Twelve

“Is that necessary right now?” Daisy questioned, a bit annoyed.

“Ummm…yes.”

“Do you need my help or not, Ivan?” she asked.

How could he reject help from his own sister? Moreover, they trusted each other.

“I need your help, please.”

“It doesn't come unaccompanied. It comes with a price. Are you willing to pay?”

“Daisy? What price is that?”

“Let me know if you are willing to pay first. Then I will name my price.”

“Daisy…”

In another part of the town, Easton Landers, who was supposed to be out of town on a ‘business trip’ sat like a king, his powerful gaze towering over a timid young girl in front of him. There were hefty men guarding the entrance of the room. 

“Do I need to keep reminding you of your responsibilities?”

“No,sir. I apologize for my mistakes. Punish me sir.”

“Of course, I will punish you,” he grinned 

“One more lousy mistake, Ria, and I will make the old man pay.”

He pointed towards a door and the young girl trembled all the more. 

It brought joy and warmth to his heart to see that. 

“Is that clear now?” he asked.

“Yes, sir. I promise, I will never fail you this time.” 

“I will remind you of this one last time and give you a final grace. No mistakes this time, do exactly as I have ordered. Release more news about her and find out her whereabouts. Is that clear?”

“Yes..ye..sir.”

Easton smiled and walked away proudly. He loved being a terror. He was still the grand master of the underworld powers. 

Ria let the tears flow down her face. She had been in this situation for three years and there seemed to be no hope of escape. Easton Landers held her father captive for some years and she had to pay the price to release him. She must do everything he asked. Whether good or bad. Any silly mistake could cost her father's life and she didn't want that. She only followed his orders, meekly like a lamb. 

She wasn't this evil, but Easton Landers had turned her into a villian. 

“Forgive me, Nelly,” she wept. She took out her phone and set to work. 

She often wondered why Easton was after the young girl but she didn't dare to question him. Hence, her questions were left unanswered.

‘Another scandal in the life of the dirty actress, Nelly Strandford!’

The news blog realized a new headline and in the next minute, it had gotten over five thousand views. It was only a headline, the full story was yet to be told, but everyone was already dropping dirty and hurtful comments.

Ash was one of those viewers. 

“This same blog? Monitoring Nelly again?”

It was always one story or the other. Another thing was that this blog had elements of truth in it but its major plan was to slander Nelly. The blog always had details of her latest dealings!

How does this person find out?

He kept asking himself this puzzling question but there was no clue. The funny thing was that this blog never appeared anywhere after dropping these messages. He had tried to track the site severally to no avail. 

He however hoped that Nelly wouldn't see it. 

Nelly looked around her and smiled. She had no idea why she chose Germany. She was just certain that she made the right choice. She had little knowledge of German language but she hoped it would help her a lot. 

She thought of what was best for her and the moment and had a quick flashback about her mother:

   "Are you sad, Nelly?" Mrs. Stratford, Nelly's mother asked her after a hectic day at school. Nelly nodded in response to her mother's question. 

   "If you are sad, then I think we should go shopping. It'll help you relieve whatever stress you are feeling." 

Shopping! That was the answer. 

She found her way to one of the nicest shopping malls around her. 

She went towards the cloth section. She spotted some baby attires and smiled again. She reached out and touched her stomach fondly. 

A couple walked past her, talking excitedly as they chose clothes for their unborn child. 

The thought of the fact that Ivan didn't want her child hurt her. Her chest tightened and she struggled to hold back her tears. 

“I promise to give you the best. Nothing but the best,” she promised the unborn child. 

She turned to leave the mall having lost her initial zeal for shopping. 

A lady's purse fell at her feet. She picked it up in courtesy and handed it to the owner without looking up.

“Danke,” the other person thanked in Germany. 

A hint of recognition passed through her eyes. She called after Nelly as she was about to leave. 

“Hi!”

Nelly was forced to stop. She realized it was the woman from the airport. It was the lady who helped her when she had stomach discomfort at the airport. 

“Hello. How are you?”

The next twenty minutes met them chatting away excitedly at a nearby tea house. 

  

 Ash walked towards his car parked across the street. The car he saw next to his was very familiar so he took a pause to stare at it. He was indeed right, it was familiar and it belonged to no other person than Ivan Lander. 

This time, Ivan Landers didn't step out of the car. Instead, four hefty men did!

“We've been waiting for you here. Come with us,” one of them, who appeared to be their leader, said. 

“Come with you?”

“Yes. Didn't you hear me before?”

Ash felt his strength and initial courage drain. 

What approach has Ivan decided on this time?

He followed them calmly as he had no choice. 

Twenty minutes later, the car came to a halt and Ash was asked to come down. Again, he obeyed. He knew better than to argue or mess with Ivan. 

He was ushered into a room and was even offered a seat. The room had no light, so he sat quietly awaiting his fate.

He thought carefully about it. 

Being offered a seat and not tortured or harmed might mean something good. 

Thirty minutes later, the door opened and someone entered. 

The lights were turned on, momentarily blinding him. 

He noticed the person in front of him. He started by looking at the footwear. It didn't belong to a male. It belonged to a female. There was only one person who he knew that loved to wear such footwears. 

Nelly!

He trembled within him. 

Has she been found?