''How could you fail in such trivial things? Listen, I pay you a lot of money to handle my business and you don't get to mess with it. Those trucks contain precious laboratory specimen for the company and each one of them cost about a million. I don't care how you lost those men but I need you to quickly locate them and make sure you silence them'' Daniel Song shouted into the phone as he strolled around his study room.
''Yes, big boss. There is something else'' the frightful voice said over the phone.
''The men are from Today's Newspaper. They work for a reporter called Kim Xia, the current chief editor of Today's Newspaper''
''Kim Xia!'' Daniel's lips curved into a sneer, ''that child is still sticking her nose into my business even after five years. Don't worry about her. I will handle that little girl myself'' Daniel said and hung up. He looked keenly at the door and went straight to open it but after looking at both sides of the hall, he didn't see anybody and closed the door again.
Solace who was hiding behind a straight pillar covered her mouth to prevent herself from making any mistake. The teacup in her hand shook. She was trembling after hearing such news.
''Mom, are you alright?'' Mimi who was climbing the stairs at that moment saw her and asked.
''Yes, Mimi. Are you just coming?'' Solace sipped the tea to calm herself but her fingers were still trembling.
''Yes, mom. I went over to have lunch with Dindin and also to find out how elder sister was doing. Mom, you won't believe what I heard'' Mimi walked over and removed her phone. She opened her gallery and showed Solace the picture of Mikael kissing Natalie in public.
Solace looked at the picture and her lips curved up slightly but she quickly masked her smile and asked Mimi innocently, ''are they a couple?''
''I didn't want to say this before, but those two have been a couple for a few months now. Mom, do you think elder sister is right by being with Mikael Sun? He is her brother in law''
''That is her business, Mimi. Let her do whatever she wants''
''What are you two talking about?'' Daniel asked as he walked to them. Solace held her breath as her fingers around the teacup tightened. There was fear evident in her eyes.
''Dad, I just found out that Mikael and elder sister are dating. Look at the picture, he even kissed her in front of a lot of people at Janice today''
''What?'' Daniel snatched the phone at once and looked at it. His face turned ugly and his body trembled. He turned to Solace and asked in a cold and distant tone.
''Did you know about this?''
''I haven't spoken to Natalie since the night of the launching and we don't even talk. I don't know anything that is going on in her life'' Solace said.
''Mimi, go to your room. Darling, I think we need to talk'' Daniel said.
''I'm going to rest before I get down for dinner'' Mimi said and looked at her parents with a suspicious gaze before going to her room.
Daniel threw Solace on the bed the moment they got into the bedroom. He moved closer and squatted beside her and asked in a furious tone.
''Didn't you say that she was alone now that Thomas is dead? Just how did you train your daughter? Such that she is jumping from one brother to the other?'' he yelled at Solace.
''I never got to train her, remember? She grew up on her own. Daniel, you promised to leave her alone. Why are you so obsessed with her?''
''I promised to leave her alone but I didn't say she could be with any man. I need Natalie to be a virgin. I have big plans and I need her to be pure so that she can accomplish my dream that I spent my whole life planning''
''I told you, Natalie will not be a laboratory rat. It was her father you had a feud with. Why do you have to bring in a young child into your feud? She is a human being, not a test rat''
''She will be a test rat if I want her to be. Listen to me, Solace. I want you to break those two up''
''I cannot do that''
''Do you want your precious daughter to lose yet another husband? If it happens for the second time, I don't think the Sun family will spare her''
''Daniel, you will not get away with this. I swear, you will pay with a punishment worse than death''
''In your dreams'' he said, with saliva flying out into Solace's face.
''Inthis City, no. In the whole of Country M, I am going to be the most powerful figure there is and your precious daughter is the one to help me accomplish that. I have watched her grow into a full woman and she is gradually getting to the stage where she will be just ripe enough for me to pluck…'' Daniel laughed out excitedly and stood up, he turned to the mirror and looked straight at the reflection of Solace, ''I am going to rule over the whole of Country M''
After Daniel left, Solace stood up and fell. She felt an intense pain in her abdomen area and started crying silently. Enduring the pain silently.
….
Sun family house.
Thomas' study room.
Seated in a round table inside the large study room was Natalie, Mikael, Thomas, Connor, Xia and Alice.
In front of them was a white board with a picture of Daniel Song at the top with a lot of question marks on unknown faces making up their board catalogue.
''What do you plan on doing, elder brother?'' Mikael asked Thomas after they were told the whole story.
''Let's do it the old fashioned way. I think that going by Xia and Connor's plan is the perfect way out'' Thomas replied.
''Right now, we don't know the people working behind the scenes but we know the person giving the orders behind the scenes. This morning, I researched into some of the thug groups in Cok town and I found that there is one man who usually organises their shipping. He controls all other illegal transactions, shipment, and smuggling of goods into City X. His name is Haldon Marks. He is a former special agent for the Interpol. He was stripped off his barge when he allowed a group of criminals under the wanted list of the Interpol to escape into Grenada and finally into Tuk. Tuk as we all know isn't a member of the Interpol. These criminals couldn't be tracked anymore after they escaped to Istanbul'' Xia said as she passed on the pictures of Haldon Marks.
''So, this man is likely working for Daniel Song?'' Natalie asked.
''That is our suspicion for now but we need evidence and that is why we need to get our hands on those five trucks that will be passing the Cok road midnight, three days away from now''
''The man who escaped from the car would have informed Daniel's side by now. He will either try to stop us or make new plans. We need to find out what he is planning somehow'' Thomas said and turned to look at Mikael.
''I will be able to help in that aspect'' Mikael said knowingly.
''You?'' Natalie turned to ask.
''Yes, me'' Mikael affirmed and placed his arm over her shoulder.
''What about me? What do you need me to do?'' Alice asked.
''I have something for you'' Xia said to Alice.
'What is it?''
''You will rile Mimi Song up and create a little argument that would lead both of you to the police station. When that happens, I will come as your guardian and get to meet Daniel Song''
''Daniel Song? No, just hearing about him is making me shiver. Also, what if Solace Song comes?''
''She won't come because Natalie here will be meeting up with her at that same time'' Xia said and smirked.
''Whoa, you seem to have this planned out already?'' Natalie asked.
''I just did a few calculations. We need to distract Daniel Song''
''What if it doesn't work?'' Alice asked.
''Then, we will have to use Connor'' Xia turned to look at Connor, ''when we fail to get him to go to the police station, then, you will call him for a meeting. It is normal for you to call him since your hotel has collaborated with their hotel a few times before''
''That's true'' Connor nodded his head.
Alice phone rang and she excused herself and stood up to the door to answer.
''Hello, Niania. What is it?'' Alice asked. When she mentioned the name, Thomas looked up and furrowed his brows a little before he looked away.
''Alright, I will wait outside. Bring it to me before you go home. I will send you the address. See you in five minutes then'' Alice hung up and turned back to her seat.