7. Opportunity

Shirleen alighted the black Mercedes when the door was held open by her bodyguard. She looked at the mansion that stood almost majestically before her. She was exchanging one prison for another. She preferred this prison because it was in the country she called home thus she had access to her father. She looked at the upper floor windows and saw the woman she had despised half her life. Angela stood close to the window looking down at her with no expression on her face. Shirleen knew Angela could see the hate on her face but she had no reaction instead Angela turned away from the window leaving Shirleen simmering in her hate and anger. The bodyguard showed her into the house without further delay. She was taken upstairs into a room. The door closed softly behind her and she turned to look around the room. It was beautifully decorated, the walls were painted sky blue, the queen-sized bed not only looked elegant but was surrounded by a dark blue sheer curtain, a white dressing mirror and table stood to one side of the room with the table adorned with cosmetics and jewellery. On another side of the room close to the window was a day bed. She noticed glass doors and was just about to venture through them when the door to her room opened and she turned quickly to look at it. She recognised the woman immediately it was the same woman who had taken her to South Africa fifteen years ago. "I don't believe we have been properly introduced. My name is Stacey, personal assistant to Madam Angela," she said. Shirleen watched her suspiciously not bothering to answer her. "I am here to inform you of the new rules that you should follow from now on." When Shirleen didn't speak Stacey continued. "The first and absolute rule you are not to leave the compound at all unless you are with a guard. Two, your mixed martial arts will continue as usual. Your instructor was brought in from South Africa. A new instructor will be hired to teach you how to shoot a gun and other necessary survival skills." She walked to the glass doors and pushed them open revealing a walk-in closet filled with designer clothes, shoes and handbags. "Through there is the bathroom," Stacey said pointing through another glass door inside the closet. "The whole house and compound is under twenty-four hours CCTV surveillance so don't do anything foolish. Any questions?" Stacey asked turning to look at Shirleen.

"Why is she insisting I learn combat skills? She must know I will use those same skills to kill her the minute I get a chance or is she just dense?" Shirleen said.

"My mistress doesn't really care what you learn, if you are starving or if you sleep in a hut," Stacey said moving closer to her a sneer on her face. "But your daddy dearest clearly does care and since he is playing a game called politics he has earned himself enemies who will think they are lucky if they get their greedy little hands on you. You don't want to be a liability to your daddy do you?" Shirleen stepped back brief pain flashing in her eyes. Yes her weakness was her father and until he was proven guilty to her he was very innocent. She didn't want to hurt him in any way and that was the reason she had silently accepted her prison. She knew one thing if the country found out about her existence and his mistress then his political career will be destroyed. Lawrence's image was based on a loyal family man who absolutely adored his barren wife and the rumours about his infidelities were nothing but his enemies trying to destroy his marriage and career. At least that was what she got from the news she frequently watched on TV, her second link to the outside world the first being books. "If that is all I will be leaving," Stacey said and left Shirleen to her own devices.

Angela was seated on the sofa a glass of whiskey in her hand. She didn't look at the door when it opened instead she waited for Stacey to join her. "I have spoken to the house keeper and the two body guards we will be living here. They understand the rules and the consequences of letting her out of their sights. I think we should bring in more bodyguards to watch over the property," Stacey stated looking down at her tablet.

"More bodyguards will mean more attention and suspicion. My husband will want to meet her or try to take her away then I lose my leverage. I know he needs my support to be president so he will follow the rules but I don't want to place a temptation in front of him especially one he cannot resist."

"I understand but we will need an extra guard. The female bodyguard will live in the house with the housekeeper while the male bodyguards will work in shifts, one during the day the other during the night. They will monitor the security cameras from the guest house."

"Yes that will be a good idea," Angela said placing the glass on the table. "We need a night bodyguard who we trust and who is not indispensable. Put a list on my table and I will choose one."

"Njiru wishes you to join him in Olympus. He says he has something urgent to share with you."

"I was planning to visit the processing plants instead of the main office," Angela said standing reaching for her coat.

"I believe you will be very interested in what he has to share," Stacey emphasized. Angela sighed aware that his head of security would not call her to Olympus unless it was matters of utmost importance. She walked to the waiting black range rover outside, the door held open by Sang' her deputy head security. She turned one last time to look at the mansion. Every time she saw that girl she remembered her husband's betrayal and the woman who had not only broken her marriage but also led to the separation with her daughter. Shirleen reminded her of how much she hated her husband and his dead mistress who even in death was making her life a living hell. She slid into the car and the driver started the car immediately taking her away from what she considered a nightmare that seemed not to end any time soon.