money talks.

Working out gave me an energy boost I didn't think I needed. Never knew sore aching muscles could equate to clear mind and organized thought, but here I am, significantly more level headed than I'd been in weeks.

After finishing on the treadmill, I jump into the shower to wash off the sticky sweat. Coming out of the bathroom, I hear my phone ringing so I go to answer the call. It's my assistant.

Since my recovery, she has been bringing the more complex work home to me to work on. I'm thinking of going back to work Monday though. The coming and going must not be easy for her. Since it's Friday, I have ample time to get myself in order before Monday.

I answer the call.

"good morning Chi. What's up?" I towel my hair, another thing I have to get done.

"Good morning sir. How are you doing." Her voice carries through the phone.

"I'm alright. How's the work going? Has Mrs. Bishop's dress been delivered?"

I put the call on speaker phone and grab my body lotion.

"yes, we did that yesterday."

"good good. Anything else?" as I cream my body, I study my features. I'm looking a lot leaner than I've ever been and a tad lighter than my brown complexion, probably from lack of sunshine. I don't know how much I weigh now. I use to weigh one ninety to two hundred pounds, now I think I weigh around one eighty max. I almost look around Mal's size now-

"Yes there is." She clears her throat. "someone delivered an envelope to you this morning."

I cup my pecs, not as firm as before again. "what does it say?"

"did not open it."

I scrunch my brows. "why? I'm sure it's one of those dumb threats or could it be a crush?"

She laughs. " actually, on the envelope, it says to give it to you, and that no one else should open it." A beat of silence. "should I send it over?"

"no need. I'm thinking about coming to work on Monday. I'll check it out when I get there."

"really?!" excitement is eminent in her voice. "we can't wait to see you sir."

I smile. "okay then. Talk to you later."

I end the call.

What could the envelope contain? Since my attack, social media has posted a lot of fake information about the cause of my attack. Some said it was robbery gone wrong, some said my arrogant behavior had finally caught up to me. They're all wrong though, but I'm happy there wrong because I can't imagine the real details of my attack been posted and talked about online. It could be a letter from one of my haters though, probably telling me how fucking excited they are that I got beat up. My thoughts conjure up weird possibilities as I put on cloths.

I brush the thought from my mind as I head downstairs to get something to eat. My stomach is fucking rumbling at this point.

I grab a pan and butter, opting for bread and egg. I cut a piece of butter in the heated pan and dumped in the beat eggs.

Pulling my phone out from my shorts, I try to assess the kid's tiktok page like I've been doing for the past two weeks. I check every time, but there's no new post, no update whatsoever. Checking it today, I'm shocked to see that the account is gone. Nothing. I type in her name again and again, but the account has been deleted. Shit.

What have they fucking done to the girl? I'm scared to even imagine what might have made them to delete the account. Was it because of my interference? Fuckkk. Feeling my appetite dwindle, I turn off the gas go search for my car keys so I can go do what I was supposed to do all this time.

I've been taking this issue lightly, I need to step the fuck up. Since I reported the issue to the police since I was in the hospital, they have not done a single thing about it. They kept saying there was not enough evidence to trace the account. If they are not willing to do their work the right way, I bet they would be willing to do it the dirty way.

I speed all the way down to the police station, stopping along the way to get cash at the ATM.

As I walk in, some of the policemen there looks at me with curiosity and recognition . I walk up to the one sitting at the front table.

"I need to see your DPO."

"ah oga, you no dey greet?" the man said with a crooked smile.

I return mine with ample amount of disgust. "correct. I need to see your DPO now."

The man frowns, obviously irritated that I refuse to play his dumb games. "oh boy, DPO no dey."

"DPO no dey?" I cork a brow. "you sure?"

His frown deepens. "oga I say DPO no de-

I drop a hundred thousand on the counter. "DPO no dey?" I mock.

The guy swallows loudly, his eyes trained on the money.

"I need to see the DPO." I repeat.

His eyes widens and he nods sharply. The two other police men hanging around behind him comes forward. "wait, we're coming."

I nod, turning to the empty bench to sit down.

They come back out few minutes later. "follow me sir." The youngest looking among them say to me.

So, follow I did.

He leads me down a wide hallway, stopping at the last door at the end of the hall. He knocks and tells me to go in.

I open the door and walk in.

A familiar robust looking older man sits on his chair, typing away on his laptop.

"sit down" he says without looking up.

I sit on the chair opposite him.

"Mr Eme-

He shushes me by raising his hand. After a few minutes of him typing on his laptop, he finally looks up, tilting his head to the side a bit, staring at me with small eyes framed with thick bushy brows.

"You look a bit familiar, how can I help you?"

"I don't know if you remember me, few weeks back, I was attacked and two policemen came in to question me."

"yeah yeah I remember That case. I know your father. I did think you look somewhat familiar. Your father came to bail you from here some months back right?"

"that is not the point of this conversation."

He sighs. "okay, enlighten me. What's the problem?"

"there's a little girl on social media that I believe is been abused by her guardian, I reported it to the two policemen that came to question me when I was in the hospital and you people have done nothing about it."

"are you sure you're not just making this up?"

"I literally got beat up because of it." I grit out.

He sighs again. " From what I heard, it seems you got beat up because you're practicing homosexuality, I think you're just using this as cover up."

My mouth drops open in shock. "are you fucking serious?" my blood couldn't boil any hotter than it is right now. "I literally showed all evidence of the girl's video and of the messages between Festus and I."

He corks a brow. "And who is this Festus?"

"the computer guy who was helping me trace the kid."

He massages his head. "okay. Let's say I believe you, what do you want us to do?"

I look at him in confusion "oh, I don't know, to do you job, to find this child?"

He places both hands on the table and moves closer. "the reason I don't throw you out of my office for talking to me in such manner is because of your status and your father, but I have to be honest with you, we don't have time for this… case, if that's what it is. We have so many things on our hands, including the search of the people that kidnapped you, so you see…" he doesn't finish the sentence but I know what he means.

"how much will it take for you take the case." I ask, because I already know where this was headed before I walked in.

Shock crosses his features. "what do you mean young man?"

I roll my eyes. "Please cut the crap. We both know how this is gonna go. Name your price." I say, staring straight at him.

He studies me for a bit, trying to gauge my expression, but he doesn't seem to see what he's looking for because desperation is the only thing I'm feeling right now.

"how much is it going to be?" I ask again, and I watch as his stoic façade crumbles.

"I can work with two million naira." He says, not staring me eye to eye again.

"I'll make it five, I just need you to focus on it so we can save this girl"

Shock clouds his features for the second time. He nods quickly and extends his hand for a shake. I ignore it as I stand up. He frowns a bit but quickly smoothens his face. I grab a pen from his table and a piece of paper where I quickly scribble my number on it.

"I already submitted all the evidence the first time. This is my number, text me your account number and call me if you need to ask anything."

He nods and I walk out. I guess I rendered him speechless.