Chapter 23: Chapter 23

THE WEB TIGHTENS

"Tick, tick, tick, tick", Khalid said.

"Your times ticking man!!", Khalid reminded Rashid, he was left with a month more before the time given to him by his uncle, Farouq, elapses.

"You seem to always come here, reminding me of my predicaments right?", Rashid groaned.

His lips quirked upward in a smile.

"This week you've been smiling, I should know why you suddenly have been smiling when you're meant to be finding ways to get back your wife?", Khalid effused, walking towards the pool as he snatched the wine Rashid was holding away from his hands.

"It's the drink, fifty-five percent alcohol?, This is way too much, mate!!", Khalid snapped.

"It's not the drink and whereas we drank something more than this when we were little, like teens. We took seventy percent to ninety percent, so why are you acting so unbearable. Give that to me now!!", Rashid deadpanned.

"First, I should know what's going on in that crazy head of yours", Khalid insisted.

"Of course, you always want to know everything", he stared at his bestfriend for a while before laying back on the lounge sofa.

"The wine first", Rashid smirked.

"I won't. Sure this new plan of yours would be a great hit, but you just keeping it to yourself doesn't make sense at all. Share it", Khalid retorted.

Rashid hesitated for a while before answering.

"The company", he said, a Stern look crossing his features.

"Which company are you talking about?", Khalid questioned.

"Bella's Modelling Agency", Rashid replied.

"You mean the fashion house Janelle is working for?", Khalid questioned.

"Of course, which other Bella's Modelling Agency am I talking about", Rashid slurred.

"I hope it ain't what I'm thinking?", Khalid snapped.

"Maybe I should first know what's going on in your head", Rashid brought out a stick of cigarette from it's pack and lit it.

"Are you thinking of buying the company?, That would be too much on her Rashid!!, Mate you have to think about the mental state you would put her in", Khalid jabbed.

"I don't care Khalid, you don't know my current mental state. I found her, that's the most important thing, but of what need would finding her be if I don't dominate her, make her fall to my whims, I need to bend all edge, if not... Janelle is one stubborn woman, she wouldn't just give in like that. She would not believe that I found out she wasn't cheating. She's too smart", Rashid said as he puffed out smoke from his nostrils.

"This is too much", Khalid snapped, dragging the lit stick of cigarette from Rashids' hand.

"Keep that to yourself, I'm still carrying on with the plans I have in my head", he smirked.

"Trap the company. From the sources of information I've been gathering, the agency is at its loophole, they need handful of stakeholders, if I should go as far as buying it, then it would be better", Rashid pointed out.

"Is that how you would get the lady back?", Khalid arched a brow.

"That wouldn't be taking a smart move. Next. I would make them transfer her to the modelling agency here", Rashid said.

He had everything well planned out. Now, he had to make sure it goes well with all his plans, of course, the manager would give in.

Most of the fashion shows he had been hosting were all gotten from loans, and now all were at his neck, they wanted their money back or they would go for his company, sell it, collect the money he had borrowed from them and give him the rest, if it would even remain.

He had used his company as a collateral for the loan he collected from the bank.

He had to give in to Rashid or his company would be sold out at a lesser and unfavorable price.

"The man used his greatest asset for collateral. Once I pay off the loans, he has to answer to me", Rashid crossed his legs atop each other.

"More like you would become the real owner, while he's the social owner. You're smart mate, but even at that, you could bring her back to your territory, but would you also be able to win back her heart?", the question was left hanging between the both of them.

Rashid looked up as his gaze collided with that of his best friend. His look was unappreciative. He clearly was worn out by the question Khalid threw at him.

"When it's time I would cross over the bridge too", his nostrils flared, him too was uncertain, very uncertain about it. He hadn't cared to know if she really committed adultery, he wasn't there for her when she needed him so much. He had treated her like an ostracized she-goat, who had no one to go to.

Of course she had no one to go to, since she had turn her back on her family for him. Left school for him. Left the most important things behind because of the love she had for him. So he was sure he had less than ten percent chance in that aspect.

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JANELLE'S POV (Leilani Gerald)

Yesterday night after the show we did in the CHASE house for a television series, I was extremely tired, so tired that I couldn't even take myself home. it was almost like though I should sleep in the office, but of course not, it was unheard of.

Delilah!!!.

She was a pain in the ass, earlier after the show yesterday night, I kept complaining continuously about my aching joints and how I didn't even have the strength to go home, pleading with her to stay over in her house.

She told me a flat no, her wife was a jealous type of person and since she talked about me half of the moment she spends with her wife, her wife had been seeing me as a competition.

So remembering all of it, I decided not to pressurize her further.

I was alone in my office for almost thirty minutes at a point I thought she must have gone home since I could not hear her voice again.

I had given up hope of going home, until someone poked through the door, I squinted my eyes, trying to know who the person was, when I saw her red hair.

"God!!!, Delilah?, I thought you must have gone home, you should be home by now, so she wouldn't think we decided to do it in the office and that would be worst, she might come to make a show by the morrow", I adviced, a hint of tease in my voice but also pleading with her to go home.

"Don't worry, I just need to reboot, within ten to fifteen minutes I would have gotten myself, you need not worry", I continued, who was I deceiving. Even in the next three hours to come I don't think I would have gotten myself, sincerely within the past three months, I haven't gotten myself, always thinking and thinking, skipping my meals, I could see the bone in my neck, not just me, but even the manger had at a time called me to his office and asked me if I really was okay.

I had dismissed him by saying I was only trying to keep fit.

"My wife agreed, she said just for the night", Delilah said.

My eyes widened in surprise, I didn't buy what she was saying.

She brought out her phone and showed me a text message coming from her wife, Gabriella.

"It's fine with me, just come home immediately", that was the text I read from her phone. My lips curved in a smile, finally, she had gradually stopped seeing me as a competition.

I was glad, Delilah was a friend, a very good friend, more than a best friend and a sister. She meant so much to me and I owe her a lot for everything.

She grabbed my purse, dropped it in my hand bag as she dragged me up from the seat.

"You really have loose some weight", she shrieked.

She turned off the light and walked out, we began heading down the stairs, as I walked ahead, while she was behind me.

Some of the models were still around, probably looking for who they would spend the night with, it was another Friday, they could go to the club, hangout with friends... and so on. While I was on my way to dump my fat, lazy ass on my king sized bed, which could easily accommodate five to eight people.

I saw a black Bentley parked right outside the company gate and beside it stood Dante.

I turned to look at Delilah, she had this oops, I know you got me, but you have no other choice kind of face.

"Delilah!!", I snapped, I wasn't angry, No. I was only mad that she had to stress this lovely man out of his house by this time of the night, it was late to make him drive almost thirty kilometers to this place, although I know he came with his chauffer, yet, it was simply insane.

"You said...", she butted me in immediately.

"Yeah I asked Gabriella if I could get her a box of chicken pizza, and she replied me with, IT'S FINE WITH ME, JUST COME HOME IMMEDIATELY, I know if I hadn't done that you would still have your butt in that comfy seat of yours", she grinned.

I placed the back of my palm against my forehead, I had fallen so easily to her plot.

She carelessly threw my bag at me before heading towards Dante.

"MR DANTE KINCAID, I hope you take proper care of MISS LEILANI GERALD", she smirked, before walking closer to him.

"I trust you could make her night the most memorable night of hers, no question there, you're properly fit to do that", she whispered in his ear, but of course I heard it, or maybe it was all an act as she wanted me to hear everything.

She walked to her car and drove out immediately, not before winking at me and blowing me a kiss in the air.

I hugged my hands around my body, it was extremely cold out here.

"Good Evening, I hope you had a nice day", I purred, almost gritting my teeth together, due to the cold. The dress I put on was a bodycon dress and I hadn't even bothered to put on a bra, simply because there was nothing to cup. Just a pair of nipples.

The air slapped against my dress, making it hold firmly to my body, exposing and curbing my thickly erected nipples.

I heard him take in a deep breathe, before walking closer to me.

"It wasn't good", he opined.

"Why?", I arched my brow as he threw his jacket over me in that lazy duress of his.

"My mind was filled up with thoughts of you. I just couldn't think straight", he drawled.

I didn't reply, he dipped his head down and just as he was about to kiss me on my lips, I turned immediately as it landed on my cheeks. His brows dipped in a frown, it cleared off immediately, it was almost like though I didn't see him frown.

He rested his forehead against mine, and that was when I noticed a flash of light shine at me.

Someone had been taking pictures.

@Authoress Jane on Instagram. Thanks for Y'all's support, I'd need your extra comments, since we barely profit from coins.