Chapter 41: Chapter 41

~Third person's POV~

"Please stop running Ayo!" Kemi continues to scream after her sibling but he wouldn't listen. When he reaches outside, he pauses as he looks ahead at the red Mercedes which is parked at a corner away from their house. He pauses and turns to Kemi.

"I want to go and meet your friend."

"Sister said you should not go, why don't you ever listen to your elders?" Shola scolds him with a frown on her face.

Kemi smiles before she squirts before Ayo. "My darling, my friend doesn't like to be disturbed."

Ayo pouts, "I simply want to ask him why he took you away, that's all."

"kini isoro re? (What is your problem?)" Omolara glares at him as she places her hands on her waist. "What are you going there for? My friend, will you get inside?" She yells at him.

Ayo bends his head to the side as he continues to pout his lips. And just when they all think he would listen, he starts running over to where the car is parked.

"mo wa ninu wahala o! (I'm in trouble!)" Omolara yells as he places her hand over her head and is about moving to go after him but Kemi stops her.

"Just leave it mummy, he would be fine. I'm sure he won't mind."

Omolara sighs as she stares Ayo running over to the car but her expression remains troubled. "This child." She mutters with a sigh.

As Ayo gets to the car, he slowly starts walking around it tapping on the tinted glass as if checking he car out. The driver stares at the tiny figure standing in front of the glass with a frown on his face before he turns to William in the back seat, who is resting his head against the seat of the car with his eyes closed.

"Sir,should I take care of it?"

William opens his eyes with a puzzled look on his face. " Take care of what?"

"There is a kid tapping the glass, I don't know he's up to. Should I chase him away?"

William tilts his head to look through the glass and then, he brings down the glass and pokes his head out.

"What do you want kid?" He asks.

Ayo walks over to Wiliam's side and stares at him. "l have seen you before." He says staring at him with a frown on his face.

"Oh, Where?" William asks with interest.

"You were passing with a white car and you told me you would take care of my sister." Ayo says blinking at him.

William grins. He couldn't believe that the child would remember that. He has even forgotten about it.

"Where did you take my sister to?" Ayo asks drawing back his attention.

William smiles, "Hey kid, move backwards so l can open the door." He says to him and Ayo moves away before William opens the door and steps out of the car.

He looks down at the small size of the boy who is asking him questions like a grown up man before leaning against the car.

"You have a sharp mouth, just like your big sister." He smiles. "So what is it that you asked me again?"

"You were the one who took my sister right? You sent Mr. Black suit to take her, didn't you?" Ayo asks with a serious expression as if he's about to beat William up.

William gives him a puzzled look, "Mr. who?" He chuckles lightly as he wonders who that is. "Are you angry?"

Ayo nods, "Yes, I'm very angry at you! Because of you, our mummy kept crying for a long time because she thought sister Kemi would never come back again. You are a bad man and my teacher said that bad people will be punished."

William stares at the little boy in awe. He likes how brave he is and how he speaks without fear. "I see boldness runs in your family.." He smiles. "Okay little buddy, I apologize for taking your sister. I'm only teaching her how to be a big business lady."

Ayo bends his head to the side, "Really?"

William nods, "Of course. She's doing really great as well and I meant it when I said I would take care of her."

Ayo sighs and nods, "I don't believe though but...Since you brought her back, I will let you go..." He bites the tip of his finger before looking straight at him. "You are not thinking of marrying her right?"

William's eyes widen at the question. "Wait,what? Of course not. My intentions are very pure." He lifts up his hand feigning defeat.

Ayo nods like an elder brother interviewing his younger sister's suitor."Why are you sitting here in your car?" He asks before adding on. " Are you ashamed to come into our house because it's small?"

William grins,"Well...I thought it would better if I stayed here. You want me to come?"

Ayo purses his lips and shrugs, "Okay, suit yourself. You don't need to come anyway."

"Are we buddies now? We're friends right?" William asks him smiling at him.

Ayo places his hand under his jaw as if thinking. "Only if you would bring her to visit again?"

William pauses for a moment, even through he knows that would not be happening, he nods. "Sure little buddy, I will." He stretches out his hand to him. "So we are cool now?"

Ayo shrugs, "We will see."

William smiles as he shakes his head.

"I'm going now, bye." He says to William before he starts walking away but then he pauses and turns to him. " What's your name?"

William grins and folds his hands across his chest. "Why don't you call me what you want buddy, since you already named someone 'black suit'?"

Ayo folds his hand across his chest before he nods, "l will think of a name for you and tell you when next you come."

William smiles, "So you want me to come next time?"

Ayo shrugs, "Well if you come, that's only when my sister will come. It's not like I want you to come or anything." And then he starts walking away.William stares at him leave before he enters into his car.

Ayo walks over to his mom with a smile on his face. "See? Did he break my head?" He asks with sarcasm, bending his head in front of his mother who spanks his head with a frown on her face.

"Why did you go over there?"

Kemi place her hands on her mother's shoulder to calm her down. "It's okay mummy, you know how stubborn Ayo is, there's nothing to be scared of."

Kemi turns to Ayo, "What was he saying to you?"

"It's men's secret." Ayo says pressing his second finger against his mouth before walking into the house. Kemi stares at him walk into the house before she chuckles.

"Oh wow, I have forgotten how his words are usually bigger than his size."

"Wouldn't he get angry if you keep him waiting for long?" Omolara asks referring to William with a worried expression. She still finds the man untrustworthy and hard to believe that he is actually treating her daughter well.

"I'm sure he wouldn't mind."

"Lets go inside then..." She says pulling Kemi behind." And also, that stupid Jayson even came here to find you. ." She started to saying and Kemi's ears open wide with interest.

"Tell me he did not."

MONDAY

9 AM

*WILLIAM'S OTHER HOUSE.*

William sits in the car waiting for Kemi to come so he can take her over to his father's mansion to work as his mother's caretaker. Then, his phone rings. He takes it out and glance at the caller before answering.

"Hello father."

"William, I have an assignment for you and your brother. I need you and Lexis to go over to France and buy arms."'

William furrows his brows, "France? We are buying it our selves? I thought the capos are in charge of that."

"Jacques says he would not sell to us if we send the capos. He needs to see the people in charge."

William sighs. This is the first time his father had given him a mission like this. "I could just go alone, father."

"Do you want me to hand it over to Lexis then? You should be glad I'm sending you."

William sighs before shaking his head, "No no no father, I will work with him. It's fine."

"It's left for the both of you, I don't care how you handle it but just make sure it's done. We're in short of shotguns, especially rifles and muskets. You better don't mess this up." With that the line goes dead.

He withdraws the phone from her ear and sighs. " Why would I work with that bastard?" He rolls his eyes as he rests his head against the seat of the car.

Minutes later, Kemi comes out and enters into the car sitting beside him. She stares at William's gloomy face before asking. "Is...everything okay?"

William turns to her. "Yes, of course. You're good to go?"

She nods, "Yes, I am."

"Start the car. " William says to the driver who obeys and starts driving.

After a while, they reach the mansion and Kemi steps out of the car looking at the surrounding. She recalls when she was first brought to this same place but she was very scared then. It's not like she isn't scared now but it's not as before. Having seen her family, she's so happy and feels more relaxed.

William leads her into the house and to his mother's room. He walks in leaving the door open but Patricia didn't even turn around.

"Hey mom." William says trying to get her attention as he slowly walks close to her.

His mother now turns to him and stares at him like he's a stranger.

She shakes her head, "Lexis says my name is Angie."

William bit his lower lip and gulps hard as he clenches is fist. "Mom your name is Patricia, okay?" He says trying to smile at her.

"But Lexis..."

"Mom! Stop talking about Lexis every f**king time!" He yells at her and when he sees her expression saddens, he sighs and places his hands on is waist. "I'm your son, so listen to me, please." He says the last word so desperately. Kemi walks close to him and places her hands on his shoulder.

"Take it easy with her, it's not her fault."

William turns to her and stares at her. "It's just...She...She obeys and listens to everything that bastard says and it's just...it's..."

Kemi takes his hands and places hers over them. "You are his son and no mother would forget that. She would be fine, I will take of her." She assures him with a smile.

He stares at her as she smiles and then he pulls her into a sudden tight hug. She freezes in shock before she slowly hugs him back.

"It will be fine, hmm?" She pats his back.

He pulls away and gently moves the strand of hair from her face before tucking it behind her ear.

"You have got nice long hair. I like it." He says and smiles at her before he moves closer and kisses her forehead gently.

She blinks at the sudden kiss and gulps before she smiles shyly. "I got it from my mummy, her hair is very long too."

He smiles before letting her go. "I'll be gone for a while, so... I'll come to check up on you once I get back."

Kemi smiles. It feels nice that he says he would come to see her once he's back, it makes it feels like he thinks of her.

William sighs and he glances at his mother once more before he turns and walks out of the room.

As soon as he steps out shutting the door behind him, his eyes grow wide in shock as he sees Ella staring at him with tears in his eyes and her handbag lying on the floor beside her.

"What are you doing here?" He asks as he moves close to her but she looks away from him focusing her eyes to the door of the room.

"Who was that? You have never hugged me like that... You...You kissed her forehead?...William!" She yells his name and William covers her mouth with his hands. "Who is she?" She continues to ask with his hand muffling her voice.

"Shut the hell up Ella! What is wrong with you?"

Ella pulls his hands away from her mouth. "What is wrong with me? Are you asking me that? I just you kissing some girl! I f**king saw her face! Who the f**k is she? Huh? How dare she!" She yells as she starts walking towards the door but William stops her pulling her back.

"F**king calm down Ella! She...She's just someone l brought to take care of my mother. It's nothing!"

"And you were hugging her like that? Kissing your mother's caretaker's forehead?"

William sighs, "There's nothing to be alarmed about Ella, stop making a scene, it's not nice. She... She's just a friend, it's nothing."

Ella scoffs, "So you are saying I should smile with you? Even if you don't love me, do you have to do that? With a caretaker? I can bear it when you sleep around with other girls William, but do you have to stoop so low to a caretaker?!

William covers her mouth again and he glances at the door as if to make sure Kemi did not hear before he starts pulling her along with him by her wrist.

"Let me go! Let me f**king go William!" She struggles to pull away but he keeps dragging her. When they get to the foyer, he pauses when he sees his father standing close to the entrance talking with someone.

Richard turns to them. "Oh Ella, you haven't left yet?" He asks looking at Ella before his eyes travel down to William's grips on her wrist.

He grins, "Having couple's issues again?"

"It's nothing we can't handle father, l've got this." He says as he bows his head before he continues to drag Ella along with him outside.

He forces her into the car but she keeps struggling to come out.

"What exactly do you want Ella? Why do you always embarrass me?"

"I saw you kissing her..."

"For f**k sake! It's not like l was even french kissing her or having sex with her! It was only a peck! What the hell is your problem?"

Ella's face hardens, "So that's it? I should just take it?"

William slides into the car with her. "Let's just go home. I don't have the energy for this."

Ella sighs as she folds her hands across her chest while her mind trails back to Kemi's face that she saw. It hurts her so much that she has to beg for William's attention while this new girl already has it. It doesn't matter if she finds her beautiful, she is nothing but a caretaker. She has always been the one to initiate a kiss with William and this girl gets to have a forehead kiss? Doesn't that mean she's special to him?

She looks through the glass ignoring William who is sitting beside her.

"You better don't think shit." William says as if reading her thoughts but Ella didn't say anything. She keeps planning on how to find out who the girl is. If she cannot get her husband's love, no woman should have his attention.

************

PARIS, FRANCE.

TUESDAY, 3:00PM 2022

Lexis steps down from his private helicopter while Erica walks over to him after coming out from one of the black SUV cars.

"How was your ride?" She asks him as she escorts him to the car.

"Not bad." Lexis says curtly as he makes his way to the car.

"You will be staying at starlight hotels, everything has already been prepared." Erica says.

Lexis nods before entering into the car. As much as he hates the idea of working with William, he doesn't have choice. The arms are very important and after the incident with Pablo, their father doesn't want to leave him alone with duties for now despite his protests. He sighs as he relaxes his head against the seat.

William sits with his personal guard by his side in Camille Dumonet restaurant which is completely empty with no single person present as he waits for Lexis. He has booked the entire restaurant so no one else would come in except them. The two of them are supposed to have a discussion so they can plan on how to carry out the assignment but Lexis has been keeping him waiting for the past 1 hour.

He sighs and is about standing up when he sees Lexis walking into the restaurant alongside with personal guards.

"Going somewhere brother? Are you always so impatient ?" Lexis asks with a grin as he walks over to the table.

He takes his seat opposite him and place his hands on the table staring at William who is glaring at him.

"You kept me waiting for an hour, what the f**k?" William charges at him.

Lexis relaxes his back against the chair. "Oh come on, I just arrived not too long ago. I can't be in such a hurry to meet you, I've got more important things to do."

William scoffs, "Oh, so l don't have important things to do then? You think you're special?"

Lexis shrugs, "I don't care."

"William sighs, "I'm only here for one reason."

"I'm only here for one reason too. Wouldn't it be weird if the two of us came to see each other without a reason?"

William rolls his eyes, "Cut the crap, let's start talking."

Lexis grins and runs his second finger over the side of his chin. "Okay 'big brother'." He says with emphasis.

Then, a waitress walks over to them.

"Welcome to Camille Dumonet restaurant sirs." She gives the menu to the two of them.

William goes through the list before he points at a dish. "Je voudrais Flamiche et un verre de kir (I would like Flamiche and a glass of kir.)" He says to the waitress who beams at him.

"je ne savais pas que vous parliez français monsieur. (I didn't know you speak french sir.)" The waitress says in french with a wide smile and William grins at her. Lexis on the other hand rolls his eyes before tapping the menu list against the table.

"Well, are you taking my order or not?" He asks the waitress staring at her with a bored expression. He can't help but thinks William is trying too hard.

The waitress quickly turns to him. "I'm very sorry sir." She apologizes quickly before collecting the menu from him.

"Just get me pastis."

"Is that all you want sir?" She asks him.

Lexis sighs and tilts his head at her. "Should I order the whole restaurant then?" She asks the waitress with an irritated expression.

She quickly bows apologetically. "I'm sorry sir." She dashes out at once.

"I don't think this Jacques should be trusted." William starts to say.

Lexis furrows his brows,"Why?

" Its obviously because Jacques always back out on deals... " William takes a sip from his drink before continuing. " The last time we sent our capos, he didn't sell the hand guns for the agreed amount."

Lexis shrugs, "Well that's obviously the reason father sent us to take of it."

Williams sighs, "This is so annoying." He says referring to the two of them working together.

Lexis nods his head in agreement holding his drink in his right hand. " The feeling is mutual."

" So what's the plan?" William asks.

"Well we try to reason with him. The guns should be around 50 million naira, there is nothing to fret about.' Lexis says with a shrug.

"If anything goes wrong, it's on you." William shrugs.

Lexis opens his mouth to talk but pauses when the waitress comes back with their orders.

"bon appétit messieurs." She smiles at them.

"Merci." William nods before taking out a fork.

Lexis keeps on a straight face as he takes a sip from his drink.

"We pretend to be alone and if he tries to forfeit, we'll do the right thing." Lexis says as he place the drink on the table.

"And how do you plan to do that?"

Lexis sighs, "I know what I'm doing, okay?"

Williams scoffs, "You always know what you are doing but then you do stupid things."

Lexis didn't say anything but simply takes a sip from his drink.

"I thought you never let go of your people." William says.

Lexis gives him a confused look. "Yeah?"

"I didn't know you were so scared of Alhaji Bawa to just let him get what he wanted."

Lexis sighs placing his drink back on the table as he understands he is talking about Kemi. "I don't fear shit." He says curtly.

William scoffs, "It didn't seem like it."

"I didn't see any reason fit to keep her, so..."He shrugs his shoulders.

"I guess you got scared that you will lose daddy's favor?"

Lexis smiles, "Daddy's favor you say?"

"Of course. If that's not it, then what is it?"

"You sound like you would act differently if father had asked you to release one of your people?"

William shrugs, "Of course I would act differently."

Lexis smiks and nods, "Okay then."

"When are you getting married to Rahila?" William asks knowing it will provoke Lexis.

Lexis rolls his eyes, "I thought you said you wanted her?"

William scoffs, "I was only joking when I said that. She might be hot and all but she's Alhaji Bawa's daughter and the man's gross."

Lexis tilts his head, "Oh come on William, you can marry her as a second wife. It won't be that bad."

William rolls his eyes, "I'm content, thank you."

Lexis scoffs, "Oh come on, don't tell me you're faithful to your wife. You definitely f**k other girls, don't you?"

William shrugs, "So what if I do?"

Lexis laughs lightly, "How sweet. It's sad how Ella turns a blind eye to it though. You know deep down brother, you're way worse than me."

William clenches his jaw but didn't say anything.

Xoxo