TOXIC ATTRACTION

TOXIC ATTRACTION EPISODE TWENTY TWO

The day was quite messed up for pretty much everyone and despite Nerea's attempt to bring everyone on board to discuss Richard and Robina's problem the event turned out to be the least of what she had expected. She sat in Diana's living room alone thinking of the way forward after Richard had left having put Diana in her place. She sat there watching tv with her mind wandering all over the place. She wondered if Richard really had a thing for Nerea because everything he was doing was not showing any form of attraction towards Robina. She remembered how he sat quietly even as they all exchanged words and got in a fight he did not attempt to move a finger. What was wrong with him?

Richard despite being in his state, he was this Jovial and happy person that has somehow accepted his state and he seemed to have been okay with his condition until Robina came into his life, what had she done to him that had made him not even bother to defend her when everyone was ganging up against her and not in her presence anyway. He only considered her his wife when he was addressing Diana before he left angry. She leaned back and crossed her arms to her chest and she seemed to be in deep thought before Diana walked in from the kitchen where she had been cleaning the utensils. She leaned by the kitchen door with her hand on her hip staring at her mother who did not even notice her standing there. She watched her for a while then cleared her throat as she made her way toward her.

Diana: mum, what were you and Richard talking about earlier?

She asked pulling her mother's thoughts from wherever they were. Nerea looked at her without a word then got up and started to walk away but Diana stopped her.

Diana: does this have anything to do with dad's death?

Nerea turned and looked at her.

Diana: no one really talks to me. No one tells me anything. He was my father too you know?..

Nerea: you should apologize to Robina before your brother takes action and you know he will. Whatever is happening between your brother and his wife is between them, maybe there would not be so much tension if you did not go running your mouth just anyhow.

She left the house leaving Diana unsatisfied. She did not know what was really going on but she was going to make it her business. She got up from her seat and rushed to her room, grabbed her purse, and left the house too.

Santos was out checking on Richard's businesses. There was the part for the gun shipments, and then there were the parts where they sorted stolen jewelry to be sold and distributed to different Jewelry shops. After Rafael's spy had been caught with information about the gun shipments, contact people, and places Richard's guys hit and stole jewelry, Richard asked Santos to do a proper background check on all the guys because if his cover was blown it was going to mess up a huge part of his life including his pretense to be a cripple which worked to his advantage.

Santos and the other guy who had caught the spy found him with a file that contained all the information that if landed in the hands of Rafael he could have used alit against Richard, set him up, and have his territory raided. Rafael was a well known corrupt leader of a gang that came from the border and the territorial fight between him and Richard started long before Richard started his gun shipments business which has all Rafael's clients singing Richard's praises. Rafael ran a drug dealing syndicate that distributed coke and bhang as far as Richard's territory. The drugs were illegal and so were the smuggled firearms. It was for their own good that they worked together but there was also the battle for superiority. They were never going to stop getting on each other's throats.

Richard showed up at the hideout and asked Santos to gather the guys around and in a few minutes, there was a group of guys standing around them.

Richard: listen up everyone...

He got up from his wheelchair and stood on his feet then walked around looking at each and every one of them in the eyes. Some looked down to avoid his gaze for the fear of the gun in his hand. Richard had changed, he was more authoritative and more ruthless especially after killing the traitor a few days on. No one ever saw him pull a trigger and they had only heard of what he was capable of doing.

Richard: there are traitors among us. The other day one of you was caught with information that could have sunk this ship and for what?.. money?..

There was no response.

Richard: Rafael managed to get to the heads of a few individuals in here. Let it be clear that this business is not exactly in the yellow pages and it's only legit when you keep it a secret. We have demands to meet, people are buying guns from us and we earn a lot of money that pays us. Why would you want to give someone else that secret, someone who might get rid of you after you have delivered the information without pay?..

Everyone remained quiet with some passing glances at each other.

Richard: you are my eyes and ears on the ground. No one is your friend out there, we get burned you all go down. You are either working for me or spying for Rafael but be rest assured that if o know that you are working with Rafael behind my back, I will capture your family and then kill each one of them as you watch before I kill you too. Make sure you do not cross me because there is nowhere you will hide that I will not find you. Not even Rafael will save you from my wrath.

He pushed the gun on Santos's chest and then walked away from the crowd who stood there in disbelief. Richard had never been that upset and the people who knew him didn't know him as the killer that he portrayed himself to be.

Santos: you heard the boss. We are not done fishing out the traitors so be attentive and on the lookout for anything fishy, anyone acting out of character, or anything you think you can bring to our attention. Get busy!

He left them too and everyone got back to their businesses.

Susan showed up by the shop after half an hour. I had been patiently waiting holding back the tears that kept pushing their way out just thinking of what I could have done to my father. My friend sat with me, she held my hand and talked to me. I could not give her the details of what was going on but she knew I was hurting. She told me of a friend of hers that wanted a sales lady in her shop and I thought that maybe as I stayed with Susan a few days, I was going to have to find something to do so that I wasn't a burden to her like Julia thought I was. I took the lady's contact from my friend and Susan hugged me then picked up my suitcase. I got into the car and waited for her to get in.

Susan: you look like crap right now!..

She said starting the car after asking me to buckle up the seat belt.

Me: I'm sorry for the trouble.

Susan: don't mention it, Robina, you are a friend and what type of a friend would I be if I turned my back on you in time of need?

Me: thank you.

She nodded then stole a glance at me as she drove. I wiped the tears from my eyes and then supported my head with my hand as I looked out the window.

Susan: what happened, how did you end up at home again after I had dropped you at Richard's?..

Me: it is a long story. I couldn't stay at Richard's because of his bitchy sister. She is so full of bile and she's not exactly the friendly type.

Susan: and your parents?

Me: let's just say that my father insists I go back to my husband but I don't think I can go back there.

Susan: why?.. is it because of the fact that he was begging on the streets?..

Me: no.

I paused a bit then turned to her.

Me: I don't think Richard loves me and what ties me to him is this pregnancy and I have decided to get rid of it. I can't carry this baby, not with his toxic mother and sister all over my case.

Susan: are you sure that's the only reason?

Me: I don't love Richard, I don't see myself loving his kid or wanting to be a part of his family. I'm going to get rid of this thing and then find a life for myself. I don't think Richard can give me the life I want.

Susan: you were okay being his wife after you learned you were pregnant. What changed?

Me: can we not talk about Richard please, this whole situation is giving me more headaches than I can handle... Let's talk about you for a change.

Susan: Okay. Let us talk about me.

She smiled.

Me: why haven't you settled in marriage despite having everything you want? A car, a big apartment a good boyfriend.

Susan: good boyfriend..babe, there's no good boyfriend. These men you just learn how to handle them then once in a relationship, you have to learn patience and tolerance. You have to compromise one or two things so that you are both on the same page. A man who loves you will want to treat you like a princess.

Me: what about marriage?

Susan: I don't know dear, marriage scares me. Staying committed to one person is not as easy and I don't think I know how to be a wife. My mum sucked at being one and I always feel like I'd end up like her, dumped with kids with nothing to offer them.

Me: I think the experience is different for everyone. Who knows what sent your mum packing, you can't blame her. For instance, I just saw a side of my father that got my mother scared. Today he even told her that if she wasn't willing to comply she might as well pack and leave with me. Then again, I've always seen patches on my mum's body which somehow makes me think she has been a victim of violence. My father can get very aggressive.

Susan: see, those are some of the things that make me e reconsider. I love my man and he treats me right. The Marriage, we will cross that bridge when we get there.

Me: I thought I had that with Davis. He was all nice, generous, and took good care of me but he just couldn't stop cheating. Yesterday he g**k me out. Booked the entire place for us and he prophesied his undying love for me.

Susan: wow... And?.

Me: I thought it was sweet but at the same time I wasn't feeling anything at all. It felt like two strangers having lunch. Nothing more.

Susan: give a brother a second chance. This is someone you had strong feelings for and it is not like you broke up. Maybe he is serious this time round.

I made a long sigh. I didn't know how I felt about Davis but maybe it was because I was blinded by how I felt towards Mark. I couldn't tell Susan about Mark because I didn't want her to think that he was the reason for wanting to terminate my pregnancy.

Julia and Davis were done making out and after they both got to the front seat and drove off, Davis changed his mind about taking Julia home for a chat and decided to drop her off at her place instead. Julia was not excited about his decision but she did not want to act desperate and so she agreed to be dropped home.

Davis: you know I still have feelings for Robina right, what we've done today doesn't change anything.

Julia: I know.

She said looking away biting her nail and for a second she drifted from the conversation. She knew that as long as Robina was in the picture she was never going to have Davis for herself. Not his money and certainly not his attention. She got her phone from her purse and texted Robina asking if she was still on with the plan and asked if she could take her to the doctor that evening and Robina agreed to meet up.

After we got to Susan's place, we relaxed for an hour then when she was about to start preparing dinner, I told her I needed to step out and take care of a few things then I would be back. She looked at me suspiciously but I never told her I was going to meet Julia so that she could take me to terminate the pregnancy lest she tried to stop me.

Susan: should I be worried?

Me: no. I'm just stepping out for fresh air. I need to clear my mind off a few things. I will be back.

Susan: Okay. I will get dinner started.

I left and called Julia who gave me directions to where she would be waiting for me. I got a bus since the place was quite far from where Susan lived.

When I finally got there, I found Julia waiting on the verandah of some building that didn't look anything like a hospital. The greetings were cold because I was not over the fact that she threw me out of her house and also the fact that she told my mother ungodly stuff about me.

Julia: Are you sure you want to do this?

I nodded and she showed me the way to whoever we were going to see. We got to some door and she knocked then we got in. The place looked like some sort of a clinic. There were two hospital beds and some equipment I had never seen before. There were some medications on the shelves and with my little knowledge I could tell that the person knew a few things about doctors' stuff only that they were not in white coats or anything "doctorly"

Julia told me to sit as we waited for someone to show up because no one was in the room when we entered.

Julia: Robina, about the other day.

Me: I don't want to talk about it. You did what you had to do.

Julia: it's not what I did. It's what I said.

Me: I don't know what I did to make you despise me so much but I'm glad I didn't stay at your house. Telling my mother I was sleeping around with different men was way out of line. You tainted my image and do you know what my mother thinks of me right now?

Julia: I'm sorry...

Some woman walked in cutting short our conversation. She was followed by some girl who was holding on to her stomach and she was crying. She seemed to be in so much pain with blood stains on her dress. I watched the woman give her some medicine and then told her to wait and clean herself up before she left.

Me: what's wrong with her?

I asked not caring to wait for an introduction and the woman responded with a quick "she will be fine".

I got up ready to leave and Julia grabbed my hand and I looked at her

Julia: after she takes the medication she will be fine.

Me: she didn't look like she will be fine to me. Have you done this yourself?..

I asked after they went back to the room inside.

Julia: yes. I have done it twice . she is a doctor. She can check you up and have a chat, if you are not sure then we can leave.

A few minutes later the woman came back and asked me to climb on a bed that was right before us. I did and lay on it with my eyes closed. I was scared out of my mind. The woman pulled up my top and started pressing my stomach. She asked how long I had been pregnant and when I told her she stopped pressing my belly and stepped back.

Me: is there a problem?

Her: no. There's no problem but I hope you know what you signed up for. You know the risks, don't you?

I looked at her then at Julia who was busy on her phone pretending not to hear the conversation. I quickly got up from the bed, pulled my top down, grabbed my stuff, and when I was about to run off, the lady who was left in the other room walked out holding her stomach and she was still bleeding profusely. When she got closer to us she dropped to the floor and Julia quickly got up and ran out as I also took off following her. Was she dead?..