Just write down your number

Flashback

Eliz leaves the hospital and walks across the street, towards a coffee shop. Wondering what she'd to get money for her surgery. She's been suffering from liver disease. The money asked to perform an operation is millions.

Where does she get such an amount? And telling Myla is not an option. It's been while she sleeps over at Myla's because she's always in the hospital on drips.

She enters the shop and orders for coffee. Taking a seat, she wonders on a solution while the waiter serves her.

"Thanks"

She receives the cup that smells just as it always, each time she comes here. She loves being here. Just her mind and a little distraction like this.

She sips in and swallows. A woman walks towards and says, "May I?"

She abruptly hangs her head to see a woman in black glasses and a very luxurious purse she holds with care. Her dress is less glittering but the texture speaks for itself.

It's the combination of a fluffy dark wolf cloth over a red gown. Matched with a level black high hill. Her hair is sleek; eyelashes long as she takes off her sunglasses. Her eyes are very intimidating as she asks politely "Do I scare you?"

Eliz smiles genuinely "No, not at all . . . You can have a seat. Sorry for keeping you standing"

"That's ok. By the way I'm Latif" she introduces settling and Eliz responds "Nice to meet you Ms. Latif. I'm—"

"Eliz. I know you"

Eliz is bewildered "Oh. And how's that? Have we met before?"

"Absolutely not. But I'm sure you've heard of me from your . . . friend?"

Eliz blinks are eyes "I have many friends—"

Latif cuts in before the young lady finishes her words "Myla"

Eliz is still perplexed.

Latif announces, "She stole my fiancé"

Eliz eyes pull out. Could this be what she's imagining?

"Are you Jamal's fiancée?"

"I was before he left me for your friend" Latif tells, her face becoming pale.

Eliz is speechless "I'm sorry. But—she has never told me about this"

"How would she when she knows how shameless it is"

Eliz just ogles her gathering up tears. It makes her feel sympathy.

"Jamal has never been a womanizer. I know he still loves me. Myla kept forcing herself to him and that's why she created lies about me threatening to destroy her career if she doesn't stops coming to see his sister. But I know he's just having a problem with facing the reality that he loves me. He can't love anyone else. Not even your friend"

"Ok. Why don't you just meet her and tell her that?"

Latif is taking aback by the young lady's response, but she hides it, allowing the tears soak her cheeks "Because you are the one to help me make this right"

Eliz confuses "And—How's that?"

"I'd need you to write down your number here" Latif forwards a paper and a pen. Eliz chuckles "What do you want to do with my number?"

"Good question. Well, I'd need to contact you so we could talk more. You know . . . I am aware of your health misbehavior. I know how frustrating it is for you not to get money for your surgery. Don't ask me how. It was important I went extra miles to get what I wanted right? You should do the same. As for Myla, we all know how strange it is to be under someone who checks on you always . . . I guess. Probably trying to control you."

Eliz blinks away sipping her coffee.

"I know you don't like that. No one does. So just give in. Help me help yourself. I'd pay for your surgery; buy a house for you to become independent. Anything you want. But just help me get back Jamal"

Eliz silently reflects on this temptation. She can't be against her friend and she knows it. But what her friend did is very wrong. She can't support her destroying someone's relationship.

Eliz takes the pen and writes her name down. She looks up at Latif he hides a smirk, replacing feign.

"I'm just doing this because what my friend did is wrong. But you're asking of me is blasphemy then I won't take in"

"No worries. I'm not going to ask you anything. Just a simple request"

Eliz squints her eyes towards Latif as the lady take away the paper.

End Of Flashback

...

"You can't do this man" Jamal talks to the shareholder. This man has been as close as Amid has been to Jamal.

He knows secrets and histories of Jamal's company. Jamal gave him this post because he proved himself trusts worthy. And now this man is his last hope to regain his company. But he is instead trying to use this as advantage to own it.

Jamal is like a thief now because he has no proves that this company is his. He lost all this essential docs.

The man chuckles "That's life bro. I need this too"

"For Goddamn sake this is my enterprise!"

"And it's mine too. Show me your proves and I'd be steadfast in leaving" the shareholder challenges.

Jamal smirks, devilishly "Drink your cup of tea while it's still very warm; because once it turns cold. Seawater will be more preferable to it. I'm gonna make you pay. I never miss my words Dan. At least you know me for that" Jamal exits and the man bellows his cheeks, still feeling scared of his boss.

...

"Let's pray the Lords' prayer." The priest recommends and everyone bows to recite.

Myla has no tears left to cry but her friends are in a pool of tears. Eliz's whole family is gathered as they walk to her coup and throw flowers.

After the burial, everyone disperses but Myla tarries there till the dark. She walks into her car after a long wait and drives away.

As soon as she gets home, she takes her bath and walks out moving towards her bed while reflecting.

She needs someone to hug, someone to bury her head on. Neither Jamal nor Patricia was here. She's wondering what's going on. How can he miss such a moment when she really needs him?

The news has gone viral that Eliz is no more. So, he can't use the excuse that she didn't inform him.

She has not heard anything from Jamal since he left. She doubts for how long she'd be able to hold herself. She didn't want to be the one messaging. She hates it. But right now she's forced to. She's sick worried about him.

After what happened to her friend, she can't help being tormented. Her brain has stopped functioning and she's scared to loose herself. 'Jamal needs you. Don't give up on him.'

Why did Eliz say all that?

She closes her eyes and opens it. She presses on her phone and stops. After a few minutes, she presses again, enters her call log and sees his name registered. She lets a tear drip, wipes it and positions her phone on the nightstand.

She's scared of talking to him. What if he leaves her unanswered or hurt her just like before?

She gives up trying. She better not get into this. She needs to stick to her plan. No thinking of Jamal.

She offs her light and sinks into her bed.

...

"Can't let him own my company" Jamal grits his teeth.

"I don't want that too. But you can't take this to court as suggested by your mom. If you loose the case, you'd not just loose your enterprise, but your facilities, cars, house everything you have" Amid explains.

His mom walks into the room and they turn their heads to her. Jamal dismisses Amid with his eyes and he leaves him to his mom.

"Have you decided on what I told you? You already know who the criminals are. No need to scared losing when you have the truth in front of you."

Jamal just keeps his head down "I don't understand how her friend accessed my computer in my absence. Like only someone I gave access to my house would let another in and Myla doesn't have that access. So how is that a prove?"

"The news came this morning that Eliz her friend is dead. She killed her friend to silence her from telling the truth."

"Mom . . . I understand that you don't love her but you are exaggerating about this. Her friend ran from her house some time ago without telling her where she hid. How can that be Myla's fault if she's dead now?"

"The doctor informed her immediate families that she was poisoned. Means she lied to you. Common, who else will want to kill her now if not for Myla, Isn't it obvious"

Jamal is speechless. He doesn't believe what they say about Myla and her friend even with there proves they claim to have gotten.

But at an instance, he's so hurt. She's supposed to call or message him as she always does but she hasn't.

To be continued...