After dropping off her aunt and son, Melissa went back to work. Mark had asked her to take some time off work to take care of their son but she refused. She had spent a week from work and they had to complete all the furnishings on time since the deadline was near. It was her first project and she wanted to see it through. Melissa needed to show her colleagues that she didn't get the job just because she was close to the boss. Most people felt she was not qualified for the position, though no one complained, their were small talks behind her back.
No one knew about her real relationship with the CEO but she knew that soon everyone would find out. Walking into the office, Jennifer and Nancy hugged her. They found out about her kidnapped son from social media.
"We are so happy to see you Melissa, how have you been?"
"I'm okay, thank you guys for your support." They always checked up on her and took over her work when she was at the hospital taking care of her son.
"You should take the rest of the week off. Nancy and I will see the project through."
"Yeah Jennifer and I can take care of things here."
"I'm okay, I can manage the work here, my son is doing much better now and I have my aunt taking care of him when I'm at work, besides you have other projects I don't want to overwork you two." They admired how strong she was. "Come on you guys let get back to work. We have a lot to finish in such a short time." Nancy told her all the latest gossip as they went to their shared office.
......
Diana slammed the door shut with a bang, threw the water glass on the antique painting on the wall shattering into pieces, her plan didn't work, she had failed again. What infuriated her more was realizing that Melissa was helped to look for her child by the most influential and wealthy man in the country. Her hatred and anger towards Melissa grew exponentially, she was more than ever determined to use her connections to destroy her.
Mr Steven didn't want her to attack Melissa if she didn't try to stop their operations but Diana was determined to ruin her. Her clientele at the casino had increased immensely, she had made many contacts in and out of the country. Impressing her bosses with her work, if everything went according to her plan she would become a partner in the business.
Diana planned to take control of all the businesses from her dad since he was getting soft, unable to make some crucial decisions about their other businesses. Sitting in the office after her secretary cleaned up, she got a call from the warehouse informing her that the local police was checking their containers. Someone had set them up but luckily her men were well trained, they were able to hide the merchandise on time. She decided to have all the employees investigated and took all the confidential documents home. They couldn't risk having a spy in the company that would sabotage their operations. If they got the documents their lives would be ruined.
Walking to the house with the documents in her arms she found her mum and Melissa charting and laughing in the living room. Startled she almost drop the papers in her arms, Melissa was the last person she expected to see in her home. Her mother had request her several times to invite Melissa over but she kept putting it off. Her mother was so attached to Melissa and her family. When the accident had happened four years ago, she had tricked her mother into taking a vacation. By the time she got back to the country Melissa was not around, she asked them to look for her, after searching for weeks they stopped.
"Oh, Diana your back why so many documents, are you moving from the office?" Her mother looked concerned.
"No mum I just needed to review them and the office is a bit depressing so I brought them home with me. Melissa what are you doing here?" She tried to change the subject.
"I bumped into her on my way from the grocery store and invited her over for dinner. Hope you don't mind dear."
"Off course I don't mind mum, I know how much you have missed your goddaughter. Let me take these to my room I'll be back to help prepare dinner."
"Diana sorry I didn't tell you I was coming over, godmother insisted and I couldn't say no to her." Melissa walked towards her.
"You don't have to explain anything Melissa, I know how much my mother loves you. I'll go to my room now excuse me."
"Can I help you with this, you look tired?" Melissa asked trying to take some of the documents.
"No, I can manage, thank you." Diana walked upstairs leaving Melissa with her mum.
Looking at her godmother Melissa knew she would easily use her to get to the house and find out what was on those documents. Mrs Steven had always cherished her friendship with her mum and felt guilty for not being there when her best friend died, knowing that Diana wouldn't want them to meet. Melissa tracked down Mrs Steven and made it look like a mere coincidence.
They made dinner together, Melissa promising to bring her son to visit. She would also get some cooking lessons from her godmother whenever she could. That way she could frequently be in their house. None of them knew her motives but Diana disliked the idea, Melissa always managed to get the people she loved.
Holding the knife in her hand she wished she could stab Melissa in the heart a hundred times. Killing her would bring immense satisfaction but she wanted to make money from her. Smiling she went on chopping the carrots on the board. "Don't be so hard on those carrots Diana."
"Sorry mum just got carried away." "When we were little Diana never liked cooking, I did all the cooking and cleaning in the apartment we used to live in." They laughed remembering how mischievous Diana was has a child.
"She don't like cooking, I'm sure she helping just because your here. On a normal day Diana would be out taking care of her many businesses."
"Calling me a workaholic mum?" She smiled at her mother turning to Melissa. "Don't listen to her, mother loves staying in the kitchen but that not my thing, I love challenge and action." Melissa felt it was not just about the kitchen or cooking the way she pointed the knife at her.
"Melissa what happened to your apartment?" Her godmother asked while they sat in the garden waiting for the maid's to set the table.
"I don't know, maybe the bank took it like they took all the properties under my father's name when I left." When she joined university her dad had instead on buying her a one bed roomed apartment near the university. After her aunt took her she was not well for some months then Tommy was born. Coming back to the city she forgot all about the apartment.
"I don't think so, he bought it for you so it maybe under your name. We can ask your godfather yo check it out for you."
"No you don't have to, I'll check it myself Thank you." They sat to eat dinner listening at Mrs Steven's stories of how she met Melissa's mum in the orphanage when she and her little sister were brought after their mother died. Telling them of how she defended her and Betty whenever they were bullied, Melissa could see the sorrow in her eyes. They were more than just friends. What Melissa didn't understand was how they could betray her family.