UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

chapter 4

Joshua.

Facts were fact. Mercy was going to be my partner for a while. We obviously weren't getting along but there had to be a way of making peace.

Obviously I wasn't good in picking partners. If I was I wouldn't be stuck here with a Pepper Pot while martin enjoyed both my girlfriend and the company's profits. I still felt raw on the loss. In moments of self honesty I knew Veronica and I were at the point of breaking up and nothing she could have done could have surprised me...but Martin? That's a different stories. He had betrayed a lifetime of trust. He had made me doubt myself about instincts...at least about people.

But not for hot stories. I trusted myself completely with Jim's wedding. And it could keep the doors of shakers open.

Where was pepper anyway? Surely a woman who can tame horses can fetch suitcases faster. Panic. I was panicking. What if she fell again?

I walked our and then I heard voices. I stepped behind the bush

"Does anyone know where the wedding will take place?" Mercy asked. I turned on the micro recorder.
"Only Joe Piper," the driver answered. "We are expecting him any day soon so that he can finish the wedding details.
"Is that so?" Mercy asked.
"Aha"
"But I don't know who is Mr Joe Piper."
   "You don't ? He us Mr Jim's business manager. He kinda lie low so many folks don't actually know him"
"Hmm" Mercy nodded and changed the subject

"Carolina is so pretty, I Ber her wedding dress will be absolutely stunning."
"I don't know anything about that but my wife knows. She is her personal maid, right now they are in Paris shopping for the gown.
   " oh! You think she'll tell me about it?"
The driver who I later learned was David scratched his beard nervously thought for a while then said,
"Am sorry I don't mean to be rude but my wife and I don't socialize with seasonal help."
  "Is that so?" pepper asked disappointment in her voice.
"But she said she would like riding lessons maybe you will teach her."

Turning off the micro recorder I stepped out of the bush as David was helping her with the suitcase.
Did she know she was a naturally born interviewer?

"Mercy honey," I called cheerfully
"Oh,Joshua hi," she looked displeased.
  "Thanks buddy for helping , but my little Pepper here is so independent"
"Yeah I noticed," David answered.

I took her bags from his hands then draped an affectionate arm on her shoulder.
"Pepper and I have to hurry along or we'll be late for the briefing"

Walking back to the room she looked back and seeing that the driver wasn't looking she shrugged my arm away.

"Don't ever do that again"
"Do what?" I asked acting all innocent. I was really enjoying this.

"Treat me with respect and I'll treat u with the same. Don't manhandle me." She was firm.
" its not only that." She continued biting her lower lip. "Its just that...well,we are newly weds people think...I never thought ..." She closed her eyes as if in pain.

I closed the distance between us and I inhaled sharply her scent. And the smell of the hair that I liked so much.

"Oh,Joshua I can't go around kissing and hugging you. But people will expect that," she blurted out.

I laughed hearty. And she must have felt stupid or sad because she lowered her head and turned pale.

"Its okay we'll tell them we don't believe in public display of affection." I assured her.
Her face lit up

"One more thing, don't treat me like a child. I can take care of my self."

"Pepper I wasn't ...." I stopped of course I was treating her like a child. I had questioned her about her capability to work with horses, I had chosen her wedding ring I had taken over her luggage. I had even chosen the top drawers and she would be very unhappy if she discovered that fact.

"Yeah, okay. Its just that you are so cu-"
"Don't even say that!" She grinned but it held a warning.