Narika: The Ghost Bride-Chapter 49 - Forty-Nine: If Only He Knew...

He met the guard standing outside the Mayor’s house, immediately he alighted from his car. With his hand rubbing nervously against each other, since his guts knew the reason why he was summoned. He followed the guard who didn’t say anything to him, nor give him the place to think that he wasn’t welcome here.

Mario had to curb his anxiety by popping a chewing gum into his mouth, fortunately he had gone to work and had come back with the good news of him being promoted at work.

A good news that he should have celebrated, but the timing wasn’t a good one because he, himself, has been conducting a secret investigation about the Ivanov Family.

Ever since the ugly incident that took the life of his sister, He had come to understand that this was his father’s fault. Jason Ivanov wasn’t a barbaric ruler like his father, the least he could remember of him, made him know that Polina’s death was nothing but his father’s fault.

It took him years to get over it, after all he had urged his sister to come with him the night he had planned on running away from home, but Polina had always had this obsession about being the ideal prefect daughter for their father.

Now, look at where it had landed her. Mario was still in thought, while walking after the guard who stopped at a door, before urging him to enter inside.

The Mayor’s house was deeply furnished to the satisfactory level of his title, he was the only man apart from him, and ofcourse the Wintergreen family living in Tomorrow town, that had the money unlike the villagers.

"Mario," An aged man, who had his cane to aid him walk, stood up taking careful steps, to where Mario stood after paying his respects to him.

Edward Huges.

"It’s a pleasure to be here, Mayor." Mario said, looking up at the man who should be retired by now, since old age was definitely hitting up on him. But the corrupt governance going on in office, had paved the way for him to still be the Mayor of the town.

Not that it bothered him anyway, since he wasn’t interested in vying for any political career. But tomorrow town needs a young, vibrant youth who had visions to change the town, and not some old money seeking hag that was looking at him as if he was some thief.

"Please sit," Mr.Huges urged him to which he sat down on a couch, facing him who did the same before his secretary walked in holding some brown files.

"How many years have you been in Tomorrow town, Mario?" Edward asked, moving straight to the point since there’s no need of playing friendly since the matter at hand, wasn’t a friendly one either.

"You tell me, you are the Mayor and you keep records," Mario chuckled, trying not to take the matter at hand seriously, but he couldn’t until he spat." Remind me the reason why I’m being summoned here, Mr. Mayor?"

He emphasized more on the ’Mr Mayor’ making Edward, to bite the inside of his mouth, who said nothing but took out papers from inside the files.

"Now i don’t think that this is the time to be cheeky Mario, since the papers in front of you show exactly why you are here," The old man said, taking a break as his secretary rushed to his side to give him a handkerchief to curb his coughs.

Mario used the time to pick up the papers in front of him, and what was inside didn’t exactly surprise him. It was a Petition from the people to send them packing from town.

Well it’s not a surprise, since they were nothing but outsiders that had taken refuge here, they weren’t full fledged natives of the town, and the people valued their blood ties.

"Your daughter has created an indispensable fear in the hearts of the people, which i don’t think it’s good for the town since the election is around the corner."Edward said, pushing his spectacles up to his eyes.

"So, you are asking us to leave, is that it?" Mario said offenced, this time his voice was raised a little too high that his secretary wanted to intervene but Edward raised his hand, halting him.

"That’s not what I’m imposing."Edward said, he sat back down in his seat watching the way Mario was having a hard time controlling himself from bursting out.

He understood quite well what he was passing through, well he chose not to believe exactly what it was that were accusing his daughter of doing, but he was only working to please the people.

"My aim here is not to banish you because you have proven more to be family than other residents here." He trailed on, this time Mario was relaxed after hearing his words.

"So, what is this? We both know that my daughter is Innocent, she’s not a murderer." Mario made him know, to which he shrugged his shoulder in an I don’t care manner.

"Who knows? I don’t entirely trust her. But what I’m trying to do here is to create a balance. I’m not saying that i suspect that she killed Morgana, even if she did...the bitch deserved to die any more." Edwards laughed hysterically, which it took a lot of patience for Mario not to walk out here.

"So, what exactly is your say?"

"Working to win the hearts of the people," Edwards said, sitting up this time around with a serious look on his face.

"Well..." Mario raises his brows, not entirely understanding the working to win the heart of the people’s thing.

"Oh! Please, you wouldn’t tell me that the rumors would die down so suddenly, oif you don’t work on ways to make half of the population trust that you are not a harm to their safety." Edward said, before clapping his hands and his secretary placed a file in front of them, before looking at Mario who took it as his cue to look at what’s in front of him.

"Assisting in social services,"He said, glancing at the magazine.

"Exactly" Edward said excitedly, for someone who suspected that his daughter was a murderer. He was getting elevated for this, as if he wanted that to happen so that this can happen.

"We work to create that positivity in people, and what do you think is the best way to do that? That would would be by helping the needy."

Mario dropped the paper down, he understood what he was trying to do. He’s indirectly trying to extort money out of him, and here he was preaching about creating a balance.

"Come on, don’t give me that look as if I’m trying to steal money from you, because this is sponsored by the government. All i need is that you show up on the day that the event is being held and help out. A political personality would be coming over, so you understand the rest." Edward concluded, to which Mario didn’t know what to say.

He doesn’t know if this was a trap or something, but the offer was genuine and what he said about winning the heart of the people, was the best solution out of their problem.

"So what’s your take Mario? it would be a pity that i banish you after you being the one who welcomed you here. In Tomorrow town we are a family, and families don’t give up on each other." Edwards added, and Mario couldn’t help but marvel at the reason why he’s still the Mayor of the town.

He’s such a sweet talker.

" Fine, I will do it. I will convince my family to do it too."Mario affirmed.

"Good, now that’s it." Edward smiled, Mario confirming no silly tricks up his sleeves since he’s been observing him here."That would be all for now, I do hope that it works out. Mr Singh"

Mario sensed something in the way he called out his name, but the feeling was gone when Edward brought his hand out for a handshake.

"Thank you, Mr. Mayor." He said, this time with a smile.

"Anything for a Singh..." Edward mumbled.

"What?" Mario asked, he was sure he heard him call his name, but the man was fast in excusing him for another visitor.

He was somehow glad that things were different, he had thought that this meetup was up to no good. So as he left for his car, he was relieved but if only he knew that he had just walked into a deadly game.

If only he knew that he was signing away his freedom and identity, and that of his family by agreeing to the Mayor’s request.

If only...