RECKONING.

A few months has passed since Michael's miraculous awakening from coma, and things were really looking well for the Akinseloyin family.

Kay and Lara were arrested after the investigations were concluded, and they were both sitting in jail pending arraignment.

Michael accompanied Camille to the jail house when she insisted on confronting Lara for what she had done.

After signing the necessary documents, they were led to a room and told to wait for Lara to be brought in.

"You sure you want to do this babe?"

Michael asks Camille for perhaps the hundredth time since they left home.

Taking a deep breath, she nods.

"Yes, I am sure. I need to know."

"You realize you might not like what she has to say?"

The sound of the door opening and Lara being brought in stops her from responding. Lara is led to a seat by the warden with her, shackled in handcuffs and not looking remorseful in the least.

"You have thirty minutes. Just call out to me when you are done."

The warden announces leaving them alone to stand by the door outside.

"I see you have come to gloat."

Lara settles back in her seat with a sneer.

"No one came to gloat, I just need to hear your side of the story,"

Camille responds calmly keeping her anger in check.

"What other part? I gave my confession already and the court date has been set, what more do you need to hear?"

Turning to Michael,

"I don't believe in miracles, but maybe it does truly exists, else, you would have died. I guess congratulations are in order then."

She laughs maniacally taking delight in the look of anger on their faces.Michael lunges for her across the table but is stopped by Camille pulling him back.

"You don't really need me here, do you? I just might strangle the bitch. Perhaps I should have let Kassim take care of her."

He says to Camille getting up to his feet.

"It's okay babe, I can handle her. Just go outside and calm down."

"I would be just outside the door."

Throwing up a look of loathing in Lara's way, he walks out the door clenching and unclenching his fists in fury.

"So, I guess it's just us now cuz. What exactly do you want to know?"

Lara asks smiling wickedly at the opportunity to hurt Camille once more.

Resting her hands on the table, Camille places her bag on the chair Michael vacated.

"I want to know everything, start at the beginning. What did I do to deserve everything you did to me? I want to know about Kay, about why you hurt Michael and tried to keep us apart, tell me everything."

"Funny you should ask me what you did, I thought you must have figured it out by now. You and your father caused everything."

"I don't understand, what did we do?"

"It wasn't enough that your father humiliated my father for embezzlement, he took his means of livelihood and broke him. It was the thought of what he went through that made him hypertensive. I know how much I spend every month on drugs to take care of him and it could all have been avoided if your father hadn't been so wicked. I don't know what he was thinking when he decided to tear my family's last shred of dignity and take me on as a charity case. Did he think sponsoring me through my education was going to make up for what he did to my family?"

She asks,  eyeing Camille.

"Wait! Are you mad? How dare you blame my father for what happened? It was your father who destroyed my father's company and made him start all over again. Do you think my family had it easy too? It took a lot of time and hard work to restore the company back to its former glory. How dare you blame my father for your own father's mistakes? He didn't owe you or your family anything and only decided to pay for your education out of the goodness of his heart. Now you turn around to blame him? Are you sick?"

She spits out in fury shaking her head disbelievingly at what she just heard.

"I never asked him for anything, we never asked him for anything? Why did he feel the need to pacify his guilt through me? Did he think that was going to erase what he did? My father was his brother for God's sake, how hard could it have been to forgive him and move on? They ran the company together and they could have continued doing just that if your father wasn't so vindictive and wicked."

"I really can't believe the nerve of you!"

"You better believe it cause I have been screwing you over for a long time and did it feel good?"

She cackles out loud throwing her head back in her chair.

"You have no idea what I have done, do you? You deserve everything I did cause you were always flaunting your father's money in my presence and reminding me of what I could have had. Always trying to play nice by offering to give me money and pretending to be my best friend. I saw through all your facade and paid you back in double folds. It wasn't enough that your family was responsible for all my misfortune, you had to pretend to be my friend."

"Tell me,"

Leaning closer to her,

"What was the essence of the education I had when I couldn't even get a decent job? I had to scrape, save, and fight for everything little thing I got whereas you were gliding through life effortlessly. You had everything handed over to you without working for it. How was that supposed to make me feel? You thought it made me happy to see you enjoying things that should have been mine?"

"You are sick, Lara, you really are. Everything that happened was your father's fault and I never for once held it against you, I stood by you and offered you my help which you refused. My father wanted to get you a job but you refused, what was I supposed to do? How should everything I had have been yours? The company belonged to my father and your father ruined it."

"Did you think I liked having to hang around you? I never did, in fact, I hated you, I hated you with passion so I took the little I could the only way I knew."

"What did you take? You took Kay and then you tried to take Michael is that it?"

"You mean you haven't figured it out? You are really stupid. Kay has always been my boyfriend, I told him to send you a direct message on Instagram. I coached him on what to say to get your attention and we made a deal to split everything he got from you equally. I took so much from you and you were just so clueless. I have to give you credit for catching on to him sooner than I expected, you saw him for who he was and broke up with him but not before I got my fair share."

She laughs mirthlessly at the look of shock on Camille's face.Camille leans back in her seat trying to process what she just heard. Pointing a finger at her,

"You are evil. It was you all along, how could I have been so stupid?"

Clamping down on her anger, she continues with the questions determined not to give her the satisfaction that she was affected by her words.

"But what has Michael got to do with all these? I wasn't even dating him yet when you met him."

This was the part she had been waiting for, she adjusts herself as comfortably as she could on her seat, happy to talk.

"Michael's part wasn't planned at all; it just happened. You see, I had a side hustle sleeping with politicians and all we had to do was sign a non disclosure agreement to get paid the big bucks, an agent took care of that. We didn't care who it was as long we got paid doing all the freaky things they wouldn't dare try at home with their wives."

"Why, Lara? I wanted to help you, you didn't have to "

"Can you just let me finish my story?"

"Go on."

"So, my agent called me one day that some big ballers needed girls in Abuja, and I should catch the next flight down if I was game. I was, I always was, my father's drugs cost too much weekly and monthly to refuse to  work."

"You call prostituting work?"

Camille asks in open mouthed shock.Ignoring her, she continues,

"I wish Michael was here for this part, it's my favorite. The Senator was on his knees for the better part of the night, begging to be taken to heights he had never been. There were two of us with him and he was shameless. I was no stranger to men like that, they sit at the high table making laws and forming tough, but a little girl would be somewhere pushing them around. Isn't it funny?"

She cackles to herself while Camille looks on in disgust.

"Okay, so, we all had a nice time and parted ways the next morning, he paid us well through the agent and it was a tidy sum. I knew he was a politician but I didn't care, I've seen so many of them that I'm no longer impressed, old, shameless fools. Okay, moving on, I flew back to Lagos and life continued until I came across a post of him on the news one day. Senator Akinseloyin was the richest man in Nigeria, even richer than the president, he had lots of money and was actively involved in charity. I knew he was rich, but I never bothered to ask how rich? Are you feeling me?"

She pauses to ask

"Carry on, Lara."

If only I had known how rich he was that night at Abuja, I would have played my game differently like perforate the condom to get pregnant or something. I would have figured something out.  He's involved in charity, I'm a charity case too."

This is more deeper than I thought and you lied and said it was all about me."

"Shut up, let me get to the juicy parts. I had lost the opportunity to hit it big with the Senator but not with his son whom everyone knew to be wild. If only I could just get pregnant for him, then it's settled, I'm set for life. The babymama allowance I would be entitled to would set me up for life. I studied his routine and favorite spots and after a while, I was able to meet with him. We had drinks, drugs and smoke before we agreed on a price for the night. I don't joke with my money."

Camille sighs and shakes her head uncomfortably,

"You are such a disappointment, Lara."

She rolls her eyes,

"Whatever, Camille, I don't care. Michael and I were as high as kites that night and we made lots of nude videos for fun, just fun that I didn't remember to delete them off his phone. That night did nothing to further my cause. In fairness to him, he paid me the amount we agreed upon, but when I realized that another Akinseloyin was slipping out of my fingers, I knew I had to do something urgently.

By that time, my father was scheduled for a certain sugery that cost millions, and I couldn't afford it so, I got desperate and started hounding Michael to give me money or I would tell everyone what transpired between us, him being a senator's son and all. I knew he had a reputation for being a bad boy already and I banked on that. His last response was to release my nudes and tag me. I surely did not see that coming, I tell you."

She chuckles to herself in amusement.

"Maybe I would have let go if you didn't appear in the picture, but you did and changed the narrative. I didn't believe at first that he truly loved you but when I was sure, I couldn't bear it anymore."

"Look at it from my perspective; you already had everything you could ever want; why take Michael from me again? I threatened him into leaving you, but he called my bluff again and said he was going to come clean to you himself. I obviously couldn't let that happen, because if I couldn't have him, you definitely weren't going to. I called Kay to do what he does best, and he was only too happy to do my bidding.

He hacked Michael's phone the night we had dinner and tampered with his car. I honestly wanted him dead; that way I could kill two birds with one stone, punish him for not wanting to be with me, and you for trying to take what was mine."

She concludes happily, smiling in a way that hides her teeth.

"All these for something that happened years ago? I loved you, and I bore no ill will towards you. How can you lay claim to a full-grown man who wanted nothing to do with you? Look where it has gotten you. You must regret it now."

"The only regret I have is not taking you out of the picture. Michael would have been mine if you hadn't been in the way."

Seeing another opportunity to hurt her, she quickly seizes it,

"Did I tell you the man is good on bed? We connected that night together, and he penetrated me like his life depended on it. I can almost picture myself riding him again."

"You are deranged. I see that now. I have some news for you."

It was her turn to smile.

Feigning a lack of interest, she asks nonchalantly.

"And what news is that?"

"First of all, all your plans eventually came to naught because my parents are still as rich as they ever were; secondly, your father is still stuck in that wheelchair, and the only thing you have achieved is bringing more sorrow into his life because you got yourself arrested. Thirdly, you are going to rot in jail and never see the sunlight again. I promise you that. Fourthly, you never kept us apart. I have a son for Michael, and we are going to get married and fuck each other for the rest of our lives while you spend the remainder of your miserable life in here.

Maybe I would send you an invitation or pictures of the ceremony, seeing as you won't be attending. Last but not least, Kay is going to rot in prison with you. I hope you are happy now, you can take solace in the fact that you are both in jail."

She concludes by laughing satisfactorily at the look of rage in her eyes.

"One more thing: don't get too comfortable in jail; I just might have Kassim link up with people to finish you off in there. Maybe you don't know, but Kassim is the one who uncovered your web of lies and deceit, and he has itchy fingers. He already asked to do the honors, he's disappears people for a living."

The rage on her face turns to fear, and she shifts her chair backward, calling for the warden in alarm.

The warden enters, followed closely by Michael.

Pointing at Camille, Lara shouts in fear.

"She just threatened me; my life is in danger; I am not safe."

Unbothered by her reaction, the warden instructs her to stand up and marches her out through the door, still shouting.

Michael turns to Camille with a questioning eyebrow.

"What did you tell her that got her so rattled?"

Smiling mischievously,

"I didn't tell her anything, she's just crazy. She really needs to be committed."

He pulls her from her seat into his arms and plants a kiss on her forehead.

"I totally agree, which is why she is going to be committed to prison for a very long time.

"Smiling at each other, they walk out hand in hand through the door, stopping to tip the prison guards and arranging with them to keep Lara in special quarters designed for the most notorious criminals before her court date.

Michael opens the car door for Camille and slips beside her on the other side. She collapses in his hand and begins to cry.

"I can't believe she could be so evil, I loved her so much. Why didn't I see through her mask?"

Wrapping his arms around her, he pulls her closer.

"Some people are just wired differently, you can't blame yourself for always wanting to see the good in people. We need to put her behind us and move on."

"I am ready to move on, I must confess I felt indifferent seeing her like that, does that make me a bad person? Closure really is overrated."

"On the contrary, it makes you human. It's only normal for you to feel that way, she has caused a world of hurt. On the issue of closure, I completely agree. What next babe?"

Lifting her head to look into his eyes,

"I am going to have to break the news to her poor parents and assume the responsibility of taking care of them. They are still family after all and shouldn't be judged for what their daughter did."

"I am proud of you babe, you are too good to be true. Let's just go home, you have been avoiding my touch in bed."

That's because you are not strong enough yet. You need to make a full recovery."

Tickling her sides playfully,

"What makes you think I haven't recovered well enough to perform my duties in bed?"

"Let's not go there, I just got you back. You need to take things slow, I am advising you as your doctor."

Whatever you say, Doc just know you can't avoid me forever. I am going to handle you ruthlessly the first chance I get."

"So, you say. I have my plans for you too and I am not sure you would be able to handle it, that's why I want to play fair and wait for you to get strong enough."

He locks lips with hersfor a few minutes taking time to touch her and explore her body, it took all his self-restraint to not take her there and then. Ending the kiss, he puts the car in gear and drives them home.

THREE MONTHS LATER.

"Is it really over?"

Camille asks Michael upon entering the house. They had just arrived from the court sentencing of Lara and Kay with each getting a sentence of forty years imprisonment without the possibility of parole with their charges ranging from blackmail to conspiracy to commit murder, invasion of privacy, and defamation. Despite her earlier anger, she had forgiven Lara for all she did and almost felt sorry for her.

"It really is, babe. Now we can move on."

Mitch comes running to meet them, throwing himself at Michael who lifts him up and embraces him tightly.

"That's my big man, have you been waiting for us?"

Panting from his run, Mitch laughs breathlessly,

"Yes, I have been. I went out with Grandpa earlier and he allowed me to enter his jet. He promised I could learn to fly when I am older, cool right?"

"It is son. We just have to wait until you are taller."

"So, how did your outing go? I bet you didn't have as much fun as I did. I had ice cream and pizza for lunch and Grandpa said I could have it for dinner if I want."

Camille who has been looking at their exchange with pride in her eyes chips in,

"You can't have ice cream and pizza for dinner, young man. It's not healthy."

"But Grandpa said I could, you can ask him, honest."

He looks up to Michael for support.

"You know we can't argue with your mum, we won't win. Not to worry, I would take you for a treat tomorrow."

He assures Mitch whose face was starting to fall from disappointment.His face lightens up a bit and he giggles.

"You promise, Dad?"

"Have I ever made you a promise I didn't keep?"

"No, sir."

Pouting, "As long as Mum doesn't come with us."

Faking anger she scowls.

"So, you intend to cut me out of your outing because I won't let you have ice cream and pizza for dinner?"

Setting Mitch down, Michael steps back smiling.

"We can't do that. I won't do that to my wife."

He looks at Michael and Camille in confusion, he asks.

"Your wife? You told me you are not married yet."

Dipping his hand into his pocket, he withdraws a diamond ring set in the biggest stone Camille had ever seen.

"Wow!"

Mitch exclaims in amazement,

"I plan to get married to her as soon as possible if she would have me."

Turning to Mitch,

"I proposed to your mother over ten years ago but unfortunate circumstances didn't let us proceed as planned. I want to renew that proposal now and fulfill the promise I made to her then."

Mitch bounces up and down in happiness running towards Camille to push her closer to Michael who is now on his knee.

"I know I didn't live up to my end of the bargain, but now I am making you another promise before God and before our son that if you do accept to become my wife, nothing would ever keep us apart. You are my past, present, future, and my forever. Please, Camille Williams, marry me and make me the most fulfilled man on earth, permit me to spoil you the way you really deserve. You have been through too much for me and I want to spend the rest of our lives making it up to you. What do you say?"

Covering her mouth with her hand in shock, the only words she could utter were,

"When did you have time to pick a ring?""Let's just say where there's a will, there's a way. Please say yes."

Mitch goes to kneel beside his father and looks at her with pleading eyes.

"Please say yes, Mum."

Overwhelmed with emotions, drops of tears fall down her face as she nods her head in happiness. Stretching out her finger,

"Yes, Michael, I would marry you."

He removes the old ring from her finger and delicately slides the new, big, glittery one in. He stands up and draws her in for a kiss.Mitch ecstatic with joy runs into the house jumping up and down to break the news to his grandparents.

"Thank you, Camille, you have made me complete,"

Michael says trailing kisses down her neck, and stepping behind her to push her gently into the house. She nods, too overcome for words and let's Michael lead her in from behind.