Chapter 15 *Fifty million*

Mrs. Kalvey opened the door and welcomed someone in.

Anthonio's eyes darkened when he saw who it was.

Benita.

“What the….” Mandy gasped behind Anthonio, also not expecting Benita to be here.

Benita smiled awkwardly at the two siblings whose eyes were sending daggers her way.

Mrs. Kalvey broke the tension in the room.

“Have a seat, dear.”

“Mom what is she doing here?” Anthonio asked.

“To have dinner of course.”

“Who invited you?” Anthonio directed the question at the quiet woman who hadn't spoken a word since she stepped in.

Benita opened her mouth to speak but Mrs. Kalvey beat her to it.

“I invited her.”

“Why would you invite her mom?” Mandy growled. “Did you force my mom to invite you here?” Mandy scowled at Benita, hatred lacing her eyes.

Benita clutched her dress nervously.

Maybe this was a bad idea.

Maybe she shouldn't have accepted the invite to dinner.

“I didn't.” Her voice came out quietly. Her eyes lingered on Anthonio who didn't look her way. His face was tight, his lips set in a thin line.

Mandy scoffed. “Yeah right.” 

“ Don't be rude Mandy.” Mrs. Kalvey cautioned and gestured to Benita to take a seat.

A seat beside Anthonio.

Anthonio shifted away like she was filthy when she sat down beside him.

Her heart tightened.

“So what's the occasion, Mom?” His voice was clipped.

“Nothing really Son. Just wanted to invite an old friend over.”

“An old friend you say.” Anthonio snickered. 

Mrs. Kalvey excused herself dragging Mandy; whose eyes were still shooting daggers at Benita, along with her.

Benita spoke up when they were alone. “Anthonio I didn't force her to invite me over.”

“Save your explanation for those who care to hear it.” Anthonio interrupted.

Benita took her lips in. “Do you hate me that much?”

Anthonio scoffed. “You aren't worth hating. Hating you means I still love you but I don't and will never will in this lifetime.”

Benita fumbled with her fingers and blinked her eyes. “I know you hate me and don't want to listen to what I have to say, but…”

“Well, actually I'd love to hear what you have to say about that phone call you made to me five years ago.” Anthonio tilted his head.

“What did you mean by what you said to me then, Benita?”

Benita’s face paled and she shook her head. “I don't know what you are talking about.”

“Again with the lies.” Anthonio clicked his tongue and bent his head forward, whispering to her. “Do not let me force it out of you.”

His voice dropped with something dangerous and Benita shuddered.

~~~~~~~

“Why would you invite her here?” Mandy burst out as soon as they reached the kitchen.

Mrs. Kalvey sighed. “I thought inviting her over would help.”

“Huh? Help with what?”

“I thought inviting Benita over today may likely awaken something in Anthonio. His memories maybe.” Mrs. Kalvey blinked away unshed tears.

‘Oh my goodness, Mom! You know what Benita means to him.”

“Yes, yes I haven't forgotten what she did to my boy and it's not like I have forgiven her. But I'll do anything to make my boy remember even if a little of his lost memory.”

Mandy brushed her hair backwards. “I would be lying if I said I don't know how you feel Mom. But inviting Benita over was too much. How do you expect Anthonio to feel?”

“I know it wasn't a nice thing to do but I'm planning something.” Mrs. Kalvey said.

Mandy scrutinized the woman before her, she had a mischievous glint in her eyes. This was bad.

“What are you planning Mom?”

“I want them to get back together.”

“What?!”

~~~~~~~

“Don.” A man walked up to him.

“Mouse.” Don snarled at the man standing before him.

“Long time no see.” The man ignored his snarl.

“I won't say it's nice meeting you again.” Don dipped his finger into his whiskey glass and sucked on it.

The man sat down opposite him. “I see old habits don't die.”

“What do you want?” Don squinted his eyes at him suspiciously.

“Nothing much, just an Intel.”

Don barked with laughter. “I knew you wouldn't dare show your face unless you needed something.”

“There is nothing here for me.”

Don scoffed. “What do you want?”

The man reached into his jacket, and Don’s eyes followed his every move in case of any foul play. The man took out a picture and flung it on the table.

“An Intel on her.” The man tapped the picture. “How are you involved with her?” 

Don snatched the picture up. “Neils.” His suspicion arose. “How do you know I am involved with her?”

“I have my ways. Now answer my question.”

“Well, our relationship goes way back.”

Don stared long at the picture. “It feels like just yesterday when I met this grey-eyed beauty five years ago.”

~~~~~~~~~~~

The man presumed to be ‘Mouse’ stepped out of the brothel where he had met Don.

He stared at Marley's picture, which he held in his hand remembering what Don had just told him.

**********

“She is a feisty bitch.” Don had said with something of admiration in his voice.

“Her father had come to me for a loan five years ago. He was a traditional doctor and he said he needed to buy some materials or whatever they use for their treatments.” Don continued.

“I gave it to him because he looked decent and like someone I wouldn't need to pursue and threaten before he paid back.” Don gulped down his whiskey and beckoned the waiter for another round.

“But I was wrong, the old man didn't pay me back after some weeks and I sent my boys to rumple him up a little bit.” Don then chuckled.

“Then guess what… the grey-eyed sweetie came to my abode herself jerking on why I would give her daddy a loan and all that, and threatened to call the police on us if we ever came near her father.”

“I'll tell you one thing. She was bold and I loved that about her, She promised to gather the money and pay me back and a week after, her father came to pay me back.” 

“Then why did you go to her home?” Mouse asked.

Don squinted his eyes. “Are you monitoring me?” Then it dawned on him. “No, you are monitoring her. Why? What business does she have with you?” Don inquired curiously.

Mouse tapped the table. “Just answer the question, Mario.” He said calling Don by his real name.

“Don't you dare call me that here.” Don snarled and glanced around.

“Well, some weeks after, the old man came back, this time on his knees begging for a loan.” Don leaned in. “A big one.”

“How much?”

“Fifty million.”

“Why?”

Don shrugged. “No idea. The man was literally crying begging me to lend him the money, and that I shouldn't let his little girl know. I don't know why I gave him the money, maybe I felt pity.”

Mouse scoffed. “You don't have a heart. What was in it for you?”

Don laughed this time around. “You do know me really well, don't you mousey?”

“Well, he was meant to give me back the money with thirty percent interest.”

“You sure are a bitch.” Mouse swore.

Don chuckled darkly. “It's all business. But the man wasn't able to pay me and I later learned he died. I searched around for his daughter or any relative I could get the money from all to no avail.”

“Then one day, one of my boys was watching something on the TV and there was our little feisty bitch, interviewing a billionaire.” Don snickered.

****************

Mouse called someone.

“She is in debt. A big one.” He reported.

“Her father was the one who took the loan. Fifty big ones with a thirty percent interest.”

“Okay, boss.” He ended the call and gave the brothel one last glance before leaving.

~~~~~~~~~

“Boss who was that man?” One of Don’s boys asked him.

He was still sitting in the position where he was a few minutes ago after Mouse left.

“An old nemesis.” 

He took out his phone and texted someone.

~Someone came here asking about the girl.~

~Who was that?~ A text came back immediately

.

~An old friend.~

~Do you know why they are asking?~

~No, but I think they are unto her like we are.~

~Did you spill anything?~

~I wouldn't dare. Just the basics.~ Don texted back.

~Keep watch.~