I was walking down the hallway in thoughts of what Avian was expecting from me, when I bumped into someone familiar.

"Hey!" She greeted first, taking another swig of her beer as she relaxed once again on the railing.

"Mayo?!"

"It's me girl."

"Woah," I said, cautiously inching away from her as if she would attack any moment cause, why wouldn't she? I spoilt the plan and got shot, leaving her and her friends to suffer in a cell for more than a month.

"Do I bite? Why the distance girl?" She asked as she took another swig from the little bottle hanging from her neck.

I still stood far, not wanting to approach her, but then, when I looked back, my bodyguard wasn't even interested in guarding me. In fact, it seemed that he was inclined to enjoy the smooth sail of fresh air from the window by the edge of the corridor.

"I told him to stay away. He knows I can't harm yo'."

"Well, that's a far stretch. I thought you'd be really angry."

"Angry?" She asked, her nose ring dangling as she stared straight at my eyes. She was now before me, hands spread at her side to placate me. "The only reason I would be angry at yo' would be if yo' didn't finish our cause while yo' in a position to. Heard yo' do the Don now. That's good girl."

I was befuddled but then, before I could ponder how insanely fast she forgave me, she pulled me into a hug where she patted my back hard.

"I can't be angry at yo'. We went there as a team and we'll remain a team till we achieve our goal. I'm sure the guys hold no grudge against yo' too. This grudge... yo' the only one who sees it."

With a final pat on at my back she walks away, turning back to look at me in a way you could consider as softly.

I reclined to my room to nurse my feelings and in preparation of what was to come that night.

~~~~~

Star-grazing that night seemed promising. 

There was an open roof in the mansion. One which required climbing a crazy set of circular stairs to get there. Finally I was standing on the roof, fresh air hitting my face in bites with loose dreads banging against the side of my cheeks.

The roof was empty. It had a pool at one corner, a pool with sparkly water which I became cautious of immediately I saw Hilda, leaning against one of the walls.

I was wearing slippers and a long gown, the type that hid my scars. I was glad at how well I could now walk.

I nodded at my bodyguard to leave us be which he obeyed, then I made my to Hilda.

"The air here is so cool," I said, to break the silence.

"It is, truly."

Hilda turned so she had her side against the wall as she faced me. She was dressed in heeled boots and her signature black. I was starting to think her and Henry are alike in more ways than one and that included their fashion sense. She must have mistook my pause for hesitance.

"You seem like you prepare for the worst. Be at ease, I wouldn't reveal that I'm  Allen's real killer, but I must admit, you did take me off guard when you assumed position as the next Don." Her eyes sparkled and I was put off by the mischievousness present in it.

"I just got to know how much I strayed from plan," I said, approaching her in my slightly heeled slippers which clicked against the tiles.

"Aah! I see," she said, sipping a champagne I hadn't noticed until then. "Avian must have told you."

She saw me staring cautiously at the wine glass in her hand. "Forgive my manners please. Would you like me to pour you some?"

"No, thank you."

"It seems you're not so rushed," she said coyly, raising the drink to her mouth to take a sip.

I raised my brow at her to which she smiled into her glass and exhaled through her mouth. "Well, where should I start from?"

"Maybe how you knew Avian?"

"That's a long story."

"I've got all the time in the world," I said, with a smile, small but present. So it seemed at that moment that I was the only one who didn't appreciate humor cause her smile was wiped off her face.

"You're not going to like the story so I'm not gonna tell you," she argued.

I found a recliner at the far corner of the wall and set myself on it. It was such a comfy lay, one that psychologically eased the tension in my muscles and joints.

She looked at me like I was a sacrificial duck overacting.

"Well, I'm a good listener and trust me, a lot of stories I hear, some I've lived."

"Drawing out this meeting won't be beneficial for any of us, but if it's what you want," she approached the seat beside me with a smile, and after occupying it, so turned to face me, "why don't we start with how you and your mafia fiancé are breaking my brother's heart."

"I didn't—"

"Don't lie to me. You love Avian."

"Same way I love your brother. You who told me to lie to him about your health, now acting goodness cop. If you're gonna classify me as a heart-breaker for something I can't control, I wonder what you'll be when he finds out about that lie."

"I guess he has already found out. Hello sister. Harida," Henry said with a straight face tilted towards the side and rectangular object protruding from his hand. "I came to give you this. I've got things to do so I better get to it. Here." He handed me the item but I refused to look at it, my mind comprehending the look in his eyes, a look I hated myself for.

It wasn't until after he left, when the presence beside me became so unusually stiff, did I notice that her gaze had been on my phone all along, and on the message on-screen.

Mum: Big sis, I'm getting married week—Chellu.
Sent 5days ago.