TOXIC ATTRACTION

TOXIC ATTRACTION EPISODE TWENTY FOUR

The dinner went well. Richard told me that he was not going to stand in my way of happiness if seeing other people is what I wanted. He said he would agree to it as long as I lived in his house so as to sell the perfect picture that everyone wanted to see. Richard saw me off that night and I went to Susan's place. The conversation with Richard made me feel better, especially after the tension that had been between us.

Richard left his house for the Muthaiga mansion after dinner with Robina. He knew there was so much going on with her and he could read through her. He knew for a fact that there was another man but he was Richard and if he wanted to know something he would. Richard was playing everything by Robina's book because he did not want to blow his cover but he also knew keeping Robina close would answer some of his questions not only about her but about her father too.

He got to muthaiga and Santos was waiting still watching over Tosh who he had made up his mind about. He knew Tosh was going to be a threat but he had decided to give him a chance to redeem himself. Richard was very ruthless but also very gentle with the people he cared about. What Tosh witnessed on the day he shot Rafael's guy was one of those days he was at his worst. Rafael had been a threat to him for a while but now he was stepping too close, closer enough to send spies to his territory...

Santos: I thought you were not coming back.

He got up from the couch and poured Richard some whiskey in a glass and handed it to him. Richard looked tired and disturbed. He sat on the couch and leaned back rubbing his forehead then wiping his face with his hand.

Richard: you know I don't enjoy the other environment. I only go there where I need to. How is our prisoner?

Santos: still alive.

Richard: I think we should let him go and if he dares do something to jeopardize our movement we kill him.

Santos: not the wisest idea if you ask me but you are the boss. I hope you know the damage he can cause to us if he goes out there and decides to talk.

Richard did not respond. He knew Santos was right but he had to give Tosh the benefit of the doubt.

I got to Susan's place and she was up watching a movie as she waited for me to get home. After she opened the door for me, we went to the living room and we both sat on the couch and she passed half of the blanket so that I could cover my feet. Susan was different. I had judged her before but she proved to be the exact opposite of what I had believed she was.

Me: sorry I kept you waiting.

Susan: you know I don't mind. How was the dinner?.

Me: it was okay. Richard and I had a conversation and I think we are in a better place.

Susan: I'm glad to hear that.

Me: he wants me to go back to his house and live there as we figure things out.

Susan: what do you want?..

Me: I don't know. Going back to his house would make me feel trapped but he says it is just so that we maintain the "we are married narrative for our parent's peace of mind" it seems important to him.

Susan was silent for a minute and I could not tell if she was thinking that I was the most messed up human being.

Me: I was with Julia.

I said looking at her face to see her reaction.

Susan: and you made up?

Me: not exactly. She took me to her quack doctor. I really wanted to terminate this pregnancy but after getting there, I realized that I loved my life.

She took my hand in hers and then had me lean on her shoulder. I was afraid she was going to get all judgemental but she remained calm.

Susan: I'm glad you came to that conclusion. I didn't think it was a good idea from the word go. You can give birth to the baby and bless a family who is not able to have their own children.

Me: I wish it were that easy. Can I ask you something?

Susan: yes.

Me: how do you know that someone is in love with you?..

I sat up and looked at her.

Susan: love is action, it doesn't matter how sweet the words are, if it's not accompanied by action then there is nothing there. you will know someone who truly loves you, you will feel free and comfortable around him. They will accept you the way you are and they will always strive to make you the better version of yourself, not by trying to change you but by holding your hand and walking with you through the good and the bad times.

I smiled and she did too.

The following morning Richard called Santos to his office for a meeting. They needed to know what to do about their gund shipment now that Johannes was leaving. Introduction to a new guy at the port as Johannes put it meant it was going to cost a lot of money with zero loyalty like the one Johannes had.

Richard: Johannes leaving the port has messed up my plans. We need a backup plan. I have just talked to him on the phone today and he is organizing a meeting with his guy. Some dude called Lenny. He is going to be our contact person.

Santos: and you trust that this whole handing over thing is going to work out?

Richard: I don't know. Why do you think it would not work?

Santos: I think Johannes leaving was a bit of a rush decision. He should have prepared you like two months prior so that we work out this thing properly. With the new guy, we have no idea what we are getting ourselves into.

Richard: that's why we will meet both of them today and I want you to dig everything you can find out about the new guy, everything including his cat's name if he has one.

Santos: Okay. I'll head to my place to freshen up. I will meet you in an hour at the hotel.

Santos walked out of the office and Richard headed to Tosh's room to have a word with him. He had been awake and when Richard walked in, he was on his feet trying to walk around.

Richard: I can see you are making progress.

Tosh: yeah. I don't want to be confined in this room one more day.

Richard: and do you know what that means?

Tosh: yes, I have to pledge my loyalty and be at your mercy.

Richard: no. Being at my mercy, not really. You choose your path. I don't kill people for no reason, you of all people should know that. See I have decided not to kill you but it will not stop me if I smell any form of "traitor ship" from you. I'm not a very nice guy and you can not beat me in a game I have been playing long enough to know all the signs of disloyalty. You are either for me or against me.

Tosh: I'm for you. No doubt about that. I might not understand why you killed that guy but I know what you have done to me since I joined your camp.

Richard: are you ready to make your first million?

Tosh: yes.

Richard: get that leg running again in less than two weeks I have a big job for you.

Tosh nodded and Richard left him without locking him in. It was probably to test him.

Diana walked out of her room. all dressed up and on hearing her mother in the kitchen passed by to see her before she stepped out. She had a lot of questions about her meeting with Robert but she was going to do her investigations first because there was no way one minute her mother was throwing punches on Robert's head fighting his wife and daughter then the next meeting they were meeting in a restaurant having what looked like a serious conversation.

Nerea: I can see you are up and ready to step out. I just wanted to tell you that I found an apartment. I don't think I will be going back home soon. I need to take care of a few things first.

Diana: and those few things have something to do with the conversation you were having with Richard yesterday?

Nerea: leave that to me and Richard. You don't know what it was about because it does not concern you. Richard and I will handle it. Just make sure you apologize to his wife before twenty four hours is over so that he does not freeze your account because you know he will.

Diana: mh! Richard is now calling the shots huh, where does that leave the rest of us? Me and my two brothers.

Nerea did not answer her. Having a conversation with Diana was like hitting a rock because she only chose to hear what she wanted to hear.

She left after asking Nerea to leave the key under the door mat just in case she was really leaving.

Johannes met up with the Lenny guy an hour before the meet-up with Richard..it was three of them but its only Lenny that Richard needed to meet as the other person chose to remain anonymous. Johannes had a plan to take over Richard's gun business and for that to happen he needed an alibi. Lenny was going to pause as the next contact person and after the shipment arrives he was going to tell Richard that there was a problem as the goods had been stolen the moment the container touched the land.

Lenny: and you think Richard is stupid enough to fall for that?

Johannes: no. But that will be his downfall. Richard is a cripple meaning what he can do in his state, we can do ten times better. I have been monitoring his shipments and I've been tracking down his clientele, the only remaining thing is cutting a deal with those guys, selling the guns a few coins cheaper than Richard and we are in the game.

Lenny: I'm in, but how do we make the guns disappear, that's a huge container and you know he could be having an extra set of eyes at the port. I know guys like Richard, they are paranoid and extra careful with their dealings.

Johannes: trust me on this. It is good enough that he thinks I'm leaving. I already have one of his potential clients under my radar. The carpet is about to be pulled from under his feet and he won't see it coming. You need to be confident in yourself while talking to him. Richard is very sharp and he can pick even the least of the stuff you expect him to know just by having a conversation with you.

Lenny: fine.. let's see how this goes.

Johannes: I'm counting on you.

Mark was back at his office after giving himself a few days off. He tried to call Robina but the phone went unanswered and just when he got up and picked up his coat to leave, the door to his office opened and in walked Diana who was not the face he expected to see and certainly not that early.

"You were late coming back home last night, where were you, I was so worried."

Cleopatra said serving Robert breakfast at the dining table. She poured tea into his cup and then served two sausages in his saucer and a few slices of bread. Robert put away his newspaper and without answering Cleopatra's questions he ate his bread and drank his tea like she wasn't there. She did not bother asking any more questions but had her tea in silence just like Robert wanted them to.

I woke up to a note from Susan who had already left the house for the office. She said she would be coming home early so that we could go shopping for some baby clothes and it was going to be her treat because I did not push on with my wicked plans and I was glad I got to witness what had happened to that girl before I actually went through with it. I folded the note and put it in my pocket and went to the kitchen to get myself something to eat. While in the kitchen I got a call from Davis and having been curious to hear what he had to say, I received it as I fixed myself some tea.

Davis: hey beautiful...

Me: hey...

Davis: what are you up to today?

Me: not much. Just woke up. You?.

Davis: at the office working as usual. I was thinking how about I take you for lunch later on. I miss you.

Me: I don't think I will be available for that.

Davis: come on babe, don't break my heart like that... I'm trying cant you see? It's just lunch, not a getaway or something like that. Say yes.

Me: fine... we'll have lunch.

Davis: that's my girl.

Davis was referring to me as his girl, his brain has refused to accept the part where I had insisted that I was married now. Davis was the real definition of stubborn, he knew how to persuade and what else was I going to do with myself if not relieve my experience at the quack doctors self made clinic? Davis was going to make my day lit with his crazy tales and maybe a distraction like that is what I needed.

Diana: hi boo... I'm sorry for showing up unannounced. Going somewhere?

Mark put back the coat on the stand and sat..he did not know what to expect of Diana but he wanted to know why she thought he had been sleeping with Remi behind Richard's back.

Mark: to what do I owe this visit, Diana?..

She sat on a chair across from Mark.

Diana: is it a bad thing to pass by and say hi to my brother's friend?

Mark: a friendship that is on the rocks because of your loose mouth. I refuse your advances and you go causing chaos.

Diana: if it was the only way I could get your attention then yes. You embarrassed me on the night of my birthday when all I wanted to do was have very harmless fun.

She got up from her chair and walked towards mark. She was putting on a long fitting dress that had a slit all the way to her thighs. She sat at the table and let Mark have a good view of her well exposed thighs. Her skin was soft and shiny and Mark couldn't help but imagine what was beneath the dress. Diana took his hand and placed it on her exposed thighs and dragged it under her dress.

Diana: you don't have to be my boyfriend if my brother scares you too much but we can both find pleasure in enjoying each other's company. I know you think I'm beautiful and we've had moments when we've attempted to kiss. We can keep it as our little secret. No one has to know and especially my brother...

Mark tried to pull his hand away but Diana kept it intact. She raised his chin and leaned in for a kiss that she succeeded in getting and before she knew it, Mark had grabbed her butt with both hands pulling her towards him and caressing her as he kissed the breath out of her. He was on fire just like Diana was, a fire he thought Robina could put out but she was not picking up his calls and besides, she still had a lot of what ifs. Diana was not afraid to get what she wanted and he was going to give it to her.

Mark: stop.. we cannot do this here.

He got up, picked up his coat, and took Diana's hand.

Mark: come with me...

She followed him and heard Mark instruct his secretary to cancel all his appointments for the day. Diana smiled as she walked out hand in hand with Mark.