Talk To Me

22. What do you want from me?

A day had passed, and still not a word. Todo was beginning to feel like this trip had been a complete waste of time. She had expected Wale to be elusive, but instead, here she was, lounging beside her on a sunbed, wearing sunglasses, sipping a sangria, and soaking up the sun. It was infuriating. Wale looked positively carefree. Or perhaps, thought Todo, she just enjoyed making people furious. She certainly had a knack for it.

Todo decided to play along, at least for now. Surprisingly, Wale hadn't imposed any restrictions and no orders to switch off her phone or hide her location. She could communicate freely with her team. So, why had Wale called her here in the first place when she had been the one to initiate contact? In the end, Todo gave up trying to speculate and decided to go with the flow. Wale was calling the shots, and, frankly, Todo could use the rest after a hectic week.

They sat by the beach, basking in the morning sun until someone came to call them for breakfast. Todo was still wary of Wale's intentions, especially after the events surrounding Kind's drugging. Even so, Wale had assured her, politely, of course, that she had nothing to do with it. Todo had made sure to let Wale know her team was tracking everything, and Wale had just laughed and encouraged her to record their entire conversation if it was her wish. Todo had declined. They had agreed to meet on neutral terms, as long as Kind remained unaware.

"I was starving," Wale said as he stood up from the dining table after breakfast, but before he could walk away, Todo stopped her.

"Did you invite me here just to waste my time? It's already been almost a day, and you haven't said a word about why I'm here. Where is this place, anyway? I could ask my team, but I'd prefer you tell me yourself."

Wale smiled, as if Todo's frustration amused her. "Let's continue this inside, shall we? It's far too hot out here for serious discussions."

Once inside, Wale finally began. "The reason I invited you here is probably not what you're thinking. Also, you looked like you might drop dead from exhaustion when you arrived yesterday, so I thought it best you get some rest first. I trust you slept well?"

Todo eyed her warily. Wale was difficult to read, but Todo had dealt with her fair share of slippery individuals running her family's business. "Cut to the chase. I've got things to do."

A servant handed Todo a folder, and she glanced at Wale. "What's this?"

"Inside that folder is a list of assets that were stolen from me by my relatives after my parents died," Wale explained calmly. "I was too young at the time to claim anything, so they seized what they could under the guise of being my guardians. I've managed to recover some of it, but I've hit a dead end with the rest. Some relatives sold the properties, while others passed them on to their children. I need help tracking them down. Your security company is the best at finding people, and given that you found me in just a day, I'm confident we can work something out."

Todo was taken aback but didn't let it show. She hadn't anticipated this. "Does Kind know about this?"

Wale shook her head. "No, and I'd like to keep it that way. Kind knows my family and I don't get along, and that's all he needs to know. I disappeared to keep him and my other friends safe. Some of my relatives hold powerful positions, as you'll see in the file."

Todo flipped through the file. It was indeed full of names, addresses, and titles. It was clear Wale had been doing her homework. "The price will be high," Todo warned. "These people could sue my family's company if we go after them. You're confident you can handle the consequences?"

"I've been preparing for this for years," Wale replied simply.

Todo placed the file on the table. "I told you the price would be high. Are you willing to cooperate?"

Wale leaned back in her chair. "You're angling to involve Kind, aren't you? That's why you rushed over here as soon as you received my message."

Todo's patience was wearing thin. "I saw the bite mark you left on Kind," he said coldly. "You didn't need to hurt him like that, but what's done is done. Kind belongs to me now, and I'd like you to stay away from him."

Wale smiled, amused. "Is that your price?"

"No," Todo replied sharply. "I'm claiming what's mine. I'll help you with the search, but you'll sign a contract, and we'll proceed with the first payment. I'll send you an estimate, and my team will take over from there."

Wale chuckled, her smile never wavering. "I must apologise for being rough with you last time. Perhaps, under different circumstances, we might've been friends, but I do have one question: what gives you the confidence to declare Kind yours? Has he already stopped loving me?"

Todo bristled at the question. She clenched her fists, fighting to keep her composure. "I don't mind that you have feelings for him. What baffles me is how someone could still believe a person they've neglected for ten years could still be in love with them."

"Kind is one of a kind."

"Perhaps you're unaware," Todo continued, her voice cold, "but Kind and I have an open line of communication. He's told me everything. I find it laughable that you're making him and Cherry worry about you when you're the one being selfish."

Wale sighed theatrically. "You wound me. Of course, I care for Kind, and that's why I'm keeping him out of this mess. But you... your team found me within a day, yet you've kept quiet. Not even Kind knows where I've been, which is... disappointing. I purposely used my credit card so you'd find me, but all I got were messages asking where I was. So I gave up and had my lawyer, Frank, reach out. You spoke to him, didn't you? Or did you hide that from Kind, too?"

Todo couldn't take it any longer. She shot up from her seat, closing the distance between them. Wale stood as well, her smirk widening. They were eye to eye now.

"Stay away from us, Wale," Todo said through clenched teeth. "I don't want to fight you, but if you push me, I'll have no choice."

Wale's smirk faltered, just for a moment. "I have no intention of revealing your secrets to Kind, nor do I care if we're enemies. I brought you here to see what kind of woman Kind replaced me with."

Todo snapped. She threw a punch, landing it square on Wale's face. Wale retaliated, her fist connecting with Todo's jaw.

"You bastard!" Todo spat, wiping blood from her mouth. "What do you want from me? You're engaged, for goodness sake! You're hurting the person who loves you most, and you don't even care!"

Wale wiped her bleeding nose and grinned. "You broke my nose. I guess I deserved that, seeing as I broke yours, too." She looked up at Todo, her grin widening. "I'll make you a deal. Send Kind to me for one day, and after that, I'll leave you both alone."

"You must think me a fool to suggest that."

"All I'm asking for is one day and nothing more. After that, he is all yours."