That was it.

There were no how are yous, no explanation or warm smile. Grace Ilori thought she was stupid for thinking there would be more, she expected that he would smile at her, embrace her and her call her his daughter, explain why everything happened the way it did. Maybe he'd even tell her how much he missed her, how he'd looked after her from afar, there were so many ways she had imagined this meeting, a thousand and one ways but this.

Even Remilekun Phillips was shocked, his eyes widening in the slightest before he raised his drink and downed it. Joshua Phillips however, was smiling.

"Do you know the digging I had to do to find her? I expected a more warm reunion." Remilekun finally said, he sipped from his half full tumbler and when he looked up, there was beer foam on his upper lip, it should have made him juvenile but it didn't. His words were amused with a sharp edge.

"I already knew where she was," Toluwanimi Kingston said, slowly as if he were talking to a child. He took the sofa leaning against the wall and cast a look of distaste at the animation of shark above his head. Grace startled at the sight, the longer she stood in this room, the more her awe gave way to fear.

She didn't like the ocean and last semester, she had almost flunked her swimming course because she couldn't stay underwater without imagining a creature pulling her under the pool and letting her drown. Even the week long trip to sea school (also the previous semester) had been difficult, Tope had had fun and Grace had been the wet blanket as usual.

"I gave her away, remember?" Tolu Kingston was saying, eyes solely on Remilekun Phillips, Grace felt anger light up her chest at being so obviously dismissed. "If I wanted a family reunion, I would have come see her myself."

For a brief moment, Remilekun frowned.

"Were you worried that you would have been the worst father in the world?" He asked.

"I'd worry more about my own children, Phillips." Toluwanimi said dryly. "What ever did happen to your first son?"

Grace jolted and shared a glance with an expressionless Joshua, she didn't know anything about Remilekun having another son, as far as the public knew, Remilekun Phillips had three children, two daughters older than his only son.

"He was a miserable failure." Remilekun said casually, but there was a slight clenching of his jaw.

"Gbenga Phillips is autistic, not a miserable failure." Toluwanimi Kingston corrected. He leaned forward and his eyes flicked towards Grace.

"Before you judge my parenting skills, I suggest you reconsider letting your eldest son return to the country first."

Remilekun Phillips let his tumbler slam down on the bar counter, obviously done with games. The vein in the left side of his eyes twitched and Grace wanted to smile, she would have if his eyes didn't suddenly fix on her face too.

"I know all about what you have been up to and now I have your precious daughter with me."

"And what?" Tolu Kingston cut in smoothly, Grace might have been impressed by his ability to look Remilekun Phillips in the eyes without flinching if he wasn't so unaffected by the conversation concerning her.

"The ARTEMIS Project might have been a sister organization, but you and your miserable bunch have stepped out of the spotlight for so long that the light now blinds you - our light. If you step out of line, your daughter will pay for it."

Grace shuffled, heart thudding at the threat, even if he didn't glance at her as he said it.

Tolu Kingston laughed, it was a short raspy sound that told her that he wasn't someone who did so very often.

"We both know that the very reason I was left alone was because I didn't know enough to let you have complete control Tamika's project. Now, you think you have my daughter, the only person who might have the key you so desire, I don't think you'd dare to hurt her." He drawled, touching a absent hand to his cufflinks."Your foolish bluffs are not quite as effective as they once were."

Remilekun Phillips gripped the tumbler tighter, Grace shuddered knowing that he had finally met his match, she wasn't so sure anybody could talk to him like this and get away with it.

"When you hurt her, you hurt yourself." He added, his eyes were on Grace as he said those words, as if he were speaking them to her. His stare was unnerving but they were not cold.

Tolu Kingston stood, he looked at Joshua for a second before looking back at the father.

"This has been fun catching up, but I do need to catch a flight out of the country."

Don't leave me! Grace wanted to scream, instead her eyes stung with tears. He really didn't care but she did.

But Remilekun did have one last card to play. He raised his tumbler in a toast.

"I thought you'd be more interested in finding out the secrets that Project Eden held," He mused aloud, theatrically. Tolu Kingston halted his steps.

"You know, your daughter did unlock one of the encryptions, she'll be happy to do more for us, won't you, darling?"

All eyes turned to her expectantly. She said nothing.

"Remember those days as new initiates for ORION, I was assigned to sorting out old government papers and discovered a gold mine, not literally of course. After I was voted leader, I started the spy section of the organization to gather secrets, and Mika was one of my very first spy." Remilekun said, his voice was soft, and Grace couldn't help but listen even as Tolu Kingston stiffened.

She wanted to know anything about her mother.

"She got caught on her first mission and was arrested, remember when you thought I hit her? Well I didn't, she got that beating in prison before I got her out."

"Why are you telling me this?" Tolu Kingston asked, voice rough with anger.

Remilekun Phillips jolted as if he had been stuck down memory lane, but they all knew that everything he did was calculated.

"She did gather my secrets well, and it was her idea to compile them into a computer program after MEDUSA burnt down one of our offices again that year. We had several back ups, I swore to her that those secrets would never be used for personal gain and she never let me know any of them, what she found out went directly into the program."

"Foolish she was to trust me, bless her memory."

Grace winced when she saw her father clench his fists. The subject of her dead mother seemed to be a touchy one for him.

"Anyways, one of the first secrets in the Project Eden was that oil well that had supposedly gone missing, and your daughter just gave us its location."

He clapped his hands together in a show of glee.

"I'm having dinner tomorrow with the owner of that land, and I'll be buying it for far less cheaper than I would if he knew it, you should come, you're invited since Grace will be coming with me too."

Tolu Kingston didn't say a word, just strode past Grace, bumping his shoulder past hers on his way out, his hand seemed to grip her fingers for a moment before they let go. The action so sudden that it startled her and she looked at him as he left.

The so called vice president of the nation let out a glee filled cackle and shouted after him.

"Don't worry, Tolu, I will send you the details."

After they heard the door in the hallway slam shut, Remilekun let out another booming laugh.

"Your father, a touchy man that one." He told Grace as if they were two friends sharing a secret. He glanced away from her to nod discreetly at Joshua.

"Get the girl." He said cryptically, Grace flinched, thinking he was sending Joshua to drag her closer but when the latter brushed past her, she tensed knowing who they were going for. Ewatomi.

"Don't hurt her!" It was the first words she had spoken, they were stronger than she expected but not strong enough to intimidate Remilekun Phillips. He laughed again, shaking his head as he did so.

"You are a smart one, just like your mother." He said, but it didn't sound like a compliment. He could have replaced the smart for stupid and it would still sound the same. "Of course, I didn't bring your old family just for play."

"But I am a generous man, nobody has to get hurt. If you tell me how you knew to unlock the encryption for Project Eden."

Grace wanted to laugh but there was nothing amused about it, if he had asked her that question just a week ago, she would have told him that she didn't know how, but now, she did know how and she had never wished for ignorance more.

Remilekun Phillips smiled cruelly, it was only a half smile, tugging the side of his lips before fading away.

"I don't know." She lied. "I don't know anything, I'm just good at riddles."

He waved away her words. "I might have believed that a while ago, but not now, if you know the truth about your legacy, then there is something that would have clicked, maybe an odd thing about your childhood?"

"But there is no way that you know nothing."

"I don't know anything." She repeated. The old Grace would have confessed on the spot, uncaring that the program contained information that would make Remilekun Phillips and his associates richer than they already where, but a nagging part of her wanted to keep it secret. Her mother had placed those encryptions there for a reason, and trusted Grace with the truth for a reason. The woman might be dead, but it was the one thing they shared.

"Of course, Grace, we'll see how long you remain tight lipped now," He stepped out from behind the bar, drained tumbler forgotten on the counter. "Follow me, it is time you have another look at the program."

"I cannot help you." Grace said, it was a half scream, choking with desperation. Weak, like she was, Grace thought.

"Yes, yes, we'll see how long that sentiment lasts when you watch your sister bleed before you, slowly until you cannot stand it any longer."

"Your mother never uttered a single plead throughout her time working for me, but do you know, Grace? That she begged for her baby right before she was shot."

The pathetic feeling filled her lungs and her eyes blurred traitorously.

He chuckled, enjoying every bit of it.

"I've never quite met a woman strong like Tamika Afolabi, maybe you'll prove me wrong."

***

Jié Yong was nursing his losses, but not the typical way men did. He wasn't drunk out of his mind, bottle in hand and a blubbering mess, instead he was clear eyed and speaking with investors on the phone, that was how Kendrick had found him when he arrived at midnight from the hotel. His father hadn't even be bothered to come pick up his son from the airport.

And as usual, his mother had made excuses for his father.

"He's going through tough times, Ken, don't be so demanding." she had said when Kendrick called, stranded in the Nnamdi Azikiwe Airport and thinking that his father could have at least sent one of the drivers over.

He had laid eyes on Kendrick when he arrived and raised up a hand, telling him to wait as if his son was his secretary. As if Kendrick wasn't returning home to make things right, even if he wasn't really the stereotypical prodigal son returned home, but more like the vengeful prodigal son out for blood.

Now at dinner, nobody dared to speak or even breath too loudly as Jié Yong argued on the phone in loud tones with his CFO. He set the phone down just as his wife poured herself another glass of red wine, obviously tired of his shit.

"These days, you can never quite count on a honest deal, I've spoken to two potential buyers already and look at them trying to lessen the price of my own building, simply because we've taken a little hit."

Kendrick flinched, wishing he could reach over for his mother's wine too. Jié Yong's words were a jab at his son, he was going to make Kendrick sweat before he even listened to whatever he might want to say.

"Dad, I told you, you shouldn't be so quick to sell." He hissed, feeling the onset of a violent headache.

Jié bristled, shooting his son a mock look of incredulity.

"Says the boy who has no experience in business and studying mathematics." He exclaimed in that thick Chinese accent he had never lost, an accent Kendrick was sure he faked. Nigerians love international things, he loved saying, nobody wants a Chinese man speaking Yoruba - another jab at his son.

Kendrick sighed, knowing that he couldn't butter up his father before the big reveal like he wanted to. Jié Yong saw through everything, or at least he thought he did. It was what made him a sharp businessman and a horrible father. If he wanted his father to take him serious, he'd have to be serious.

"If you sell the headquarters so early, then you're telling the board that you're so easily shaken." Kendrick said. "You should wait, bid your time."

Jié gave a grunt, that was how close to an agreement Kendrick would ever get from the old man. His mother stood up with a sigh of her own and mumbled an excuse about checking on something, but both men knew she was running from the argument that would soon erupt, she walked over to Kendrick and planted a kiss right on his hair, to her husband, she gave a warning look.

Kendrick didn't speak until she was out of the room, when she did, he dropped all pretense of eating and so did his father.

"I don't want you to sell just yet." He admitted bluntly.

Jié raised a bushy gray brow. "Does this have anything to do with The ORION Project?" He asked, his voice raised in anger.

Kendrick caught his flinch just in time. Amina hadn't been bluffing after all, ORION had really reached out to his father.

"You know, Kendrick, it was very funny. I and your mother thought we raised a decent young man, you certainly never lacked anything you wanted and your mother instilled in you discipline while you were a child." He continued. "I always knew there was something strange about you suddenly deciding to switch schools, I let you do so because your mother convinced me, imagine my surprise when I received a letter detailing your involvement with a cult, of all the organizations to join, you chose the most dangerous."

"Imagine my surprise when I was blackmailed into forcing funds into a supposed account for charity. The private investigator I hired mysteriously disappeared too, just a day after I hired her."

"You have done enough concerning my business, I will not have you putting me in further mess."

Kendrick wanted to be angry, he wanted to throw his glass to the wall and watch it shatter, but his father was right, goddamn he was. He had been selfish, too blind until he was too deep into ORION.

"I will do whatever you want me to do, anything at all, if you make a deal with me, dad, if you swear to not entertain the thought of selling out for at least three weeks." said Kendrick. His words were spoken vehemently, it gave Jié pause, just as he raised his knife and fork to slice a piece of chicken.

He let his cutlery clatter to the plate and he raised his head, Kendrick saw a weariness in his father that he had never seen before, his brows were furrowed and Kendrick almost startled at the several streaks of white in his father's chestnut hair. Even the corners of his lips were wrinkled.

"I demand that you return to America to complete your final year, as soon as this semester is over," Jié said, Kendrick's heart stuttered for a second, and in that second he wasn't thinking of his revenge, it was her name that flashed through his head - Grace. What was he thinking anyway? Nothing could ever happen between them, nothing at all.

He swallowed, feeling his father's eyes on him.

"None of this nonsense that you've put yourself in, and this means the best grades, because I will certainly not pay an extra dime than needed."

"Fine." Kendrick bit out. "As soon as the semester is over."

"Not a day later." Jié warned. "And you have a week, one week. That is all that I can give before I speak to buyers."

"Fine." Kendrick repeated, this time softly as he ran a hand through his hair.

He stood, and paused, waiting for another condition.

"Oh, and I received an invitation this evening, from the vice president himself. We're having dinner with him tomorrow, and I want you by my side. It's time you learned."

***

All it took was the cocking of the gun for her heart to stutter and her lips to plead, before she knew it, she was at the computer, the words on the screen blurring into one, even if she could recite each riddle from her head.

They were familiar, they used to be secret.

born with, and then lost but never found.

Innocence, she typed in with shaky fingers, shifting her eyes from the screen briefly to watch her sister close her eyes in terror, threatened by the gun at her temple. She wasn't sure which hurt more, the threat or death, or the threat of death at the hand of someone she once trusted.

what do these words have in common? wicked, kind, fickle?

they are human, she thought, biting down on her lip until it bled, thinking that the answers stood now in the room with her.

Remilekun Phillips was not smiling as each layer of encryption slid away bare, he only nodded her on, eyes on her, so he did not see that his son's hand shook a little.

you need me, but you throw me. Once you have no need for me, you draw me close.

Anchor, she whispered.

Yet another layer peeled back but there was no riddle waiting this time, Remilekun Phillips frowned deeply, his son let the gun in his hand clatter to the ground.

There was no riddle where there should be, only a countdown, a clock, another encryption holding back the secrets inside. To her, it was a blessing, her mother was buying her time even from the grave.

8 days, 9 hours and 13 minutes.

***

ghen ghen, things are drawing closer to the end, last night I wrote rough draft of the end and I promise y'all a surprise death.

The gang have one week to come up with a plan to destroy ORION once and for all and Kendrick and Grace reunite next chapter! Do we like Jié Yong or not? Do we hate Remilekun Phillips yet or what?