Chapter 58;turn the tables

Sometimes you can gain a lot by just doing nothing and right now that's what they did. They allowed Aina to feel smug and bask in the glory for some time. The best thing about allowing someone to feel high and mighty is that the higher they go ,the harder the fall. Thus when retreating her face was full of smiles making Aina wonder what was there to be proud of . As Lisa and Tasha are busy catching up ,Maria receives a disturbing phone call. Coming back she looks very pale 

Maria" Aina just threw us out".

"what do you mean by threw us out?" Tasha asks

"she managed to make Cleve sign some documents, she is now the fourth biggest shareholder in our family's' companies and as the young madam of the household she wants all of us out by today". Maria  informs 

Tasha is surprised by the development but what shook her and made her more upset was the fact that Aina had transferred her clothing and stuff to her own room. This was Tasha's bottom line, nobody was allowed to touch her room. was her own personal space and her sanctuary .Thus knowing that Aina had lain her dirty hands on it it made Tasha's  blood boil. Of all the rooms why hers?

Lisa looks at them with an expressionless face. She doesn't understand a thing. This rich families are sure very complicated.

Seeing how a mere mention of the Aina girl's name agitates Tasha, she asks Aina is.

Tasha who can't think straight after losing her cools she blurts the name out.

Hearing that name its like her world has been turned upside down." Its her again" .All this years Lisa had never forgotten how she was humiliated ostracized and labelled for something she never did. Hands folded into fists her face has turned ghastly pale as her breathing quickens. Noticing the abnormality Maria gets worried.

"Lisa calm yourself down, breath in ,breath out ,remember you have a baby in your stomach". She helps fan her as Lisa tries to keep her emotions in check.

The fear the Aina and her group had instilled in her was so profound that even after so many years ,Lisa hadn't gotten over it. 

Ensuring that she is alright, Maria covers her with a shawl and leaves her to rest.

They are busy consulting each other that they do not realize Lisa's presence all along

she stands behind them her hands folded "do you need any help?" she asks

Startled, Maria almost jumps.

"Lisa this is our family matter we wouldn't want you to be involved in it, more so you are very pregnant thus should avoid stressful situations and anything that cause you any emotional turmoil. "Maria turns down her offer.

Lisa doesn't look like she heard her "Maria from your discussion I got to know you have nothing to stop this Aina from claiming her position as the family mistress. All you have is one document and if your nephew realizes he was cheated do you think he will be happy about it? He will probably want to make matters right and to piss you off he will give her full access to whatever she needs. Who do you think will be at the losing end? At the moment you cannot count on your nephew and if the situation is as urgent as you say it is then you accept my helping hand . I know a way to help you out" 

Maria seems to be in deep thought while Tasha looks at Lisa expectantly.

"what do you have in mind"? Maria asks.

" to fight an enemy first identify his strengths and weaknesses. once you weaken his supporting base you destabilize him thus incase of an attack you are placed at an advantageous position."

Maria's eyes widen ," that's what Dion would have said".

Talking of Dion she gives him a call. He has been away for some time now. as much as people knew him as a live in son in-law, Dion was a very good entrepreneur. once in a while he would fly out ot take care of his investments. Under his watch the assets left behind by Grace have accumulated to some good billions of money and this time round his absence was related to Lisa it was time she stepped up and take care of her properties. After confirming his flight details Maria relaxed while waiting for her general, while Tasha and Lisa spent time together catching up and bonding some more.

Worried about her brothers ,Lisa decided to give them a call. Due to his poor mental state brown had momentarily resigned from his position as a doctor. After the disappearance of Lisa he became unstable thus couldn't concentrate on his work ,stone took a two weeks leave to take care of her boyfriend.

Gian on the other hand was doing what he knew best that is drowning his sorrows. He tossed himself to his online gaming platform. All the people and detectives he had sourced for, none was able to give him substantial information about Lisa.

His phone beeps thinking its nothing he turns it to silent mode, Gian hates interruptions .

The phone continues flashing constantly. Tired of hanging up every now and then he picks it up." what! what do you want? when you call someone once and it goes unattended ,you should be wise enough not to call again. If you have nothing to do ,do not try passing time with me." He bellows bellows.

The person on the other end  just listens without uttering a word.

calming down he asks",did you call just to have a breathing competition with me ?"

" Hey rodent"

The hand holding the phone freezes

no one calls him  that except Lisa, his stubborn little sister.

" Repeat what you just said else I will bash your head" .He thinks someone is playing games with him.

"Rodent, I called you a rodent because your eyes resemble a rodents''. The caller confidently says

"ooh my goodness Lisa, where are you? what happened to you, are you fine, are the babies okay ,are you safe? "He asks all this in one breath. He cannot believe its Lisa who has been missing. 

"Gian easy one question at a time. yes I am safe and the baby is okay." Lisa answers. She too cannot hold her emotions ,talking to Gian she cannot control her lacrimal glands from producing tears.

"where are you? i will come find you." Gian's voice is hoarse ,he has probably been crying too.

stating her location, the phone makes a beeping sound .smiling " Gian is as impatient as ever". Having heard his voice she smiles as she sighs.

"is that your brother?" Tasha asks

"yes .Lisa replies 'they are two. Gian and Brown ,you will meet them very soon .It won't be long before he shares the news with Brown and before you know it they will be knocking on the door. Gian is an outgoing and fun loving guy while Brown is the overprotective type. The way he treats me one would think I am a porcelain doll".

Seeing how Lisa's face brighten when talking about them ,Tasha feels hurt. Noticing her  pained expression Lisa cannot help but laugh "apart from the two ,you are the only one close to being my sister. In my heart your place is still intact."

Hearing that Tasha's  face brightens, before Lisa can call brown a bang from the front door makes them freeze.

whatever is going on outside it won't be long before it spills over to the house.

With the surveillance footage down and the source of power cut, they cannot help getting scared.

" what is happening outside? Aunt are we in some sort of trouble?" Tasha asks from where Maria's sitted she can hear Tasha's teeth chattering.

She almost laughs at the sight of her but manages to control herself.

"Your sister in-law is quite a formidable opponent" .Maria states looking unsurprised by the chaos outside.

" Aina! how did they find us? '' Seeing Maria who doesn't even look petrified she wonders if her aunt already knew.

" Aunt you already knew?" Tasha asks.

"Tasha you were followed here. looking at the footage I realized a car that looked abandoned well camouflaged in the bushes  that one would think it was nothing. Later when checking your cell phone I found a foreign tracker that does not belong to our family rather it belongs to our rival company"

"Aunt are you for real? I have never been in contact with anyone from the Osiris's" Tasha defends herself.

Maria "you not being in contact with them doesn't mean someone else wouldn't".

her eyes pop out "You mean Aina?"

Maria nods.

Tasha "how did she ? how could she?"

"anyone thirsty for power is bound to do anything even if it means sleeping with the devil. However all this was a blessing in disguise ,we got to know  who is behind her".

"are we safe here ? Lisa asks after her supposed kidnapping she had had become easily scared and would feel jumpy at any little noise.

" I think so ,you see after I found the tracking device I knew Aina will not relent till she attained  what she was out for. If she had managed to track us down it only meant one thing, it wouldn't take long for her to strike. Instead of waiting for her attack ,I decided to strike first before they had time to think and prepare and as you see ,she turns the laptop to them ,it made them emotional ,unbalanced and prone to error."

Seeing the live footage playing in the laptop, Lisa asks "I though the surveillance cameras were all down?"

"they were but not my hidden cameras". Maria smile with satisfaction as she watches the live recording. In it the strange men are all bleeding and have been bundled up. It won't be long before they are taken to the central police station.

Tasha "Aunt you have become shrewd".

"my dear being a CEO in our company is not easy however much I want to take the credit  I wouldn't have done it without the help of Dion my husband".

At the mention of him a hidden door opens and from it emerges from  Dion as handsome as ever.

they have been away from each other for only a week and in that time Maria had missed him greatly to her it looked like a whole year spent in waiting and yearning for her husband's presence.

Tasha who is inexperienced in matters to do with love  asks whether Maria is sick as her face has turned all red.

Lisa cannot help but laugh however masks it with a cough.

Dion pinches Maria 's waist" sweetheart answer your niece .She wants to know whether are you sick".

she blushes even more, Dion pinching her waist had sent shivers throughout her entire body .she looks at him in a passionate way .If Lisa and Tasha weren't around she would have eaten him there and then.

Dion loves to tease her, seeing her face all flushed up he cannot help but feel uncomfortable down there .

using his jacket he hides the otherwise growing bulge in his pants.

"allow me to bring your aunt upstairs she is probably tired from all this". Dion cannot control the changes in him ,if he doesn't escape from their presence he might embarrass himself.

Tasha "but..but there are attackers outside". 

Dion glances at the laptop but all looks calm and serene ".it has already been taken care of you too should rest for a while" he states before leading Maria upstairs .walking behind her he groans inwardly at the sight of her butt that seems to her gotten bigger. He feels like squeezing with his hands but he remembers where they are. He cannot wait to be in her, she is aging like fine wine that he can not control the way his body reacts upon seeing or even smelling her scent.

Tasha wants to argue back, its blazing hot outside and almost three how ,Aina is rendering us homeless and all you think of is catching some sleep .isn't it illogical?

Before she can utter such words Lisa covers her mouth with her hands.

"Lisa what is it?" seeing Tasha look so innocent Lisa cannot help but laugh

"Tasha you are so naïve "

"no am not "Tasha retorts 

"yes you are"

"no am not" Tasha defends herself by throwing a throw pillow at her.

it continues for who knows how long before they both give up.

"did aunt eat something that her skin turned all red ,she has never suffered from an allergy before ?" Tasha is at it again making Lisa to knock her head as she answers her.

"Tasha that's because she missed her husband"

"what does missing her husband have to do with her allergy?" It doesn't make sense to Tasha.

shaking her head Lisa gives up, she isn't going to corrupt her little friends mind some things should be left unsaid. 

After letting off some steam, Dion and Maria come down all smiles ,walking hand in hand and relaxed like some newly married couple.

seeing her aunt's face glowing the ignoramus Tasha asks about it

"aunt your face looks radiant and glowing ,what skin care routine are you using maybe I should use it too.

you even look relaxed and happy".

Maria feels like hiding her face somewhere 

Lisa palms her forehead, "my goodness ".

"I think its the new skin care cream I brought from a abroad. Over there mixing snail slime into skin care products is very popular .its 100 percent proven that it helps with scars, stretch marks and wrinkles. Helps with nourishing the skin and removing dead cells from the surface of the skin. Considering that your aunt is very conscious of the scare left behind after her surgery I bought her some. Dion smiles proudly as he informs them.

Hearing that Tasha almost pukes "eww aunt you applied snail slime on your face?' she quickly rinses the fingers that touched her aunt's face with a lot of soap and water." uncle Dion you should have told me earlier, eeww  feel like throwing up. Aren't you afraid you were lied to, how does it even work?'

seeing her like this Dion smiles from ear to ear." Tasha I brought you one too, your aunt told me you have acne so I carried an extra. The snail filtrate has two components that boost tissue repair and promote rapid cell renewal which is fibrinolysis enzymes that serves as a natural exfoliant that handles scars, fine lines and wrinkles. The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant solution in it helps treat acne and scars by softening the existing scars and damaged tissues before removing removing them and building new ones for skin cell regeneration. If you use it 2-4 weeks you will begin to see its effect. Turning to Tasha he asks ,' don't you want a good skin? as soft as a baby's'."

of course Tasha wants a young soft skin but remembering that the product is made of snail slime she cannot bear to apply it on her face.

Lisa knows Dion is messing with Tasha but the use of snail slime is quite interesting ."Dion if Tasha doesn't want the product ,you can give it to me after all I am already having stretch marks from being pregnant. I don want to look like an old woman once put to bed ".Lisa joins the conversation.

Tasha looks at Lisa as though she has some dirt on her face." Lisa don't be fooled, the cosmetic companies can do anything to stay afloat. snail slime doesn't not help remove acne ,stretch marks or wrinkles ,whatever uncle heard is just a marketing strategy to make their products sell. Know your target markets' biggest fears ,address their fears and thrive on them, they know women are scared of this things thus to earn profits they sell such a narrative'.

As she speaks Lisa is busy with her phone checking the information out.

" have a look at this ,peeking at her phone Tasha reads "the snail secretion contains two important components, fibrinolysis enzymes and glycolic acid, which improve scars, wrinkles, acne spots and skin lines. The two components help with nourishing the skin and removing dead cells from the surface of the skin. Using products, which contain snail slime for your skincare, will help you tackle scars from acne and surgeries .The use of products with snail slime will also help with brightening your skin, repair damaged tissue and protect the skin from the formation of free radicals."

its a whole page filled with uses of snail slime and its effectiveness ,the manufactures has even placed a sample of the snail slime product on it. checking the reviews she returns Lisa's phone back

"are you convinced now? "Dion asks with a raised eyebrow.

Tasha had always had a problem with admitting defeat ."I am but that doesn't mean am gonna buy it ,lemme live with my acne. Anyway Uncle how do you know all this? For a man you sure did some due diligence".

"I had to ,after all its a product that was made by my company' He says not feeling smug or proud.

Its like he had dropped a bombshell on them. Now more than ever Lisa wants to try the product after giving birth while Tasha requests if she can get a product with similar properties but one that doesn't use snail slime.

Dion and Maria cannot help but laugh at how much their small discussion had almost made Tasha throw up.

the harmonious air in the room is broken by a loud banging on the door

checking who it is ,Dion is pushed back inside almost falling down from the applied force.

Brown walks in a brutish way landing his fist on Dion's stomach

when Dion tries to rise but Brown hits his calf region making Dion to wince in pain

he looks like a rogue. seeing its getting out of hand stone intervenes while shouting at Gian who stand sat the door with his arms crossed.

when the commotion stops Tasha and Lisa peep from their hiding place, behind the couch

"bro..bro " Lisa calls him but meeting Brown's gaze she swallows the rest of her words.