My neighbor

I'm going to make our money grow, Steve doesn't even suspect it for a second. Our neighbor who lives alone seems to have a lot of money. I will approach him to find out about his activities. I must not delay in finding a profitable occupation with my money, lest it end up in useless expenses. So on Saturday evening, I decide to go visit my neighbour. She receives me well and I notice right away that everything about her is chic. I'm not long in complimenting her on that.
"Wow neighbour! Your house and everything inside is so beautiful!" I say with eyes full of stars.
"Thank you!" She replies with a smile on her face.
"How do you manage to have so much money at such a young age?" I asked still admiringly.
"It's easy my pretty!" She answers in a natural tone.
"Hmmmmmm!" I said before continuing to ask him. "Easy how?"
"I just want to say that it's not hard to make a lot of money. I have a good network that works like a charm." She answers confidently.
"It's not doubtful I hope?!" I asked on my guard.
"No oh, not at all!" She exclaims in front of my fears. "It is enough that you have money."
"For the money, it's a small problem." I retorted confidently.
"Ah yes?! Do you have the money?" She asks me doubtfully.
"Yes."
"Reassure me, we are talking about millions here!" She exclaims, still with a dubious look.
"I have enough money, as I told you. I sold my house in Edéa before coming to settle here. So for the financial aspect, there is no problem to do it.
"Okay, you reassure me in that case." She answers more relaxed.
"When do we start then?" I asked enthusiastically.
"Any time sweetie! It's up to you. Even now if you want." She said with a lot of enthusiasm.
"What are we going to do exactly?" I asked for further clarification.
"Trade in imported items. To be more specific, I have a supplier in Dubai who I send money to and he ships the goods back to me." She explains to me.
"And what is the nature of the goods?"
"Generally, he sends me fashion items. So there are clothes, shoes, bags and other fashion accessories." She answers more explicitly.
"Wow! I said with starry eyes." But I pull myself together quickly and ask him again
"And you sure about the loyalty of your guy from Dubai there? He's not going to run away with the money?"
"I know him very well, he can't do it. He's my boyfriend and he's the one who financed my business. Besides, from time to time, he injects his money into my business. She replies look sincere.
"Okay, so I trust you." I say more reassured.
"Don't worry honey! Soon you'll be making millions in profits! I'm going to help you become a respected lady in this town." She said, smiling while leaving me admiring. I stay a little longer at her place to chat and finally, we separate. I go home full of hope.

The next day morning, I woke up in the morning feeling good. I walked out of the bedroom and found Steve eating breakfast. I come and sit next to him then I help myself as well. He's so focused with his nose stuck in his diary that he doesn't even notice my presence.
"But what's got your attention to the point where you don't even answer my hello?" I asked curiously.
"You won't believe it Paula." He said, still staring at the newspaper.
"What?" I asked annoyed by so many riddles.
"Your sister got married last week and that's not all..."
- Which sister? No need to remind you to specify which one, because you know that I have several." I say, impatient to know who it is.
"I'm talking about Martina. And it says here that she's a billionaire. And..."
I snatch the newspaper from his hand without giving him time to finish speaking. In my turn, I look with interest at the page which is displayed in large print. Indeed, it is written in large letters: The young billionaire Martina Mballa is married to the American billionaire Larry Kurt. They are currently on their honeymoon in the Maldives Islands. The rest of the article leaves me speechless. It is written that Martina is the owner, not only of LEES, but also of other companies in Africa and certain real estate properties in Europe.
"I thought she was only CEO of LEES, something that intrigued me at first that she got there." I asked Steve in surprise.
"Me too. But it looks like she owns it." Answers Steve just as surprised.
"I wonder how she came to have so many possessions." I said angrily staring into space. "I wouldn't be surprised to hear that she dipped her hands (going to the cult to get rich) somewhere." I end up saying.
"But you haven't finished reading the article?" Steve asks me.
"No why ?" I asked to know where he is coming from.
"Because it is well explained there that her wealth comes from the Italian Lorenzo, who was the former CEO and founder of LEES. He lived with her for almost ten years and they had twins who are already six years old. It is also said that it is thanks to him that she continued her studies after the baccalaureate in Canada until obtaining a Master's degree in business management. When Lorenzo died, he bequeathed her almost the half of his patrimony." Steve explains to me.
I am flabbergasted by so many riches that Martina possesses.
"So she was cohabiting with him, even though he was a married man?" I started all annoyed.
"Who divorced his wife." Steve replies to me.
"In any case, Martina is surely the cause." I retorted mad with rage.
"Whether she is the cause or not, it is mentioned that he loved her very much, he did not hesitate to let the whole world know it. And even in his country of origin, he s even went there with her."
What I have just learned directly cuts my appetite and I get up from the table upset. Steve intervenes
"Aren't you eating anymore?"
"I am satisfied."
"But you haven't even drunk the tea you served!" He exclaims in amazement.
"Do I have to drink it? Or do I have to report to you if I eat or not?" I say with an aggressive tone.
I turn around, heading for the bedroom. It's not true! Why has this girl always been so lucky! It seems despite all the harm I have done to her, it has rather helped to hoist her higher. She annoys me to no end. To learn that she is also rich, not to mention that she married a handsome and rich man, torments me so much that I have desires for murder. I never could have imagined that Martina would come out of it so much. I expected her to kill herself after her mother died or die of grief when Stave and I were getting married. But it looks like I gave her the opportunity to get up more than strong instead. The least macabre scenario I had imagined was that she ended up in the depths of her mother's village, married as the fifth wife to an old polygamist. But no, we must admit that this girl has tough skin. And all the harm I did to her kind of propelled her up. I throw myself on the bed cursing the day Martina was born. This girl was born to ruin my life, that's for sure. As long as she's alive, I can't be happy.
Martin