To Survive

9: PRESENT BERNA

"They look so beautiful together."
Sedem complimented.
"It will be your turn soon." that statement came from
Kay and Sedem were surprised. Emmanuel shot him a
weird glance before returning to the juice he was drinking.
"And who will that man be?" Noah came in.
"We're yet to find out," Kay replied again this time
staring right at Sedem.
"One thing is a fact, my mother isn't interested in any
of you guys here..."
"Clifford!"
"The only guy she has had a crush on was Uncle
Emmanuel. I don't know if that feeling still exists." Sedem
opened her mouth in shock before turning to Emmanuel
who had a shy smile on. She felt like fading away that
instant. Clifford had just embarrassed her.
"This couldn't be any more interesting."
*
Kerron walked in to go and use the guest washroom
and Macey followed after him. He paused and smiled at
her after noticing her presence.
"You look stunning worker of The Don."
"Same as you father of the bride and cocaine lover."
she passed the file to Kerron and he was more than
petrified to see pictures of him purchasing cocaine from a
mafia group, "When this info leaks it can be the end of Kari
Constructions."
"Macey, let's stop playing this game. I don't know
what you're trying to do and I don't know where you are getting your info from but please count me out of this."
"We can be really good friends. You know a secret of
mine and I know one of yours and at this juncture, it
becomes a matter of trust," she got closer to him, "If you
fail me, I'll fail you but your failure may be too miserable
to stare at so I advise that you keep my truth locked and
sealed in your head. Do I make myself clear?"
"Yes."
*
The night came by rather quickly. The reception had
been short since there was not much to do. The couple
was a shy one to them but an unloved one to themselves.
Pious and Jana knew what Sabella was going to face and
they had their entire focus on her. They wanted to end
things as much as Sabella wanted to. Sabella informed
Kay and he decided to stay with the girls. They both had
no idea of what their mother was going to face that night.
Sedem and Emmanuel had had a rather calm talk after
what Clifford had said but Sedem still felt wrong around
him.
*
Aaron and Macey passed by the hospital to check up
on Lola right after the wedding. They met with Sadat who
was present with his wife, Berna, and Sonkor was still
present with Gina.
"How is Lola doing?" Macey questioned Trina. She
looked up at her with a frown and then turned away before
she replied.
"The doctor said she's stable but she's still in a
coma."
"At least she's stable."
"How did you know?" Macey turned to Richmond who
had asked the question.
"Know what?"
"I'm not in the mood for these jokes." Richmond
replied coldly, "How did you know that Lola was my
daughter?"
"Is that your way of saying thank you for informing
me about my daughter?" Richmond stood angrily and
Matilda neared. Manuel and Ananda stood too.
"It was so obvious and I knew she wasn't saying it
because she was going to claim that she didn't want to
destroy your marriage but the truth is she wanted you for
herself." Trina stood too.
"I don't know what you're up to, Macey, but I'll advise
you to stop. You can't just return from nowhere and be
all-knowing and rich."
"I didn't ask you not to be."
"This will not last and you know it." Macey chose not
to respond and then walked out with Aaron.
*
"Your wife is going to see Nutifafa right now."
"What?!" Kofi came in shock after The Don informed him.
"Don't worry, Julius is around."
"Fuck Julius!"
"Is that why you shot him on the day you were
supposed to kill Michael?"
"I don't know why you had to send that idiot of all
people to be my wife's guard."
"Watch your words, Mr Amoyaw. I'll take Julius
Mensah over you any day."
"And I'll kill him over you any day." he took his seat.
"It's an open area and he wouldn't be able to do shit.
Plus I have some of my men around the place, just in case.
When it comes to your wife, I don't fear, she can handle
herself."
"So much for someone you've not met before." The
Don smiled.
"I don't protect fools so I know what I'm saying."
*
"I saw the girl from the club at Kira Halle's wedding
reception. Her name is Ally Halle, she told me." Eli smiled.
"Yeah, I found out. She's the sister of Padi's girlfriend."
Terrence replied.
"She's beautiful."
"You don't have to tell me. So now that Adel and Kira
Halle are married, how do you feel?"
"What do you mean by how do I feel? I don't even
care. They must be fucking themselves right now for all I care. Mr. and Mrs Arthur." he gulped down some of the
beer.
"What if I reveal a secret of Adel to you?" Eli turned to
Terrence.
"Do tell."
"Adel isn't in love with just Kira Halle. He loves
someone else too...more than he loves Kira Halle."
"It serves her right. She dumped me and I told her
that Adel was not going to be the best man for her but she
still went on. You indirectly told me I attended a wedding
that is scheduled for divorce soon."
"I hate to say so but that is exactly how it is."
*
"Your daughter doesn't like me."
"Forget about Berna. She'll get used to you soon,"
Gloria said. She walked to the kitchen and got herself a
glass of water. David and Daniel were in the living room
and Kenneth walked to the kitchen too. He hugged Gloria
from behind and began to kiss her neck. "Stop, the kids
might see us." she giggled, and then their door was
knocked down. The fright rushed up Gloria's cheeks when
her grandsons began to scream. She rushed out of the
kitchen accompanied by Kenneth to the sight of men
picking her grandsons away. It was Isaac and his men.
"Let them go!" Gloria screamed. Isaac shot her
direction twice and Kenneth pushed Gloria from the way
and took the two bullets. Isaac and his men rushed out
with Berna's kids and Gloria was left with a lifeless Kenneth. She screamed at the top of her lungs.
*
Just as the clock struck 8, Sabella walked into the
Labadi Beach Hotel's restaurant. She knew that Nutifafa
Costa would be in the VIP section so she walked straight
there with Julius by her side. Indeed he was there and all
the other VIP tables had been occupied by his men. He
smiled at her.
"The ever charming Martha West. Nice to see you
again."
"Hope I could say so."
"You should...tonight will be the beginning of a new
chapter in not just your life but the lives of all those around
you. Pious the guard has had his share so it's time for
Estelle the chauffeur, or let me say Berna Manu Cudjoe, to
have her taste too." Sabella neared the table.
"What have you done to Berna?"
"Nothing. I just took her kids out for a tour." he
laughed.
"I have to inform Berna." she pulled out her phone.
"I don't think that will be necessary." his tone
changed and his right-hand man, Patrick, pointed a gun at
Sabella.
*
"My sons!" Berna cried out. Kenneth had been rushed
to the same hospital where Lola was and Berna couldn't
control herself. Gloria was petrified with everything that
was going on. Sadat just sat mutely.
"It was Nutifafa Costa."
"How sure are you?" Jana turned to Berna wanting to
scream who the fuck would have done that apart from him
but then she replied with fact.
"Yesterday, Isaac came to me at the cemetery to tell
Sabella to meet Nutifafa Costa. I knew he was following
me, I'd known for the longest so I hired Detective Charles
to be my guide and follow Isaac so that we'll know where
Isaac and Nutifafa hide. The tracker indicated that it was
Isaac moved to your home to kidnap your sons so we
are waiting to see the location he sends them and then
Detective Charles will send the Police to get back your
sons and arrest Isaac."
"Whatever bullshit you're saying I only hope it brings
back my sons because I'm not going to forgive the both of
you! It all began with you and I won't watch my sons die
like your daughter did." Jana slapped Berna.
"Let me make one thing clear. I'm not doing this
because of you but I'm doing this for the sake of my
daughter. Don't insult me or remind me of her death."
"I'm sorry."
*
Sabella sat as instructed and spent minutes listening
to Nutifafa's bullshit before she finally spoke, "What do you want from me?"
"I thought you'd never ask." he got closer, "You owe
me 500 thousand dollars, do you remember?"
"You want your money back."
"With interest. It's been 24 long years but I'll take
interest for only two decades, so kind of me."
"What is your interest?"
"500 thousand dollars per half a decade plus the
principal. I know you're a smart girl you'll understand."
"Where the fuck am I going to get 2.5 million dollars?"
"I knew your maths was good." he laughed and then
kept a straight face, "I want that money before Saturday,
the 20th."
"You're giving me ten days to produce 2.5 million
dollars!"
"Exactly and your company might not be of help to
you. I've planned a little surprise for you there too. I bet the
news will reach you soon." he smiled and at that moment
Gyebi, Sabella's assistant, called.
"I'm sorry for calling this late but Ma'am Sabella we
have an emergency," Sabella swallowed hard.
"What's the problem?"
"Our food at the Anyaa branch was poisoned and
three people had to be rushed to the hospital and it
includes the wife of the former member of parliament for
Anyaa Sowutuom constituency, Mrs Duncan. She's furious and she wants to sue us."
"Gracious," she replied and hung up the call and
turned back to Nutifafa.
"I'm sure you've heard of my surprise now."
"I know it's not the money you want so tell me, what
do you want?"
"I want three idiots that thought they could fraud me
to know that they are nothing compared to me. Trust me, I've
got nothing else to entertain myself so I'll watch you guys
play around until I'm tired and then I'll blow your brains into
pieces. Right now I need the money or else I'll send your
daughters on a fun trip too. You wouldn't want that, would
you?" he laughed.
*
The news of the poisoning at the Anyaa branch of
KAS Food hit the television screens of the people of Accra
that evening as breaking news and it was bad news for
KAS Food. The people didn't take the news easy. A major
loss of customers and the company on the verge of being
sued. The loss of money was inevitable. Kay moved to the
Deseret Hospital with Nicole and Ally Halle to see the
patients who were poisoned. Nicole handled the other two
patients while Kay and Ally Halle handled the former MP's
wife. The very same one that wanted to sue their company.
When they knocked and entered her room the first
familiar face that Ally Halle saw was that of Eli. The gent
she was occasionally meeting from time to time. The very
one she called an idiot and spilled tequila on his face and
juice on his shirt. It clicked instantly, Eli Duncan, son of Mr Duncan, the former MP of Anyaa Sowutoum Constituency
who was now deceased. He looked at her weirdly.
"You again." his mother, Rebecca Duncan, who had
been poisoned by KAS Food sat upright. She stared at
them coldly and then questioned them.
"Who are you?"
"Mrs Duncan, I'm Kay Boakye, owner of KAS Food..."
"You're coming to express your sympathy and how
you're sorry and convince me that this is never going to
happen again. Words I wouldn't have heard if I was dead.
I'm going to sue your company, Mr Boakye."
"I don't think it has to get to that stage, Mrs Duncan."
"So now you decide, right?" Rebecca smiled cunningly.
"Mama, let me handle this," Eli turned to Ally Halle's
direction, "Miss Ally Halle, what is your position or
connection to KAS Food?" Eli questioned. He sounded
throaty and it was odd and funny.
"I'm the Marketing Manager of KAS Food and it
originally belonged to my father. This company matters
very much to me."
"Do you know her?" Rebecca questioned her son.
"I do." he turned back to Ally Halle, "She's a very good
friend of mine. She's the one that convinces me to leave
the nightclub by pouring my tequila away and then she
tells me when to be appropriate with my words and
manners by preventing me from dropping my fruit juice so
it doesn't spill on my shirt. I can promise you that I leave stainless whenever she's around," it was the way he spoke
so smokily as he stared into her eyes that made Ally Halle
stand still as if nothing else was happening around them.
She was tempted to laugh but stopped when she noticed
Rebecca Duncan's look.
"A good friend, you say. So what do you do?"
"We are not suing them if only she agrees to be my
date for the mega-conference party. It's my only way to
thank her for the tequila and juice." she couldn't help but
giggle this time around.
"At this point, I don't know if you're being sarcastic or
real." she replied.
"That truth will stay between us." Rebecca smiled at
her son and then at Ally Halle.
"You have an interest in a business-minded woman. I
think that is better than club strippers." Eli laughed.
"Mum, don't get me wrong. Ally Halle is just my
friend." Rebecca pointed at Ally Halle.
"I'm not suing KAS Food because of you and also
because I love your food but instead I want you to tell me
how this happened. I've been eating there for the past
decade and I've had no issue so why now."
"It's something we are still figuring out."
*
Sabella rushed to her car after her meeting with
Nutifafa feeling all tensed. She contacted her youngest
daughter first, "Alessia, are you home?"
"Yes, the guards are here. Ally Halle is angry at you.
She says you're gone on one of your trips while the
company is on its knees. Where are you? Aunt Sedem has
called me a thousand times already asking about you."
"I went to see Nutifafa Costa..."
"What?!"
"He's the one that sent someone to cause the
poisoning and he just kidnapped the sons of your aunt,
Berna." Alessia sat in shock.
"That man is a monster."
"Right now update me on everything that regards KAS
Food. I need to see Berna."
*
Detective Charles Obeng. Jana's detective showed
up at the hospital where the devastated Berna was.
"Charles, what did you find?"
"We've been able to track down the location of Isaac
Owusu. His car is at an abandoned warehouse in Elmina."
"Elmina!" Gloria repeated in shock, "It's so far away
and they could do anything to the boys before help
comes."
Sadat felt sad and angry all at the same time and the
anger took over when Sabella showed up with Julius. He
almost rushed towards her if Manuel and Jana hadn't
stopped him. Sabella took steps backward.
"It's all your fault! If you did not choose to fraud a mafia boss none of us would not have been in this
situation. We've lost a lot because of you and now you
want my sons to die too! You want them to pay for your
mistakes!" Sabella cried.
"I'm sorry..."
"Sorry would not bring them back, Sabella! Pray that
my sons will come back unharmed or else it would not be
easy for you."
"Sabella is not the only person to blame. I am equally
at fault too," Pious said and moved to stand next to
Sabella, "If there is someone you should blame it's me and
not her. I asked her to do it for me and she accepted. I'm
the beginning of all this and not Sabella so free her of
that."
"What particular warehouse in Elmina can Isaac's car
be found?" Julius asked surprisingly.
"The abandoned Premier warehouse. We've assigned
some of the Policemen in Elmina to get there and we'll be
leaving now to go and check up on things in Elmina too."
"I'll come with you." Berna requested.
"It's not advisable..."
"I said I'm coming with you!" she opened her teary
eyes and they looked like they would pop out soon. They
didn't seem to have an option.
*
Julius excused himself and contacted The Don.
"Isaac kidnapped Berna's children under the instruction of Nutifafa Costa and the kids are at an abandoned Premier
warehouse in Elmina." The Don stood.
"I had my men follow him after his meeting with
Sabella, so I'm going for him tonight too."
"Save Berna's children first...It's the most important
thing at the moment."
*
The twins cried as they were tied to a chair and their
wails were annoying to Isaac, "Shut up already!" he
screamed at the both of them. He moved aside and
contacted Nutifafa.
"Hello, Isaac."
"What do I do with these brats?"
"Take your time with them. We'll kill them but it will
be slow. Tomorrow morning we'll parcel the pinky fingers
of the boys to Berna and her husband. I want them to
force the blame on Sabella and tear her world apart and
next week Saturday whether she brings my money or not,
we'll kidnap her daughters and kill them in front of Sabella.
I want Sabella, Berna, and Pious to suffer and die out of
their suffering."
"Your plans always amuse me but Sabella would
have to be mine before she dies. She can't get out of this
world without my body in hers." Nutifafa laughed and
ended the call. Patrick was the one driving. He was driving
Nutifafa to his current hideout but then noticed that they
were being followed.
"We're being followed, boss. It's a dark blue four-wheel drive. It has been following us since we left the
restaurant."
"Sabella...that idiot. She must have informed the
Police." he sighed, "I think I've been doing more talk than
action. It's time she knows I'm not joking. Call the boys
and tell them to gather around the Achimota cemetery, the
idiots following us need to be taught something small."