Chapter 44

All done, you're really lucky it wasn't a superficial wound. Just a graze, I'll prescribe some painkillers for you to use and you'll be alright", the doctor smiled.

She was a young woman and Rita suspected that they were the same age. She smiled, thanking the young woman before she left with Ramirez who took the lead.

"Just drive me home, I need to rest", Rita said.

She felt tired all of a sudden as Ramirez drove her home. She was on the brink of loosing it but she held on. She was a fighter and a good one at that. She wouldn't allow the circumstances surrounding her to weigh her down.

When Ramirez got to her house, he parked the car in front of the double doors. He ushered her in, leading her by the arm because she felt suddenly dizzy. When she got to the living room, she met her parents pacing. Her father was on the phone with someone and when he saw her, tears of joy streamed down her eyes.

Rita had never seen him cry before and seeing him now broke her heart. Her mother rushed towards her, gripping her hands.

"I'm fine", she chuckled.

"Never in my life have I been so scared",her father said, sitting down on the couch.

His hands were supporting his head as he shook with pain. Rita sat beside him, gripping his hands in her's.

"I shall take my leave now. Please call me if you need anything", Ramirez said.

"Thank you", Rita said quietly as she watched him leave.

Her mother sat on a chair opposite them and for some time, all was quiet. Rita could tell that her parents were trying to process everything that had happened.

"What really happened", her mother said quietly.

For the first time ever, her mother wasn't the usual chatty self she was used to. Rita didn't know how to explain the few minutes of horror she had just passed through.

She explained everything that had happened and with each minute of relating the horrific event, she shuddered.

"I don't understand, how did he breach the security", her father said.

"That's still unclear but Ramirez and the rest of the security team are working on it, we should get an answer soon", Rita said.

Now, she decided to ask her father the questions that had been burning her in her heart. The words of the shooter was still ringing in her eyes and try as she may, she couldn't quite understand any of it..

"The shooter said something", Rita said, quietly.

"What did he say?",her father asked.

Rita took a deep breath, she didn't know how he'll feel if she told him the hurtful things he said. True, her father was a strong man but for the first time, he was weak.

"He said something about being the head of the company and I don't deserve to be there. He said I should ask you that you'll know better. Father, what did he mean?", she said.

Her father shuddered while her mother looked as if something was stuck in her throat. Rita didn't know why they reacted this way but she knew it couldn't be good.

"Stuart", he mother whispered.

Rita stood up abruptly upon hearing the name. That was the last name of the shooter. There was no doubt, her parents knew all about this but they seemed to be reluctant to tell her.

"What is really going on?", Rita asked.

"Sit down", her father said.

Rita sat down without protesting. She was eager to know what her parents wanted to say, she had been waiting for this ever since the attack.

"We were a group of four men who founded the organization. Unfortunately, the three other founding members died in a plane crash. I was fortunate not to be among them because on the day they left, I had to go see my ailing father. The Anderson group was formerly called LOMA which was a combination of our first names, Lawrence, Orlando, Michael and Agustus", he said.

"It was agreed that in the advent of something happening to them, I was to hand over the company to Michael's son who had come of age at that time. I agreed to it but everyone could see that Michael's son wasn't interested in running an organization".

Rita remained quiet for a while. She was getting more confused by the second. She didn't quite understand where the name Stuart came from.

"Stuart is Michael's middle name and his son took that name to be his last when his father died. When I saw that Nicholas wasn't ready to handle the company, I took over from him. I remodeled the company and I renamed it Anderson. Not many people know this story as everyone thinks I began the organization",he said.

Her mother shook with unshed tears and for the first time ever, Rita felt pity for her. She couldn't imagine the horrors she faced during those trying time.

"God! It all makes sense now", Rita croaked.

"Yes, this is a secret we've kept from the public. Even Senator Brabra, my closest friend doesn't know about it", he said.

"Then I guess we should continue to keep this a secret. No one needs to know", Rita said.

"Yes and gosh, I'm really grateful that you're alive", her mother croaked.

"That's all the more reason why you have to get married to Edmundo. His family has a lot of influence that could help the company", her father said.

"Dad, that's where I'll draw the line. There's no way I'm going to marry Edmundo, it's not possible", she said.

"But you must", her mother said.

"No, it's not a must and I won't. Have you seen the tabloids, the papers, Edmundo is a serial man whore and anyone who ends up with him would be so unlucky", Rita said.

"But I believe he'll change",her mother pressed.

Rita couldn't believe they were still on this issue. She thought by now they would have forgotten everything about that issue but it seemed they were still on it.

"Change doesn't come easily mother and with someone like Edmundo, I doubt if he'll ever change", Rita said.

"We'll allow nature take it's cause", her father simply said.

"I need to go rest, I'm having a headache", Rita said, rising to her feet.

"Do you have your painkillers", her mother said.

"Yes", Rita said, walking towards her room.

She climbed the steps one at a time as against two which she usually does. Her head was woozy and it seemed like everything she looked at was in two's.

Rita got to her room soon, pulling her shoes off as she climbed into her bed. Rodrigo's face was the last thing on her mind before she went into a fitful sleep.