Against All Odds (Completed)

Chapter Sixty-Five

With the phone held tightly in his hands, Michael sighed. He was still in awe at his cousin's shocking confession, so much that he couldn't bring himself up to face Ellie.

And all the thoughts that had gushed into his head in dealing with the culprit were now hanging in the air, he didn't know what to do anymore.

Should he turn her in like he'd planned or should he let bygones be bygones?

By letting bygones be bygones, should he tell Ellie the truth or simply keep the truth to himself?

Whichever decision he'd make however, he knew Ellie had the right to know who her secret admirer had been all along. He was sure she was still in doubts at how he'd allowed Elorm to leave when they'd successfully captured him.

With his left leg hanging on the armrest of a black sofa, he sighed. "What do you think I should do now, Ollie?"

Oliver who was seated in another sofa on his left turned from the TV to look at him. "What do you mean 'what should you do?' Do what you know is right. Let everyone know the length of her craziness. I can't believe we'd been with the devil and we didn't know."

"She's my cousin. We could at least cover up..."

"Hell, no. She wasn't your cousin when she tampered with the brakes on your car. She could've killed you. Mike, don't cover up for her, she doesn't deserve it."

Michael was quiet. He still couldn't bring himself up to accept who Paula really was, the person she'd been hiding for so long.

He didn't know whether to feel bad for her or to be angry at her.

"If you don't tell, especially Ellie, I'll do so myself. Watch me." Oliver interrupted his thoughts.

"What? No." Michael objected with a frown. "I'll handle everything my way."

Oliver sighed. "As you wish."

They turned towards the door when they heard a knock.

"Excuse me." Michael got up from the sofa and headed for the door. He stood there for a while, wondering who could be there when he wasn't expecting anyone.

With his hands on the knob, he turned the door slowly open and stuck out his head.

A frown crept his face at the sight of the Black Panther's captain with a petite lady at his door. "Ashton?"

He smiled at him briefly and his face returned to a grim look. "Would you mind if I come in and have a word with you?"

He had no idea Ashton knew where he lived. And what did he want to tell him?

"Sure. Come in." Michael answered and stepped aside from the door so they could enter.

He took them to his small hall where Oliver who still sat in the sofa had a surprised look on his face.

"I didn't know you guys were buddies." Oliver said, giving Ashton puzzled glances.

Ashton smiled and looked at Michael. He gestured them to sit on the three-in-one sofa and joined Oliver in his. "I actually came around to ask some few questions about your cousin, Paula Smith."

Michael's brows furrowed. "Paula?' He asked, "Why? I hope everything's fine?"

"Not really." Ashton replied. He leaned forward and clasped his hands, "We went over to her flat but she wasn't around. And since she lives alone we couldn't get anyone to ask where she's disappeared to."

Disappeared?

Michael couldn't be more confused. Why were they after Paula?

"And you decided to look for her here?"