He has been lying to me
“Luke Edward. He’s someone from your father’s past….” Before he could explain more, the warden interrupted, taking Mr Steven away.
“Who’s Luke Edward? What did you do to Mr Crack?” She kept asking while following them.
“I had Mr Crack taken out of the country with his family…” He said before the door closed.
“What! So, who sent me the documents?” She questioned staring at the closed door.
Walking out of the prison, Melissa racked her brain trying to think of the person he had mentioned.
Though Mark and her lawyer warned her against it, she went to the Stevens’ mansion to get more information from her godmother.
When she got to the mansion, she found her godmother seated in the garden holding her family photo as the maids loaded their suitcases in the car. Her husband had asked her to leave the country for safety and treatment since her health was deteriorating.
When her husband informed her of every illegal business he had done for the organization she went into shock. He told her how he used the company’s name to transact their illegal deeds. A few weeks before sending the documents to Melissa.
“Did you know?” Clenching her fist, Melissa asked her godmother.
“No, he told me everything a few weeks ago.” She responded, wiping the silent tears. “When your mother told me of the suspicions and your father’s investigation, I got mad at her. Defended my husband and broke our sisterhood.” She sat with her eyes closed, remembering that every day.
Mrs White came to check on her when she failed to attend their monthly meeting. Concerned as always, she inquired about her family when she found no one taking care of her.
They spent the day together and after having lunch; Mrs White informed her of her husband’s suspicion.
Furious Lydia became defensive. Feeling insulted, she asked her to leave and not to tarnish her husband’s name.
It was the last she saw her friend.
Shortly after, Steven and Diana persuaded her to go abroad for a family vacation.
And when she got back, she heard of the accident.
For weeks she looked for Melissa. She went to her apartment after the school informed her Melissa was not attending her classes but she didn’t find her.
Every month she went to her friend’s grave to talk to her, even though she never talked back. “I’m sorry for everything, my child. My family has made you suffer so much.” She apologized, holding Melissa’s hand with tears in her eyes.
“It’s okay, don’t beat yourself up. What’s done is done.” Melissa sighed, touching her neck. “I came here to get some information from you.” She spoke, pocketing her hand in her trouser pocket.
“Go on, ask.” Mrs Steven sat back looking at her.
“Steven told me someone blackmailed him into destroying my father’s company. I need to know who these people are.” Melissa inquired, sitting on the chair facing her.
“That’s what he told me. The organization made him traffic drugs and substandard goods. If not, they would kill us all. Right now Jessica and I have to leave the country. Diana was to come along, but she declined.” She explained with tears in her eyes.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
“Didn’t he tell you what connections Luke Edwards had with my father?” Melissa took her hands and caressed them trying to calm her down.
“Stop interrogating my mother. She has nothing to do with what dad and Diana have been doing.” Jessica budged on. She sat beside her mother, pulling her hands from Melissa’s.
“It’s okay, calm down Jessica.” She tapped Jessica’s shoulder assuring her Melissa won’t harm them.
With no more helpful information, Melissa left for the apartment to check on Lisa.
Her aunt and Lisa’s mother insisted on taking Lisa to the apartment after a few day’s in the Villa not to inconvenience her and Mark. They took care of her like a baby though her injury was not that extensive.
Heading to the apartment, she ran a search on the website about Luke Edwards but nothing popped up.
When Nancy’s cousin sent her the video of the clubhouse surveillance footage on her phone, she smiled knowing she would finally see the face of the man she was looking for. Believing the man had all the answers she needed, she watched the video, but on the contrary, she heard her heartbreak.
The only person walking in and out of the room was Mark. That day she asked for his help and he acted like he knew nothing about it. Yet he knew the person she was looking for.
“He has been lying to me.” Melissa talked with Lisa lying beside her on the bed.
“I’m sure he has a good reason for keeping this secret. Talk to him, I know Mark will never do anything to hurt you.” Lisa said brushing Melissa’s hair after watching the video.
“I doubt he will tell me. It’s strange how he got me to come to the city then asked for marriage before even knowing about Tommy.” She sighed remembering the kiss he shared with Sasha.
“I insist, go talk to him first. Let him explain Everything.” Lisa urged her.
“What if he is in on all this?”
Before going home, she decided to go to Mark’s office to confront him.
When the receptionist saw Melissa walk to the CEO’s private elevator, she called Sasha.
Sitting opposite Mark’s desk as he went through the documents she had brought him, Sasha smiled.
Unbuttoning the two buttons on her shirt revealing her chest, she adjusted her skirt pulling it up.
“What are you doing?” Dropping his pen, Mark questioned when he saw what she was doing.
Without uttering a word Sasha walked to him. Pushed him back on the chair straddling him.
“Sasha!” As Mark placed his hands on her waist to push her away, Melissa walked in.