CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

CHAPTER THIRTY FOUR

Her lashes were the longest Elena had ever seen before and she seemed to like blinking. Elena liked the way she talked, the defiance and strength in her voice.

'It's a girl's name. My brother, Mason fancied himself a comic book creator and he is writing a comic about a girl with super strength, invisibility and can control the weather. He said she will be the first African female superhero and her name is McKenna' Elena explained

'What does McKenna mean?' the girl asked again.

Elena was amused, the little girl was more interested in getting the meaning of a name she called her jokily than fixing her bleeding abdomen.

'It has a lot of meaning but the one that struck with me is fire born. McKenna means born of fire' Elena explained

'Can I keep the name?' the girl asked

Elena wasn't sure the girl needed her permission to take a new name.

'Why?'

'Because I like it and no one taunts or dare disrespect fire…so, can I keep it Elena?' she asked again.

'Only if you follow me home, so my mother can fix your stab wound'

The girl nodded and smiled.

'Come on McKenna, let's go home'

McKenna knew her friend was trying to get her mind off Canada and she decided to play along. She was going to miss Nigeria and she was going to miss Elena dearly.

McKenna started eating and she answered Elena's question at the same time.

'I had a talk with Mr. Elvis and convinced him it was in his interest to award the contract to the company' McKenna said without looking at Elena

Elena knew her friend was lying and she made a face at her. McKenna wasn't surprised Elena caught her.

'You know I love clubs and night parties…well, I might have ran into Mr. Elvis with a girl that was too young to be Mrs. Elvis… in a secluded part of the night club, doing grown up stuff and I may have taken some pictures. So, from the kindness of his heart, he decided to give us the contract in exchange for the pictures I took and my silence' McKenna was wearing an innocent expression on her face.

'You blackmailed Mr. Elvis! You blackmailed a powerful government official! Did you lose your mind McKenna?' Elena yelled with a shocked expression

'I didn't say blackmail…Mr. Elvis did it out of the goodness of his hea..rt'

When Elena looked at her and narrowed her eyes in anger, McKenna scratched the back of her neck and directed her gaze to the ceiling. Elena picked up the newspaper on the floor of the dining table, folded it and smacked McKenna on the hand.

'Ouch…okay, I blackmailed…Jason's company was going to take a hit without that contract and we deserved that contract' McKenna explained

'I really hope this Jason is worth all the sacrifice you are making on his behalf' Elena was still pissed but now at Jason.

'He is paying for most of my expenses in Canada and he gave me a job when I needed it. Taught me there is love in the world even though it wasn't with him…I wanted to say thank you and leave a parting gift for him' McKenna seemed to be trying to make peace with the fact that she may never have Jason.

'A billion dollar parting gift…I wonder whether you got any parting gift for me after, I don't know…ten years of friendship' Elena said through her clenched teeth.

'You get my undying love and loyalty' McKenna smiled brightly

'The last I checked love and loyalty doesn't put food on the table…so next time you want to blackmail someone, how about you give the billion dollars to me and then give Jason love and loyalty' Elena said feigning annoyance.

Both of them started laughing, McKenna first and Elena followed after trying to suppress her urge to laugh.

'Anyway, I got you a present' Elena handed an envelope to McKenna

'Oh my god…you are coming to Canada with me' McKenna yelled and started laughing again, almost pushing her plate to the floor as she ran to hug Elena

'How…I don't understand' McKenna asked

'I had a talk with Miss Jessica. In exchange for the contract you helped get for the company, you will come back to Nigeria to run a branch of the Yagazie's company and I get to take a few years to pursue my Masters in marketing, all expenses paid for both of us' Elena smiled as she talked

McKenna didn't know she was crying until she felt the tears on her cheeks.

'Someone has to look out for your best interest, McKenna'

McKenna came around and hugged Elena tightly.

'Thank you, Elena'

'I hope you don't mind that I am tagging along with you to Canada?' Elena asked.

'No...No…at least now Canada will be fun…and Elena, don't ever say I didn't get you any present, I just paid for your masters degree and expenses in Canada' McKenna teased Elena

'You've got to be kidding me MK…you didn't give me Canada, I took it'

'Tomatoes…tomato, it is the same'

'Just like …'

They argued all night as they packed Elena's bags. As McKenna lay down to sleep, she was happy. The future was looking brighter and colorful and for the first time in months, McKenna allowed herself to hope.