Chapter 3: Chapter 3

Elizabeth didn't stop herself as she cried in pain. She felt like it would be okay to let it all out. Hopefully, she will feel better afterwards.

After she felt satisfied and okay, she slowly stood up, wiped her clothes clean and rounded up with her cleaning. She swore within herself never to become weak, and right there started to make plans of leaving the Smith's mansion to search for a better life. She believed in herself even if no one did.

"Elizabeth!" Elizabeth was startled as she heard her name. She knew it was no other person than Karen. Her voice sounded like there was danger.

No matter how much Elizabeth had taken her time to think, she just couldn't understand the reason Karen hated her. It wasn't like they dragged boyfriends or were fighting for a common thing.

She wondered if Karen was still mad at her for something that occurred sometime ago which actually wasn't her (Elizabeth) fault. And besides, it happened even before she began to work for the Smith's family.

Karen and Elizabeth weren't really acquaintances of some sort but they saw each other regularly due to the fact that they worked in the same place.

Karen had a boyfriend but still went after other boys that smiled at her without shame.

Elizabeth, though didn't like her pattern of life, decided to remain quiet just like every other of their colleagues to avoid having issues with Karen.

It also happened that Karen's boyfriend was also a cheat and came after Elizabeth behind his girlfriend, Karen. Elizabeth continued to turn down Karen's boyfriend proposal even though she never told Karen about her boyfriend's behavior.

That fateful day, Elizabeth had overheard Karen talking with someone on how she is pregnant and would pin her pregnancy on her main boyfriend even though she was sure it wasn't his.

"That is so wrong!" Elizabeth had barged into them expressing her displeasure with Karen's decision to lie about her unborn child paternity.

Karen seriously warned her never to mention what she heard to her boyfriend else she would be in trouble with her.

Elizabeth struggled with choosing between minding her business or doing the right thing.

The day she made up her mind to partially reveal the truth to Karen's boyfriend, Karen had met her at home and almost stabbed her with a knife in anger.

"How dare you! You cheap thing! Was it so hard to mind your business? Huh? Was it?" Karen shouted and threatened to bring down fire and brimstone on Elizabeth's head that day. It was Elizabeth's neighbors that saved her from Karen's anger.

Elizabeth pleaded with Karen to believe that she never reported her to her boyfriend but Karen would not listen to her.

It was very unfortunate that Karen had a miscarriage a few weeks after that and lost the baby. Elizabeth felt sorry for her but there was nothing much she could do about it after she found out that Karen's boyfriend broke up with her and even the original owner of the pregnancy denied having anything to do with Karen. Elizabeth since then entered Karen's bad book.

It wasn't long before Karen quit her job and left that neighborhood. She was not seen or heard of for a while.

When Elizabeth started working in the Smith mansion, she discovered that Karen was the head of the house keepers. Nothing Elizabeth ever did made her happy. In fact, Karen's hatred towards Elizabeth was something she never bothered to hide. No matter how much Elizabeth pleaded for her forgiveness and told her she never reported her, Karen wouldn't let go.

"I am very honored to be here,your Excellency," Chief Kim bowed slightly towards Chief Smith who acknowledged his greeting with a nod.

"Please make yourself comfortable, Chief Kim."

Chief Kim calmly sat across one of the seats that faced Chief Smith. Chief Smith ordered drinks for him and his friend. Once the drink arrived, they began to gently sip it slowly.

Chief Smith sat up after they were served and cleared his throat, "You know why I called this meeting between us?" he asked Chief Smith as he took a long sip from the glass of wine and relaxed back against the chair.

Chief Kim observed him for a while, "I am patiently waiting to hear from you, because I am a little surprised considering your plans to embark on the project we talked about. I hope there's no leak anywhere?" Chief Kim asked as he fixed his eyes on Chief Smith.

Chief Smith laughed a little, " Nothing can go wrong with our plans now, it's just that I have a minor thing I wish to go take care of abroad and you are the only one I can trust to leave the project until I return.

"Abroad? Is it something I should know?"

"I would return before the group realizes it. All I require from you is to cover for me a bit while I sort things out over there. I will give you the details of my journey when I return," Chief Smith assured, taking another sip from the glass. He looked bothered, yet calm. The two men sat in silence for minutes and looked like they were in their own thoughts.

"You know very well how Chief San behaves," Chief Kim started to say and looked at Chief Smith hoping he understood where he was headed.

Chief Smith twitched his face in disgust as he dropped the wine glass on the table.

"He seems to want to know all our moves in detail. He can be quite sneaky, you know."

"I do not care how he interprets my absence. Once I get back, we shall settle scores. I just hope he doesn't bite more than he can chew." Chief Smith said without even a hint of worry in his face.

Chief Kim nodded his head repeatedly at Chief Smith's brave words.

"I am glad to be your friend and on your side. You are really a fearless man," Chief Kim said as the two men laughed heartily.

"Erm, Chief Smith, I should be heading out now, I would be waiting for your return," Chief Kim said as he stood up. Chief Smith stood up as well. They shook hands before Chief Kim left the Smith's mansion. "Keep an eye on him. One point is not enough yet. We should gather as many points as possible," Chief Smith had said as they bade each other farewell.

Chief Kim and Chief Smith have been business partners for a while, but it seems their partnership was gradually turning into friendship. They happened to be in a group made of the rich and elites in the Country. It was there that Chief Kim and Chief Smith became closer.

Chief San is currently the Chief leader in that group, though not richer than all the men there, he was the architect and the founder of the group.

Just like any other organization, there is a possibility of everyone not liking the leader and how things are run there. That happened to be the case in their group.

With time, some men with Chief Smith and Kim heading it started to plan the downfall of Chief San. According to them, he wasn't capable of leading them anymore and hadn't propelled the group to any tangible win. Chief Kim and Smith planned to overthrow Chief San so that Chief Smith would take over.