NOT LAW, WITH MY HANDS

Just as Ella says, everyone has a skeleton in their cupboard. Thus, she plans to use the situation to her own advantage. If Ella promises to keep her mouth shut about her extra marital affairs, she would also keep quiet about knowing who she truly was.

"What will you do about it?" Vivian asks with her eyes burning red.

"Nothing." Lola smiles. "I just want to bargain on something."

"Bargain?" Vivian asks again, she was expecting her to name a certain amount of money as her price. "You don't want money?"

"Money?" Lola asks and laughs. "I might not be as rich as Ella, but I think I am well to do. Married to a business tycoon and own so many assets under my name. That is okay for me."

"So what do you want to bargain for? Speak up and stop wasting my time."

"You warden holds my secret, the one that must never leak. With the situation at hand now, she is putting enough pressure on me. If she dares open her mouth to speak, I will loose almost everything I have worked hard for."

Vivian couldn't seem to fathom what the principal was talking about, Ella knows her secret? Which secret? "What secret are you talking about? What secret can such a young girl know that would make you loose almost everything you have worked for?"

"I think you should ask her yourself-"

There was a strong kick on the door, leaving the door open Ella walks in looking very annoyed.

"Ella." Vivian calls.

"How did you know she was here?" Lola asked.

"My friend saw her when she was rushing to your office." It happened that Asma saw Vivian rushing to the principal's office, so she told Ella. Ella had wondered what her aunt could be doing in the principal's office and she decided to check herself. Getting to the entrance she heard the principal trying to bargain with her aunt. "Why don't you tell her the ugly secret of yours."

"Ella!" Vivian calls annoyingly for the first time, she was sick and tired of her always getting into troubles. "I told you to stay out of trouble, must you always get into troubles and meddle in business that doesn't concern you?" She nags.

"I didn't meddle in her business!!! yes I saw the teacher coming out of her office with a loosed trousers, but I didn't say or do anything. I was matching straight to my class when she called me back." Ella explains in a loud voice too.

Vivian was confused again, why would a teacher be coming out of the principal's office with a loosed trouser? She looks at the principal and asks. "What is she talking about?

Lola felt uncomfortable and ashamed to speak. She lowers her gaze.

"She has always been suspicious of me, this morning she came to ask me who I was, trying to get on my nerves to speak up." Ella continues as the principal refuses to speak.

"How can someone like you be a school principal? You have an extra marital affair with a teacher in this school? And even did nonsense in your office?"

"We all have skeletons in our cupboard, if you don't expose my secret I won't expose yours." Lola tries to bargain.

"You are so ruthless." Vivian whispers.

"Do I have your word ma'am?" Lola asks.

The situation is a very serious one, they still don't know who the real assassin was. But they are guessing it was Paul and his wife, if Lola was to reveal to the world that Ella was safe and fine in Burundi, it might really cost Ella her life.

"Yes." Vivian nods holding back the tears in her eyes.

There was nothing Miss Smith could do, she wasn't going to expose Lola anyways but her insecurities won't let her alone. "I made a mistake earlier." Ella says as she faces the principal.

"About what?" Lola asked.

"I called you a shame to woman hood."

Lola was thinking Ella wants to apologize for calling her that but she was wrong. "Are you sorry for calling me that?"

"No, I am not. I made the mistake of calling you a shame to womanhood alone." Ella smiles. "You are a shame to womanhood and motherhood."

"Shut your trap" Lola says sternly.

"She is right." Vivian adds. "I feel sorry and pitiful for your children to have a mother like you." Vivian stands and smiles. "I learnt one trick from Ella the day we were at the police. station." Lola brings her phone out and ends the voice record.

"You-" Lola tries to speak.

"Yes." Vivian says cutting her off. "I have enough evidence, so keep your word and never say anything about Ella's identity. Don't mess with me."

Lola breaks down immediately, tightening her fist. Vivian and her warden left the office and both walks a bit away from the office. It was written all over Ella's face that she wasn't happy, but she still wasn't crying.

"I will head to my classroom now." Ella says sadly.

"Ella Smith." Vivian calls and bends at her. "Even if I have to move the heavens and earth, I will make sure I protect you. I will watch closely how you claim your father's hospital and watch how those people who killed your parents are being punished by the law. So for now, please stay out of trouble and turn a blind eye to some certain things. Two different people already know who you are, we can't afford to keep blowing your cover."

"Yes auntie, I promise to stay out of trouble.

"That's my baby girl." Vivian pulls her cheek. "Make sure you do well in your exams."

"Yes." Ella nods. "I will get going now, see you later in the evening." She says and start making her way to the classroom, in her mind she thought of what Vivian said 'punish those people by the law?'. "Never, I will punish them with my own hands.