11. The Family
Finally the day dawned when Adrian found himself summoned by Angela to be her bodyguard for the day. Sang' picked him up in a black Mercedes and they drove to her mansion in Kileleshwa to pick her up. He was surprised when Angela's husband joined them in the car. It was very rare to see them together in public unless it was a political rally in support of her husband. Rumours were they absolutely adored each other and Lawrence Sabaya was a model husband. Praises of how devoted to his wife he was reigned supreme in every household. Women sighed at the mention of his name while married men grumbled under their breath about the high standards, he was setting up for them. During the whole drive they never said a word to each other it was like they didn't care about each other. They stopped in front of the Richmond hotel gates in Nairobi city and waited to be ushered in by the security guards. Adrian took note of the men dressed in suits who did not look like they were from Black rose. "I am attending a family meeting," Angela said at no one in particular but Adrian was aware it was directed at him. "As you know my family is one of the most powerful families in the country. When an immediate member of the family calls a family meeting, we are all honour bound to attend. Apparently, it is rude in my family to attend a family meeting that you did not call yourself with more than two guards. The bodyguards you see outside belong to my uncle the person who called this meeting." Adrian stepped out of the car and quickly helped her outside. She looked nervous and unsettled and the suspicion niggling at him intensified. He knew about rich and powerful families they always tried to outsmart each other and take the family wealth for themselves. Angela caught the look in his eyes and smiled, "Yes my family has never forgiven my father for leaving all his wealth to me and making me the head of the family. Because of this they dislike me intensely. I am sure what they plan for me is terrible in deed that is the reason they informed me of the meeting today morning leaving me with no chance to prepare my defences and that is the reason I called you in." Adrian took her phone and quickly placed his contact on speed dial.
"If you are under the impression you need me use it," he said.
Angela made her way into the building her husband by her side. They were showed to a reserved private conference room. She did what she normally did when she was about to be in her family's presence she squared her shoulders put on her mask of cold aloofness and stepped into the room looking the cold unfeeling woman years have turned her to be. When facing her family showing weakness was not an option. She noted everyone had arrived and they were awaiting her something she found satisfactory. Eight people in total sat in the room dressed in all their splendour. She made her way to a seat that gave her the perfect view of the room and made sure no one was out of her sight. When you swim with sharks for too long you learn how to be one. "No respectful greetings for the head of the family?" she asked coldly looking at the five women and three men in the room she called family.
"Cuz we would respect you if you showed us respect too," Lucy her first cousin said.
"Cuz," Angela said turning to look at her, "Do you know the meaning of the word respect?" Angela turned to look at her uncle, "You must have called me here for a reason and I doubt it is to listen to my cousin whine."
"Before we begin everyone has to place their phones inside the basket Waweru is holding," her uncle stated looking over at her. What she saw in his eyes made her wary and she clutched her phone tighter. She didn't have a chance to refuse and if she had tried to contact anyone, they would perceive it as a weakness giving her no room to bluff through whatever they had planned for her. She placed the phone in the basket without a word and watched as each and everyone did the same. Waweru walked out with the phones and she had the distinct sound of a lock clicking into place. She clenched her hands out of sight and waited to hear what the plan was. What made her nervous was the look of confidence on their faces. The probability of their plan's success was probably high. "Our family is a member of the five families that rule Kenya's criminal underworld," her uncle began and paused dramatically.
"I am the head of the family so I am aware of the fact that we are one of the five families that rule the underworld," she said rolling her eyes and sat back crossing her legs.
"Then you are also aware that if the family thinks the head is unfit they can approach the other heads of the families and vote for his or her immediate step down as head of the family."
Angela smiled sardonically, "I am also aware of the damn rules. My father made sure I was aware of every one of them before I took over. That is why I also know the other heads are not allowed to do anything of the kind without informing me."
"But they did dear niece and you responded you will agree with any decision they come up with," Karajan confirmed gleefully. "And the voting is taking place right now."
Angela paled and stood up slowly. Her hand was trembling something she was trying to control. "What reason did you give that was worrying enough for the heads to agree to meet. We do not meet as often because we prefer our identities kept a secret."
"The fact that you have no children and thus no heir to train and leave the family to. You are also barren cuz," Lucy added. Angela noticed her husband looking very smug and enjoying seeing her weak and defeated. Her seat as the head was what gave her power without it her family will find a way to kill her to inherit her wealth. She laughed bitterly, "This time you have caught me off guard. I didn't think you would resort to such a method. I must say I really did not have a plan for this."
Suddenly fire alarms in the building went off and the doors to the conference room unlocked. She turned to look at the door woodenly as the rest of her family filled out of the room in a hurry for an exit. Adrian stood at the door holding her phone in one hand and with the other dropping an unconscious Waweru to the floor. He walked inside the room and politely pulled her chair, "Madam we need to exit the building," he said. She stood up defeated and made her way to the door as he followed behind. She felt him press his hand to the small of her back, "Angela Asenwa is one of the most powerful women in the country and one of the leaders to the five families. Do not show them that they have defeated you. Straighten your back, square your shoulders and walk with the arrogance they are used to seeing," he said softly. She quickly did as he had directed remembering who she was. "Immediately you walked into the building I called your assistant Stacey to check if there is anything of note happening concerning you. I am sure she has dealt with any mischief they had orchestrated. She seemed pretty capable I believe." Angela didn't turn to look at him instead she reached for her phone and dialled Stacey's number. Stacey picked up on the first call. "Madam I have managed to persuade the heads of the four families to await your arrival in one hour as we were unaware of the meeting. They have agreed. The meeting is taking place at the Orchard hotel," Stacey confirmed. Angela switched off her phone without another word. She was still in a state of shock. That Adrian had fought his way through her uncle's bodyguards to get to her because he was suspicious about their activity was shocking and confusing at the same time. The body guards lay in a state of unconsciousness throughout the hall. No one in her life moved unless she gave the order but he had reacted on instincts to protect her just like last time. That feeling of being protected without asking was something she has never experienced in her life and she wondered if this was the feeling all women felt. Her family was gathered outside with other guests who had vacated the premises. She stopped in front of them and looked at them in turn slowly. "I will give you all an assignment," she said softly her eyes clouded with rage. "I want all of you to go home and think very very hard on what your punishment for orchestrating this little fiasco will be because I will surely punish each and every one of you. My father taught me well." She walked to the waiting car and Adrian held the door open for her. She slid inside and turned to look at Lawrence who was already seated. "Get out before I really get angry," she said softly. "I prefer not to see your face for a couple of days." Lawrence turned to look at her ready to argue with her when he caught the look in her eyes. "I did nothing wrong," he stated carefully. "All I did was sit back and enjoy your family's drama like I have done for years. What was so different today that you would look at me for the first time as if you truly wish to kill me with your bare hands?" he asked genuinely curious. Over the years since he had learned his wife had killed the woman he loved he had perfected the art of hurting her. He had wanted to make sure she felt his pain and lived with it like he had to so he had done things just to hurt her but not once has she ever looked at him the way she was now. Over the years she has looked at him with pain and hurt, sometimes with anger, sometimes like she didn't care one way or another but never with so much hate. If she had a gun in her hands at that very moment he knew for a fact she would have killed him.
"If I had lost my seat as the head of the family and the power that it gave me I would have personally cut off your head and the head of every single person who had been in that room. Just like you my love I have something I need to protect. But unlike you I became stronger, I became cruel and I will even become a monster just to protect what I must. Don't underestimate what I am now and what I am willing to become, my love," she said her eyes cold as steel and emotionless. She turned away from him dismissing him from her sight. Lawrence hesitated for a moment before he opened the car door and stepped out with as much dignity as he could muster. "Take me to Orchard hotel," she said to Sang' and promptly turned to look outside contemplatively.