Chapter 41

Chapter 42

Finally seated on the dining table, Mina took a sip from the mug in front of her. Maria had brought her the mug as a way of equally creating a good first impression. She really wanted Mina to warm up to her and Maria Hall felt that Mina had approved when she collected the mug she had offered her and without hesitation, took a sip of the content.

Maria Hall had watched in amazement wondering why the Lady had collected the mug and drank from it's content without hesitation. She wondered if Mina was not concerned about being poisoned.

Maria Hall shrugged. Probably, poison doesn't hurt her, she thought.

Maria Hall looked at the woman in front of her and wondered what could be going through her mind as she took a sip from her hot chocolate.

“I have been watching you for a while now Maria Montgomery” Mina began as she dropped her now empty mug on the table.

Maria Hall looked up from her drink. “Okay…” she said awaiting some sort of report about her bad character, attitudes and every other bad energy she possessed.

Mina looked at Maria Hall, her countenance now serious.“I like your resilience”

“What?” Maria Hall questioned Mina as she almost choked on her hot chocolate. She wasn't expecting to hear anything good, not to speak of a nice compliment. No one has ever complimented Maria Hall before and this little but heavy compliment pierced through Maria Hall's soul and for a moment, softened Maria Hall's stone cold heart.

Mina was now smiling at Maria Hall. “I love your determination and that is why I have come to see you" she continued, now standing up from her seat.

“But you said you are here because I have been speaking about you to Jasmine” Maria Hall asked unable to comprehend what Mina was saying. She had first said that she was there to teach Maria Hall a lesson for always summoning her. Later, she requested for her help and now, she's complimenting her and claiming that it was because of her resilience that she decided to come pay her a visit. Maria Hall was indeed confuse, what exactly is this woman here for. Why did she come to her home? Maria Hall had so many unanswered questions. The lady in front of her was yet to tell her her name.

“Hmmm, Jasmine your step daughter” Mina said, her facial expression gradually changing as she turned towards the window. “The Queen of this pack” she scoffed.

Maria Hall was surprised by Mina's reaction. She wondered who the woman was to also hate Jasmine. She had thought it was people who were close to Jasmine that wanted to bring Jasmine down. Maria Hall unable to place the kind of relationship Mina and Jasmine must have had, soon gave up the thought.

“Oh well, that's their problem”, she shrugged.

Returning her attention to the woman, she noticed how the woman's face had turned sour as she made her last statement.

Maria Hall found it interesting to know that she was not the only one who had a problem with Jasmine but now, almost everybody is coming out to place a price on Jasmine's head.

Grinning, she thought it good to know that since she was not the only person in it, she would definitely have more backings and it would make ger job easier. She also considered the fact that she would likely not have to be the one to do the dirty jobs. After all, that'd make her a bad mother. She thought as she wore a worried look on her face. Maria Hall pretended to be affected by her new assumption but she couldn't stay in character for too long and soon, she bursted into laughter.

Mina who had been staring at the window in silence thinking of her next action, was brought to the present by the sound of Maria Hall's laughter.

Maria Hall had forgotten she was not alone when she had burst into laughter. Not until Mina had turned to stare at her and had cleared her throat did Maria Hall realize that she had company.

Maria Hall searched through her thoughts, trying to find the best response for why she was laughing. Should she be asked eventually by Mina.

Mina who was not interested in what was making Maria Hall smile, only looked at her and asked. “How much did he offer you?”

“Huh?... Who?” Maria Hall asked Mina innocently but Mina didn't say a word, she only turned her back to Maria Hall and stood rooted staring at the window again.

Maria Hall was still trying to think deeply who it was Mina was referring to and when she thought of one unlikely person, she decided to ask.

“The person I'm working for?” she asked in disbelief, hoping it was the same person Mina was referring o so as not to entertain many questions and be caught ratting on her employer. Maria Hall also hoped it was not him, that way she did be assured that his identity was unknown and safe.

‘Yes, Al–”

“No don't!” Maria Hall quickly pleaded, cutting Mina off.

Maria Hall didn't want to have any more problem with this man.

Don't mention his name" she added,her eyes pleading.

"Oh right!... You are not to ever mention his name to…” Mina hands now in the air, gesticulating the air quote. She continued, mimicking her employer's tone.“... friends, enemies or whoever. Else, he would have your head on a plate and he wouldn't be wrong, considering you signed one silly contract".

Mina sneered, her lips now in an ugly pout. What a silly way to show one's superiority, she thought.

“Well, I didn't come for any of that” she muttered.

“Anyways, like I had asked; what is his offer?”

Awkward silence.

Maria Hall couldn't risk giving out any more details. She only wished to be held accountable for not picking and returning his calls that evening and not for betraying him. Besides, Maria Hall didn't trust her enough to tell her that much. She could be a spy for all she knows.

Mina knew Maria Hall to be adamant and immediately understood Maria Hall's stand on this. She knew she wouldn't be able to get Maria Hall to say much, especially on their first encounter.

Mina studied Maria Hall one more time and knew she had made the perfect choice.

Mina looked from the mirror to Maria Hall and gave Maria a warm smile. “We'd continue tonight, you have some visitors. I'd come back at a time and space where no one is watching".

Immediately Mina made this statement, Maria's door bell rang.

Tzzzz! Tzzzzz!…

Maria Hall who had been wondering what Mina meant by that statement, almost jumped in surprise when she heard the door bell ring. She turned her head to the door, hesitating on whether or not to open the door. She didn't want anymore surprises. Finally deciding on letting whoever was behind the door in, she started towards the door but stopped to ask Mina one last question.

Turning, she asked. “You never really told me your na…” Maria Hall stopped abruptly as she soon realized that she was now all alone in her apartment. Mina was gone.

Dwelling in the shock and confusion from the activities of the day, she walked slowly towards the door, her head throbbing.

‘Who's there?” she called out as she rubbed her forehead.

Silence.

Tzzzz! Tzzzzz!...

Came the sound again.

“Who's at the door?” Maria Hall called out again but she still got no response

Maria Hall wondered why whoever was behind the door wasn't responding to her.

She bent to peak through the hole on the door, just below her shoulders.

“What the…” She exclaimed in shock at the sight of the person by the door. With the many surprises of the day, Maria Hall could barely grasp anything asides a spinning apartment as she fainted.