Chapter 57: Chapter 57

*LEXIS'S HOUSE*

"The consigliere got into an accident." Erica says as she enters into Lexis's office. He didn't look up from what he's doing but simply pauses.

"When?" He asks plainly.

"Last night. He seemed to be returning from the boss’s mansion when it happened. He was probably returning from seeing his sick mother." She explains now standing in front of his table.

He sighs, "He shouldn't die just yet; I'll be bored." He says with sarcasm as he continues typing on his laptop while Erica sighs. He pauses and looks up to her. "Why did you sigh?" He asks with no expression.

She blinks staring at him, "Um...No reason particularly."

Lexis twitches his lips, "Send him flowers." He says with an unbothered expression as he focuses on typing on his laptop.

"That girl... She's at the boss’s mansion, do you know?" She asks him.

Lexis pauses, "Which girl?"

"The girl you made your PA when Ron was sick, the um... Oh yes, Kemi. She's been living at the boss’s mansion and I thought I should inform you."

Lexis continues with what he's doing showing no much interest in what Erica is saying.

"I've seen her already." He shrugs. “I guess Alhaji Bawa got tired of her and brought her back." He says as he keeps focusing on what he's doing.

Erica pauses without saying anything as she goes into thought. She wonders what Kemi could be doing at the family mansion? She reasons that if the underboss had given her to Alhaji Bawa, there's no way she would be at the family mansion except if Alhaji Bawa brought her back. And if that's the case, Alhaji Bawa would have brought her back to Lexis's house and not the family mansion. She can’t help but suspect that something is not right but she cannot just put a finger to what. Since the underboss does not seem interested, it would be nosy if she digs into it more, so she decides to drop it.

"The consigliere has been very quiet lately. He hasn't been up to anything but I find that suspicious." She says in a serious tone.

Lexis sighs still showing an unbothered expression," He's probably preoccupied with irrelevant things, do not let that bother you."

Erica nods even though she still has a lot going on in her mind. "What would you do about Rahila?" She asks changing the topic.

Lexis stops typing and blinks as he stares blankly at the table. He sighs before relaxing into the sofa. "She's just like one of those women who are fantasizing about me; I bet she would get tired soon." He says with a shrug.

"I don't think so underboss. She's very determined and hell bent on what she wants." She sighs. "If something is not done, you might end up a married man before you know it."

Lexis scoffs and looks up at her. "Are you talking about me or someone else, Erica?"

Erica lowers her head, "I don't doubt you underboss, I was only..."

He waves her off before standing up from the chair. "That's not what you should be bothering yourself with.” He takes up a glass of wine on the table before turning to her. "What about what I asked you to do? Is it done?"

"Anthony is not in the country. He has fled but I'm very sure he's not working alone." She gives him the report while standing like a soldier in front of her commander.

Lexis nods, "I suspected that. So then, did you find out who he's working with?"

She pauses as she chews on her lower lips."Um...My men are on that."

Lexis sighs as he slowly takes a sip from the wine. “That’s not supposed to take much time, Erica. I'm not very patient you know."

"It would be done soon underboss."

He shrugs, "Okay then. And what about Mr. Akinwole, did you take care of him?"

"Yes." She nods confidently. “He will no longer be a problem." She assures him with a slight grin on her face.

Lexis is the type that never allows any obstacle alters his plans, so he ensures anything or anyone that would stand in his part, be gotten rid of. Mr Akinwole, one of the biggest shareholders in their company, is making things difficult, so he had to take care of it. He didn't kill him, no. As much as he wouldn’t mind to, he didn’t. That would be too rash and foolish. Rather, he made sure to have Mr Akinwole on his side. What could the man do when his secret and corrupt ways could be leaked by Lexis?

Lexis nods as he slowly walks towards the door but then he pauses when he notices Erica isn't following him. "Are you not coming?"

She didn't say anything nor even move. She cares about the underboss a lot and the fact that he underestimates his brother leaves her with unsettling feelings. She would have to make sure...

"Erica!"

She jerks out of her thought and quickly walks over to him.

"I'm sorry underboss."

"Is there a problem?" He asks staring at her with an expressionless face.

She shakes her head, "No, none at all."

"Then focus." He says in a serious tone before walking out of the office room while she follows suit.

***********

THE FAMILY MANSION

(A day after William was brought to the family mansion.)

William lies on the bed in his room while Ella sits beside him focusing on her phone. He winces as he tries to tilt his head to her.

"You don't have to sit here and nurse me like a baby, you can leave." He says to her.

She looks up from her phone, "Don't say that baby..." She pouts her lips. "I'm your wife so you don't expect me to just leave you here on your own. I need to be here with you."

Just then, her phone rings and she glances at the caller before placing it on her ear. "Yes, Mrs. Kate?" She says to the caller with a smile on her face and after listening to what the caller says, she adds on."I thought the designs you want are the customized ones?" After listening to the caller, she nods, "Just hold on, I'll be there shortly." She hangs up putting the phone back into her bag.

She turns to William and gently takes his hand, caressing it. "Um... Babe, I really have to rush off to handle something. I'll be back real quick."

William didn't say anything but simply nods. She smiles before reaching down to kiss him gently on both cheeks. "I'll see you later, I love you." She says with a smile staring at him as if waiting for a response. When he doesn’t say anything, she sighs and walks out of the room.

****

Kemi brings Patricia's breakfast to her in the room and places it on the table. Patricia is lying on the bed staring at the ceiling and she didn't even turn her head when Kemi walked in.

"You should have your breakfast now." She says to her and that's only when she tilts her head to her direction staring at Kemi like she's a stranger without saying anything.

Kemi smiles knowing that she hasn't recognized her and it would take up to an hour or more for her recall who she is.

"You should eat now, Mrs. Patricia." She says again as she opens the plate of food before pouring juice into a glass.

Patricia slowly sits up and moves closer to the table, staring at the food like its poison or something she has never seen before.

"You don't like the food?" Kemi asks her.

Patricia didn't say anything but gently takes up the cutlery. Just then, someone knocks on the door and Kemi turns to it. She walks over to the door and slightly opens it, revealing a young girl who is carrying a basket containing blankets. Kemi stares at her and figures she's a maid in the house.

"I want to change her bed sheet." The girl says to her.

"Oh." Is the only thing Kemi says before walking over to Patricia. "Mrs. Patricia, please sit on the couch first."

Patricia lifts up her head to look at them before she nods and stands up to sit on the couch. Then the girl walks over to start removing the bed sheet.

"Are you the only one in charge of changing the bed sheets?" Kemi asks her standing beside Patricia who is eating her food. She can't help but wonder if the girl is the only one changing the bed sheets in the whole mansion, seeing the several bed sheets with her.

The girl turns to her. "Yes." She sighs before adding on."I still have more rooms to go to and I also have to be in the kitchen." She shakes her head as she unzips the bed cover on the bed. "I might end up in trouble."

"I thought there are other maids in the house."

"Yes, there are but we are not so much. The master doesn't like too many strange people in his house so the maids working here are no more than four."

Four maids? In this huge mansion? Even if it's possible for them to take care of the mansion, Kemi just can't see why they are so few. The work would be too much and also the pressure.

"What's your name?" Kemi asks.

"It's Sofia. Yours?" The girl asks in return.

"It's Kemi."

"I must say, you're lucky to be working as Mrs. Patricia's caretaker. Its way much easier. How did you even get the job? Sir William has fired all the previous caretakers and I never thought that any other person would come again."

"Didn't they leave on their own accord?"

Sofia turns to her. "Their own accord? Why would they leave when they get paid heavily?”

“He's not the patient type so if they do anything he doesn't like, he fires them at once." She explains before focusing back on changing the bed sheet.

"I see." Kemi nods. This is different from what William had told her or probably, she was the one who misunderstood?

"What are the places left for you to change the sheets?" She asks.

Sofia turns to her, "You want to help?" She asks quickly with hopeful eyes.

Kemi moves her eyes from side to side wondering why Sofia’s excited when she is only asking.

"Um..." She starts to say.

Sofia walks over to her with excitement and grabs her hands. "I knew you were a very kind person when I first saw you in this house. How nice of you to offer to help..."

Kemi blinks at her in puzzle, "H-Help?"

Sofia smiles widely. "Thank you so much adorable Kemi. The places left are not much." With that, she hands over the basket to her and a paper containing the places left to change.”

Kemi looks at them with a confused expression. She looks up to see Sofia smiling widely like she has seen her savior. She sighs before glancing at the paper. The rooms remaining are not much and won't take much of her time but she worries about leaving Mrs. Patricia alone so early in the morning.

"Um... I don't know..." She starts to say.

"I get it...” Sofia says making a sad face. "You must be busy, it's fine." She says as she turns around to continue straightening the bed sheets.

Kemi sighs and she starts to feel guilty. Since it won't take much of her time, she could just try.

Kemi looks up at her, "I will help."

Sofia smile widens, "Oh thank you so much. Um... Please start with Sir William's room first."

Kemi's eyes widen, "Will... Sir William? Is he here?"

Sofia nods, "Yes he is. He should be in his room."

"Oh okay."

Kemi lowers her eyes. She has been worried about how he is doing and has wanted to see him. She could use this chance to see him and check up on him. She reaches for the basket in Sofia's hand.

Sofia stares at her for a while before smiling. "Thanks Kemi, I really appreciate." She finishes with the bed and starts walking away.

Kemi sighs and place the basket on the floor before turning to Patricia who is still not done with her food.

"Mrs. Patricia, I'll be right back, okay?" She takes out a book and writes down for her to call the number when she needs anything.

"Alright." Patricia nods before Kemi picks up the basket containing the blankets and starts to leaves the room but pauses.

"You might not recall for now that William is your son but...Would you like to come with me? He is sick and would be happy to see you." She says to her.

Patricia's lashes shoot up and she turns to her. It's as if she's about to say something but she pauses and sighs.

"I will stay here."

Kemi nods, "Okay." And then, Kemi leaves the room. As soon as she leaves, Patricia stands up from the chair and walks over to the window. She takes a deep breath and stares through at the huge compound without a word.

Xoxo