I don't know..maybe we should ask him when he gets here.

Santos was busy looking into Lenny and and Johannes just as Richard had requested. When he checked online, there was nothing much to know about Lenny except that he was some clearing and forwarding guy at the port who had a baby mama whom he was not in very good terms with and nothing else related to business. Johannes had been Richard's pay roll and he had not had anything fishy going on with him, not that Richard knew about about anyway.

Tosh stumbled into the computer room where Santos was working and he pulled a chair and sat across him staring at him without a word.

Santos: what do you want Tosh, you are supposed to be getting those legs to walk again.

Tosh: funny enough coming from the guy who shot me. Why did you do it?.

Santos: for obvious reasons. You were being an ass. Do you know who Richard really is that you go pulling that kind pf crap on him? I was saving your life because Richard wanted to go lock you up in a mental institution to prove his point to the cops.

Tosh: and so i should be grateful to you?.

Santos: no. If you know what's good gor you, you would try to stay alive by getting on his good books.

He got back to his work.

Tosh: he said he is preparing me for my first million, do you have an idea what that's about?.

Santos paused for a minute and turned to him. He minimized whatever he was working on and got up to go get himself a glass of water and Tosh followed him after failing to see what he was working on.

Santos: let's just say it will be your first mission, it will earn you your million but it will also prove your loyalty to him. You fail this mission and you are dead.

He freaked out and it was so evidently written on his face that it was not the answer he was expecting.

Santos: relax. You have two weeks to make up your mind, but if i were you. I would choose to stay relevant. Richard is not a bad boss.

Tosh: I've known him as my friend pushing him around for ages, clearly I knew nothing about him.

Santos: and it should stay that way. Some water?.

Tosh: no I'm good. I'll fix myself something to eat. You want some?.

Santos: yeah.

Tosh got into the kitchen and checked out the few things he could cook for both of them. Santos stood there keeping him company..

Tosh: are you married Santos?.

Santos: you know when a nan starts to ask such questions it could be because he is...

Tosh: oh come on. Im straight. I'm just wondering if you are not afraid of the stuff that comes with living this kind of life. Look at richard, having to pretend that he can't walk for years yet he is the boss of the criminals, is that the reason he never wanted to marry?.

Santos: he has a wife.

Tosh: no. I wouldn't exactly call her a wife. She is more of a project. I honestly thought it would work between them but its now pretty much obvious that no one will want to be with Richard in that state. Why wouldn't he just come out in the open and let them know he can walk. Why live a double life.

Santos: because if he comes out of that shell he will expose himself to his enemies as well. People like Rafael think that Richard in his state os weak and they make careless mistakes that end up costing them. A win for Richard is a win for me and I'd suggest you be in the winning team. Don't ever pull a move like that again. In this streets, there is nothing like forever friendship, tou screw someone over, you are smoked and that's your end. I have to get back to work.

He excused himself and left Tosh preparing a meal for them in the kitchen.

Nerea called Robert back and they talked for a few minutes then scheduled a meeting for that evening. Robert wanted then to meet in an old house that robert had bought and rented out to some white family who had come for a vacation but eventually left. No one knew about that property except for him and Nerea, not even hos wife Cleopatra.

When Cleopatra had finished at the hospital, she passed by Robert's office to drop of his launch as she said she would only that it was a little bit past lunch hour. When she got a call that Nerea had dropped on the road, she dropped everything and Went to attend to her. Cleopatra was at Roberts door when he was making the call and she wasn't there long enough to know who Robert was planning to meet and in her mind, she thought it was some client and maybe they were meeting to discuss business in the evening after work.

She pushed the door open when Robert was done talking and he immediately put his phone on the table facing down. Cleopatra caught him off guard and he had no idea how much she had heard.

Robert: I didn't think you would come and my secretary didn't tell me that you are here.

Cleopatra: do i need to be announced when i come to see my husband.

Robert: this is my working place not our bedroom. I have to know when you are here.

Cleopatra felt disrespected with that kind of talk and so she dropped the food on the table and started to walk away but Robert called her back and he got up from his seat.

Robert: put that container up and put it on the table properly, is that how you serve your husband?.

He looked like he was going to land a slap across her face so Cleopatra knowing the man she married, she picked it up and gently put it on the table and walked out leaving him staring at her. She was upset but also tired of having spent the rest of her life being a slave to Robert in the name of being a husband..

Richard got a call from someone while still in the hospital keeping Me company as he waited to see who Davis was. I could tell that he felt threatened with the fact that another man was getting my attention and I barely cared if he existed. I didn't know who was calling but he received and all i could hear was him affirming to something then he said he was on his way. Him leaving was a relief fir me because that way I wouldn't have to play a referee just incase the boys decided to flex their muscles.

Richard: I will send someone to come get you and bring you home.

Me: you can't just make decisions for me.

Richard: in this case i will because it's my baby's life you are putting in danger, unless he has another father.

Me: what does that mean, what other father?..

He did not respond but made it clear that his word was final. Did he already know about me and Mark or was he already having doubts about the baby because of Davis?. He wheeled his wheelchair away but on his way out, he bumped into Davis making his way in with a bunch of flowers. He had brought none.. he turned to look at me one more time before he disappeared..