EPISODE 71
It's been a week since Mandy left the country. It wasn't the same here without Mandy, at least not for Joey. No more random knocks on his study door, no more arguments. No one to struggle over the TV control with, there was no one to talk to.
Even cooking doesn't feel the same. Mandy's absence left a huge emptiness in Joey. The last time Joey felt this empty after someone left was when he lost his mother. He hadn't
gotten so close to anyone that would make them leave such vacuum in him after they were gone.
"It's been quite a while you took a walk around the yard sir." The old man said to Joey with a smile on his face.
"It really has." Joey replied returning the smile.
"I take it your alter ego isn't around." The old man said again.
Joey was taken aback. "Pardon?"
"I meant Mrs Mandy. Ever since she arrived here she became your shadow.It was either you were everywhere she was, or she be everywhere you be. You both became inseparable."
The old man has worked in the Brandon's residence for as long as he had been alive. Aside the gardener he was the second oldest resident of the Brandon's. He was the butler of Joey's father, he came into the residence when Mr George, Joey's father was just six he was eight as at the time. The two boys grew into men and they were the best of friends. He didn't get married or dated anyone because he lived his life protecting Mr George.
He was more like a family than a worker, he even has a finely built and well furnished house just as the back of the workshop.
When Joey was born, he took care of Joey at the request of his friend Mr George. Just close to his retirement date, Joey got arrested and Mr George had an heart attack, so he couldn't leave. He decided to stay back and watch over the home in the stead of the father and son.
"Do you think I'm doing the right thing?" Joey asked Mr Ferdinand.
Mr Ferdinand looked at Joey as confused as Joey himself was. "I wouldn't know, because I don't know that which you are doing." He said with a chuckle.
"Silly me! You're right. Too bad though, l can't tell you about it." Joey said as he
placed his hands in his pocket. It was getting chilly.
"I would say this though." Mr Ferdinand said halting. "Life is filled with uncertainty, that is what makes it interesting. If we all knew how our life would turn out, no one would live with, anxiety, no one would be surprised when things happen, and the word
unexpected wouldn't exist. Isn't the uncertainty of our lives what makes life
interesting. I don't know what it is you're doing, but I can tell you this, no matter how hard you try, you would never be sure about what you are. doing. There would always be this tiny pinch of self doubt, because the only being with certainty is He that lives
above. So my child, just trust in yourself, be confident about your decisions. As long they are not one that would cause harm to another, then you don't have to worry so much about what the outcome would be." He said patting Joey on his back. "Let's go back inside, it quite chilly you know." He said with a smile.
"Okay sir." Joey replied as they both turned back and walked inside. "Sir!" Joey screamed to Mr Ferdinand who was already a distance away. "Thank you!" Joey said wearing a very bright smile.
Mr Ferdinand winked at him and then he laughed before walking away.
Despite his age, Mr Ferdinand was a very social, energetic and cheerful individual. He is good at games, he is creative and above all he is a happy soul.
The bright smile on Joey's face suddenly left and a sad one appeared.
The thought of Mr Ferdinand having just a year to live was heartbreaking.
Who would ever imagine that such a healthy looking man was battling with cancer. Mr Ferdinand lost his parents at a very early age in a staff protest against JAY group, while it was still headed by Jake's father. The brutality was generational trait.
"I wouldn't let this get to the next generation, it has to end with me!" Joey said to himself with a flaring rage. "So many people already lost their life's, so many suffered and so many as still suffering. This has got to end!" He said again.
"It's not your fault babe, don't beat yourself up over this." Jake said to a ticking time bomb Tiffany. "You did all you could, you fought till the very end.' He was being really careful notto activate the timer. "We would get bigger deals. Joey can't outdo us, yes his acts get to us, but you know me, after I fall, whenever I rise, I come back stronger and better. So just let it go." He said patting her on the back.
' "Let it go?" Did l just hear you say let it go!" Tiffany said in a rage. "Do you know how much work I put into this and What, let it go? You have got to be kidding me right now." Tiffany stood up and then she walked out.
"Babe! Babe!" Jake screamed following after her. "Wait up!" He said holding her - back just before she went down the stairs. "I didn't want to tell you this but, there is another deal coming up, a bigger and better one." Jake paused to look around trying to be sure no one was eavesdropping. "But the thing is, it is very risky and it's illegal too." He said after confirming no one was close by.
"Who cares about the legality of the plan. A plan is a plan, besides it was humans who dictated what should be legal or not. Have you forgotten how the court changes a law four months ago just to favour The Grandmaster Company. So please, don't make me laugh with your legal talk."
"There is more." Jake said. He leaned in and whispered into Tiffany's ear.
"Oh my!" Tiffany screamed. Jake prevented from screaming further as he pinned her lips with his fingers.
"Shhhh!" He said placing one of his finger over his mouth.
Tiffany nodded her head in obedience. Her ears would never forget what it just heard. Tiffany stared at Jake wondering if this was the same person she always knew. Tiffany's love for money and greed for wealth and power blinded her eyes and clouded her thinking, she couldn't discern between good and evil anymore. Because at this point, Jake was no longer just bad, he had
transgressed into being evil.
Kai listened in really hard but she couldn't hear a thing. Mrs Mallory had sent her to call for Jake. She tried her best but Jake was just too silent. Just when she was about getting the juiciest part of the news, Jake had to whisper.
"Sir, the big boss asked me to call you to the penthouse." Kai said with her head bowed as he delivered the message. She had tiptoed back to the door and had pretended to just arrive.
"Why? What for?" Jake asked her.
"I don't know sir. She didn't tell me why."
Kai answered.
"Okay. Tell her I would be there in the shortest possible time."
"Okay sir!" Kai said still with her head bowed.
************
"Mandy!" Joey said over the phone. "if you can't handle this please do let me know." Joey said.
"I will." Mandy replied.
"Promise?" Joey inquired.
"Promise!" Mandy confirmed.
Joey heaved out a heavy sigh. One could tell he was burdened by whatever he was about to say. He wasn't comfortable with what he was about to ask Mandy to do, but right
now, he doesn't have much of a choice.
If Mandy says she wouldn't be able to do it then, he would have to do it himself and that would be even more risky. " Okay." Joey began. "Here it goes." He added, dragging his words.
"Just get over with it Boss!" Mandy said sounding confident in herself. "You don't have to worry about me." She said trying to make Joey have confidence in her like she does in herself.
"You would have to do an impersonation. This is very risky because if it goes wrong, you could get arrested and jailed if possible. Jake's company is about signing a contract on the acquisition of narcotics. I don't know why I keep having the feeling that the cops might show up. I need us to have the documents in our possession so when we present our case against Jake and his company, there would be no escape for them. They are working with the lawyers, prosecutors and even the police, if we really want to win we need evidences that the court can't maneuver. You could get arrested Mandy, do you still think you can take the risk?" Joey asked. As desperately as Joey wanted her to say no, a part of him still wished she would say yes, this was something he hated himself for.
"Yes, I can do it!" Mandy replied.
Strangely she could hear Joey's inner voice begging her to say yes.
-kindly leave a comment and move over to episode 72-
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