Blood Legacy – Episode 10

Blood Legacy – Episode 10

© Brian Ngoma

Her heart almost out of place and not knowing what the near future held for her, Ludo walked quickly to the gate that she dropped some files in her hand. She bent down and picked them all up. While standing up, she felt a cold rush of air on her neck she turned around. She felt like someone was watching her. She tried to look around but there was no one. She walked into the building her eyes everywhere. Upon entering, she saw Lance and Caesar’s cars in the parking lot. She cussed herself about what happened on Saturday. She entered and found Lauren on the reception busy typing something on the Laptop. Ludo passed her without saying anything and went direct to her office. As soon as she put her handbag on the table, Lance was standing on the door with his hands in the pocket.

“Goo … good Morning sir,” Ludo stuttered.

“Follow me,” Lance turned around.

Ludo didn’t know what to touch or carry. She just started off and followed Lance to his office. When she entered she found Caesar sited in the chair. He turned his head when he heard the door squeak after Lance had come in.

“Take a seat,” Lance told her.

She grabbed the only seat next to Caesar, “Morning sir,” she regarded him.

“Morning,” he didn’t look at her.

She felt dumb and stupid. What else did he think of her? Obviously, incompetent. She sat on the edge of the chair seemingly looking at Lance while her mind had wondered off.

“What happened Ludo?” Lance asked sitting down. “Is that how we will be acting whenever we come across a client we have history with?”

“I’m sorry Sir, i was unprofessional. I let my emotions get the Better of me.”

“How do you know her?” Caesar asked.

“We crossed paths six years ago. I assure you it won’t be a problem again.”

“It better not be,” Lance said passing files to the both of them.

Ludo and Caesar grabbed the files and opened them while Lance looked at them. Ludo’s heart was now in place knowing she still had the job.

“Her case doesn’t seem to have any stronghold,” Caesar said. “I told her that on Saturday but she seems to be determined. Yes i understand the Patels got her family companies and all but what she’s claiming isn’t something that we can go to trial with.”

Lance nodded in approval, “It’s baseless yes but she chose us. Ludo,” he looked at Ludo.

“Yes,” she responded.

“What do you think? I know you’ve just seen the file but what’s your view?”

Ludo looked at the file again and back at Lance. She knew this was probably a trap because of what happened the other day. She needed to show expertise.

“Huh, I’d need more time to check the file.”

“You had the time on Saturday,” Caesar moved uneasily in his seat.

“I know the case might seem out of reach like my senior associate has said,” she looked at Caesar. “But i think this woman trust us,” she avoided mentioning Erica’s name. “As it is right now, i assume the firm will work on this case so a positive result in this process is nearly the product of teamwork. We can adopt a litigation strategy that best suits our clients’ risk tolerance and overall objectives like what’s her end game in all of this. We have to find out and i am sure that she will contribute by providing expertise and knowledge of the facts firsthand. Remember, her parents owned Triple E Group of companies. Meanwhile, we will provide expertise on the legal issues, the trial process, the client’s options for resolution, and the potential risks and rewards of each option,” she exhaled.

Caesar was surprised.

“You see what i told you,” Lance added. “She’s a natural.”

Ludo was astound, “What’s happening here?”

“You see what we were doing here, we were testing you. Before you came in, Caesar and i decided to give you a simple test. So you think Caesar would quit even before the case start?”

Caesar laughed.

“I wouldn’t know, i don’t know him,” she looked at him.

“You have to go to the bar as soon as possible. You’re getting good at this. Now let’s continue,” Lance sunk back in his chair.

As soon as everyone was comfortable, the door forcibly opened and Erica badged in sweating profusely and looking all confused. Ludo and the men jerked up to their feet.

“The bas***d want me to settle,” Erica shouted on top of her voice. “He’s offering me K15 million.”

“That’s a lot of money,” Ludo held her mouth.

“Shut up!” Erica yelled at Ludo.

Lance looked at Ludo. Fortunately, she kept her composure. Caesar gave Erica a chair and she hesitantly took it. They all watched her cool off but wondered why she was so upset with the offer from the Patel’s. She had to have expected that because Farhan Patel never liked the attention especially one spanned by the media. Hence, reaching out to her to settle the matter before it even reached to the trial stage.

Lance wanted to say something to Erica when Lauren knocked on his office door. He told her to enter and she did. She stood motionlessly while she stared at Lance.

“Speak!”

“Anderson is here,” she said.

Ludo’s heart pounded. That was her former boss and she instantly knew why he had come. Anderson loved high class cases and his law firm was known to be one of the prestigious ones in the country and represented politicians, businessmen and women among others.

Lance also had an idea, “Ms. Erica, is Anderson…”

“Yes, he’s the one who approached me. He’s representing the Patels.”

“How could i have missed this?” Lance sighed. “Let him in,” he told Lauren. “Ludo can you excuse us.”

“No problem,” Ludo said. “Can i go with the file?”

“Of course, take a look at it,” Lance told her.

Ludo left the office together with Lauren. She couldn’t avoid bumping into Anderson who just looked at her with contempt without saying a word.

“Former boss Eh?” Lauren asked.

“Yes and he’s a douchebag I tell you,” she clapped her hands.

“Aren’t they all?” Lauren looked around and chuckled.

“It’s too early for gossiping. Go back to your desk.”

Ludo went back into her office. She couldn’t concentrate on the file but kept thinking of what was being talked about in Lance’s office. She sat on her edge hoping to hear the door open but it took an hour for someone to come out of that office and it was Erica who stormed out the same way she had entered. Ludo stood up and went to the door only to find Erica reaching the exit. She wondered what could have made her upset this time. She also thought about the K15 million which was been offered by the Patels for settlement. That was a lot of money which she could take without hesitation but it wasn’t her in the shoes.

A moment later, Anderson came out of the office. As he passed Ludo’s office, he stopped and knocked. Ludo quickly stood up and walked to the door.

“Own office now?” Anderson smiled.

Ludo smiled back, “Yes sir.”

“How are you doing?”

“Doing great how’s you?”

“Perfect.”

“That’s good to hear.”

“Hope you will be in court too. See you around.”

“See you.”

Ludo knew Erica had refused to settle but why was the question. That was a lot of money for someone to refuse.

******

“So what you’re telling me is that all I need is to sign the papers and the K2 million is mine?” Mapulanga looked at Ben and Devi.

“Sure,” Ben answered. “And you get to rule Chisoti Village.”

Devi cleared his throat, “There’s one other thing though.”

“What’s that?” Grace asked.

“Well you’re well aware of the tragedy that befell the Chief of Chisoti village, your brother, ” he paused, “May his soul rest in peace. There is one surviving member and from the interactions that we’ve had with him before, he’s not willing to sell.”

“Technically, ” Ben joined. “He’s the next chief in line and that leave you hmmm.”

“What we are trying to say here is that this K2 million cannot get in your hands if the boy lives,” Devi said bluntly.

“And he’s in pretty bad shape,” Ben added. “Might as well just put him out of the misery.”

Mapulanga stared at the two men and thought about everything they had just said. They were suggesting murder to him and didn’t seem bothered at all.

“What makes you think I cannot report you to the police?” he asked them.

“Come on, a man who married is own blood sister. What is murder to him?” Devi hit the nail on the head.

Mapulanga laughed, “I like you two,” he pointed at them. “I don’t owe my brother anything and as far as I am concerned, he owed me nothing. Do what you need to do, I think it’s high time we go back home,” he looked at Grace, “Isn’t it so darling?”

“About time.”

****

Ben and Devi left Mapulanga’s house feeling getting closer to securing Chisoti village’s land as never before. All they needed to do was get rid of Walutanga.

“We do it together this time,” Devi said getting into the car.

“No. That’s your job. I don’t do the dirty job. I am a diplomat, remember? ”

“Come on, look at how beat up I am. I still cannot figure out who that was. I hope he died because we cannot have people lurking around our business. If he survived, I hope the camera got him pretty good.”

Ben’s phone rang.

“Answer it,” Devi said tightening his seatbelt.

“It’s Naveen.”

“Oh snap,” I am not here.

Ben answered, “Yes boss.”

Devi watched him talk on the phone. As a matter of fact, he wasn’t talking but kepting humming in agreement to whatever Naveen was saying on the other side. A few minutes later, Ben hang up and sighed.

“He heard about all the whole fire thing in Chisoti village and hopes we have nothing to do with it.”

“He’s the one who said we should get the land at all cost. That’s the cost. I hope you didn’t show him we have anything to do it.”

“No but he’s pretty psyched talking about a Lawsuit that his family is currently trying to deal with, saying they don’t need any bad press especially concerning the land. He also said once we acquire the land, we step back. He will start his project after a year or two.”

“So long as we get paid. And if everything goes wrong, we have the culprit on Camera.”

They both looked at the Camera in the backseat of the car.

To be continued

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