The Runaway Soldier.

Chapter 3

Marley stepped into the doorway of Herbert's office unnoticed and studied the changes he made in it. On the table sat some of his pictures in silver frames.

"He's bought a new frame to put his ugly pictures" she thought as her fingers went through it. "You called me?" she spoke out since Herbert refused to notice her presence as he was busy typing something on his laptop. Looking at her, he closed his laptop.

"Where have you been Marley Thorne?"

"I was sick Bert. You can't just expect me to come to work when I'm lying sick at home" Marley's voice quivered with righteous indignation.

"By the way, thanks for asking about me" she said sarcastically and Herbert reclined on his chair, "sarcasm doesn't suit you Marley." Marley simply shrugged then folded her arm. Herbert then stood up and walked to a drawer which according to her guess was when he keeps his files. He brought out a red file and  handed it to her.

"What's this for?" Marley asked collecting and glancing through it.

"What what does it look like? someone wants to sell a house. Now you get your ass out there and go check out the house!"

Now there is that yell Marley hates. He didn't take notice of how she looked at him, he simply went back to his seat and continued the work he was doing before Marley came in. Marley shut her eyes tights for a few seconds picturing herself yelling if possible beating up Herbert. Taking a deep breath, she opened her eyes. Imagination was over. It was time to get back to reality. And at this, she stormed off.

"I haven't seen you for a long time sugar" Shirley her African-American work friend said to her as she picked up her bag. Marley was in no mood for any conversation with anyone especially not with shirley who has a way of elongating every conversation.

"yeah I was sick so I couldnt come to  work." Marley replied still packing her stuff into her bag.

"Marley, what happened? I mean what really happened?" she asked walking towards her. Confused a bit, she stopped what she was doing to look at shirley who stood right in front of her. She looked closely at Marley.

"did joshua beat you up?" she asked as she held Marley's face noticing some purple marks on it. Marley forcefully turned away. Gosh! She should have known that Shirley's eyes weren't big or sharp for nothing.

"Oh my gosh! He did beat you up right?" shirley further asked but this time wearing a concerned look on her face. In as much as Shirley was her best friend, she didn't want to have this conversation with her not right now and definitely not in this place.

"Shirley...I - can't talk about this right now. I - "

"I understand" shirley said as she pulled her for a big hug. Underneath her breath, shirley whispered to her.

"he's an ass hole. And if he dare lay a finger on you again, I'm gonna whip his ass!"

Marley laughed a little. Releasing her, she smoothed Marley's hair and Marley relax a little.

"ok now I really have to go, I don't want Herbert to have to have my head cut off."

"Alright then, I'll see you later."

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Marley drove to the estate? Mansion? The house was much too modest a word for this dwelling, she thought as she pulled past the gated brick wall and into a long cobbled drive. Normally, she was pretty low-key about such things but as she climbed out of her car and started up the walk past an SUV, she felt her mouth fall open into a gape. She couldn't control it anymore. why would someone who live in such a big house want to sell it? She press the doorbell and smoothed the fine wool of her suit trying to look corporate and presentable. In less than a minute, the door open revealing a man that should be in his late 40's or early50's.

"Hi, I'm Marley Thorne from-"

"you must the agent"

"yes, yes I am."

"well come in. He's expecting you."

She walked into the mansion. The living room was large with beautiful antique furniture and a fireplace. The enormous chandelier hung from the ceiling and the national flag hung on the wall.
There were different pictures but one caught her eye. She walked slowly towards it. It was a picture of a young soldier. The picture looked old and faded but one could still see the person in it. she noticed the eyes but couldn't get the colour of it. She could swear that he looked so familiar.

"you're the agent from Bex Real Estate Agency right?"

Marley froze at the deep gruffy masculine voice which startled her. She quickly turned to face him.

"I'm sorry, I didn't mean to startle you."

Her eyes widened. This cannot be happening. It shouldn't be happening- she thought wishing she could just vanish from this place. She realised she'd been silent for a while so she decided to say something.

"Um" she cleared her throat, "no worries, you didn't startle me and yes I'm the agent from Bex Real Estate Agency."

He stared at her for a while noticing the movement she made. Feeling quite uncomfortable, she asked. "is it ok if I go round the house? unless you have something else to do then maybe I could come another day and I'll-"

He held up a hand stop her. "you may go round the house."

Typical Stephan, a man of little words. She quickly turned round and began the tour round the house. She was extremely happy that he didn't recognize her and she prayed it would go on like this. She didn't want to waste any more time in this house so she limited her tour to only the kitchen and dining room. She noticed that while she went round, he didn't move. He stood at the same spot she left him, watching her closely. She went back to the living room and met him. Bringing out her notepad and a pen from her bag, she said to him.

"The house is nice, the furnitures and other things are in place though I didn't go upstairs. So when do you want to discuss the sales?"

"How about saturday? I'll be less busy then"

She hesitated a bit. Why can't he just tell her everything now so she will never come back to the house neither would she see him again. Taking a deep breath, she replied with a fake smile.

"Saturday it is."

She put her things back into her bag. Glancing at her wristwatch, she was glad she didn't spend much time with him.

"Have a good day sir."

She took two steps towards the door before he caught her arm and swung her back, up against the hard thrilling warmth of his body.

A long breathless moments passed.

"I don't think so," he told her softly, his glittering gaze slipping to her lips.

"we have a lot to discuss, Marley."

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I'm so sorry for the late update. I had an exam to write. Keep following this story plus me to find out more about this story.

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