Chapter 4 The almost fall of La

The busy Town square was deserted today because of the meeting with the Dons which happens every Sundays of each week. All of them were to gather to discuss issues concerning Esmeralda and it's borders. It was mostly for their selfish interest and to make them seem as though they were good for the society when deep down each had a specific goal they were after.

With La Dona holding most of Esmeralda at her possession, she has managed to get all the Don to work under her but not without them having control of the lands she has siezed from them, in this way when things were to be voted for she will end up having majority of the votes, it was all political and La Dona knows each steps needed to be taken.

As always her veil covered her face, leaving her eyes to be seen, she wasn't dress with the clothing wear of women in Esmeralda rather she chose the comfortable men's wear, her her entire body were always fully clothed to make sure no one was aware of her skin colour.

Her arrival always took a toll on the already seated high esteemed Dons, who were made to stand up and offer their respect to her. She loved it, to be in control and make old men who still seek power to bow at her feet.

As she walked in, she took notice of La Muertè who had refused to get up and bow to her until she is well seated. While the others were still up with their heads bowed, La Dona stared at La Muertè who didn't seem bothered that her lingering eyes will never leave him, she finally turned away to see that her seat was at the level of the other Don, "Get rid of it!" She kicked it away, transferring her anger La Muertè had forced on her to the innocent chair.

Her men quickly exchange it with her very own inscripted high seat, she sat on it, putting both her legs on the back of one of her men, before relaxing her back on the chair.

"You can all have your seat" she said referring to the Dons who were still standing, head bowed. "La Muertè...." She mentioned his name while nodding, "It's seems that you aren't aware that when I walk in everyone are expected to rise, you have to give respect to whom respect is due to be given.... That's our motto" she said pointing at the large printed poster on the wall.

"...respect is due to who deserves it, Dona, and it also shouldn't be forced." La Muertè said, he still doesn't buy this whole La Dona thing. La Muertè knows deep down he is far greater than her so why bow?

"I am the head of this table" La Dona replied showing that she was irritated by his behavior, and the only way she can make him fall was to destroy that ego he holds so dearly. "Remember that..." She said to the others, "Without me, all of you are nothing...."

La Muertè yawned. "Can we begin, I am starting to get bored" he said, Lorraine's eyes twitched continuously as she eyed him.

Damn! Was he getting on her nerves.

A printed paper was passed to each Don that was seated, each had a detailed agenda of what they had gathered for and first on the list was school of which La Dona had already cross that off her list.

"No school shall be built in Esmeralda" she said, "Next agenda please"

She ordered, noticing no one was willing to agree with her, Dona reprised. Dona can admit she was a dictator but not once had she thought that they would disagree with her, this was obviously the work of one of them who had changed their minds about her.

Seeing their disapproval, Don Delgado of Estrella spoke out, "Esmeralda needs a school, Dona. The people travel to neighboring places to get their children a proper education... and the distance, too far"

"Then they shouldn't go, let them stay back and help their parents in the farm, what's so hard about that?" She asked rhetorically. "I will speak to the mayor about this, I know he would listen... He always does"

"Not this time, Dona" La Muertè cut in before ordering that strong American wine be brought to his table. "We already agreed to this yesterday"

"Without my consent? The mayor doesn't do a thing without my approval... None of you do a single thing without my approval, so tell me why you are all going against this" she said, her hands pressed hard on the arm of her seat as she adjusted her legs that were laid on one of her men's back. "Wait a minute, yesterday, you all went to the party the mayor organized, it's that why I wasn't invited...."

"It's not like that" Don Diaz said as Lorraine started accusing everyone.

"Then what is it...." She wanted to say more when Daniel leaned into her ear and told her of a disastrous news that rendered her speechless, her eyes went straight to La Muertè as she watched as he dranked the wine from his glass confidently before winking at her.

"How about we cast a vote? The majority decides if we build a school or not" La Muertè said and the others agreed immediately unlike the time La Dona spoke. "Then let's start, shall we" he tweaked his fingers, calling for one of his men before giving him instructions.

Dona had no time for this, she was just told that all her horses including her favorite, along with half of the cattles and cows has been infected with a nameless disease, most of which were already dead, and the disease was spreading rapidly.

If they were all going to die it will cause a huge loss for her, she just only invested most of her finances in purchasing a quarter of those animals and was yet to yield profits.

"I'm leaving" she said getting up from her chair.

"So soon, we were just about to start voting on this... You can't just leave" La Muertè said as she was close to the door, her behavior would think she had gotten angry that no one was supporting her but the Dona doesn't work like that, if it wasn't for the situation on her hand she was more than ready to make sure all the men seated here that went against her were all going to pay.

"Something desires my attention, do give me an update on what happens, though I hope the majority isn't that a school be built" she said with a threatening voice while staring at them.

Even if they go against my wishes I will destroy the school so much that there wouldn't be anything left to build, she said to herself before walking away from the dim litted room.

"Open the door!" She said to Daniel when they were still far away from their car. she got into the car and ordered that the driver drives immediately.

On reaching the mansion, Lorraine was distraught. The whole place was dissembled, everything was out of place, it was chaotic to even look.

"I'll see to it that everything is in place...." Daniel said almost leaving.

"No, rather do me a favor, count the workers left" Lorraine said before rushing into the mansion, it was a weird request as that wasn't the problem she was facing but a hunch in her was so strong she just needed to know.

She took off her veil and threw it on the wall, before she pushed over everything that laid on her table, which included a famous ceramic pot from a famous Potter. She was furious, extremely. Never in a million years would she had thought of this, someone has ruined her.

There was a knock on the door as she ordered for the person to come in. "Watch your step" she said to Daniel to avoid him from stepping on one of the porcelain glass. "How many are they?"

"There are only twenty four workers left, Dona... The other ninety four was said to have left immediately they heard of the outbreak" Daniel explained.

"Get the names of those who stayed back, their age, everything and also keep track of the others who left.... That reminds me, draft a contract to the rest of the workers including the house workers, make them offer the rest of their lives to me"

"I'll do just that" Daniel said before turning to leave.

"Hold on, tell Poco to investigate how the disease got in.."

"I already did that, it so happens that seventeen of our workers in the field were also working for La Muertè, I think La Muertè has something to do with this, Dona" Daniel said, looking pitiful. He of all people know the height of this, this called for a war.

La Doña's laughed in a weak way but evil. "Send a message" she said before she slammed the door after leaving.

Daniel understood.