Lisa Bake tightened her lips upon the sight of seeing Zion Don come in a taxi. She had perceived something was wrong but would want Zion to utter it himself. She could see a lot in his casual attire and fallen countenance; a lot in his gloomy eyes and teary face.
When Zion walked into the sitting room , it was obvious he had abandoned himself to thought about Brian’s current status at the Saint Don Group. He looked pale and drawn and too absorbed into himself. Jaded, Zion Don didn’t seem anything close to vigor, power and affluence, and any careful observer could observe that he had been unplugged from the source of wealth.
Upon seeing him, Fanny Luis stood up and gave him a warm hug and a pat on the shoulders, before casting an inspective stare at him
“I am glad you are here, Zion Don. You seem to be stolen away from yourself. We have been trying to reach you on the phone but all effort seemed abortive. Where have you been all this while that your brother gave us the embarrassment of our lives, uh?” Fanny Luis queried, stared at him from head to toes, and noticed his dusty, cheap shoes.
Zion knitted his rows at him before bringing his gaze to Lisa Bake and Melissa . He snorted and added, “I don’t have a brother. What brother are you talking about?”
Lisa Bake interposed coldly, “Who else if not Brian Patrick now Mike Don. He visited the villa in the splendor of his wealth and supremacy, reminding us of his current status as the true heir to the Saint Don Group….”
She was yet speaking when Melissa interrupted in a sonorous tone, “He gave us a huge slap on the face when he proposed to Clara Roham in marriage. That son of a no body has got guts…”
Zion interposed Melissa and his gullible tone informed the Fanny he was taking sides with Brian Patrick and he might not be eligible to fight for their course.
“He is not the son of a nobody. He is Mike Don, the true heir to the multi trillion dollars Saint Don . His audacity commands supremacy and net worth now.
“Your compromising voice breeds me with nothing than the image of a man with a feeble heart. If Brian Patrick is not your brother then what are you to each other?”
Lisa Bake interposed through gnashing of teeth, “Tell us Zion Don. What are you to each other. Are you both sex mates?”
“Brian Patrick is my cousin!” Zion intoned with his face held straight and eyebrows rarely winking . He stared in the space thoughtfully , “I never knew whom I was until now. My true identity is not too appealing and I wish you wouldn’t get to know the true identity of this man standing before you.”
Melissa swallowed hard and pouted her lips , “What are you talking about, dear. Brian Patrick your cousin? No, no tell me this is not true. How come? What is the iota of sense in what you are saying. All these years you have championed the state of affairs at the Saint Don group and called Saint Don father. You have explored wealth.
Zion interrupted radically, “But not supremacy. Never in my life have I ever seen Saint Don take such stance as he did in these few days. He made it an open show and announced Brian Patrick as the current world richest man. When I championed the Saint Don, I assisted Saint Don and followed his lead. Bur right now with the current status of Brian Patrick Saint Don follows his lead.”
“what!” Fanny exclaimed and slammed the mug of wine on the table, :how am I sure you are not feeding us with lies, Zion!”
Lisa Bake sounded staring at Melissa and noticing her lips curve, “We hadn’t seen Brian Patrick and his charismatic wealth today, I wouldn’t have believed you. Zion is honest, Fanny. Didn’t you see the glory that delivery boy commands. He is indeed the true heir to the Saint Don group. Zion has only been a care taker.”
Melissa breathed uneasily and narrowed her gaze at Zion as he stood gaping at Lisa Bake.
Fanny Luis asked from a groaning heart, “What then is true identity of Zion don? As our son-in-law we deserve to know and update our awareness.”
“My father is Collins Robert , a low life gardener who abandoned me at the mercy of Saint Don on the day my mother died giving birth to me.
Lisa Bake after raising her brow at Zion said, “In other words you are the son of a nobody or the son of Zion Lo- life Robert…”
“I beg your pardon granny. Low life shouldn’t be attached to my name. I will take exception to that. His tone brooded bickering and tears. When he gazed upon Melissa she was fondling the hem of her dress and didn’t seem to raise her gaze any time soon. At the time her lips pouted into a dot and it was obvious she was gathering her words and taking decisions inwardly.
Fanny drifted towards Zion and mumbled, “How can you be son to a low-life gardener all this while without letting us know. How am I sure you have not been acting treacherously all along?”
Zion replied almost bluntly, “same way none of us knew the same ragged destitute , delivery boy called Brian Patrick was the true heir to the Saint Don group. What you don’t know is bigger than you.” Lisa Bake snapped, “Stop sounding like some broke ass philosopher. Why are you here? Are you here to inform us about your current failure.”
Instantly the Fannys quietened and stared at Zion with bated breath. Melissa who had been sober and queit all along , raised her gaze only to reveal a teary face.
“I have come to take my wife with me. We need to build afresh…”
Lisa Bake interrupted, “As what?”