Chapter 53

Pauline
I don't like the turn things are taking at all. I feel like the noose is tightening around us. This cursed girl of Muse and her so-called father don't want to let go. If I don't do something, they will eventually gain ground on us. I must act as soon as possible to divide them, so that they fail. It's already good that Sandra managed to keep Euniel. We had almost lost him. Luckily she's pretty smart. But that is not enough to keep him far from Muse. Looks like that idiot Euniel is madly in love with her. We must act quickly to put discord between them, so as to prevent them from succeeding in their coup.
I can't wait to take care of these cretins as soon as possible. However, there is more urgent to do before that. Indeed, recently, Charles began to take me out of the gongs.
"I need money very urgently." He told me when we last met.
"It's barely been a week since you asked me for money again." I replied surprised at his request.
"And then? You said well a week ago. We are not a week ago anymore. We're today."
"I have no money for you." I said annoyed by his craving for money.
"What does that mean?Should I call my son to ask him money?"
"Are you blackmailing me Charles?"
"Far from it. But you should know that Euniel used to give me enough money, without making me feel like begging for that."
"But why don't you look for a job? Will you end up begging all your life to be able to live? You already think of a fairly luxurious life." I told him dumbfounded.
"I've spent my whole life like this and I'm not complaining about it." He replied casually.
"I advise you to change this lifestyle and quickly find yourself a job. I don't have enough means to satisfy your desires for greatness."
"What are you implying? Besides, are you going to give me this money or not?"
"I'll give it to you today, but I'd like you to consider what I told you." I finally told him.
"I do what I want and if you're not ready to give me what I want, better tell me so that I can get in touch with my son. I'm sure he'll be happy to hear some information about his mother."
"Sure, you're threatening me there?!"
"Take it however you want, but know that I'm not willing to compromise on my money." He concluded without batting an eyelid.
Charles has become a problem for our business, that's for sure. I have to take care of him before it's too late.
Muse
The week that followed, I decided to recover from my emotions and I try somehow to move on. Euniel preferred to stay with Sandra and he is happy with her. If so, good luck to him. I wonder why he gave me hope by making me believe that he wants a relationship with me, when he had no intention of breaking up with the other? Was he trying to humiliate me because I let him down over six years ago? If so, he really pulled it off, because I felt like the most ridiculous woman in front of Sandra that day. You should have seen her taunt me with her proud air. Anyway, I better stop thinking about it.
The following Saturday, I agreed to respond positively to Nicolas' appointment. He invited me to a fancy restaurant in town and he insisted on picking me up.
"Wow! My beauty goddess!" He complimented me at the sight of me.
I wore a red shift dress that comes to the knees. The dress is tight and draws my curves well.
"Thank you!" I said smiling as I got to his level.
Nicolas stares at me downright, it looks like a kid in front of a bag of candies. He quickly opens the car door for me and I get in. He bypasses to come and sit at the wheel. The rest of the journey is done while chatting. We talked about everything and nothing. I find Nicolas quite interesting and I know I won't be bored in his company. So much the better, because I'm trying to change my mind. About thirty minutes, we arrive at the restaurant where there are a lot of people. Apparently, this is the most exclusive restaurant in town. Nicolas told me that the menu they offer is very rich and their meals are exquisite. I've never been here, and I hope I'll like the place as it does for all these beautiful people.
The receptionist installs us at our table, then a waiter does not take long to come and take our orders. We are served appetizers while waiting for our orders to be ready.
"Thank you for this outing!" I said to Nicolas with a grateful heart.
"You deserve it sweetie. You deserve to be treated like a queen, because you are a real queen!"
His compliments make me smile. I then tell him with sincerity
"Nicolas, I'm not going to lie to you. I still have feelings for your friend and I don't want to give you false hope."
"I know that sweetie. However, a beauty queen like you shouldn't end her life hoping that a man who doesn't realize her worth will give her false hope."
"It's your friend Nicolas, don't you think you're being a little hard on him?" I questioned him surprised at the harshness of his words towards Euniel.
"I know he's my friend, but that doesn't change the fact that he acts like an idiot around you. Any well-built man would bend over backwards to keep you. However, I don't understand not why he makes you yearn so much."
"Perhaps he has good reason for doing so."
"Maybe, but I thank him very much for the opportunity he gives me to be able to have a chance with you." Nicolas replied, looking me straight in the eye.
"Would you be willing to date a woman you know loves another man?" I questioned him, scrutinizing him in turn.
"It's true that the ideal would have been for you to love me. However, I still hope that you will end up forgetting Euniel and that you give me a chance in your heart."
"It's what I've wanted for a long time, to forget Euniel. But I'm afraid to get there. I couldn't forget him years ago..."
"Muse!" Nicolas called out to me, gently taking my left hand, while cutting me off. He gazes into mine, leading me to do the same.
"I promise to wait as long as it takes for you to forget Euniel. Believe me, I'm patient by nature. I just want you to give me a chance, to allow our story to exist. Will- are you ok to be my girlfriend?"
He seems so sincere and he was almost pleading with me with his eyes. After all, why not give it a try? Euniel is no longer available and I have no excuse not to be in a relationship. After a hesitation marking a consultation with myself, I ended up answering him.
"Okay, I'm willing to give us a chance."
Nicolas smiled at me, his face lit up by my decision. I hope I made the right decision.
Euniel
As agreed, I decide to contact my father to offer him money in return for information about my mother. To be frank, this mission does not appeal to me. My father is a loser who loves no one but himself. I really don't want to see it. However, if this is the only way for me to find my mother, I have no choice but to see him.
This Saturday morning, I take a quick flight to his city. I find him in his room, luckily for that matter.
I knock several times on the door of his door and he finally opens me.
"Euniel? What are you doing here? I thought I heard you say the last time you left this house, that you didn't want anything to do with me anymore?!" He said surprised to see me.
I wanted to throw in his face that if it was up to me, even at his funeral, I wouldn't set foot. However, I have to keep my composure and make efforts for my mother. After taking a deep breath, I tell her with a calm tone
"We need to talk."
"Ah yes? In that case, wait for me in the living room and I'll find you."
I do it quickly and take a seat on one of the sofas in the living room, which has had its day in the past. The dust deposited on the furniture does not indicate the existence of life in this house. The furniture remained intact as during my last visit to this house. I wonder how he manages to live in such conditions. Besides, does he often bother to sit in the living room? This television turned brown under the effect of dust, has it been on for more than a year? I cannot answer in the affirmative to this question. Let's not talk about the tiles on the floor, which have certainly not seen a mop, what am I saying, a broom rather, for a long time.
Lost in my thoughts, indignant at the unsanitary condition of this house, Charles's voice brings me back to reality.
"So my son, what good winds are you bringing?Did you finally realize that I am your real father?" He said coming to sit on the couch closest to the one I'm sitting on.
"No, that is not about to change since it is the truth proven by the DNA test."
"And why are you here then?"
"I came to offer you a win-win deal. Believe me, it's a very attractive deal." I replied without wasting time.
"Ah yes? What is it about?" He asked me, looking very interested.
"I want you to give me information about my mother and how to find her. In exchange, you will be entitled to a big jackpot."
"I already told you that I don't know where your mother is. She's gone and I have no information on her whereabouts." Retorted my father this time less reassured than in the past.
"Are you sure of what you're saying here? If you give me this information, I'll give you a check right there and you write in the amount you want. You can go and withdraw it at any time." I replied, taking the check out of my pocket.
My father looks at the check with eyes full of stars. It's obvious that he's interested in my offer.
"The amount I want you say?" he asks rubbing his chin.
"As colossal as this sum is, you will get it." I said, pushing the check towards him, and handing him the pen that came with it.
Charles hesitates for a moment, but the offer I make to him is very tempting. He was already reaching out to take the pen from my hand, when the woman I had found it with the last time, magically appeared in front of us. We were so focused talking that we didn't know when she entered.
"Charles? Can we see each other?" She said in a rather serious voice.
Damn then! Who is this woman, and what is she doing at this precise moment, when I was already on the verge of getting what I wanted from Charles?
"Do you want to see him right now? Can't it wait? Because we were talking about something very important." I said looking up at her.
"The discussion can wait. What I have to tell him is very urgent. It won't be long, I promise." She retorted without letting go.
"But..."
"I'll be right back!"
Charles cut me short by getting up and following this woman. This one doesn't inspire confidence in me at all. I hope Charles won't change his mind.