DANIELLA

CHAPTER ELEVEN

"Do you two happen to know each other?"Gabriel asked astonished

"No."

"Yes."

We said in unison

"What does that even mean?"

"It means that I know her and she knows me," Travis chose to answer

"I don't know you," I said

"Ooh really, so now you are going to pretend like am a stranger to you?"

Gabriel laughed at our exchange before looking at me
"Today you don't have a nasty come back ? It's fun when you don't have an answer for every question asked Daniella!"

Turning to his son, he asked
"Where do you know her from ?"

"We go to the same school ."

"She goes to school ?"
Gabriel asked shocked

"Yes,How do you know her, father ?" Travis asked back

"She's the new managing director I have been telling you about,"

"You are kidding me right?"
Travis said

"Do I look like I'm kidding to you?"

They then turned to me and asked the question that was disturbing them and I knew it was forthcoming
"How do you manage?"

"Being smart," I said nonchalantly before calling out
"Hey Arnold?"

"Yes ma'am ."

"Can I have a glass of juice please, strawberry flavored and some cupcakes,"

"Yes ma'am ."

I heard them as they pulled out their chairs to sit down but assumed them.

"What are you hiding Ella ?" That was Travis

"What makes you think I am hiding anything ?" I countered

"First you come to school dressed as a nerd and you let Stevie walk all over you without talking . Then you don't come to school for a two days and when you are back you have changed , your personality , your looks everything and lastly you just blackmailed my father into giving you the managerial position and the first thing you do is go through the records to find the factory's loopholes. So tell me Ella and I won't repeat myself what are you hiding ?" He is so enraged I never pictured him like this before

"Whatever I'm hiding is none of your business Travis. Is this the reason why you called me here for dinner Gabriel ?" I asked anger masking all my features

"No . I just didn't expect to find out that the both of you know each other."

"What was the reason ."

"I have a proposal for you," he said looking at me

"What ?"

"I want you to get married to Travis. And then you will become the owner of the Scott factory and you can do whatever you want with it." He continued with blinking

"You what?"
Did this old man take me for a human girl who wanted only wealth.

"Since I didn't have another way of convincing you to stop making demands on the factory, this was the only way." He said

"And I told you I don't need the damn company. My mission was to stop the ills you've been doing for some time now."

"What do you mean by 'my mission'" Travis asked

"That is none of your business Travis and for your offer,please tell your son that he has the capability of finding his own wife!" I said banging my fists as I stood up

"Don't you dare disrespect my father Daniella!" Travis said

"Remove all the traps along the sea shore, quit overfishing and dumping your wastes into the sea and you won't hear from me again . You have one day or else I'll show the public what you do!"

"You don't get it do you?" Travis said

"I don't get what ?"

"We are not doing that because of the money. This is a personal issue that needs to get solved and we won't stop any of those activities until we solve it."

"That is not my concern, one day it is." I said leaving no room for any argument

"How did you change from that innocent naive girl I knew to this?"

There was an intense stare between us none willing to back down.

"Ma'am , I got your juice and cupcakes," Arnold decided to interrupt us

"Thanks Arnold but I guess I will pass."

The more I stayed there the angrier I became .
"Could you please call your driver to get the car ready old man. I want to go home ."

He looked at me probably gauging my expression before sighing
"Please stay for dinner . I know we don't get along but I have this soft spot for you Ella . Just have dinner with us then you'll leave...please ."

I had never seen him plead before so I sat down and waited to be served.

We ate in silence until it was time to leave . I must say the food was very great .

"Sorry for the out burst," Travis apologized on our way home. He had decided to drive me home himself because it was already late

"Why is it so important for you to do all that you are doing?" I asked still not getting how they could justify trying to kill a whole specie of mermaids knowingly.

"It's a long story that you won't be able to believe so I better not waste my time telling you," he said his eyes on the road but I could feel the tension emanating from him

"Try me Travis and you will be surprised ,"

"Do you believe in supernatural beings ?" He asked out of nowhere and I looked at his face trying to understand how that was related to the topic at hand.

"Those are just myths. Why?" I replied

"You see? There is no need for me to continue because judging from your answer, you won't believe a thing."

"Do you believe that they exist ?" I asked back

"I not only believe that they exist , I know they do."

"Do you have any proof of what you are saying?"

"Yeah, I have solid evidence that they exist ."

"So how is that related to the illegal things your father's factory has been doing for a while now?"

"Actually it was my idea not his and because he loves me, he did it without thinking of clearing his tracks so that someone like you should not trace them."

"I see."

"So tell me, who is this that sent you on a mission and what mission is it?" He asked

"You won't believe it also." I used his line on him

"You are going to do that ?"

"But of course!" I said smirking
The look on his face was that of someone having an internal battle with himself.

Closing he eyes, he took a deep breath before swallowing and opening his eyes.

"I am a merman." He finally spoke, leaving me gazing at him shocked .
Of all the things he could tell me, I never imagined that that was one of them.

@hellenimari