The Driven

Chapter 3

Hank

The door shut closed as he entered the house. Thea was looking at him like she didn't just assault him. How was he to know she kissed everyone that knocked at her door like that? Okay, maybe she had mistaken him for her husband but he had been caught off guard still. He had even tried to protest as her lips locked with his but she was too far gone to even care. He probably shouldn't have kissed her back but what was he supposed to do? His body had reacted on its own.

She was still in some sexy lingerie and he didn't know if he should point that out. Her husband hadn't said anything so he kept shut. Thea was looking at him like he was some bacteria under the microscope and he got uneasy. He looked everywhere else but her eyes.

The house was beautiful. Jamal was more well to do than he imagined. There had been a security guy at the entrance and he had smiled at how upscale everything looked. At least one of them made it. Their TV covered the wall and he stared in envy. His eyes bounced off the fanciful sofas to the art covering the walls, the ceiling had exceptional design and the floor was covered in marbles.

Thea walked out as he looked towards the open state-of-art kitchen with gleaming surfaces. He went to the sofa and parked his ass as he was left alone. Hank forgot about the gorgeous house for a minute and thought about his bad timing.

Jamal had asked him to resume early and that was exactly what he did. His boss to be was obviously pissed at him, she wasn't hiding it and he knew he was getting fired right after her husband left for work.

Hank couldn't believe his luck. He had already ruined his first day at work. The civilian life was rather exhausting, it was also extremely challenging and all he wanted was to go back to how perfect his life was two years ago.

He turned when Thea returned to the room, she was dressed in pajamas now and she walked towards the kitchen. He soon smelled coffee and toast and Jamal came in dressed like an Armani model. Hank hoped he was never forced to wear suits. Jamal looked good in it no doubt, but they weren't for everyone. He was good with the tracksuits and jeans he owned, all he needed to do was add more colors to his sparse wardrobe.

"Okay, Hank. I'll see you later. Have breakfast if you like, Thea makes the best pancakes." Jamal held his satchel and walked out of the house.

Hank checked his wrist and it was 5:30 am. He ignored Jamal's suggestion, he would have to get breakfast later. There was no way he was walking into the kitchen to ask for food.

Thea must have read his mind because she walked closer to him and said, "Made you some toast, there's tea and coffee in the kitchen to go with it. I'll be right back, I need to go get ready." She said all this without a smile and Hank said a cheery 'thank you'.

Hank was still sitting when Thea walked in again, this time she was dressed in a large tee and tight shorts. She was carrying her hand bag and he followed her as she went to the door.

"Keys?" he asked as they got to the black Lexus in the driveway.

Thea hesitated before handing him the keys. He heard her muttering under her breath about how she never asked for a driver. She could complain as long as she wanted, he was just glad he wasn't fired.

Hank tried to open the passenger door for her and their hands reached for it together. The touch took him back to their kiss and he quickly dismissed the thought. He took his hand off hers and she opened the door.

Hank got into the driver's seat and did the seat belt. "Where are we going?"

Thea called the address to her office, and he turned on the radio as he drove out of the gate. He watched her from the rear view mirror and noted that she wasn't just very fair, she was an albino. Her eyelashes were blond and almost unnoticeable and her skin was too pale. Her hair was dyed black and if you weren't really looking, you'd think she was just the usual overly fair Nigerian.

He focused on the road and tuned out the low voices coming from the radio. He had to remember to come with his personal cds the following day. His kind of music was rarely played on the radio and his boss didn't seem like the kind to engage in discussions with the driver.

Hank got to the address Thea had said was her office but only saw a bungalow that was obviously residential. She opened the door before he could assist her and he had no option but to follow behind as she unlocked the low gate and walked into the brick driveway.

"You can park the car inside," she said before disappearing into the house.

Hank did as he was told and lingered inside the car after finding a spot under the mango tree. He rolled down the windows and push the chair backward a little so he could stretch his long legs. He soon dozed off and woke up when his phone rang. It was a call from one of his deceased crew's girlfriend. He knew she couldn't be calling for good news, so he ignored the ringing phone. He had no money to give right away as he was skint himself.

Hank removed the sim from his phone and broke it into two without thinking too long about the consequences. He'd get a new one and send the number to his mom. He couldn't deal with everyone calling him for their problems. He had used some of the cash he had in fixed deposit to help most of his dead troops' partners. That was the best he could do and as much as he wanted to do better, he couldn't.

Hank got out of the car and went out of the gate in search of food. When he walked down the street and didn't see a single eatery or road side food, he went back in. Thea was by the car pacing. Whew, he was definitely getting fired soon.

"Where have you been?"

He frowned at her tone. "I was looking for a place to eat."

"Then drop the car keys before going out. I need to get somewhere."

"Where?"

"Get in the car, I'll explain on our way out."

As Hank drove out, he looked at the rear view mirror after she gave him the address and asked, "Are we going to talk about the elephant in the room?"

"You mean how you kissed me?" she asked in barely concealed irritation.

"You assaulted me, woman."

"Woman? Really? Don't call me that, I'm Thea."

"Thea."

"I thought you were Jamal anyway."

"Apology accepted."

"That wasn't an apology. A better person would have shoved me off not kiss me back."

"It wasn't as if I didn't try."

He watched as she became red. "You could have tried harder. Not harder, I mean more persistent..."

She was literally using every synonym for 'harder' she could think of and he smiled as she rambled on. It was obvious where her thought had gone to as she said 'harder' and he couldn't help but feel smug.

Thea finally stopped talking and he turned off the radio. Let the silence make her uncomfortable or whatever but he wasn't going through another ride listening to the garbage songs on the radio.