Chapter 34: Chapter 34

"Why are you just coming?" Nikki barked as she opened the door for her sister.

Lisha lifted her brows before walking into the house while Nikki banged the door behind her.

"Lisha! Why are you just coming?" Nikki gritted while trying so hard not to flare up.

"It doesn't concern you," Lisha snapped, she was also trying to contain her anger.

"You didn't come home last night and you're asking how it's my concern, for goodness sake, I'm your sister, I was worried sick throughout last night," she gestured with her whole body while moving closer to her sister.

Lisha turned back to her before scoffing, "So, you can call yourself my sister?" She shook her head.

"What do you mean? You couldn't even call last night to inform me that you would stay out late, did anything happen?" She asked in a cursory manner.

Lisha smirked, "Did you wish for anything bad to happen?"

Nikki puckered her brows, "I don't understand you."

Lisha smiled, "Well, you can't," then she proceeded to leave but Nikki who wasn't satisfied by her response and who didn't expect such calmness from her pulled her back.

"Don't you have anything to say to me?"

Lisha scrunched up her face, "Do you want me to say something?"

She shook her head in return and Lisha took that as a cue to leave while Nikki stared back at her retreating figure. Why was she calm? Why didn't she shout at her? Why did she pretend like something didn't happen? Didn't she get the pictures yesterday? Why was she acting indifferent towards it? Did she spend the night at Jimi's place? She shook her head before answering her question herself, "It can't be possible, they are meant to have a fight or probably should have ended things by now," she assured herself but What if....what if...different thoughts tumbled in Nikki's head.

Nikki sat down dejectedly before throwing the pillow by her side in annoyance.

After Lisha changed into a casual wear, she sauntered to the kitchen but not without glancing at Nikki who was seated on the couch looking forlorn. Lisha smiled at herself before walking into the kitchen to prepare breakfast.

Anger rose in Nikki like a tide when she heard Lisha singing loudly and happily from the kitchen. Why was she happy? Is she insane? She expected her to be more than sad but it was the reverse. What really happened? Didn't she plan her work well? Thoughts like this raced furiously through Nikki's head and she knew if she didn't get any answer, she might go Gaga.

"Why are you here?" Lisha asked as she turned off the cooker.

"Can't I come to the kitchen again?" Nikki asked with a smile she was trying so hard to form which eventually ended up as a stretch.

"This is somewhere you despise or rather succinctly, somewhere you don't like coming to," Lisha replied while placing the pot of soup on the four-sided gas burner.

"You look so cheerful today, what's going on?" She formed a wide smile and feigned interest.

"Look? No, I've always been, being cheerful is my nature."

Nikki pressed her lips together, "But today seems somehow different, it's like something happened so differently."

A cunning smile swamped Lisha's face before waving at Nikki to come closer then she leaned closer to her ear, "You know I actually slept at Jimi's place last night though we didn't really catch fun 'cause he was drowsy throughout but then I'm still happy," she ended it with a smirk and Nikki gawked at her with shock written all over her face.

Just as she opened her mouth to talk, Lisha hindered her, "Breakfast is ready, call Miracle to come down."

Just like that, Nikki walked out of the kitchen like a lifeless body but not without taking another look at the chuffed Lisha. Didn't she believe the picture? Why on earth did she sleep over at his place? Thoughts like this raised through her head till she got to her daughter's roomm

When Nikki got back with Miracle, the table was already set, so, they just joined Lisha who had already started eating her breakfast of dodo and egg, though she already had breakfast at Jimi's place but she just decided to eat again.

They all ate in silence while Lisha smiled sheepishly at Nikki who was seething in anger. Rage nearly consumed her as the silence was killing her, so, immediately Miracle finished her meal and went back to her room, Nikki decided to voice out.

"Lisha stop all this bollocks and talk!" Nikki thundered. She was tired of this her apathetic attitude which was in return almost driving her nuts.

Lisha took a gulp from the grape wine by her side before replying, "And by bollocks, you mean me eating and drinking?"

That fuelled up Nikki's anger as she banged the table, "Why are you acting so nonchalant about this, is that how dense you are? Don't tell me you're blinded by love because any sane person would have had a disagreement with her boyfriend or perhaps broken up with him!"

Lisha erupted into a piercing laughter, she'd been waiting for Nikki to pour out her mind, she wanted her to confirm it. She'd intentionally frustrated her by giving her the indifferent attitude, she wanted her to confess her sins herself.

The previous day after Lisha had seen the pictures sent to her phone, at first anger twisted in her but she trusted Jimi, she knew he couldn't do that to her and if he actually wanted to, not in his office where he knew she could barge in any time. He wasn't that stupid.

Several pictures where Jimi was being all cozy with a lady had been sent to her, where she was seated on his laps, where she had her hands round his neck, where they were kissing and so many wanton pictures though the ladies face didn't show but Lisha who had her curiosity zoomed the picture to the lady's face, then she noticed the tiny birthmark behind the lady's right ear before she erupted into laughter.

She had her suspicions and that birthmark only confirmed it for her, the birthmark was like a signature in their family, they all had it behind their right ear, even Miracle. So, she just continued with her work, when she got uneasy, Lisha decided to go to Jimi's office.

Barging in as usual, she realized his head was on his table which was unlikely of him, so, she moved closer to him only to find out he was sleeping deeply. She shook him vigorously for some minutes and after realizing he didn't move at all, she knew something was wrong, main reason, Nikki was able to do that nonsense, so, she just walked out of his office and turned to his secretary with a smirk.

"Did he have his coffee today?" Lisha inquired and Anu looked up from her laptop.

"Of course, he doesn't miss it at all," Anu replied with a warm smile.

"Why did you drug him?"

Anu's heart stopped momentarily for a second before she finally found her voice, "What...how do you mean?"

Lisha banged the table furiously as she leaned closer to her, "Tell me, did you put anything in his coffee?"

Anu shuddered as she shook her head, Lisha was really scaring her. What did she mean by drug him? Was something wrong with him?

"Then, who did it?" Lisha bellowed as anger twisted in her.

"I....hmm...I don't know what you're talking about?" Anu stuttered.

"You served him the drink, right?" Lisha yelled while glaring daggers at Anu. If looks could kill, she'll surely be six-feet under.

"Yes," she managed to say. She knew better than to keep mute, Lisha was a case on her own and everyone in MAPLE knew her.

Lisha grabbed her wrist fiercefully, "Now, tell me, who ordered you?"

Anu shook her head, "No one," she replied with fear radiating in her voice.

She jerked her hand away and before Anu could get a hold of herself, a reverberating slap landed on her face, she blinked twice before realising what just happened.

"Now, tell me, who instructed you?" Lisha queried again as Anu's head rang.

Just then her mind flashed back to that time and everything became clear to her, "Actually, I didn't make his coffee, I begged Nikki to do it," she confessed. Lisha patted her hair before walking back to Jimi's office.

She decided it was best to take him home, after many failed attempts to wake him up she called Hanmi who came rushing to his office in minutes, then they both drove him home. It wasn't until midnight that he eventually woke up.

"Lisha!" Nikki roared and Lisha turned to her gently snapping out of her thoughts.

"I know you were the one and I've decided to let it off, you don't deserve my anger."

Nikki's jaw dropped, "And you think he didn't come to me himself, why would you believe his lie? Take it or leave it, he came to me himself," she placed her hands on her hips confidently.

Lisha threw her head back as laughter gurgled out of her mouth and that pissed Nikki off, after what felt like infinity, she stopped the laughter and faced Nikki squarely, "I choose to believe what I want to, I know it was all planned by you, well done Nikki but you should work harder next time," She ended it with a thunderous clap which left Nikki speechless. What kind of creature was her sister?

Fury twisted in Nikki's heart as she glared at Lisha with her nose flaring underneath blazing eyes, if looks could kill, Lisha would have been a dead being that instant.

Lisha got up from the dining chair and smiled at Nikki before talking, "I'll advise you think thoroughly next time before taking any rash decision, I'm more intelligent than you think, anyway, I'm off to my boyfriend's place, you can continue wallowing in self pity or thinking of the next step to take," she ended it with a cool smile before strutting away.

Nikki glowered at her retreating figure before smashing the flower vase placed at the centre of the coffee table at the wall, she watched it shatter into pieces. Did all her plans just shatter like the vase?