Robert Robber

6

"Hello, Gina", I greeted the grinning female at the counter.
"Robert,it's really you, what are you doing here in South Africa? "
"I'm here to take a break from the spot light, I didn't know you live here",
"Oh,I don't. I came here to visit my sister,she's having a baby and needs help with the store till she finds some one to employ", then she dramatically fanned herself, "like,I can't believe this, Robert Clayton in Africa".
I put a finger to my lips and whispered,"trying to hide from the spotlight,remember? ", she widened her eyes slightly and said,"ah,yes. Let's get to shopping".

We went around the furniture showroom and I was impressed, a particular bed caught my attention. It was dark wood with a tall head board which was decorated with a painting of roses on the right side of it.
"I'll take that one.",I pointed at the bed I wanted,"excellent choice,Mr. Clayton,it just came in from Korea last week", perky said,trying to be professional.
"Do you take home deliveries and installations?"
"Yes,come with me to the counter,please"
Gina led us to the counter and asked me a few questions after which I paid.

Lilian was quiet the whole time we were shopping, "Lilian,everything alright?"
"Yes sir, sorry,yes. Just yes. What would you like for dinner?"
"Whatever you make will be fine", I said and she unlocked the apartment.
About an hour later,I got my first visitor

"Furniture delivery!", came the reply when Lilian went to get the door, she opened it and in came Gina.
"Robert!", the blonde lady yelled just before she threw herself at me, "I can't believe you followed me all the way here,I knew you liked me,just too shy to admit it"
"Wait,what?",I had no idea how big her imagination was, I don't even like her voice,or her hippie nature.
Gina suddenly burst into laughter,
"Don't be silly,I'm just messing with you. now,where do you want the bed?", she said,becoming professional again. I didn't know she could be serious and not hyperactive,
"Lilian,please show them my room.", I said and Lilian replied with a nod.
After a few seconds,I went there to look at what they were doing,yes I'm a curious fellow,but as I got up,something caught my eyes.
Gina's purse.
I had to go through an internal battle to not open it and take something out.
I lost that battle.
I quickly picked the purse and surfed through; lipgloss,credit card,pepper spray,a journal and a locket.
The locket looked similar to the one I picked a few weeks ago and for the first time in a long while,curiosity won over sticky fingers.
I tried to open it but it wouldn't budge.

"Hey,Robert, can you come here for a while?",Gina called ftom the master bedroom, so I frantically put the locket back in her purse.

"Yeah?",
She looked up from the bed she was putting together,"where do you want the head?"
I gave the room a once over and decided that I want it in the centre pushed up against the wall opposite the one closer to the door.
"Thank you for buying from us,do feel free to order online for furniture and decorative pieces", normally-perky-Gina said. I have never imagined her being calm and professional.
"Thank you.", I said and she left with the guy she came with.

♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣♣
"Robbie,guess who I found in South Africa? ",
"We both know I'm poor at guessing,just tell me already", my twin sister with the lazy brain said.
I had already had dinner and was ready for bed. Except sleep wasn't coming,probably jet lag, so I decided to talk to my sister to see if she could bore me to sleep.
"Alright doofus,I saw your new friend at the furniture store"

"Gina?, really!?, she was going to South Africa? , I had no idea...",she started but I tuned her out. Not even up to a minute and she had started boring me,
"Yeah,Yeah, funny thing is she wasn't her perky,hippie self. Very professional after she recognised me",
"Really?, Gina that is formal?, weird. Well,spent just a couple of days with her,don't know if she has a real formal side...oh,she's calling me now,talk to you tomorrow", she hung up before I could say anything.

That night,I lay awake until 3 a.m,rolling thoughts in my head,I was thinking of ways to know what was in the locket in Gina's purse and the only way to find out was to get close to her. Close enough to get her to open it.

A.N
Thank you for even reading this book at all,constructive criticisms are welcome...I hope you enjoy it