Chapter 48: Chapter 48

~Third person's POV~

As William drives back to the mansion, Kemi steps out of the car. He walks beside her through the entrance holding her hand before stopping at the staircase.

She turns to him, "You should go now." She says in a low voice looking to the ground.

He grins and lifts her chin with his index finger. "Are chasing me away?" He feigns a sad face.

She looks at him and shakes her head quickly. "No...No I'm not. I just meant to say..."

William smiles and cuts her off by kissing her gently on the cheek. "I will see you later."

She licks her lower lip and nods shyly, "Okay."

He smiles and caresses her hair before walking away while Kemi watches him leave. She sighs and starts walking up the stairs. As she gets to the first floor, she pauses at the figure that stands in front of her. No one needs to tell her that this should be the boss of the house even if she's never seen him before.

Richard stands there with his guards as he stares at her with a puzzled expression. He doesn't usually come over to this side of the house but he decided to take a walk to the Florida room and this is his first time of seeing Kemi. He tilts his head to one of his guards.

"Is she a maid here?" He asks.

"She is here as the consigliere's mother's caretaker boss." The guard answers.

Richard looks at her again with a frown on his face. "Isn't she too pretty for a caretaker? Does she do other 'things'?" Richard asks emphasizing the last word.

The guard looks at Kemi who remains standing close to the rail staring at them.

"I don't think so boss." The guard answers.

Kemi quickly walks closer and bows her head before him. "Good evening sir."

He stares at her without saying anything and then, he walks pass her with his guards. She quickly goes over to Patricia's room where she meets her going through a book.

"Mrs. Patricia..." She calls out as she walks over to her." What are you reading?"

Patricia turns to her. "Where did you go?" She asks with a frown on her face.

Kemi smiles and sits close to her. "I um...I went out with a friend."

"A friend? You have been gone for hours. I calculated the time you left."

"So you recalled that I left?" Kemi asks smiling widely.

"Of course. I wrote it down when you said you were going to get something. You lied, didn't you?"

Kemi places her hands over her shoulders. "I'm sorry I took long. My friend was the one who dragged me away."

"You mean your boyfriend?" She gives her a knowing look.

Kemi purses her lips, "No, it was...It was your son."

"My son?"

Kemi nods,"Yes, your son."

Patricia opens the book and starts to go through it before she pauses on a page.

Then she turns to Kemi. "William?"

Kemi nods, "Yes, William."

Patricia sighs, "Okay. You seem like you enjoyed going with your friend than staying here."

Kemi chuckles lightly, "Of course not. I like it here better."

She rests her head on Patricia's shoulder. Then she sighs, "Mrs. Patricia?"

"Hmm?" Patricia answers.

"Why do you remember Lexis, and not your son?"

Patricia keeps quiet and her body tenses at the question.

"Lexis.." She repeats the name as she stares at the floor.

Kemi lifts up her head from her shoulders to look at her. "Did you write it down somewhere or you remember it off hand?"

Patricia fidgets with her fingers. "Lexis..." Patricia says again with a sad look on her face and then she turns to Kemi. "I don't know...but Lexis said I'm Angie and for some reasons, the name always sound really familiar...He also said that I shouldn't be alive and that death would be much easier... His words sticks to my head mostly and I don't know why... At times, I get the feeling that he's right." She pauses before adding on. "Angie..." She says the name in almost a whisper. "That name is just too familiar...but I can't remember..." She sighs as her expression becomes frustrated. "I can't... What if it's something I should not remember? What if..."

Kemi places her hands on hers and smiles her her. "It would be fine. You don't have to listen to people.You will remember everything little by little. Your son misses and loves you a lot."

Patricia looks at her before saying, "Lexis...Richard...Angie...Serena..." She calls out the names in a low voice as she reads them from the book. "They're too familiar, too familiar that it...It hurts so much, it hurts each time small fragment of memories come to me." Tears start to steam down her cheeks and Kemi pulls her into a tight hug.

"Don't think too much. Instead, make new memories. Even if you forget about the new memories, make new ones and later, you will recall all the sweet memories that you have forgotten. Just allow new ones in."

Patricia's body trembles as she cries into the crook of Kemi's neck. "I try...I try so hard to act normal...but just when things are...when things are becoming nice, I forget them... I'm just useless." She looks down as tears fall from her eyes.

"You're not..." Kemi wipes her eyes with her thumb. " You're not useless, and your son, William, loves you. Don't lose hope, it would be fine."

Patricia smiles weakly at her and nods. "Thank you."

*ALHAJI BAWA'S HOUSE*

"How did it go with the Adenuga's? Did they agree to partner with us?" Alhaji Bawa asks as he climbs down the stairs with his assistant, Terri, who walks down beside him.

"It won't be easy sir. They said we're not trusted enough."

Alhaji Bawa turns to him with a deep frown on his face.

"We are not what? Why would they say that? Can't they see that we have enough funds to take care of everything?"

Terri bows his head, "It's not about fund this time, Alhaji."

Alhaji Bawa sighs before he continues walking down the stairs. He has been trying to become business partners with one of the richest companies in the country but it's not been easy. He needs to be aligned with a company that's not only rich but more trusted.

This is one of the reasons why he wants his daughter to marry Lexis, so the two companies would become one legally but it's just not going as planned. Rahila has been making it difficult for him saying she would not marry anyone but ever since they returned from Richard's party, he has not brought it up.

"Where is Rahila?" He asks Terri.

"She should be in her room sir." Terri answers quickly.

"Call her for..." He pauses as he sees Rahila walking over to him. She stands by the rail staring up at her father with a smile on her face.

Alhaji Bawa stares at her in puzzle.

"I was about calling for you..." He says as he walks to where she is. "Let's talk in the sitting room." He says to her.

"I have something to talk to you about as well." Rahila says as she starts walking beside him.

Alhaji Bawa turns to her. "Oh really?"

She nods, "Of course, a veeerrrryyy important discussion !" She says smiling as she emphasizes on the 'very'.

Alhaji Bawa nods, "Okay then. By the way, where is your brother?"

Rahila scoffs, "That one? He should be partying somewhere or f**king around as usual."

Alhaji Bawa sighs, "Aadhil..." He murmurs before shaking his head. They enter into the sitting room and Rahila sits opposite her father crossing her right leg over the other.

"So I wanted to talk to you about something..."She starts to say.

"I will listen to you first." Alhaji Bawa says.

"You once mentioned marriage to me when I was abroad..."

"Which you brushed off, saying you weren't interested." Alhaji says cutting her off.

She smiles, "Well yes, I did say that but you never told me the person I'm marrying would be so hot and handsome. I did a little thinking, and I have decided to marry him." She shrugs.

Alhaji Bawa sighs, "I did tell you that he's Richard Lawal's son."

She shrugs, "I didn't know he is the 'Richard Lawal's son' you were talking about. I mean, I thought it was going to be one ugly guy."

Alhaji Bawa shakes his head, "It's a good thing you decided to marry him because I was already prepared to force you to."

Rahila smiles giving her father a knowing look. "Of course, I want to marry him, no need to force me at all." She relaxes into the sofa. "I will marry Lexis father, I really like him."

Alhaji Bawa chuckles, "I'm glad we're on the same page now. I will talk to Mr.Lawal."

Rahila nods, "Alright father. I'm off now." She stands up and walks out of the room.

Alhaji Bawa grins and shakes his head. He stretches out his hand and Terri runs over to give him his phone. He collects it and dials Richard's number. After the second ring, Richard picks up.

"Hello Alhaji." Richard says at the other end of the call.

*THE LAWAL'S FAMILY MANSION.*

Lexis sits opposite his father on the table with a frown on his face.

"What's so bad if you marry her?" Richard asks as he's already getting annoyed. He has been arguing with Lexis about him marrying Rahila since and the conversation isn't getting anywhere.

"We've talked about this before, father. I do not want anything to do with that man."

Richard sighs and rolls his eyes. "You're marrying his daughter for goodness sake, not him!" He hits his fist against the table.

"I don't want him to be legally partnered with us. He would end up being a huge problem for me."

"You're marrying her and that's final."

"You don't just tell me shit and expect me to agree with you!" Lexis blurts out as he hits his fist on the table.

Richard stands up to his fist feet clenching his fist. "Don't you dare raise your voice at me! You will do as l say!"

"I told you that I'll get married when I'm ready.Who the hell forces marriage nowadays?" Lexis charges back at him.

"I'm not going to wait for you to get married and then you bring me some slut or..."

"You said you will not interfere with my marriage life!"

"Well I have changed my mind! You will get married to Rahila! This is business, Alexander!"

Lexis bit his lower lip as he clenches his fist in anger and then he stands up abruptly, "I can handle the business myself! I don't want anyone's interference!"

"Why do you make things difficult? It's just marriage! It doesn't mean shit!"

"Well how would you even know the meaning of marriage when you couldn't even save yours?"Lexis says glaring at Richard who stares at him with wide eyes

Lexis sighs, "That didn't come out well... but I'm still not getting married." He sits down back on the chair.

Richard bit his lower lips as he stares at Lexis. He sighs."I swear to God if you don't get this done with..." He leans towards Lexis on the table. "You should find your self a new father."

Lexis stares back at him without flinching. It's as if the words mean nothing to him, which of course actually doesn't. He sighs heavily before standing up again.

"Don't blame me when things go wrong, because l won't let a woman cling to me like a leach." He says as he starts walking away.

"I will arrange for the wedding." Richard says relaxing in his chair.

Lexis sighs and without saying anything, he exits the room.

Richard shakes his head, "Stubborn as hell."

Xoxo.

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