Day Four
Day Four
Zara’s POV…
The tour of the company wasn’t over yet, so we couldn’t submit any official reports or memos to our news networks. We needed to finish the one week program, gathering every and all the information we had, and then do a story report on our networks about the whole experience. So it wasn’t time to start sending in any drafts to uninterested editors.
I have to be honest though. I’ve found myself within the walls of powerful megacompanies and industrial giants all over the world, and none have been as clean as Balogun Incorporated. And when I say CLEAN, I’m talking about their policies and their ethics. Just between us, reader!
They usually get a lot of criticism from major news outlets, but their politics have always been ethically steadfast since the company’s conception. They were making hella bank, but they also contributed positively and greatly to the world’s economy. And if what Malcolm said on Tuesday is to be believed—about the remuneration funds—then it’s a really huge sacrifice on their part, for such a long time. Truthfully, doing such a business with the Chinese government couldn’t be handled fully legitimately. However, Balogun Incorporated chose to grab the shorter end of the stick, willingly letting their Chinese counterparts enjoy the sweeter end of the deal. That’s bold and crazy, you have no idea how much!
The only real dirt I had on them was the one that James planted himself when he sabotaged the food factory yesterday. That wasn’t enough to do any harm, and I didn’t even intend to pass it along to my superiors. And I really don’t intend to harm Malcolm in any way.
I’ve been expositing for too long now! It didn’t matter. Just like the news, what’s in the past doesn’t matter to me if it doesn’t affect the present in any way. Thursday is underway, so let me speed up my day for you a bit.
We were scheduled for another tour today, and Malcolm didn’t show up again. This one was less chaotic than the last one, but it didn’t go down without its hitches—trust that James was the cause. We started early and we finished early. Then I left and went home just around past midday. That was when I was reminded of my second appointment of the day. Not that I could have ever let it slip my mind.
The meeting with Michaela…
I messaged her immediately to ask if we were still on for today, and not too long after, she responded with positivity. The location she’d chosen for the meeting was a restaurant called Fùd—weird name but it works. It was on the fancier side of town. I didn’t want to get lost, so I called an Uber and was ready to leave so I would arrive on time.
We agreed for four in the evening. She’d already preserved a reservation and when I would get there, we’d discuss terms concerning our collaboration in bringing James down. And I would make the first stride in my personal mission of taking her down…so I could have Malcolm all to myself.
.
.
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Cherilyn’s POV…
“You really are going to go through with this, Cherilyn? Is there anything I can say to change your mind? I really don’t like this.”
I could understand Michaela’s caution and her worry for me. It was warranted. But I could do this and I needed to do it. Since what happened with the blackmailer happened, Mick has been less keen on taking risks. I think she really regrets what happened on that fateful day, and now she’s trying to avoid anything of the likes to happen again; that I should intentionally put myself in a position where I’d have to face an ugly truth, just as she had.
“You don’t need to worry about me, Mick. Instead, you should feel bad for the reporter. Malcolm doesn’t want her. You’ll stand her up today and when she thinks she has a friend in me, I’ll drop the hammer down on her too. She’ll surely be crushed, and heartbroken when it’s done.”
I tried to sound playful so that Mick would cheer up, but she still sounded super worried.
“Just be careful… and don’t underestimate her, Cherilyn.”
“Don’t worry, sister-wife! I won’t… I gotta go. It’s almost time for the meeting. Remember that we need to get her frustrated first before I interact with her. So keep in contact with her, and tell her you’ll soon arrive for one entire hour, before calling back and cancelling the plans and giving her the finger.”
From the other side of the line, Mick replied, “I understand. I’ll do that.”
“Good. Later, Michaela.”
“Later, Cherry. May the Lord go with you,” she wished.
I hung up and readied myself to get ready. I had to get to Fùd before Zara Kingsely would get there. My reserved table was on the far side of the restaurant, while the one Zara would be sitting on was on the other side, in a section where she wouldn’t easily spot me, but I would be able to see her very clearly. I had to watch her carefully first, then assess whatever the situation became and swoop in at the exact right time with the perfect ice to break into her frozen stream…and hopefully, her mind!
As I got ready for the plan, I started thinking about Kendra and how she’d left for Vegas yesterday. I don’t know what it was, but she was giving off some strange vibrations before she left. I had even left her several messages since yesterday evening and even this morning, but she was yet to respond to any of them. I was a little worried, but I didn’t panic yet. I expected to hear from her soon, and I can only hope that she remained in good spirits, considering the fact that she mentioned not having received any revelations at the Beyond The Pulpit Conference.
If she didn’t call tonight, then the mountain would rise and seek out the so-called prophet!
That was to be handled later—the reporter/journalist was to be handled now. I was ready to go. I took the keys to my BMW. I walked out of my house and drove out of my parking space, ready to go work on my relationship, so to speak.