"You let her leave?"
Rafael inhaled sharply immediately after the zapping sound from the Sphygmomanometer. He exchanged glances with the doctor who gave him a tiny nod.
He exhaled in relief.

"Your blood pressure is back to normal." The man in a white coat with white beards told him as he put the instrument back into the box on the table. Rafael folded his arms, dropping them on the table.

"For now you have nothing to worry about but I suggest you stay off strenuous activities or any activity at all that can trigger your Angina."
He picked up his box

"I'll prescribe some multivitamins and sleeping pills to help you regain your strength and sleep better. I'd be taking my leave now but if there's anything you need, please let me know." Rafael nodded . He understood what the doctor was saying perfectly.

"Thank you doc."
The old man bowed slightly and then walked to the door just as Tony walked towards the table, folding his hands on his chest maintaining the frown on his face. Just the moment he was waiting for.

He stood still, right in front of Rafael. Rafael exhaled. He wasn't exactly in the mood for Tony's whining.

He rolled his sleeves
"What is it Tony?"

"How can you send her away just like that Ralph? She just got out of jail and she's not even allowed to go back to her house. Where is she supposed to go?"

"I don't know Tony." He slouched back into his chair "And I really don't care."

"You don't care?"

"I don't."

"Dude-"

"I wasn't comfortable with this to begin with Tony," he placed his hand on his forehead "You made me do all this and now look," he rubbed it. "Deal with the consequences."

"How could you be so insensitive?" Tony slowly pulled the chair beside him so he could sit in it. Maybe that would give him a better opportunity to look Ralph in the eye and get him to listen.

"Yes, she might have gone out of line, cleaning kamsi's room but that was because she didn't know how much it meant to you. She didn't know you didn't want anyone cleaning it since-" Tony paused for a while and then exhaled. The rest wasn't necessary. "Look, all I'm saying is you should not have sent her away, especially at a time like that. A lot of things happen to people at night especially since she doesn't have a phone."

"If you're so worried about her Tony, then you can go look for her." Rafael glared at him. "Or better still, you should have let her stay in your house instead of mine."

"Stay in my house? Brother, you know how my Mum gets with these kinds of things. She'd never be able to understand especially since she isn't a big fan of the Silver's."

Rafael scoffed

"And besides, I have a lot of people living at my house. Not just my mum, my six sisters and three cousin brothers. There's no way Olivia would ever be comfortable in a place like that and it's not like I can ask them all to leave, they are going to request a meeting with all the umunnas in my village."

"That sounds like your problem Tony," Rafael got up quickly. "Not mine." He exhaled and then walked to the window.

Tony exhaled. He didn't know what else to say or do.
He slowly turned to the window where Rafael stood, staring at the tiny tennis ball in one hand while the other found it's way into his pocket.

"Is this it?" Tony slowly turned to him "Do you really not care for anything or anyone else anymore?"

Rafael slowly turned.

"I did help her get out of jail for free didn't I?" He asked him, Tony let out an exasperated sigh "I didn't have to but I did. That's more than enough care and help if you ask me, that's something no one can do, especially in a country like ours, but it's enough." He stepped away from the window. "I don't want this anymore. I don't want to be a part of whatever this is Tony."

"You're the only one that can help her and you know it."

"Help her do what? She's free of all charges. She's not a suspect anymore."

"Until the real murderer is found, you know she would never stop being a suspect. She can't even walk the streets alone without people looking at her in some type of way-"

"Well That is not my problem anymore!" Rafael yelled a bit. He paused and then took a deep breath. "We don't have to do any of this, You don't have to do any of this. Why do you badly want to get involved with this woman? What is it about her that makes you want to help her so much?"

"I just want to to help her man." Tony said in the calmest tone ever "At first it was just about getting this police lady to go out on a date with me but now it's more than that. After I got to know her, after I got to hear her story, I was reminded of just how much my mum used a victim too, a sacrificial lamb for the likes of the Silver's. How they framed us for stealing expensive jewelry and threw my father in prison to rot. How no one was able to help us until we watched him die. I know what things like that can do to you, how it can break you. I just want to help her. She could be in big trouble right now as we speak, that's how serious this is."

Rafael shook his head.
He threw the ball to the ground and it bounced away.

"Well I'm sorry man, I can't help you." Rafael told him "Not anymore."
Tony exhaled as Rafael slowly turned back to the window, inserting his other hand into the pocket of his trousers.

Tony wasn't going to push it. No matter how much he hated to admit it, he knew exactly how Rafael felt. No matter of persuasion at that moment could change his mind. He wasn't going to change his mind unless he wanted to.

Tony slouched into his chair.
Now he knew he needed to find another lawyer.

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"I'm really sorry I had to call on such short notice. I just didn't know anyone else to call" Olivia couldn't stop her cheek from going so red with embarrassment the moment she walked into that hotel room with Austin right behind her.

"Truth is, I wasn't even sure I could still reach you with the number I knew and had memorized. I thought you had changed it already but then again, thank God for that lady that let me use her phone."

"You have nothing to apologize for." Austin closed the door behind her. "I wasn't really busy and I'm really happy you called. It must have been really scary sleeping outside on your own last night. You should have called me then."

Olivia exhaled and clicked her tongue. She slowly turned around to look at the large room.

"This must have been really expensive, you really didn't have to get me an expensive room. I'd have been fine with just a cheap motel."

Austin scoffed.

"Are you serious right now?"

She turned back to him.

"You shouldn't be spending so much. You're not the CEO of Silver group yet."

"Come on Ollie, you're really beginning to insult me now." He feigned a frown "Did you really think I make all my money from the company?"

Olivia pouted

"Don't you?"

He let out a sarcastic chuckle. Olivia chuckled too.

"But really," He cut her off. "This is nothing compared to how much you mean to me. I could literally buy this building if you wanted me too."

Olivia scoffed.

"Show off." She clicked her tongue, punching him on his chest, pretending to be upset. Austin caught her hand right before she could drop it right back.

She looked at him
He was staring into her eyes.

"I mean it though." He rubbed it "I'm happy you called me."

Olivia let out a nervous smile as she quickly pulled out her hand from his. It was getting really awkward now.

"You don't have to worry," she said folding her hand beneath her breasts "I'd go to a cheaper hotel the moment Amy sends me some money. I asked her not to waste more money coming here from Enugu. It's totally not worth it. I'm sure there should be somewhere cheaper I can stay, somewhere not far from my daughter. I really don't want to be separated from her."

Austin exhaled. He couldn't hide his disappointment.

"It's not about you , trust me." She told him "I just don't feel comfortable taking or accepting kind gestures from the Silvers anymore, unfortunately, you're a part of them."

"So it is about me then."

Olivia exhaled. She was really trying hard to not have to hurt his feelings.

"Don't worry about it." He rubbed her arm, faking a kind smile. "I understand exactly what you mean."

Thank him for not making her have to explain herself.

"Why don't we do this?" He asked her "Why don't you get a shower and call the kitchen to see if they'd have anything you'd like to eat while I go home and get you a change of clothes? Is that fine?"

Olivia nodded.

"If it won't be a bother. I'm really tired of this dress."

"Okay." He smiled and then turned to go

"Austin?"

He stopped walking and slowly turned to face her.

"Thank you." She told him smiling a little bit. "For everything."

He forced a smile too and nodded slowly.

"I'd be right back okay?"

She nodded. Olivia watched him turn again and walk to the door. He opened it, walked out and closed it behind him.