The evidence
With Mr. Crack missing and unable to locate the man who had last seen her father alive, Melissa lost all hope of getting the evidence she needed.
She thought Mr. Stevens’ illegal businesses would come to light when she found the truck, but it didn’t. None of the casino managers mentioned him during the interrogation. And there was nothing linking them to the casino.
“I’m I making all this up?” Massaging her temples, she thought of Diana.
Seeing her calm and composed, left Melissa wondering if she had really seen Diana at the warehouse.
All she wanted was to get her father’s company back. To prove that Mr. Steven ran it down. But how was she to do that?
Seated in the office, thinking of what to do, the receptionist called. She requested her to get an envelope dropped off by a courier serviceman.
Scanning the white envelope in her hands, it surprised her to find no return address. When she called to inquire from the courier company who had sent it, they gave no information about the person.© NôvelDrama.Org - All rights reserved.
All the serviceman told her was that they only ordered him to drop off the envelope and they paid for the service in cash.
Though she had no idea who had sent it, Melissa took the envelope to her office. Sitting behind her desk she broke the seal to see the content inside, revealing many papers. She found documents showing every translation made by her father’s company before and after the accident. The detailed information showed how Mr. Stevens defrauded her father’s company leading it to bankruptcy.
For a while Melissa sat looking at the documents, contemplating what to do with them. Holding them close to her chest she breathed in, finally, she was going to get back every single coin the Stevens took but she didn’t know how to face them. For most of her life, they were family. When Mr. Crack disappeared and couldn’t locate the mystery man, Melissa had lost all hope of getting help now the evidence was in her hands.
Signing off from work Melissa asked the driver to take her to the cemetery.
“Mum dad sorry I’ve been here to visit for a while.” She knelt in front of her parent’s grave wiping dried leaves as she placed the flesh flowers. “So much has happened.” She smiled with tears in her eyes. “I got married. I know you will like him.” Wiping the tears, she sat with her knees drawn to her chest. “Mark is great, he is supporting me and I love him.” She smiled then bit her lower lip. “I planned to use him to get the company yet now he is all I think off. Ha ha ha, dad don’t be mad. I’m still your little girl.”
Talking to the headstone felt like they were there with her.
She would have loved to be with them. Share her happiness with her parents.
“I got the evidence mum. I’ll have to file a case against godfather. I’m sorry your friend’s life will be ruined after this.”
With her hands on her chest, she prayed for strength and her parents’ guidance to face her godparents as she filed the case against them.
Leaving the cemetery she went to Mark’s office to hand him the evidence.
He spent most of the time at work trying to fix a crisis the company was going through after one of their building under construction collapsed.
It was a big loss but luckily, none of the workers were injured. After the six story building sank, an investigation was done and now they faced charges of using substandard materials for construction.
For years, their buildings stood strong but with this one incident, they were being accused of using cheap materials.
Unless he found the people responsible, the company would lose its license and some investors threatened to pull out.
Sitting on the couch she watched him check the documents before meeting Jason and his team. His friend Jason was a lawyer and he asked to look into her case.
His family law firm was tasked with gathering all the evidence and witnesses needed before failing the case against Mr. Stevens.
When Mark’s men checked the street cameras, they found out that a newspaper vendor had paid for the services. After a brief conversation, he informed them that a man had approached him offering to pay handsomely if he delivered the envelope to the courier office.
Melissa hoped the person might know Mr. Crack’s whereabouts but the search ended since the man’s identity was concealed.
….
Leaving the office, they picked up Tommy then went to the Johnson’s mansion.
“Sir, they have arrived.” The house manager informed old Mr. Johnson. “Will you ask Mark to end his marriage?” He inquired looking at the old man keenly. Working for Mr. Johnson for years he had become his confidant and advisor.
“No, I can’t. That will only make him rebel against me. Sasha is the best weapon to separate them.” He had called Mark earlier to have dinner at the mansion and discuss the company’s future as a disguise to bring him closer to Sasha.
With a show of his hand, he asked his house manager to leave. Walking to the office window, he looked outside watching as the car drove in.
“So you are Edward’s granddaughter.” He sneered, crashing the report his private detective had given him as Melissa stepped from the car.
Standing at the doorway, the chief maid smiled inviting them into the house.
“Welcome.” Glancing up at the first floor, they saw Mr. Johnson. “Where is my great grandson?” He asked, looking around as he went down the stairs.
“Hello, grandfather.” Laughing Tommy ran into the room with Spark beside him. Always very protective, sticking with the small boy whenever they come to visit. “There you are.” The old man smiled as Tommy hugged him.
Walking into the dining room, they found Sasha setting up the table for dinner. With a broad smile on her face, she hugged Melissa then turned to Mark and kissed him on the cheek.
Turning to Tommy, the dog glowed bearing its teeth when she held his hand directing them to the table.
“I made the steak tender. Well cooked just the way you like it.” She smiled, touching Mark’s hand before instructing the maid to bring the food.
“Sasha is very hardworking and a good cook. Don’t you think? I’m certain she will make a very good wife.” Mr. Johnson complimented tasting the food looking at Mark sharply.
Melissa fed Tommy not letting Mr. Johnson’s comments or Sasha’s flirting with her husband get to her.
All the while she thought he had accepted their marriage but his reactions tonight said otherwise.
“Thank you, grandfather, I’m flattered.” Sasha smiled shyly bowing her head. When no one was looking she smiled glaring at Melissa.
“What did you find out?” Mark inquired from James on the phone. He had stepped out to answer the call after a brief conversation with his grandfather.
“The forensics showed foreplay.” He reported the police finding on the collapsed building. “They found explosives in the basement, but we captured the two people responsible.”
“Take them to the warehouse. After getting every bit of information, hand them over to the police.” He instructed.
“It’s done. I have our men working on them right now.”
“Good.”
“I also got more information on our mysterious informant.”
“Who is he?”
“It’s Mr. Edward. A famous business executive who held a prestigious position in the government years back. I also found an old newspaper article about him with his two sons. Mr. White was his eldest son. Interestingly, Mr. Edward is your grandfather’s greatest rival and enemy. Though they are in different business fields, Mr. Johnson occasionally accused him of funding his competitors to bid against him. Having founded the organization he has been the most feared person with security offices after him until a few years back when he legalized all his companies but his plan to end the organizations didn’t work since his youngest son overturned his leadership by getting new buyers and transporters taking over the operation.” James explained on the phone.
“How come Mr white is Edward’s son? I thought his children are Luke and Peter?” Mark asked walking around the garden.
“He changed his name and broke all ties with his family after getting married. Another thing, your grandfather hired a detective to dig for information about Melissa. He knows she is Edward’s granddaughter.” James confirmed his suspicion.
His grandfather had accepted his wish to marry. ‘Does he want me to leave Melissa?’ Though his grandfather didn’t ask him directly, Mark suspected that was the motive.
Throughout dinner, he felt the hostility directed at Melissa and the push to get him closer to Sasha.
“Thank you for informing me. I’ll handle grandfather, but Melissa can’t know about this yet.” He said, ending the call.
“Keeping secrets?” Sasha asked standing before him.
“It’s none of your business.” He responded getting agitated.
“Mark, you know I love you. Why can’t you give me a chance?” She asked getting close to him.
“Stop Sasha, I’m married now. Please respect yourself.” He said pushing her aside.
“Your marriage can be annulled. That woman is just using you, Mark. Can’t you see she will never love you as much as I do?” Sasha insisted holding onto his shirt.
From a distance, Melissa walked out only to see them in each other’s arms.
“They always make a beautiful couple, don’t they?” The chief maid spoke standing behind Melissa.
Smiling, she glanced at Sasha who got even closer to Mark after noticing them.
“I’m all yours if you will have me.” She kissed him on the cheek which looked like a real kiss from where Melissa stood.
Feeling hurt and betrayed, Melissa went back to get Tommy as Mark pushed Sasha away.
Earlier when Sasha saw Mark talking on the phone, she asked the maid to direct Melissa to the garden.
“This is just the beginning.” Sasha sneered as Mark left the mansion taking his family away.
“You promised to get rid of Melissa. What taking you so long?” She asked over the phone. “I’ll pay any amount you need. Make sure you get that woman out of my way.” She instructed, ending the call.