He sighed moving majestically into the room,he reached into his coat pocket and provided his case of cigeratte.

"Care to smoke with me?".

Still in shock, Maria could not find her voice. He clucked his tongue in his cheek ",wipe that expression from your face dear,don't you know how to treat a guest?".

"Uhhhm…,pardon my manners..have..have a seat please"she stammered swallowing hard and suddenly having that bile taste in her mouth,her face were already white totally drained of all colour and she looked pale,almost sickly.

He pushed the chair and sat down smoking his cigeratte gently,his lips contorted into an ugly smile "you visited Lycan".

"Nooo…actually noo,we just talked over a cup of tea".she swallowed hard again.

"Yeah,you had a cup of tea no doubt but what did you talk about".he eyed her suspiciously still smoking his cigeratte.

"Nothing…,just frivolous stuffs"she made sure to avoid his eyes.

He crushed the cigarette butt on the ashtray staring at her and laughing out loud,till tears trailed slowly down the corners of his eyes. His aide handed an immaculate white handkerchief to him and he proceeded to wipe his face with it.

"You are very funny,do you know Lycan is not the type to engage in frivolous stuffs".

Maria clasped her palms together beneath the table as she could feel them suddenly sweaty,why had Alex come to torment her if only she had not struck that deal with him. She only needed help and who would have known that he was a goat in a sheep clothing.

She raised her vengeful eyes and looked at him now still smoking his cigeratte,his legs crossed as he shakes them gently. Maria bit her lower lip in anger and frustration,she could not ask Lycan for help because she had betrayed him and she knew how exactly dangerously angry Lycan could get if he finds out she had lied to him.
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"Ma'm,we are literally losing alot. Our transporters are dying in large numbers,our goods gets stolen and lost and you still gamble the little we have left so we might definitely go bankrupt if these continues and you know quiet well Mr Lycan will not be too pleased" John had a worried frown on his face as he stood there staring at Maria who may wasted on her bed.

She raised her arm with superhuman effort and let it fall back again "John,just do what you have to do"she mumbled and began to snore lightly.

John shook his head with a mixture of pity and frustration,he slowly picked the duvet and covered her up before exiting the room.

Her hand flew to her forehead in despair,her head ached badly and she knew she was in deep waters. If the business crumbles Lycan was sure to crumble her with it,he doesn't joke with his business.

"Why did you not tell me these ever since?".

"I did,but you were always wasted".

"Arrgh"she moaned "what's our probability now".

"Just a 10".

"What!!?",her eyes flew open in surprise "we are on the brink of going bankrupt".

John shrugged his shoulder "I tried my best,the statistics were dropping really fast and I tried to warn you but…".

"Oh shut up!"she yelled "what will we do now, remember if I go down each and every one of you go down with me"she clenched her teeth still gently stroking her aching head "just a 10" she mumbled.

"Let's sell most of the shares".

She slammed her hand hard on the table "shut up you fool,if we sell the shares Lycan will definitely get wind of our predicament and that will literally spell doom for us".

John lowered his face "sorry ma'm"he muttered.

"Think of something else and more creative"she drank a glass of Brandy .

"What if we borrow some money from most of the customers in place of a product".

"They won't lend out any money,and even if they do Lycan is sure to get wind of it sooner or later".

"What should we do then?".John seemed frustrated.

She poured herself another glass of Brandy "if perhaps we consider the option to borrow money to get back on our feet,we need a trust worthy person who would not sell us out".

John scratched his head "why not ask round the circle".

She sat thoughtfully turning the glass between her fingers "around the circle"she muttered "what of Alex"?.