In few days time Fanny Luis was stunned when his name was announced by the jailer , about one Melissa who had come to pay him a visit. He had guessed aright that his daughter was going to quit leaving Rio Hondo since I was back to poverty.
But did they know how much I was worth now?
Hmmm! Fingers crossed!
Fanny Luis stemmed a shiver; he didn’t expect to see his daughter now or in the life to come. After she had threatened to leave Rio Hondo and disappear out of sight, he never thought he would set his eyes on Melissa again.
This was more than a surprise to him; he couldn’t believe the curvaceous, yellow-haired, tall lady across the desk at the visitors was his daughter. For a moment he stood agape lost in thought and unbelief.
Whereas Melissa smiled cheek to cheek, welcoming him to her side, with her arms which gestured at him, Fanny Luis forced a lopsided smile and shook his head in doubt.
“Daughter?” he called, as doubt parading in his voice.
He could have doubted anyone if he was told Melissa would come visiting him again, “I am happy to see you again. “ His voice was still and cold. He stood before her and felt his face subside to a pitiable look.
“Come on father,” Melissa would have managed to give him a hug but for the storming looks on the face of the jailer which cautioned her against any form of contact, “I am excited to be here again.” She sounded cheerfully.
As Fanny sat down, joy shot through him and smiling back at Melissa became more than a habit. He needed to ask her why she was here and if she would still be leaving Rio Hondo because of me.
“I thought I would never see you again. Why are you here, Melissa?” the urgency of the question hung in his voice and he couldn’t pretend anymore.
She smacked her lips, lowered her gaze and fondled with her fingers. With a deep breath running down her guts, she tendered, “Apologies father. I need you to forgive me for being such a pain in the ass. Perhaps I wasn’t patient enough for the silver lining in the sky to show up…”
Fanny snorted, threw his gaze to the wall, clutched a huge frown across his face, and returned his watery looks on Melissa who was sniffing uneasily.
“You broke my heart, daughter.” He shook his head and those blue burning eyes of his conveyed bitterness, “You threatened to leave Rio Hondo just because your ex husband was making life unbearable for you. You said it and I know you almost did it.”
Her frown turned on as her throat went tight. “No father I never did. Nearly cannot kill a bird. “She raised her gaze to meet his, “Yes I know I threatened to leave Rio Hondo, but I am here now . I am going nowhere! Kama has vindicated me.” she shrugged.
Fanny was still worried even when he perceived the trending news about me must have made her change her intention.
Next Melissa stood up and widened her arms in excitement and said, “What is the need leaving Rio Hondo when my enemy just lost his wealth, father. I believe you have gotten wet ears about the downfall of my ex husband. He lost his net worth as chaff in whirl wind. Mike Don is back to the dregs…” uncontrollable joy possessed her voice so much that she couldn’t manage to shout.
Fanny smiled cheerfully and actively, one eye brow cocked, and he perceived the joy beneath her soul, “It is what it is daughter. I knew your ex husband was going to return to poverty that was why I told you to stay back but you wouldn’t listen…”
“Uh-oh, apologies father,” she dragged a contagious smile and molded her arms, “Perhaps I was too upset to realize that the bastard was going to fade away as shadow. Please forgive me father for heeding to my fears.”
Fanny sucked a grateful breath of satisfaction, “When I told you Mike Don was going to displace and you don’t need to vacate Rio Hondo for him, you thought I was bluffing. Today is he still the world richest man?”
“Never father!” she beamed and shook her head repeatedly before subsiding to boisterous laugh , something about fulfillment sparkling in her eyes, “To think of the fact that I wanted to vacate Rio Hondo because of Mike Don makes me sick in the stomach. Thank God I never did, even when I almost did.”
“Really? You almost did?” Fanny queried , “Come on, daughter you want to tell me about it. Don’t you?”His glistening face shot at her in expectation of her reply.
She managed a brief grin, “Yes father. I was on my way to the train station when I heard the news about Mike Don having a huge decline of his net worth to one hundred thousand dollars and about now the news trending is another decline to abject poverty. That bastard is back to his vomit. I can’t wait to see him and laugh him to scorn. Ouch!”
Fanny burst into a sonorous laugh and coughed thereafter before clearing his clogged throat, “The idiot is back to poverty and I am sure there is no escape route for him because he has exhausted his money on trifling nonsensical stuff instead of investing. He will never be rich again. Never” He resumed his laugh.
Melissa snorted, “Yeah, father, I hear there is a new rich kid who will assume as the world richest man. I hear he is worth four hundred trillion dollars…”
Fanny cut in, “You heard well, dear. His name is Thomas Jackson. He is super-duper rich and will take the place of that bastard that calls himself Mike Don. Where is Mike Don today? Nonsense!
Melissa replied after laughing mockingly, “I hear the broke ass has disappeared out of the eyes of the public. I believe he can’t withstand the ridicule.”
They laughed mockingly at me.
But I would surprise all of them…