UNDERCOVER {Competed} 😌

chapter 26

Joshua
Still in a twilight sleep, I moved up to gather Mercy in my arms,and found an empty bed. I was shocked into remembrance, I sat up and looked over at the chair, Mercy's abandoned blanket hanged lose on the empty chair. Given her overindulgence last night,I expected her to sleep till late at noon.

I had supposed she'd wake up with a trail of headaches,and since we used the last of the coffee the previous morning, she'd rush for some in the main house.

I could use a cup myself,I wasn't due to work anyway,but I decided to go to work. I'd put on a pot,add some flavor maybe and share a cup with Mercy before my day started.

She'd be spitting venom at me,of course,but I'd tease her out of it. After all she was being totally unrealistic with the insistence that she could scoop me.

I snickered cynically, then got up and walked into the bathroom where I turned the water on. I'd been too hard on her I know. Laughing hysterically had been way out of line.

I stepped under a cool shower and began scrubbing, suddenly feeling the need to hurry. Foregoing the shampoo,I turned the tap off and began briskly toweling off and told myself that any reasonable person would know that beating me was a losing proposition. And as long as I was looking at it from both sides,where was the gratitude? My offer had been mightily generous. I needed this story to save my magazine,yet I was willing to share it with the biggest publication in the industry,putting my business right on the line.

Pepper had no appreciation. In fact she was the one who should apologize, I'd keep it in mind as I sat on the chair.

It was when I was putting on my jeans that I wondered when I had developed a blind spot. Pepper didn't know I was going bankrupt. How could she?
I never told her.

Well,I would now. I'd hunt for her after making the coffee then tell her. Tell her all about veronica and Martin and how they left me bankrupt. Tell her how much I needed this story to keep shakers doors open

I'd explain I was doing it for both of us, that the magazine will belong to us once we were married.

She'd see,she'd come around. Am sure. Absolutely. But as I walked to the main house,I found myself wishing that the gnawing doubt at the corner of my mind would go away.

Mercy

The brisk walk to the main house cleared the cobwebs in my mind. I tiptoed into the kitchen prepared with a glib excuse in case I'd encounter anyone. Relieved to find it empty,I headed straight for the service elevator.

By the time I entered the elevator, my jitters had turned to jangles,and when the door opened I was in a pure bundles of nerves. Peeking hesitantly at the empty hallway,I wondered where to find Laura's room. I daunted the room would have a nameplate.

Remembering that I'd once seen Laura turn into this hallway from the top of the curving staircase,I took the same direction I had seen her take. The prospect board creaking or encountering  sudden door terrified me.

Thankfully,most of the doors were already open,and as I crept down the hall,I caught a glimpse of a picture of Laura's striking face. Either her room or Jim's, I concluded. I went inside. The eclectic furniture were clearly feminine,and judging by the blowups on the walls,I was in Laura's room alright.

White wicker furniture with cushions of a muted abstract print formed a conversation area  in front of a stone fireplace.

I stepped onto the platform and rolled open the desk,revealing ledgers and papers. Fearing that anyone who is this disorganized could fail to record her own wedding date, I began riffling through anything that remotely resembled an appointment book. Just as i opened a leather bound calendar,i heard a noise from behind me.

I know you wanna know what's next
Keep calm.
I'll update you soon
Kisses
AlycBee