Inglewood

Chapter 10 - The Gift

The police spent hours questioning me at the hospital, they wanted to know every detail of our evening, if Rob had an disagreements whilst we were out. They kept referring to the expensive car and his Rolex, and it was apparent they thought this was a robbery attempt. The only thing that puzzled me is why, if it was a robbery, had they not taken anything, why stab him and not take a single thing. It made no sense to me and I hoped that the police would somehow find who did this and get to the truth.

After endless tests, scans and a minor op, Rob was released after a week to recuperate at home. He had been the luckiest man alive, the knife missed all his vital organs, he got away with it knicking an artery in his stomach which they managed to fix with the op. He was told to take it easy, no exercise, no heavy lifting and no driving for at least 6 weeks.

The police had come back twice in that week, the first time to confirm the car hadn't been tampered with or damaged, and the second to tell us that we were just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but lucky to have got away.

Between my visits to the hospital to sit with him, I had been driving back and forward to Inglewood, nobody knew I would be there, it made me feel safer and the workload was doing a good job of keeping me occupied.

I was mainly working from the kitchen as the acoustics sounded great with my music, and I could see why Jake wanted lots of room to dance. As his name crossed my mind, I remembered the email about a gift.
I walked towards the dining room and opened the doors to see a box with a black silk bow wrapped around it, a card sat ontop with my name written in beautiful calligraphy.
I stood staring, too nervous to open it. My phone rang from the kitchen and after heading back to answer it, a familiar voice spoke, "Nat, working hard?" Jakes voice seemed full of concern more than sarcasm, but I couldn't be sure.
"Yes, I'm at the house at the moment, just testing some wallpaper samples against paint for the kitchen."

"Hmmm, are you going to open the box or just stare at it abit longer?"

I'd almost forgotten about the cameras watching me, but I hadn't messaged Jake to say I was here, so clearly he hadn't switched them off.

"It's been a tough week, emotionally, I didn't want to upset myself again over a gift that was meant with good intentions, it just feels like any little thing can set me off at the moment."

"I see, I read that you had been with Rob Archer the night he was stabbed, it said you were friends who had gone for dinner. I didn't realise it was more serious than that. Sorry. That must of been tough on you to have witnessed."

I lowered my head and raised my spare hand to rub my neck.

"I'm a trooper, can't let the bastards get you down, ya know? At least, that's the theory."

"Hey, you look shattered, why don't you take the rest of the week off. Go spend time with Rob, it's a precious thing, time. You should be together, we all need someone to lean on, even when we think we are better off in our own company."

I looked up at the corner of the room where I knew there was a camera positioned.
"Thanks boss, first, I have a gift to open, I'm putting you on loud speaker."

I placed my phone on the table and a feeling of excitement washed over me, it was the smallest gesture, but one that I really needed this week.

I pulled at one end of the bow and it slid undone. I lifted the lid of the white box.

"Jake, you are too funny," Inside was a silver key chain, on it, an engraving of a paintbrush and a crown with the words, 'Interior Design Queen'

He laughed down the phone, "I thought you could do with an upgrade, to your job title I mean. I'm glad to see it brought a smile to your face though. Honestly, I know we are just working together, but your happiness matters. I don't want you painting any of my rooms black and red."