Chapter 155

Mike had perfected his plans on how he was going to leave for Africa, he had given everything that had been happening around him a deep thought. He resolved in his mind that it was time to activate apply braveness to it. He wouldn't mind this time around how Margaret would feel neither would it bother him how Cindy would take it. He had seen that his softness in terms of his attitude towards all and sundry wasn't really paying him positively. Hence his decision and next line of action. Already, he had nothing left in the hotel and he hadn't any pending debt with them. His initial plan was that, for Cindy's sake, he would spend a night or two when he returned, before proceeding to Africa. This he wasn't sure he would do anymore.

While he was about to book his your ticket online, he got a mail from his office. He had wanted to ignore it initially till he had done with the payment of his ticket, but in a second thought he decided to look into it. He clicked on the mail and it opened. He then read it through up till where he was asked to download the attached. He clicked on the attachment and gave it time to finish up. Finally he clicked on he open displayed. That was when he saw the documents.

Mike didn't know what to do next, he felt like crying out loud. This was the last thing he would have ever thought of nor would he have expected it. It all meant he was to stay in the US for God-know-when. The adrenaline responsible for joy and happiness that had built up in his system died instantly. Even though the letter specifically stated that he was to spend extra one month or less, he was sure that Margaret would make it an eternity. The thought of the argument that would set in when he would talk of getting a hotel accomodation where he would be staying sends another scary message up his head. 

He was still wondering what might have made the company make such impromptu decision without proper consultation, when his phone rang. Philip was in the line, he answered with such a voice that Philip had to ask what the trouble was. When he was done explaining, Philip told him he was responsible for his being chosen to do the job. His reason being to make it easy for him to leave UK without being questioned, secondly it was better since he had already initiated a good understanding with the company. While Philip was saying this, what he didn't know was that the same Margaret he was trying to save Mike from, was in charge of the entire logistics when it comes to the supplies.

Mike didn't bother arguing with Philip, neither did he see any strength to explain the pro and cons that would play out so far as he was involved. He only thanked him and promised to do his best as usual and make sure he delivered. His main head ache was how to be in charge and possibly manipulate Margaret this time around. He wouldn't know if Margaret was already aware of this development, though from the way she had been behaving, it seemed obvious that, either she hadn't received a copy of the mail or she hadn't checked yet. 

Mike responded to the mail immediately, meanwhile he had to cancel the forms he was filling out for the ticket. He made up his mind that he would feign ignorant of the mail, until Margaret had seen it and probably call his attention to it. Having made such decision, he flagged the message as unread.

Olivia could not wait any longer that morning when she woke up, she made conscious effort to monitor her wrist watch until it got to the time she felt was conducive enough to call Chase. As soon she felt he must be awake, she dialed his number. Chase as usual picked her call, he smiled because he knew that she  must have denied herself sleep after that call. He had known Olivia's way of life and could tell some of the moves or decisions she could take on some issues. He held himself back from speaking first, waiting for her to ask the expected question. 

It happened exactly the way he expected it, Olivia went straight to the points asking what might have happened to Mike. Chase who had already made up his mind to tell her, opened up and recounted in details what transpired between him and his friend Charles. He then went further to let her know the reason he did send all the pictures, and added that if she wouldn't mind, he could still send them. Olivia felt bad, but she held herself together. Then she asked Chase to go ahead and send the pictures. 

When she got off the phone, Mira was already awake and was listening to the conversation. Olivia had the phone on speaker, she did it intentionally. Mira was almost dumb as she couldn't find words to express herself in a way that the sister would understand. All she did was take the phone from her sister, held hugged her and held her by the hands as she guided her out of the room to the sitting room.

While they sat down there, Olivia mind was filled with Mike's whereabout, if only she would look him in the eyes and ask him few questions, at least, that would though in a small measure relieve her of the huge burden his recent lifestyle and attitude had bestowed on her shoulders. Chase never told her if he had returned to Africa, he also didn't mention if he had returned to the US, or whether he was still in the UK. If only she could make a trip to Africa and see him one on one. She wished she hadn't him (Mike) inside of her.

Margaret woke up and saw Mike seated beside her, she smiled at him, feeling loved. It was one of the things she has wanted in a man, one that would be caring and always there for her. This she saw in Mike and she wasn't ready to let go. She knew that the approach she had adopts though conceived by her Grand pa, was a wrong one, but she had learnt that the end mostly justified the means. She raised herself up a bit making her face get close to Mike's. Mike knew what she wanted, so he gave her a kiss on the cheek. He was ready to do anything that it would take for her to hasten the deal up so he would leave at the expected time. 

It was very clear to him, that Olivia had left the position of signing the contracts, since the signature on the new one wasn't hers. The contract was part of the former one, which was approved in batches. He had seen and studied the signature, he clearly saw it and would bet that it was Miras. He could not understand why it wasn't stopped, does it mean Olivia wasn't aware of it, he thought. Maybe she wasn't in town when this was signed, was the only explanation he could think of. Overall, he knew and could sense it in his spirit, that something was really not clear somewhere. He would have to put his ears on the ground and wait for it to unfold.

Cindy and Charles resolved that before commencement of the search for Mike in Africa, he should be done with that of the US. This made sense to Charles, although he wasn't ready to negotiate payment as he had made up his mind to do it for her as a measure to get her closed to himself and possibly win her heart. He knew how to go about the search in the US, so as to get results fast. He would only delay a little so Cindy wouldn't feel it was that cheap. He promised her result in few days time. If there was any prayer that Cindy prayed during the waiting days, it was that nothing bad would happen to Mike. She wouldn't mind as she earlier decided, that he had gone back to Africa. He was better alive and in the moon than dead she thought to her self. 

Charles'was able to get the result he needed the next day, he sent his boys to some hotels in town while others went to the few airports and train stations. All these places would ordinarily have details of people who either booked a reservation for accomodation, or a ticket for a journey, either by rail or by air. As in the case of Mike, the airport would be a flag point since he was supposedly expected to fly out from the US and not any other way. Unless other wise he wanted using the ship. He relaxed waiting for resulted.