ESTHER

Chapter nineteen

Mr. Haman Rhodes looked annoyed, if not pissed. Despite the obvious lack of respect my boss was emanating, Mr. Haman still looked at him as if talking with a hormonal teenager. He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath, trying to rein his temper in check. When he opened his eyes, he was calm. But before he could talk, my boss Interrupted him.

   "What is the main reason you called me here?" He said, not bothering to hide his annoyance with them. As I looked between the two, I wondered what really is their relationship. The young man next to his uncle looked like he was used to their bantering. Looking over at Mr Haman again, although I didn't make it obvious, I wondered what gold he had over my boss that will make him to listen to his whim. I was also astonished with the kind of hate emanating from him about middle eastern people. Just because some group did something bad, doesn't mean everyone related to them should suffer it. I then understood why my uncle was against me telling people where I originally am from.

   " I called you today so we could do business."

   "What kind of business?" My boss answered scornfully.

   "Why don't I come over and help you in you company?" Jack Rhodes was just about answering him when Mr Haman raised his hand, stopping my boss from whatever he was about to say.

   "I know you are not happy with that kind of idea..." Happy was an understatement. "But you do seriously need help. Why do you think two people built the company? And not one? I'm not asking for anything really, just want to help."  Jack Rhodes was quiet for a while, studying his uncle reproachfully.

   "You actually expect me to believe that? You want to work for me? For no reason at all?"

   "Yes. Is that so hard to believe?"

    "Yes, I find it suspicious and questionable. Kind of hard for me to believe you." He leans back down on his seat, crossing his arms.

   "Okay then. Why don't I work there for two weeks, and if you do not like any method I would carry out, you can remove me from the job." Jack Rhodes still studied his uncle distrustfully, yet I could see a hint of genuine curiousness in his features.

   "Why the sudden change of heart uncle? You wanted the company all to yourself before and now you want to work with me?"

   " Guess I prefer seeing it doing well while working with you than doing nothing while it crumbles apart." He said with a small lift of his shoulder, exuding nonchalance. If Mr Haman was trying to make my boss hate him more than he already does, he is doing a great job at it.

   "I'll think about it" Jack Rhodes replied surprisingly. I looked at him, wondering what was going on in his head.  According to the look on Mr Haman's face, I guessed he wasn't expecting that kind of response as well.

   "Very well then. " Placing both of his hands palm flat on the table. "Now why don't we enjoy this evening?" He said with a smile.

I didn't like where this was going. My intuition was never wrong and it was screaming against Mr Haman.

Jack Rhodes did the honor of driving me back home. Though I told him that it didn't matter, he  just gave me a look that sent me back towards his car, opening the passenger's side of the door. Once he sat down in it and began to drive out of the restaurant, he remained quiet and still. Too calm. It was eerie, kind of like the calm before a storm. He had this look of deviousness, which got me thinking what warranted to it. Thinking of looks, I immediately thought back to our last meeting. He certainly didn't want to talk about it or he is just embarrassed about bringing it up, but either way I'd sealed my mouth shut.  I would not be the first to talk about it, even with a Gun planted on my head. No matter how much I was busting with curiousness over his actions that night.

Half an hour later, we were back at the office. We both came down from the car at the same time, and I was about calling my boss when he paused and looked at me.

   "Esther?"

   "Yes?" The look on his face suddenly softened, and that action caused an array of emotions to explode in my mind. I was badly praying to God that none of them slipped through my face. Was he finally going to bring up what happened to us? Was he going to explain what had happened this evening? Did he like what we did then? Does he regret it? All these questions swam through my head at once, and it took everything in me not to faint.

   "Good night. See you tomorrow."

   Yeah okay. Wait what?

    "Goodnight?" I answered. It sounded more like a disappointed question and at that Jack Rhodes raised his left brow at me, but remained silent.

   We stood there looking at each other, so many emotions passing between us, before I finally started making my way home.

I arrived home looking forlorn. My uncle must have noticed that I wasn't in the mood for a discussion, so after greeting me and reminding me to come down for dinner, he let me make my way up to my room.

As I took my evening bath, my thoughts obviously were still on my boss. I was beginning to believe that he regretted that night. If not, why would he avoid me for a day and not say anything the next? Maybe he felt awkward about the whole situation since we were employees. He may be afraid that something bad will come out of it. Yes, that was it. I thought, trying to convince myself. As I scrubbed the misery out of my body, I decided on a new approach.

I liked my boss, very so much. But if he refused to acknowledge the chemistry between us, why should I stop him? In fact I should do the same. I finished bathing, determined, with a new game plan in mind. Jack is not the only one who can play nonchalance or indifference very well. I can also do the same. I went downstairs, feeling cheery, ready to devour my uncle's dinner.

The next day, I went to work with my vision in mind. I stepped into the office, smiled at the receptionist and made my way into the elevator then straight to my or 'our' office. But as I opened the door, shock at what I saw gripped me so hard I couldn't move. Even the look my boss had as he sat on his desk, told me he wasn't expecting that.

Mr Haman was sitting in a chair, opposite Jack Rhodes.

With Kinsley and Duke flanking at both his sides.