Sleight of Hand [Show 'em Who's Boss #1]

8: Autophobia

I knew Jakob was right. I was going to crack soon and it had only been two days. In these two days without Jakob, so much had happened. I hadn't been to school because Jakob wasn't here to make me go. Plus there wasn't much point in going to school because there was only two days left until the Christmas holidays. Instead I spent my time being a spy.

It was virtually impossible to get anything out of my father. Whenever I asked him about his work his response told me nothing. I spent ages sitting outside his office door trying to listen to what was going on in there, almost getting caught several times when the door suddenly swung open, but I eventually came to the conclusion that he must have it sound proofed. Whenever the door is shut you can't hear anything coming from that room. That's very suspicious. He seems to be going to great lengths to ensure that I will never find out about his business.

He wasn't the only person around the house that I could interrogate though. My father has a chauffeur who has driven him everywhere for about four years. He's someone that my father trusts and he probably knows all about my father's business. I thought it would be easy to get information out of him but I was wrong. Things didn't go as planned.

The day I decided to interrogate him was only the first day I'd spent without Jakob. I was already beginning to miss him so I kept myself busy snooping around the house. The office door was always locked and I knew I couldn't hear anything through the closed door. I checked through every cupboard and drawer in the house in the hope of finding something but it was no use. Clearly every important business document was kept in the office. I knew that if my snooping around didn't help much then my final act would be to break into my father's office. I didn't want to do that but I was so desperate to know what was going on around me. I needed to know why everyone I knew was lying to me and I couldn't trust anyone until I found out what was going on.

I wandered through the kitchen and out of the door into the garage. Dave, my dad's chauffeur was in there washing the cars.

"Hey Dave."

He stopped washing the car and looked up at me.

"Hello, Ebony. Need a lift somewhere?" he asked.

"No, I was wondering if you wanted any help washing the cars?" I suggested, shrugging. I probably looked really out of place in the garage considering I can't drive and cars hold no interest for me.

"Oh, I get it," he said as he threw a sponge at me and I caught it, "Jakob's not around so you thought you'd come hassle me instead."

"Yes, that's exactly why I'm here." I began to wash the car that Dave was working on. I have no idea what type of car it was or how fast it goes. Like I said, cars hold no interest for me. Jakob likes cars though. I know that this shiny black car I'm washing is his favourite one we own. Stop thinking about Jakob.

"Don't you have some games to be playing or someone else to be annoying?" he asked.

"Nope, I've tried the lot. Dad is busy being boring, Uncle Steve is nowhere to be found and I'm currently forgetting that Jakob even exists so you're the only person left to annoy. Sorry."

"That's fine, though I'm sure you'd rather be annoying Jakob right now."

I flicked some soapy water at Dave.

"I said that I'm forgetting that Jakob exists, so don't mention him."

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about him?"

"There's something I'd rather talk about," I explained.

"What?" Dave looked confused. I generally only ever talk to him from the back of a car and even then it's only ever about how Jakob's being a prick or how Jakob is an idiot or how Jakob is the best person on the planet. Needless to say that when I'm not with Jakob, he is still the thought that occupies my mind. I really should be more of a powerful woman who doesn't need a boy in her life. Maybe I should permanently dump Jakob this time? Of course, that's never going to happen.