ESTHER

Chapter fourteen

     Our food arrived immediately after the devastating news that I had received. I couldn't believe it. Something deep in my guts found it very hard to believe, but then in every rumour, there is an iota of truth.

     I couldn't even stomach the sight of food placed before me, no matter how appetizing it was.  The twins, on the other hand, ate without a care in the world.

     "How did you find out about this?" I asked them.

     "My mother. Overheard her talking with her best friend on the phone." Duke said with a shrug.

     "For people who just found out that their father was killed by his brother, you don't seem angry about it." Their reaction to this news spooked me.

     "The man was a Jackass. He had never been a family man, despite the good attributes others claimed he had. He treated us like livestock rather than family. It was a good time for us though when he died." I swallowed at the seemingly casual air around this topic. It would be a lie if I wasn't a bit terrified of them.

     "So, how do I come into the picture?"

     "We need your advice," Duke said, taking a spoonful of what he was served.

     "On what?" I asked, itching to stand up and run away from the place.

     "On whether we should forget about this whole thing, since it did help us, or rather, we get our revenge, after all, he was our father." I gulped. It's now that they realised he was their father? But I didn't settle on that part.

     "Vengeance? On who? Jack Rhodes? I'd advise against that. I doubt he knows anything about this." I said, suddenly very nervous now. Whatever this was, I didn't want to be part of it and I hell as well will make sure that I'm not incriminated into any of this.

     "Hey, calm down Esther. We just wanted your opinion on things. Do you think we would so that?" Duke said, laughing. I laughed nervously.

"What we said is real though. In these few days that we came to know you, we have come to trust you. Don't tell Jack what we said. I don't think he will welcome the fact that his father is a killer." I nodded my head instead, not trusting myself to talk.

I started eating my food and then small talks were passed over the table. The sinner was starting to get comfortable and it was like everything was back to normal, before I knew the truth about them. Remembering that fact brought up the guilt that had been hiding in me but I pushed it down, wanting to enjoy this night. They were the first friends that I had in this company, but it was going to hurt when we part in the future because there is no way I will be on their side.

We finished our dinner and made our way back to where we parked the car. Getting inside, I prayed to God that nothing else happens. I wasn't sure I could stomach any more news from them.

I finally arrived back home, utterly spent. The lights in the living room were off which meant that uncle must have gone to bed. I made my way upstairs, thinking about what I should do.

I had to tell Jack Rhodes, that I was sure of. But I will be doing it at the expense of the new friends I had made.

A week passed since that awkward dinner. But I had been feeling guilty since then. Uncle told me that I should tell my boss no matter what, but I found it hard to.

    "Esther?" I raised my head from my desk in the office. Jack Rhodes was giving me an intense look, I felt so much more guilty.

     "Not that it's any of my business, but are you alright? You seem out of sorts these days." I took a deep breath, deciding to get rid of my growing burden.

     "Sir, I have to tell you something." He raised his brows at me, curious about what I wanted to tell him. I started to narrate the story of what had transpired in the party, then the outing they took me too till now. By the time I was done, the expression on my boss's face was eerily calm.

     "And why are you just telling me this?" He asked.

     "I'm so sorry. To be honest I still find it hard to believe. They were the first friends I made since I came here and they have been nothing but nice to me."

     "Then why tell me then?" There was an edge to his voice as he said this.

     "I'm not sure what's going on anymore. I didn't want my feelings to be the reason something that I could have prevented, happened. I told you so that you could look into it and find out if there is any ounce of truth in this." I said, my heart beating rapidly against my chest.

     "Esther," he called calmly. Too calm. "You are my assistant. You report to me at all times. No matter what, as far as it concerns me that us what yin should do." I lowered my head, feeling extremely guilty.

     "I'm sorry sir." I apologised again. He just sighed.

     "I'm not surprised though. Their family has always hated mine, even though we are cousins. It was never this bad when their father was a nice though. I'm also not surprised that they will conjure this kind of story." I raised my head quickly, very surprised.

     "You aren't?"  He shook his head.

     "What they told you has an ounce of truth in it, from the beginning but the rest are just lies."

     "Why would they tell me this then?" I asked, confused.

     "They might have been trying to gain information from you at first, but their purpose of telling you this nonsense story is still a mystery to me." I was so confused. I knew I was been used, but what exactly are they gaining from it.

    "You know what? Let's discuss this later. Apparently I haven't been taking good care of you so far that some guys wished to use you for their desires." I was finding it hard to understand where he was going with all the speech. As if noticing my confusion, he clarified.

     "Let's go on a date."