Chapter 50 Daniella's unease
Daniella sleeked in restlessness. She calculatedly sat in the living room pretending to watch tv while she waited for her sister to come out of Loney's room. The longer her sister spent, the greater her agitation. She wasn't ready to give up. Loney might be upset with her because of what happened in the past but she can make things right. She can make him love her.
Her body fought to shut down but she kept her eyes wide awake, not giving in to the demands of her body. Advertently, her prayers were answered when the door pushed open, expedited by the intense anticipation that covered her features. Loney stepped out but let alone, her sister was still inside. She saw Loney pass her without sparing her a glance. It was as if she didn't exist.
She waited eagerly, her eyes glued to the door. Her sister must come out any moment. Seconds passed to minutes, as she continued to wait. Thirty minutes later, she got tired of waiting and strode to the door. She held the knob gently and before she turned it, a baritone voice sounded behind her,
"What do you want?"
She was startled and shuddered a little at the sound of the voice. She didn't know that someone was looking at her, talkless of Paul. She forced a smile that did not reach her eyes, "I'm just worried about her. She hasn't eaten, you know?"
Paul crossed his arms around his chest, a look of disdain eclipsed his features. "Loney is capable of taking care of his surrogate. Now off to your room."
"Can I just check if she's okay? He was very upset with her earlier. What if he has done something to her?" Daniella tried to mess with his mind because his presence made her uncomfortable. It was quite glaring that Paul didn't seem to like her.
He could see through her like glass. "Loney would never hurt a woman, talkless of one carrying his child. Now off you go," he expressed sternly.
Daniella flushed with embarrassment. "Please, I'm really worried," she pouted.
Paul knitted his brow, the corner of his lips stretched. "Throughout the day, you ate and didn't even care about your sister. Suddenly, she means that much to you? Don't let Loney see you here. He might throw you out before you wake up. I won't repeat myself anymore. Off you go!" His voice was a command, void of any negotiations.
Daniella was done pretending, her head lifted, her eyes held his, "who are you anyway? Ain't you just a worker for Loney?"
Paul took a step towards her, she took one back. "For your information girl, I am a retired FBI agent. Of course, it was a voluntary retirement. One I did for the sake of my family's safety. Now, I don't only work for Loney but he is also my best friend so for as long as I'm here, I have eyes everywhere and I have been watching you."
Danica cursed inwardly. What was it with Paul anyway? What was her sister doing in Loney's room? Reluctantly, she strutted back to the living room.
At the garage, Loney put a call through to Jones. It was still the early hours of the evening therefore if Jones was working late, then he should still be in the office. Jones answered the call on the second ring.
"Mr Hubert, it's a pleasant surprise." Jones wasn't a fool. It wasn't likely that Loney would call him directly. Every meeting with his managers was arranged by his secretary therefore, it could only concern Danica.
Loney couldn't overlook the fact that Jones was close to Danica. It made him uneasy. "I want to see you at lunchtime tomorrow." Loney wasn't used to pleasantries because he saw them as a waste of time therefore, his voice sounded rather sturdy.
Jones was calm. He hadn't done anything wrong. "Mr Hubert, if it's about Danica, I don't think there would be a need for that but if it's about work, I will be at the venue you choose," Jones' tone was polite as he spoke.
Since he found out Danica was Loney's surrogate, he authenticated that Loney wouldn't let him rest if he found out about his relationship with Danica but he was rather relaxed about it.
"Danica called you?" Loney was a bit apprehensive. If Danica called Jones, then it meant they rehearsed what to tell him. A blend of envy, jealousy, anger and pain began cruising through his veins, he couldn't make out which was more dominant.
"No. It came up when I was having a conversation with Herty. I never imagined Daniella would be acting as Danica and she was very good at it. Besides, I just found out after Daniella left me at the car park. Herty explained that she followed her sister when she bumped into her at the mall."
A sigh evaded Loney, peace dribbled him. "What is your relationship with Danica?" His voice was slightly gentle this time.
"She is a wonderful person and I wanted to marry her but somehow, I couldn't propose. I still have the ring I bought for her with me. Even when I didn't know she had left and the person I kept seeing was Daniella, I still found it hard to propose. Now I understand. She was never mine so God protected her for the right person. You two must have met under wrong circumstances but I think it was all in the will of God," Jones expressed. He knew that Loney wasn't into religion but it didn't stop him.
Muzzle united the two speakers on both sides of the line. "Are you saying this because you work in my company or the fact that you think I might hurt Danica? If you love her, I still want to know," Loney's voice broke the silence.
"With all due respect sir, I have no reason to lie to you because the worst will be for you to fire me. Nevertheless, I have to express that I am not afraid to lose my job," Jones stated matter of fact. Loney was a good boss but Jones was also an outstanding manager.
Silence plummeted again. "I don't think there will be a need for us to meet but you still didn't answer my question. Do you love Danica?" Loney was not satisfied with Jones reasonable answers.
"Yes I love her but I don't think we were meant to be if not, we would have been married already. I don't believe in coincidences. Everything that happens, is pre-programmed by God. For his word says, in all things, we should give thanks, for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us," Jones quoted the scripture.
Loney was flushed with confusion but he also deciphered that Jones was harmless, which was enough for him. He also knew that Jones wasn't poor as Daniella tried to make him think. Jones salary was enough to give him the needed luxuries, Loney made sure of that. Even the janitors' salaries could guarantee a comfortable living for them. "You are not making sense Jones, but I will leave it at that."
"Thank you sir, and please have a goodnight."
When Loney ended the call, he didn't find the satisfaction he wanted. If life wasn't a coincidence, then why would Daniella surface in his life? What kind of plan was that in God's ways? The more he thought about it, the greater his confusion. Thinking about Daniella, he wondered about the mafias she owed.
He also recalled that her death report was from Russia. There were so many mafias there therefore, he didn't know which particular one to get his information from. Perhaps, he could request a favour from Ray. The thought didn't settle well with him but Ray was the only one who could get information from the other mafias.
After some thought, he reluctantly dialled Ray's number.
"Loney, I never thought I would hear from you again. You have now been branded as a government's untouchable," Ray said in his usual Russian accent.
"Well, I need information and I am willing to pay," Loney proposed flatly.
"That sounds interesting but what do you want to know?"
"Just information from any of your cartels, I need information on a girl called Daniella Howard."
"Oh, Daniella. That sweet one. A million, Loney."
"Shoot."
"Daniella was my girl. She loves money and I loved her body but she also took care of the delivery of some of my consignments because she was a smooth talker." Loney nodded in agreement, satisfaction massaging him.
"So why did she fake her death?"
Ray laughed, "one of my consignments under her care got missing so she had to pay," he simply said.
"I see. How long did she work for you?"
"Three years. She paid me my money when I came to Mexico so she doesn't owe me anymore."
"Do you know where she got the money?"
"I don't care where she gets the money she owes me."
"Thank you, Ray."
Loney massaged his temple after speaking with Ray. His head ached yet, he couldn't wallow in it. He was confident with the information he got and decided to speak with Paul. Paul had been keeping watch over Daniella when Loney got to the living room. However, as soon as Daniella saw the latter, she stood from the expensive sofa, her arms flung around him. Loney stiffened.
He held her hand and pulled it off swiftly as it burned him. "Daniella, don't ever do that again," his voice was calm but deadly, Daniella staggered.
"Sorry, I was just worried about my..my sister," she stammered.
"Your sister is sleeping," Loney firmly said, his expression stony.
Daniella frowned. "In your room? Why would she sleep in your room?" She couldn't hide the pain, her eyes betrayed her.
"I don't think that is the reason why you are here," Loney exposed her.
Her face turned chagrin. "Look, I'm just worried for my sister because she hasn't eaten. Let me check on her," she turned to climb the stairs to Loney's bedroom but, stopped in her tracks when she heard a low growl from Loney, his voice was cold, his teeth gritted. Daniella shivered as if snow fell from the ceiling of the living room.
"Daniella, let me make something clear. I am only tolerating you in this house because of your sister. Now, you do not enter my room without my approval. Two, you do not enter your sister's room without her approval and three, stay out of my way..."