Redemption - Episode 30

 

Benedicta:

  It's already few minutes to ten pm but I am still turning in bed. I already put both Daisy and Jason to bed more than an hour ago after reading them a bed time story. I still don't know why I am unable to sleep. Okay, I do. The reason is my boss. That bad luck magnet has done something to me. My heart feels like something is wrong with it . It was so intense in his studio when we sang together before talina showed up.
  I can't believe I met talina! She's like my idol. I love that fame hasn't gotten to her head and she always goes on charity events to help the less privileged. She came from the slums and she used her talent to make a way for herself. I want to make a way for myself and taking knows how that feels like. Come to think of it, talina and Lucas suit each other in some way. I better get my feelings in check soon. My phone starts ringing and I snap out of my thoughts.
Philip's name flash on my screen. My brother and I haven't talked in months and any time he talks to me, it is awkward. He probably blames me for dad's death and rightly so. He has it hard seeing that my father died in his arms.
  I connect the call and place it against my ear. The line is silent for a while as none of us utter a word.
"Philip?" I breathe down the line and I hear him make an indistinct sound on the other side of the line.
"Forget I called

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. Bye." I know he's going to end the call.
"Please don't." I force out of my heavy chest.
"Are you still there?" I ask.
"Yea." He says and I sigh in relief.
"I miss you." I sob out. I can't hold it anymore. Philip and I used to be the two musketeers. I want that back.
"Baby girl." I hear him breathe down the line.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I killed our father and I am really sorry Philip" I sob out in immense pain.
"What? Shhhh baby girl. Don't you ever say that. You have gone through a lot. I should be apologizing." He says and I am stunned out of my tears.
"What do you mean?" I say and I hear him sigh down the line.
"You didn't kill our father. He already had a heart condition. He shouldn't pushed you out of the house when you needed us the most. I just feel ashamed. There's a lot I should have done to avert that mess but__" he stops talking and I hear him sniffing back tears.
"I am a coward Bennie. There's something you should know. I shouldn't say this on the phone but I don't think I can tell you this while looking into your eyes." He says and my curiosity is piqued.
"What are you talking about."
"Juliet" he says and I furrow my brows. What about Juliet.
"Remember that time she left to live with her aunt in Port?" He asks and I nod even though he can't see me, he continues.
"That was because of me. She was pregnant and had to hide it." Philip drop the bomb on me and I go numb. What the hell? Juliet was the good one. Wasn't she crushing on Favour back then? What the hell?
"It was a mistake. I loved her Bennie, but it was obvious she had her sights on Favour. I wasn't going to pursue it. But that fateful afternoon, she came to look for you at home. I think you went out with Ade. I let her in even though you weren't home. I just saw the sadness in her eyes and wanted to console her Bennie. She told me Favour rejected her and she was crying. She took the bottle of alcohol I was nursing and took a swig and more swigs followed. I just wanted to help her feel better. Hell! I was just a teenager. She was drunk and I was too. It just happened." He's sobbing on the other side of the line but I am numb. All these happened to my brother and friend but I was too blinded by Luis to notice.
"That's not all." He says silently and I know this final information might just be worse.
"She wanted an ab*rtion. I was against it! I swear Bennie. I was ready to take responsibility. I was ready to face the world and dad for her but she wasn't having any of it. She ran away to live with her aunt. Few weeks later, her aunt called me to tell me Juliet was dead. She took the wrong ab*rtion pills. I killed her. Favour hates me." Philip drops this bigger bomb and I go dizzy. My family had this dark secret all along and I was in the dark. Why didn't I even know Juliet was dead? I just didn't want to spend any more days in that town after dad's burial.
"That's why I have been avoiding the both of you for years now. I can't look the both of you in the eye. But, right now, I need your help." He says.
"How?"
"I need a place to stay in port Harcourt. It's a long story but I would explain better when I get there. I know you are sharing an apartment with that your friend. Was it Cherry?"
"Cheryl."
"Yea. Her. It would be for a long time. Maybe a week. Can I crash in your house still I find a place?" He asks and I sigh.
" I am not there for a while though. Would you be able to get along with Cheryl for the week without me?" I have to ask because the only time they saw each other, they hated each other for what I don't even know.
"Well. I can manage. It won't be for long." He says.
"Okay. When you get here. I'll send you my keys." I tell him.
  After promising to inform me when he's coming, we say goodbye and I end the call.
  How would I be able to sleep with this information Philip just dumped on me? I should probably get some warm milk.

*******
Lucas:

"So you are telling me she's having an affair with the Governor?" I asked appalled.
"It is just rumours. I suggest you play her game. She's viscious." James says and I rub my temple soothingly. My head hurts already. If she has that kind of connection. Benedicta isn't safe. No one is allowed to mess with her except me.
"James. I want you to investigate that bitch. Find out everything you can about her. I need all her dirt and secrets. Understood?" I ask and he nods.
"That'll be all for now." I dismiss him.
  My phone tells me it's half past eleven pm. I should get some rest. Tomorrow is another day to tackle this problem.
I shut my laptop down before closing my office door and walking out. I am on my way upstairs when I hear the sound of glass shattering. I freeze. An intruder? I tiptoe backwards to the dining room and find the light off. Every where is dark since no one is awake. I tiptoe pass the dining into the kitchen without turning the light on, so as not to alert the thief of my presence. I pick the flower vase on the table as I enter the kitchen.
  I see a silhouette of a person bending over and I quickly grab him.
"Got you!" I yell as I lift the flower vase to smash it against the intruder.
"Arrrgggggghhhhhh" the piercing but familiar scream makes me quickly turn on the light with my remote control.
"Lucas?"
"Bee?"
We both yell at the same time.
"You scared me!" She pouts and I drop the vase on the counter.
"What are you doing in the kitchen by this time of the night? Trying to poison me again aren't you?" I narrow my eyes at her and she shakes at her at me.
"I was getting a glass of milk. I didn't want to wake anyone so I was getting it in the darkness and I kind of hit my leg against that chair." She points to the chair but my attention is on the leg that's bleeding a little.
"You should take care of that." I tell her.
"Yes sir.

Read " Falling For Innocence " by the same author ( Ameh juliet )

. I would clean the broken glass up and pay for the glass." She says and I roll my eyes.
"Sit." I grab her shoulders and push her into the chair.
"What_"
"Don't move from there" I command again as I rush out and bring back a bandaid. I kneel in front of her and gently raise her foot. I press the bandaid on it gently and smile at my handwork.
"There." I say and I look up at her. She's blushing. Why does she look so innocent when I know better? I shake my head and stand up to clean the glass
"I should do that." She protests.
"Just shut up and get me a glass of milk." I grumble as I pick all the glasses and throw them in the sink. The housekeeper would take care of that tomorrow.
"Here." She hands me a mug and I grunt my thanks. She starts walking out when I stop her.
"Don't leave. I need company." I tell her
She hesitates a little but still sits opposite me.
"I have a question. I did some digging on your background for security purposes and I have something I am curious about." I lie and I see her stiffen. She surely has something to hide.
"I saw that you lived with a man for about a month in Benin. Who was he to you and why did you leave?" Benedicta's face go white at my question and she jerks out of her seat.
"Goodnight." She forces out before fleeing.

  A guilty man always runs.

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