Sinners and Saints II

Chapter 55

"You can come in now."

Olivia let out a soft exhale as she followed the extremely tall woman that led her into the white cold room in front of them. She rubbed her arm together. What was it with rich people and too much air conditioner?

She could see exactly who it was she came for.

"Miss Kalu," Zainab got up the moment Olivia walked into the office just as the woman that brought her in excused herself. Olivia let out a tiny smile, watching the round older woman step away from her table and walked hurriedly to her. "It's so good you could make it."

"I'm sorry I had to call on such short notice. I know you're a busy woman." Olivia followed the woman's lead as she led her to her glass desk at the center of the office. "I just needed to talk to you."
Olivia sat down in the seat the woman gestured to her, watching the woman hurry over to her own side of the desk.

"Is anything the matter?" She sat in, her eyes glued into Olivia's. She could see how concentrated Olivia was just as she slowly reached for her bag and then got out something from it. Olivia folded it into her palms even before Zainab got the chance to see what it was.
She slowly rose her head to meet the woman, she was taking silent deep breaths, shutting her eyes for a second and summoning all the courage she needed.

"I'm interested in working with you on the ALCS case." She started, her attention on the woman who just sat in there, looking a little bit confused. "I know you've been chasing this case for twenty three years and I want to be a part of it. I want to help you find out the truth, I want to punish those responsible for this."

The woman grunted.

"I already told you Mrs Kalu, this is not a fight you want to be involved in. A lot is at stake for you here."

"I know everything now." She cut the woman off. "I know why you couldn't tell me. I know that Rand oil is responsible for what happened and for killing my parents."

"And yet you want to fight against Rand oil? Fight the Okonkowo's even though they are going to be your family soon? Olivia are you sure this is a path you want to go down on? Are you really willing to let go of your relationship with the Okonkwo's and bring them out because once you start this journey, you can't back out of it."

This was it, this was her opportunity to finally win the trust of the woman sitting in front of her. She slowly placed her hand on the table and let go of the flash drive in it so the woman could see.

"I believe this is what my mother died trying to protect. This is what she wanted to give you. "

She could notice the sudden shock on the woman's face as she slowly sat up, glaring at the drive on the table.

"The tapes," Olivia continued. "I managed to put the information in a more modernized manner." Her eyes were glued to the woman as she slowly reached for the plastic drive. "I know how much the information on that flash can be of help to you and I'm willing to let you have it. I'm willing to let you use it if you agree to let me work with you. I want to bring the Okonkwo's down just as much as you do, Randy Okonkwo. I want nothing more than to make him suffer just as I've suffered, to see him punished for all the crimes he has committed. Working with me is going to be of a great advantage to you because I'm going to use the information on those tapes to ruin that man whether you help me or not, one way or the other. I'd find a way. The question is if you'd like to jump on this opportunity or not. Rafael is not going to help you. He'd never betray his family but me, I have nothing to loose. I'm your best option at this point."

The woman slowly rose her head to Olivia's. She could see the look in her eyes. The pain in her eyes. She meant every word. She was going to get justice for her parents whether she wanted it, whether she helped her or not. Olivia swallowed hard, hoping in her heart Zainab didn't turn down her offer. She knew if she was really going to go against Rand oil, the woman sitting in front of her could be her fastest option. Her best option. Her easiest option.

Zainab exhaled.

"Just like I told you before, Rand oil is a very powerful organization, Randy Okonkwo is a very scary man. I've seen first hand what he's capable of doing, the fact that you're in possession of the only thing that could actually destroy his company is enough reason for him to kill you the moment he finds out. The moment I get the proper authorities to get back on this case, the world is going to know you have a hand in this, he's going to know and he's going to come after you too. Are you sure you're ready for that? Are you sure you can handle anything that comes your way at that point onwards?"

Olivia swallowed hard. Zainab was right. She wasn't a stranger to Randy's extremely toxic attitude. She already had a glimpse of what he could do the moment he found out she was trying to destroy him. Maybe this was a fool's errand after all. Maybe thinking about it better would have been a better option at that point but she knew she didn't have much time. She was running out of time and she was the only person that could actually do anything about it.

"What do I have to do?"

Three hours later........

"Thank you so much for stopping by Mrs Kalu,"
Olivia watched her step as Zainab walked her out of the office, standing right beside her as they made it out.

"Thank you for having me." Olivia let out a tiny smile  just as they came to a halt in front of the big brown door with the words, "News executive" perfectly inscribed in italics right above it. "You have no idea how your agreement to help me means a lot to me."

The lady exhaled and then slowly reached for her hands.

"You know, you're just as willful as she was." She continued looking right into Olivia's eyes. "And stubborn too."

Olivia chuckled faintly . It felt so good hearing people compare her to her mother. So so good.

"She's going to be so proud of you. Of us. Even if this gets us killed." The woman chuckled again faintly, causing Olivia to join her for a little bit right before it came.... a sudden chill passing through her spine.  Olivia felt so dizzy and exhausted all of a sudden that it caused her to stagger a bit as her legs suddenly became so weak. Everything became static as she placed her first two fingers on her temples stopping right halfway to the ground the moment she felt a hand catch her.

"Olivia."  Zainab's loud voice brought her back to consciousness just as her secretary as well rushed to them, to help her. "Are you okay?"
Olivia slowly rose her gaze to the woman standing right above her, a glaring look of worry in her eyes as she glared into Olivia's eyes.

Olivia exhaled, forcefully bringing herself back to her feet.

"I'm-" she let out a tiny exhale. "I'm fine. I just felt a bit dizzy."

She heard Zainab let out an exasperated sigh.

"You should rest." She advised. "You won't do anyone any good if you exhaust yourself unnecessarily."

Olivia forced a smile on her lips as she felt Zainab rub her arms gently. That was right.

Rest.

That was the only thing she needed.