FORTUNE: A FREENBECKY STORY

Chapter 46 💼

Freen exited the airport and drove back into the city to her grandmothers house.
When she got out of the car she was greeted by the help who she rushed past.

When she entered the house she saw her grandmother standing at the top of the stairwell.

"Grandmother, what is Marlin?" She asked

Freen's grandmother did not hear her. She was busy setting flower arrangements, supposedly for the wedding.

Freen made her way up the stairs.
"Freen!" Grams said.
"Good evening Grandmother" Freen replied
"Oh 'Grandmother'? Hmm.. I wasn't expecting you today." She continued
"Yes, I know... I wanted to speak to you" Freen said

Grams looked at Freen for a moment wondering why her granddaughter was behaving so solemnly. She picked one final flower stem and repositioned it before dusting her hands off and taking her gloves off.

They made their way downstairs and into the living room.
"What is it?" Grams said with quickness in her voice
"The reason I decided to marry is to generate and influx of money and influence for the business" Freen said
"You're getting married to Non because he is a beneficial partner for you and your future" grandmother corrected her
"No, I'm getting married to save our business" Freen refuted
"Freen, what is this about?" She asked

Freen paused and looked at her grandmother as she began to work up her courage.
"I'm putting a lot aside in order to keep our business alive" Freen said
"Ok" grandmother laughed
"If that's the case I don't think anything regarding the business should be kept from me" Freen said

Grandmother looked at Freen. She seemed a little more nervous now.
Freen brought out the file and placed it on the center table.
"I have a few questions about this. I want the truth and the complete truth." Freen said
"Freen, where did you find this?" Grams said
"One, what is MARLIN? Two, what is genie magic? Three, who are the Mukhtar? Four, why were they named in the investigation into my parents death?" Freen said sternly

Grandmother stared at Freen. She was completely caught off guard. After a few moments she picked up the file and scanned through it. She placed it back on the center table.

"Fine." Grandmother said
Freen adjusted her position in the seat.
"Years ago, when I was still a student studying business at the university of Bangkok I met twin sisters and their younger brother. The twins were really bright and well respected by their school of study. They seemed to have it all. But even more, everything they touched turned to gold! They seemed blessed. Naturally ambitious as I was, I joined myself to them and we became good friends. We became closer and closer through the years even though I was from a different school of study till be essentially became family. We felt weirdly connected to each other. One day they opened up to me about the secret behind their family's luck, their ancestor 'Rebecca' and the curse that came with losing possession of it." Grandmother explained
"Grams..." Freen interrupted

"Let me finish." Grams said
"Ok" Freen replied

"In our final year we started a small research company trying to unlock the mystery behind their luck which they called 'Marlin's Essence'. Marlin was a genie that their family was blessed with historically but they were also cursed when this possession was taken from them long ago. When they showed me the essence I recognised it. It looked very familiar to an heirloom that was passed down in our family. I didn't understand how but us coming together and meeting felt like fate so I told them about our heirloom. We were genuine friends and partners, we were all ambitious too. I wanted to rock the business world and they wanted to save their family. It seemed like the perfect arrangement and I trusted them." She said
"So you started MonSam to research genie magic?" Freen asked

"Not exactly." Grams replied
"And who are these sisters? Where are they now?" Freen continued
"I'll tell you if you give me the chance!" Grams replied
"Sorry." Freen said

"We graduated together and went full time into the business. In the next 2-3 years we also got married and started having children. We managed to keep a healthy balance despite all our commitments but research was slow and the few investors we attracted did not have enough capital to make any significant breakthroughs. Just as we were growing tired we were approached by 'angel investors' who were an old and rich family. They called themselves The Mukhtar. We thought carefully at first but eventually accepted the help in order to speed up our research. We used the cash to set up a proper HQ, invest in labs, equipment and hired staff. A few months after receiving the influx of cash we noticed that The Mukhtar were not the silent partners they originally presented themselves to be. They had ties to the Drug Lord Khun Sa's organisation and other underground links and businesses. They were dangerous people. They began following us, accessing our research without permission and asking for quick results. The situation began to escalate very quickly until they killed the twins' younger brother as he was protecting us." Grams said