Talk To Me

31. Be careful

"I should have known it was you. I was unsure at first, hoping perhaps someone new had moved here when Todo brought us, but I see now I was wrong," Wale said, looking up at Todo's mother with a calm yet piercing gaze. "You rejected me as a child when Frank came asking for help on my behalf, so why are you hosting me now, at a time when I need your help the least?"

Todo's mother returned her gaze, her expression stern but composed. "I have lived with regret over that decision every single day," she began. "It's why I handed over my position as chairperson of the company to my daughter. She's more free-spirited, less easily swayed by political influences, and easier to protect in her current role while I remain as president. But your situation, Wale, was different. You were a threat to my family simply by being here. Your parents and I were not close friends, but we were strong business partners."

She stood and paced the room, her hands clasped behind her back. "Your parents' deaths were a tragedy. They were under our protection, but my team was misled into believing they were elsewhere, and we didn't question the information. One of my own was working for your parents' enemies." She paused, her voice softening. "I take full responsibility for that failure. I should have taken you in after it all, should have raised you alongside my children. But I didn't. And in that week you stayed with us, my husband lost his life. I was in despair, and I'm sure I said things to you far to hurtful for a child's ear to hear. I'm sure I hurt you a lot, and I'm ashamed to ask for forgiveness."

She moved closer to Wale, her voice quieter but resolute. "That's why, once you turned eighteen, I deployed a team to watch over you. Your parents' relatives would inevitably come after you when you were old enough to claim their assets. I owed your parents that much."

Wale's eyes remained steady as she replied, "So it was you, then. Providing Frank with information all this time to bring down the people responsible for my parents' deaths?"

"Yes," she said without hesitation. "I needed to atone for my failure. In another life, perhaps I would have been better friends with your parents, but we hadn't reached that level of familiarity. Taking you in then would have been an investment, a costly one. I lost my husband because of it." She walked to Wale and sat next to her, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "But I've watched you grow. You're as stubborn as your mother and as shrewd as your father. At least be kind to your dear friend, Kind. He cares for you more than you realize."

Wale chuckled. "I'm trying, though he can be mean to me." Her smile widened. "He's going to be my boyfriend soon, once he's kicked your daughter to the curb."

Todo's mother laughed softly. "Yet you're here with me, and he's with my daughter. So who really got kicked to the curb?"

Wale's grin faltered, realizing the truth in her words. She stood, calling for lunch to be prepared, and Wale watched her, still cautious but more at ease. She knew Frank had told her that Todo's mother was working behind the scenes to protect her, yet something about her made her uneasy. There didn't seem to be any reason for Todo's mother to keep helping her, not after she'd already reclaimed most of her parents' assets.

"Did they ever tell you how my parents died?" Wale asked, her curiosity finally surfacing.

"No one knows the full truth," she replied, returning to her seat. "You were the first to find them, and Frank was the second. My husband's search for the people responsible for their murder led to his death as well. There was an explosion, and though I take comfort in believing my husband took care of your parents' murderers, I'll never know for sure. He died a hero, in my eyes and my children's."

Wale nodded, feeling a wave of sorrow for her loss. "I'm sorry," she said, her voice gentle.

"There's no need to apologize," she replied, her tone soft but steady. "I still have my daughter Todo, who makes me proud every day. She's a replica of her father in every way. But enough about that, let's focus on you. This situation is a walk in the park, really. I have all the information you need. I don't want my only daughter involved any deeper than she already is. It's too much like what happened with my husband. But I expect your cooperation as I continue to work behind the scenes. Be a good friend to my daughter, Wale."

After a long pause, Wale nodded. "I'll cooperate," she said quietly. Frank would have agreed with her decision, after all. And besides, if she wasn't directly involved in the investigation, she'd have more time to focus on Kind and keeping him away from Todo.

"Do I still need to be under constant surveillance? My friends included?" Wale asked.

"I terminated your protection program the moment my son took over your case," Todo's mother explained. "Having two teams of the same company working on the same goal would be inefficient, not to mention unsightly. My daughter will find out the truth about her father's death soon enough, and I've made arrangements to ensure she receives the correct information, even if I'm no longer around. For now, let me handle this quietly. My daughter will contact you within a week, but until then, you and I will discuss any developments. United we stand, divided we fall, correct?"

Wale nodded again, feeling the weight of her words. "I'll trust your judgment."

She gave Wale a thoughtful look. "Even so, be careful around your fiancée and her sister. They're more dangerous than they appear."

"W-What are you talking about?" Wale seemed confused.

"For now, let us end our conversation here. I'll inform you of any developments whenever necessary. For now, just heed my warning."