Who Is Hiram?

2. Sign and print

When the intruder came into my house, I immediately called the cops. I failed to mention anything about Hiram, for whatever reasons. God forbid. I just told them that the intruder demanded money and my valuables but ran away when they heard my neighbors checking in on me. Lying was terrible. And truth was I didn't know why I had to lie to the police. Then I realized it was him. Hiram. He was a mystery before but an even bigger mystery now. Who was that person at my house? More importantly why did they want me to stay away from him?

I couldn't answer these questions and I sure as hell didn't wanna ask Hiram for answers. But it struck me as odd. Anywho, today was an ordinary sunday and I was on my way to the produce market.

As I was walking to the market, a girl with pearls and dark hair had accidentally bumped in to me. "Oh my, excusé muah..." she says. She then looks at me from top to bottom and smiles. "Well aren't you beautiful..."

I chuckled. "Nah but thank you. You have a nice day now." I continued on towards the market, not interested in making conversation with a stranger. Especially with someone who wore pearls.

When I got to the market, it was packed. Everyone liked to come on Saturday's to get fruits and veggies. I mean, most of the time they were on sale and the sales people usually give a bunch for free. I looked around and figured I could get some strawberries and bananas. That's when he appeared. Standing there, using a pair of black sun glasses was Hiram Lodge. I knew he had seen me because of his smile. I had to avoid him. Who knows, maybe he was behind the people who attacked my place.

As I rushed further from the market, I couldn't help but feel like I was being followed. I turned around a couple of times to see a boy in a jacket. I walked a couple more blocks but suddenly knew for a fact that I was being followed. I started to run and heard the footsteps of the person following me. No. Not again. I ran faster and turned into a alley. Totally a bad idea because I had hit a dead end. His footsteps grew louder and louder. I started to fear for my life when the boy in the jacket had found me. His eyes were filled with darkness. As I backed into the corner, fearing the worst, that was when my supposed knight and shining armour appeared. Hiram. To my surprised, Hiram Lodge grabbed the boy by his jacket and shoved him to the wall.

"What are you doing?" He asked sternly, without fear or anger. The boy glared at him, staying silent. "Not gonna talk, I see?"

Hiram threw the boy to the side. The boy immediately rushed out of sight.

I took a deep breath when the boy had left. "I suppose I owe you a thank you Mr. Lodge..." I told him.

He nodded. "Be more mindful of your surroundings, amore." There. That was why his voice attracted me. He was bilingual. Wait. Did he just call me amore?

I walked over to him as I wrapped my arms around myself. "Did you find an assistant?" I asked him as we walked out of the alley and down the street. I glanced at him to see that he had put his hands inside his pockets.

"No. Not a lot of people fit the criteria," he explained. "Are you interested?"

I laughed softly. "You're still offering me a job after I rudely walked out of your office?"

He grinned at the question as he glanced at me. "You were right to. I wasn't being specific as to what other jobs I needed you to do besides a desk job." He was different when he wasn't in his office. He wasn't readable just yet but he had some emotions now. Especially in this conversation.

I sighed. "About your offer? Does it still stand?"

"Yes. Yes I mean what I say. You will have unlimited finances as well as your very own company car and living arrangements..."

I bit my lower lip, afraid to bring it up. But after thst boy following me into the alley, i feared for.my life. In more ways then one. "I meant about...protection..."

"Yeah. Yeah, you will be working with me so you will be protected at all times. I'm sorry to ask but has something happened that made you ask this?" He was waiting for an answer and I really didn't know how to say it subtly.

I stopped walking and bit my lip again. Something I did when I was nervous. "Someone broke into my home..."

"That's unfortunate. What else happened?"

I was hesitant for a bit mainly because I was scared. I hadnt told the police about it seeing as I lied but I'm telling Hiram Lodge. It had all to do with him but the police don't know that. "It was a man. He held a gun at me and told me to stay away from you..."

He was quiet and that's when he continued walking. I eventually caught up to him eventually. "Mr. Lodge? Is everything okay?"

"Yes," Was all he said. He then took out his phone and pressed something. "Listen, Cassandra. The job is still on the table. You can still accept. And if you do, you will have what I promise. Including my protection..."

Before I could answer, he grabbed my hand and took me inside a cafe where we sat at a booth.

"You'd have to move into my guest house on my property," Hiram explained. "And you must sign in and out with security at all times..."

It felt like he was asking me to move in with him and be prisoner. "How did that guy in my house know you? How did he know that we met?"

Hiram looked down at the menu then up at me. His eyes were still dark but his expression seemed different. He looked worried. "I am a business man. And... alot of people want me dead. For various reasons, they've tried to scare people I know. People I come in contact with..."

It still didn't make much. Why did people want him dead. I still couldn't see it. But for whatever reasons and for my safety I decide to take his offer.

"Okay. I will be your assistant and I will consider moving into whatever guest house," I told him, not sure if it was the right decision. "Thank you Mr. Lodge..."

He smiled. An actual smile. Like with teeth. And as he leaned back and nodded, his smile cheek to cheek suddenly lighting up his face, I still had one raging question.

Who are you?