Why? 3 || Shackled to the Heart 36

EPISODE 36

Huge Mistake

INT. ALVIS SECURITY- IMMEDIATELY AFTER

Ann steps out of the elevator elegantly in her designer suit and heel. She shifts her expensive purse from one hand to the other hand as she acknowledges people greeting her on her way to Aperry’s office.

On getting to the front of his office, she sees Aperry talking to his secretaries. The two young ladies greet her with a smile on their faces

APERRY

Hey! What is the emergency?

ANN

Come in

She opens the door and enters his office. She sits down on the one of the exquisite couches and sets her bag on the glass table. She sighed deeply as she waits patiently for Aperry. Few minutes, Aperry comes in

APERRY

What is the problem?

He walks straight to his large table which is almost at the center of the office and slams the file in his hand on it.

Ann stands up and moves toward him

ANN

(Worried) I made a mistake, Aperry, a huge mistake

He rests his backside on the table with his hands folded on his chest

APERRY

I thought as much, how can I help?

ANN

You remember…

His phone rings

APERRY

Excuse me (He picks up his phone) It is Wemimo?

Aperry nods

ANN

(Frantic) Don’t pick

He looks at her in confusion, Ann rushes to him and tries to collect his phone but he slaps her hand away

APERRY

Are you joking?

ANN

I am serious, don’t pick

APERRY

It is a good thing that you are not my boss

He picks the call

APERRY

Hey! Wemimo

ANN

(Whispers) Don’t tell him I am here

APERRY

(Ignores her) Who?

Then he goes around his table and picks up a pen

APERRY

What did you say the name is again? (Pause) Penelope Ezekiel

A deep scowl engulfs on Ann’s face when she hears the name. Aperry writes the name on a small post it note

APERRY

I will look into her but the name sounds familiar

ANN

(Chips in) That is because it is, she is my Penelope

APERRY

(Confused) Your Penelope?

ANN

Bashorun’s girlfriend

APERRY

(Huffs as he speaks into the phone) Of course, Wemimo, I remember who she is now. She was part of… (Pause and then looks at Ann) Yes, she is here (Pause) Why not? (Pause, then his face is scrunched up in a matter of seconds) Are you kidding me, Wemimo (Pause) Fine, I will leave

He starts to walk to the door to Ann’s dismay who is watching him in total confusion, then he suddenly stops and then drops the call. Ann watch his shoulder drop

ANN

What is wrong? What happened to Penelope?

Aperry tries to school his angry expression but to no avail and when he turns back to Ann, his angry mood gives way to pity at the sight of Ann’s worried look.

APERRY

Nothing

He walks past her back to his table

ANN

I am responsible for Penelope, if something happened to her, you need to tell me

He sits in his chair

APERRY

It is no big deal, Wemimo saw her in his shopping mall and she said she knew you. He just wanted to confirm if it is true

ANN

That is it?

APERRY

Yes, what do you say the problem is?

ANN

No, no, no, that does not explain your anger

APERRY

Ann, I am not angry

ANN

Yes, you are and what are you looking into, you told Wemimo you will look into something, what is it?

APERRY

I am angry because your girl is gallivanting round the streets of Ibadan when she should be lying low

ANN

(Skeptical) Is that it?

APERRY

Is that not enough to piss me off? After everything we did to protect her and everything we are still doing to protect her

ANN

Its been two years, Aperry and Bashorun is in jail

APERRY

Did you seriously say that knowing that Bashorun is still on the lookout for her?

ANN

I know but should she live the rest of her life in hiding then?

APERRY

Yes, the moment she decided to snitch on Bashorun, she has no life of her own anymore. Call her to order and if she decides not to listen, I am taking my protection away

ANN

I will talk to her

APERRY

(With spite in her love) Left to me, I will leave her to die

ANN

Are you serious right now? That woman saved Bankole

APERRY

Like I said if it was left to me, she is only alive because Bankole is alive, so call her to order

ANN

I already said I will

APERRY

What is this huge mistake you made?

ANN

What are you looking into for Wemimo?

Apery stands up and walks towards the door

ANN

Where are you going?

With his hand on the door handle, he turns to her

APERRY

Since you are here to tackle Wemimo’s problem and not yours, I will take my leave

ANN

Fine, I won’t ask

He walks back to her

APERRY

What is it?

ANN

Do you remember Flying Phoenix?

APERRY

The football team? (Ann nods) What about it?

ANN

Do you know that they are about to merge with Infanta?

APERRY

(Frustrated) Are going to tell me what the problem is or do I still need to take my leave?

ANN

I asked Bankole to handle the Merger

Aperry’s body suddenly tenses on hearing this, then he allows the information to circulate around his brain before he opens his mouth

APERRY

You what?

ANN

I know, I messed up

APERRY

Wemimo asked you for just one thing, he does not want Bankole handling any of his business

ANN

I know but it was a mistake

APERRY

How the fuck do you make such a terrible mistake?

ANN

In my defense, I didn’t know Wemimo owns it

APERRY

Ann, can you even hear yourself? You are his lawyer. How the fuck do you not know?

ANN

75% of my clients are related to Wemimo and about 30% has his name on its head mask, the remaining are with borrowed names, it is hard keeping up with Wemimo’s companies

APERRY

What are you going to do because when Wemimo finds out, he is going to go berserk?

ANN

I don’t know that is why I am here

APERRY

Does he know that Wemimo owns it?

ANN

Not yet

APERRY

What do you mean by not yet?

ANN

He knows Onome is their accountant

APERRY

Then why will you say not yet when he knows already

ANN

I am not here for you to insult me, I need a way out

APERRY

Simple, take him off the case

ANN

I can’t, he needs the experience

APERRY

There will be more mergers in future with companies that are not related to Wemimo

ANN

If he is to become a senior partner in three years like I want him to be, he needs this merger on his CV

APERRY

(Sigh deeply) Alright, we can make this work, as long as he does not know the accounts are cooked

Ann lets out a deep sighs

APERRY

What? He knows

Ann nods

APERRU

(With his mouth opened wide) Ann, this is bad

ANN

I know, why do you think I am here asking for solution from you?

APERRY

How did he even know, Onome is the best of the best

ANN

That is because I taught him with the best’s playbook

APERRY

So, you are teaching the enemy our playbook now?

ANN

He is not the enemy, Aperry, you should have seen the look on his face when he found out that Wemimo is probably involve in money laundering

APERRY

That is exactly why Wemimo asked you to never let him touch his business, he is trying to protect his family

ANN

If only he will just work with the cooked book

APERRY

Where is he now?

ANN

I sent him to my house

APERRY

(Looks at her with suspicion) Are you planning on fucking him into turning a blind eye?

ANN

(Frowns) That is hilarious

APERRY

Can you blame me? Why is he at your house?

ANN

I could not give him the answer I have, I was hoping I will get a way to handle him from you before I go home

APERRY

Ann, the only solution I have here is to take him off the case

ANN

I can’t

APERRY

It is the only feasible one

ANN

Are you deaf? I said I can’t

APERRY

I know you want the best for him but you are refusing to see the magnitude of the issue here, this could destroy the relationship between Wemimo and Bankole if he decides not to turn a blind eye

ANN

Not if I make him play ball

APERRY

How? By fucking him

ANN

(Angry) Knock it off, Aperry

APERRY

If you won’t take him off, I will need to tell Wemimo

ANN

Oh! come on, Aperry

APERRY

He needs to know what is coming