"Painted a picture, I thought I knew you well.. I got a habit of seeing what isn't there..needed something to believe in"

Unknown person's POV

"Where the hell are they?" the leader says to himself. Playing with a pen, sliding through his fingers.
"But we just did the operation today sir.. They might have not even gotten home yet. Who knows what they do for a living" one of his men says rolling his eyes.

He looks down to his shoes thinking ' what have I done??'
The boss laughs hysterically. He gets up from his Chair. Walking towards the prey, he claps loudly and walks slowly.
Now, face to face with his servant. He smiles at him. But this wasn't a good smile.. It was a 'happy death day' smile.
Shakily, his servant takes a few steps back.

"Get rid of him." he snaps to some boys guarding the door.
"Boss, I'm sorry. I didn't mean-

Before he knew it, he's being carried by two strong men. He struggles to set free, he succeeds and runs back to the man. He bends down kissing his shined black boots. The boss smirks at him.

" Please sir. I promise not to make that mistake again. Please" he says still bowing down, almost weeping.
"Pathetic" the boss says rolling his eyes. He raised a week man, he thought to himself.

"Last warning" he says to him coldly. Kicking him of his boots, he turns around to the open view, glancing at the whole city.

I need this money sooner or later.

***
Vera's POV

Now in front of the Kingstons' home, Florence's home. I examine it. 

Glancing up at the estate makes my breath hitch my throat. Its absolutely beautiful. She lives in a mansion? 

Isn't too excessive for just a family of three?

I feel less confident now.
It's bigger than Mrs Jones'. But why will Florence say mine is bigger than hers? Doesn't she know the difference between big and small? Maybe she feels more comfortable in a small home like mine..

She's the only child and her parents spoil her with too much care. Not money, care. She has money but she feels it isn't useful to her. Her Dad is the next in line to be the President of the Central Bank of Nigeria.

There's possibly a chance he can get the money for me.
I was wrong. She can get it, her family can.. My only problem now is how to ask him. He's a busy man and I'm pretty sure he can't just hand money to a stranger.

"Don't worry Vera. He'll understand" Florence says snapping me out of my thoughts of bubble.
"I hope so" I mumble

We both enter and as I imagined, it was way bigger than mine. The inside looks more promising than the outer part of the house. It's has this ancient yet modern look.

The furniture's are spectacular. The interior design isn't the cheap kind. The designer is probably an appreciated one.

It's more like a museum. An expensive and classic one.
It's amazing.

"Florence. Is that you miss Florence?" a timid voice calls from nowhere

Miss Florence? I'm assuming that's her maid.

"I'm right here Mariam. I'm here with a friend" she says
The voice comes from behind, rushing towards us. She's dressed in what British royal maids usually wear. Maybe she was sent from the UK.

"Oh oh, Good afternoon miss?" she says more like a question asking for my name.
Miss?
"It's Vera.. But just Vera, not miss Vera" I say waving her off.
This isn't the time to start getting. Time's running fast.

I give Flo a 'let's get going look' she quickly snaps out of it and remembers the whole reason while we're here in the first place.
"oh yeah.. Mariam, is Dad around?" she asks the maid, I mean Mariam.

"Yes, he just came in a few hours ago. He's in his study room. Would you like me to bring you anything to eat or drink" she asks
"Oh no, we're fine" I say answering for I and Florence.
I was very certain Florence was going to answer but I had to cut her short.

Mariam leaves the room leaving both of us. Flo takes my hand and drags me to where the study room is.

Now, we're here, Her father unnoticed by our presence continues to make a call.

It's seems important. "I said next month Fisayo! I can't make that meeting we were supposed to have in China next week. The president called it off. He postponed it to next month. We still have to settle bills with France. So I said next week! Don't call again asking me the same damn question! " he yells into the telephone, slamming it on the table.

" Such a bastard" he murmurs.

Florence and I are still in our position. He runs his temple constantly. He really has a lot of things to do. His mahogany table is filled with a lot of papers to attend to.

My stomach starts to twist. This wasn't the best idea.

He finally looks up at both of us, but mainly to me. Scanning my appearance. Looking satisfied that Florence brought a well descent friend to his home.

That's a relief.

"Dad. We need your help." Florence says out of the blue.
She should have at least introduced me to her father.
"And who's this your friend?" he snaps at her.
Ouch
"Oh I'm so so sorry Dad, this Is Vera. She's my friend in school and we're here because of her.." she says almost immediately.
Feeling sick, I finally open my mouth to say something.
"Good afternoon sir. My name's Vera." I say like a servant. I hope he doesn't see me as one.

"What's the urgent help?" he says
"Well.." Florence pauses to look at me. I nod for her to continue.
"Well?" he asks gesturing his hands for her to go on.

She continues.

"We both got to her house a few hours ago on reaching there, we found a ransom note telling her to pay half a million naira to set her grandmother free. We came here to ask for you to pay half of the share.. She'll figure out how to pay the rest Dad. But please give us this money or else I less than a week, her grandmother is going to be drowned in the river" Florence says briefly.

Her dad sits there without any comment.

"What about your parents?" he says directing the question to me.
"I'm an orphan sir." I say
"Don't you have siblings, older ones?" he asks
"I do sir, but I'm not allowed to have any communication with him. Even with any of my Father's relatives." I say
I feel like I'm about to throw up.
He leans on his chair, rubbing his chin.
That means he's going to ask further questions.

"Do you know anyone who can help you get the remaining half of the money?"  he asks

Sadly.. I don't

"No sir" I say sadly looking down

"I'll give you the whole money, but we're not going to hand it to them just like that. We need to lure them into arrest. Who know how many have lost their lives due to lack of full payment. Did they give you a precise location where to meet them" he asks finally sitting up.

"I can't thank you enough sir. But no sir, they only gave me a number to call" I say relieved

"Hmmmm. Interesting. Very well. I'll call the police today to start to prepare" he says

"The note says no one should know about this." I say

"I thought as much. But I know what to do. Do you have the number?" he asks finally standing up.

"Yes sir. I have the note here with me too"

I quickly bring out the note from my breast pocket, fidgeting with it.
I come closer to his table, handing him the piece paper. He takes it from my hand. Opening it gently, he shakes his head in pity.
That's not what I need right now.

"Okay then. You should stay here for the mean time.. Since you can't stay over there all alone and the trauma it has caused you. You should go back there to get your things." he pauses and looks at Florence. She hadn't been paying attention all this while. She probably dosed off while standing.

"Adeola!" he snaps.
So she's Yoruba?
She wakes up confused, wiping her face. "Sir!"

I laugh at her

"Follow Vera back to her house to get some of her things. She'll be staying here till we sort things out." he says

"oh OK. Let's go" she says taking my hand.
I follow behind.

I hope this works.

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