Chapter 58: the clash with a familiar face
Monalisa and I finished up with our meal and she left for the restroom.
Monalisa washed her hands and checked out her face in the mirror , however, her face turned pale the moment a familiar face stepped into the restroom.
Monalisa slowly turned and it was the woman from the supermarket earlier.
"Monalisa. I'm so glad to have ran into you"
"Step back and stay away from me. Don't you dare come any closer"
"Why? My dear..."
"Don't you say a word"
"But I'm your mother"
"You are not my mother! And you can never be my mother. I have no mother"
"Monalisa"
"Enough! Don't come any closer"
Monalisa picked up her bag and rushed out of the restroom.
She ran to me linked arms with me.
"Let's leave right now"
"Why? Is everything okay?
"Yes. Let's leave from here. Ain't you done paying the bills?
"I am. Let's go then"
Cynthia, who had hid in one of the toilets stepped out to see the lady crying. She scanned the room and found no Monalisa.
Cynthia approached the lady, offering her a tissue to wipe her tears.
"Tears do not look good on ladies" Cynthia said smiling at her.
"Thank you so much"
"Uh!c I do not want to meddle, but I overheard you arguing with a lady named Monalisa. Is everything okay?
"What can I say dear? I already lost my daughter because of my foolishness. My daughter hates me so much and does not want to see me again. It's actually not her fault. I'm totally at fault for not standing by her side and being there for her when she needed me the most"
"Uhmm...hold on" Cynthia grabbed her phone from her bag and searched through her phone gallery for Monalisa's picture. "Found it. Uhmm...ma'am. Perhaps, is this the Monalisa you are talking about?
"Yes. That's my daughter"
"Daughter? So you are her biological mother? Wow! Lovely. This will be so much fun"
"Do you know her?
"Yes. I'm a friend of hers and her husband's secretary"
"Husband! She almost lost her balance but Cynthia was fast enough to catch her hand. "Husband? Monalisa is married?
"Oh yes. She is married, though it is a secret. No one knows she is married and no one knows that her husband is married to her"
"What are you saying?
"Well, their relationship is kind of complicated. But if you wish to know we can pick a day and uhmm...discuss further on this issue. I need to go back to the company. Lunch break already ended"
"Hold on. How do we get to meet. I do not live in this city and I will be leaving soon"
"How soon?
"Three days time"
"Oh. Then, have my card. Give me a call and I will come to you"
"Really? Thank you so much. I appreciate your efforts. You are such a nice friend"
"I am? I am. Yes I am. I have to run along now. Take care"
"Finally, I will get to reunite with my daughter"
Cynthia got into her car and burst into laughter.
"Silly old fool. She thinks I'm trying to help her reunite with her daughter. No. thank you dear fate for this amazing opportunity which I'm going to utilize and destroy Monalisa. The fact that she lied to Jayden that she is an orphan. Oh dear, you won't know what hit you. I'll ruin you and finally have Jayden all to myself"
Monalisa said no word to me in the car. There was so much silence between us and the silence was really loud. She would say it's nothing and force out a smile each time I try to inquire what happened. I dropped her off at the school.
"Athena..."
"Yes sir"
"Something is definitely wrong with Monalisa and she won't say a word to me. I need you to find out, even if it means planting a tail on her. She is definitely hiding something from me"
"May I say something sir?
"Yes go ahead"
"That's a terrible idea. You do not monitor the woman you love. You give her time and pacify her slowly, she will definitely open up to you. Putting a tail on her shows that you do not trust her . also, you need not do that because...I did catch a glimpse of Cynthia earlier at the restaurant and I believe miss Monalisa and Cynthia must have had a clash in the restroom"
"Really? Cynthia was there too? Why? How did she know I was there?
"She was your secretary and she knows exactly where you have lunch. Maybe she had showed up to eat with you and was disappointed to see you with miss Monalisa and she ended up venting out her anger and frustration out on Miss Monalisa"
"True. You are indeed smart. I like that"
"Thank you sir. May I say one more thing"
"Sure go ahead"
"I think and feel, it will be in your best interest and that of your wife if you two eat lunch together. Cynthia won't have the opportunity to be close with you"
"I'll think about it. What's next on the schedule?
"Inspection of the factory yourself"
"Good" my driver pulled up in front of the company. "let's go conduct some inspection"
"Yes sir"
Athena and I got out of the car and went straight inside.
Monalisa sat on the chair and placed her head on the table, trying to catch her breath.
She sat up immediately, the moment she had a flashback on her past.
Monalisa clenched her palms. "How did she end up in that restaurant and what in the world is she doing in this city? Could it be that they moved down here? Monalisa gasped. "No. it's possible. Could it be...? No way. I'm never going to forgive her and let her back into my life. I won't let them ruin my present. I have worked so hard for it. No . I won't let them. Take a deep breath Monalisa, take a deep breath. Good, now let's go teach some students"
Monalisa packed up her stuff and left for class.