"I enjoyed the meal, thank you." She smiled at James as they stepped out of the cafeteria. Michael walked before them, not caring, hand still stiff in his pockets.
"You're most welcomed. Feel free to eat with me anytime. Always my treat." James said as he bowed slightly to her making Meg laugh. This began to seriously itch Michael. He turned to them.
"Can you guys walk a little bit faster, please?"
Megan ignored him while James chuckled at his frowned face.
"Hey, what's wrong with him?"
"I don't know. He's been like this since today and he won't tell me the problem. Atimes he can be very stubborn."
Meg nodded in thoughts as she stared at Michael walking gently yet with a mean face, just gazing at statues and roofs. She has to know. Maybe a little about this guy. Maybe everything.
She met them by the fountain chatting care freely, and walked up to them immediately.
"Richard," she called him with a smile, interrupting the lovebird moment he was having with her twin. "Good to see you again."
"Megan Adams, how wonderful." He replied as he gave her a side hug. "I just came back yesterday. How have you been? I heard what happened to you." He said in a worried tone.
"Well, " She clicked her tongue with a nervous smile. "I'm okay now. Better." Michael and James came up behind her.
"Morgan?"
"Michael," Mo exclaimed as she shook him. "How good to see you again. And you're...his friend?" She said, referring to James. He brought forth his hand and shook her too, blinking like he had seen a ghost. He couldn't believe his eyes when he saw Morgan.
"James... Garfield. You two look so alike."
"Yeah, they really do." Richard replied with a chuckle. "Richard Arthur. I'm her boyfriend." He said as he shook hands with both Michael and James.
"Oh, Michael DeLaney."
"You're new here?"
"The both of us." James replied. "Late transfer."
Michael then came close to Meg, close to her ear. "I'll see you soon. " He whispered. Megan felt shivers down her spine. His voice sent her blood boiling as she tried not to remember their previous encounter. Soon? She just nodded her head, not turning to him.
"Megan, I have a request, but I'll have to make it later. Just give me your contact, please if you won't mind." James said to her. Michael turned immediately and stared at her. Finally, she met his eyes unwilling.
"Sure," she said as she reached for her card in her bag. "Here, there's my number."
James took it with smiles. "Thank you. I'll call you. See you tomorrow."
"Okay, bye." She faked a smile as she saw them go, Michael not even turning back a second time.
Mo came up to her and leaned on her shoulder. "Seems that new guy likes you too." She grinned and then bit the corner of her lower lip.
"What? Hell no. Stop saying nonsense and let's just go." She frowned, then began looking around. "So where's Emily, and Rose?"
"They should be at the garage by now. Come on."
-------
"Doctor? How is my health?" Meg asked uneasily for the second time as she sat before a young man, whose glasses idly hung on the bridge of his nose. It was Doctor Richard, their personal and family doctor. Turns out she finally agreed to Mo's request at the last moment. She wondered if the doctor's ears were stiff the first time she asked the question.
"Well, miss Megan Adams," he said when he finally looked up from the files he was going through. Meg was sure he might be looking for something. "Your brain scan shows that you're coping and... getting better." He shrugged.
Meg looked at him carefully. She knew there was more to this. "Doctor, what're you trying to say?"
"What I'm saying is," Dr. Richard then began again, seeming unsure of words to use as he adjusted his glasses. "The poison that was given to you that night was cyanide and... it's very dangerous, especially when taken excessively. And what you took was way too much for your brain..."
Megan just sat wide ears wide open, tension gripping her like death. "My brain...."
"Meg you might have a seizure anytime soon or probably... convulsions. Look," he said as he gestured towards the CT scan display where Meg saw her brain turning round and round....
"There, see the damage. That's why your dizziness and headache feels worse after sometime even with the medications. What you were poisoned with is something that can kill you any instant. Cyanide is dangerous in an extreme way, can cause instant death from cardiac arrest."
Megan began gasping for breath as her hand gripped the bag she was holding tightly. Tears clouding her eyes. "So... I'm going to die? This is my end..."
"No, no Megan. You're not going to die. Your nervous system took a hit. To prevent any complications, we'll keep you on the stabilizers for another week. You must also avoid stress, caffeine, and lack of sleep. Those things can trigger neural overactivity, the kind that leads to seizures."
Megan nodded still in shock as she too all that in. When she thanked doctor Richard and made her way out of his office, her legs were feeling too heavy for her. She feared she might not make it to her car before it gives way. But finally inside her car, she bursted into hot tears. She couldn't believe this was happening. She's a target. And someone is willing to eliminate her at all cost. More reason she dare not die yet. More reason she needs her revenge. She needs to get to the root of everything.
Wiping her tears with her palms, she ignited her car and began speeding off. To AH. If there's anywhere to begin her investigation, it should be her father's company. Since the police never finished their job, she have to. She made her move.
Immediately she stepped into the company, she made straight for her father's office as the stafffs bowed their heads to her on her way. She could also hear the murmurs and the burning gazes, but she didn't care. All she came was for one thing. Gather the remaining files in her father's office. Perhaps, she could start from there. She also thought about seeing all the board directors of AH and having a meeting with them. Who knows?
She met her father's personal assistant on her way to the office, she was carrying some files and looked in a hurry. Meg remembered she said she was now at the Finance department.
"Miss Meg," she smiled and stopped immediately she saw her. "You're here."
"Yes Susan. Please can I ask you a question?"
"Sure, please."
"Do you know if all my father's documents and files were delivered that day? After his... burial?" She said and bit her lip, trying hard not to look what she was feeling.
"Um... yes. I think so. But if you came for them, I can help you check. There might still be some in there. Do you...."
"No thank you. I'll do that, just continue with what you were about doing."
"Okay," she smiled, her set of teeth making her relax for a while. "Just call me if you need anything."
"Wait," Meg stopped her as she was about going. "Please I need you to arrange an urgent meeting for all the board members and managements. Can you do that?"
"Sure. I'll do that immediately."
"Thank you." Megan replied as she swayed off, taking a turn to the elevator. It came to a halt at the very top of the building.
Stepping into her father's office, all the memories she felt she had buried began flooding back. It was very neat and smelt so nice, it had always been like that ever since his father was alive and even after his demise. Susan was doing exactly as she was instructed. She had ordered that the office should be maintained under every circumstance, and she was happy to see that it still felt like her father was sitting there, smiling at her with a little wink like he always do. There was no dust, not a single dirt.
Every item in the room spoke of precision. The leather chairs were Italian, the bookshelf lined with business journals and biographies of great men. A single golden clock ticked softly on the wall — the only sound in the stillness. The air carried the quiet authority of a man who built empires with his voice alone. Even after his death, it felt as though he might walk in any moment — jacket over his arm, smile unreadable, eyes sharp with the kind of wisdom that had built the Adams legacy.
She ran her hand over the desk's surface, her reflection glimmering faintly on the polished wood. "It still smells like him," she whispered, a lump forming in her throat.
Then her eyes caught his framed gigantic picture hanging on the creamy wall behind his desk. The one bearing their faces all together, one she could remember they took when Morgan won an award in her grade 6, had been removed together with other items when her father died, and only that picture hanging there remained.
But then she suddenly wiped a stubborn tear off her eye and rubbed her hand over her sleek hair, bending over the drawers by the desk. She had to fulfill the reason why she came here. She was ransacking the drawers for documents when she heard a familiar voice call her name.
"Megan...Adams?"
Her heart skipped a beat as she turned to see who it was that walked in on her so unannounced. Mr. Lawrence Blackwood. The current CEO of her company. She couldn't wait to have her father's company back. Couldn't wait to finish school. She tried having a smile as she saw him. That face that was the most sorrowful at the burial ground years ago.
"Mr. Blackwood,"
"We weren't expecting you," He smiled back as he began coming close. " How have you been, with lectures?"
"I've...well," Meg shrugged with her hands behind her. "Been good. Just decided to come by, I've been pretty busy the past weeks."
"Oh, " he was nodding. "That's good. Seem to be missing your father's presence, this office..."
"Yeah, I am. I....miss him. " Then she turned and grabbed her bag from the table. "I called a meeting. "
"So I heard. Is anything wrong?" Mr. Lawrence asked with curious eyes, which seemed more than they just stared.
"Well, we'll have to know at the meeting right? But I doubt. " Meg said with a smile as she began leaving, walking past him.
The meeting with Megan Adams began fifteen minutes later, when everyone might have settled down patiently. She sat before them all upfront while they sat both sides in a row, their documents and files waiting.
"I apologize for the sudden arrangement for this meeting," she began, clasping her palms on the long table before her. " I'm here today because of the issue regarding my late father, the owner of this indigenous company." She paused, and stared at them. Each was silent, staring at her in turn.
"My father was murdered. Died a mysterious death with her beloved wife. And, I Megan Adams, the eldest daughter to the Adams and the new owner of AH, will make sure to get to the root of their death! I will do that. "
There were murmurs from all of them, some
looking sad, others whispering in worry. Mr. Lawrence who was sitting vertically opposite to her was just quiet, silent without a word. "I'll like to begin an investigation about this. I need all documents and files regarding this company before my father's demise to be presented to me. And please if anyone knows what might be the reason of... their assassination or why anyone would want them dead, please I need you to help me."
Someone raised his hand. "We're thinking the people who could have done this would be from our rivals and competitors. I don't think anyone here would want Mr. Edward dead. He was such a wonderful man."
There were murmurs again as they affirmed firmly to this. Megan raised her palm and then nodded. "But I still need all files and documents including all the datas and agreements before my father's death. Please, " she then turned to Mr. Lawrence. "Mr. Blackwood I need your cooperation.
And, I'd like to thank you for your time and invaluable services to this company as the CEO since my father's death. Thank you so much."
He smirked. "Mr. Adams was more than a boss to me. You're very welcomed Miss Adams. "
"Thank you. We'll see again soon. Today, our meeting is ended. Thank you all for your cooperation."
Susan handed her a rectangular box containing some files before she left. "These are the remaining ones I could find. " She said.
"Thank you, Susan. " When she took it from her and made her way to the car, she felt the earth sinking beneath her. She was very tired that she almost fell. Then Mo called.
"Where're you?"
"I'm at AH. I'm already on my way back." She replied weakly, revving the engine.
"What? What did you go there for?"
"I'm already coming home Mo. I'll tell you everything." She said as she ended the call. Viewing her pale face on her rearview mirror for a second, she held her steering firmly and zoomed off.
As she drove, Dr. Richard's words kept replaying in her mind. "Meg, you might have a seizure anytime soon or probably.... convulsions."
She couldn't believe it. She couldn't imagine. Then she remembered that she didn't mention her wine poisoning to anyone at the meeting. But what if she did? Will that make the culprit confess even if he was there among them or even make the situation worse?
She had thought it was better to keep it a secret. That way, her investigation might be more smooth. Disclosing whatever she was going through to people might not be the best answer to this. But she was mad. Very mad. At herself, maybe...at everything. She wanted revenge, but now she was going to experience seizures and convulsions anytime soon if care is not taken.
She placed a curse on the murderers under her breath. She would find them no matter what. She would chase them to the ends of the earth. She would search till the last drop of her blood, find them and kill them. She have to. She was still on a very high speed as she bit her lips when suddenly...
"Boom!" Her car bashed into another person car. She hadn't been looking and was not even focused.
"Oh my God!" She screamed as she bent her head on her steering in shock. What just happened? Have I killed someone? Is she now the 'murderer'? Slowly, she began raising her head. Luckily for her, it was just the headlights of the car that was damaged, including hers.
The road was a lonely one so there was no one around like pedestrians or anyone to exclaim or begin screaming at what just happened. It was just the two cars, with the drivers. And her, she was just sitting there inside her car like a terrified being, unsure of what to do next. Then she saw the car door open, and a young guy came out and began walking close to her car. At that instant, she recognized him immediately.
James Garfield.