Schemes
Author: Julie Paola
last update2023-12-25 17:42:55

“Help me with the car, Steve!” Mr Jones ordered as he adjusted his glasses.

“I cannot drive,” Steven confessed. He wished he could.

“O! Not drive, Steve. Wash my car for me. I am in a hurry.”

Steve agreed quickly and got a bucket. He scrubbed the car until it sparkled. There was no single blemish on it.

Will that convince Mr. Jones trust to him?

“Wow, you did well.” Mr Jones was sure impressed.

Steven smiled and held the bucket firmly. Mr Jones didn’t look at him twice. He opened his car, got in, and prompted the driver to leave.

“Didn’t he wash it well?” He thought. What could be done to earn the man’s trust? He freaking saved his life.

“Clean the balcony upstairs!” His boss scolded, as the gate closed.

Steven nodded at first. He remembered his plan to get information from her and turned back. Mr Jones lived alone with his guards. There was no single family member of his around. Maybe he had none? He might be a loner.

“What?” His boss asked due to her piercing stare. Her name was Anita by the way. She was a cute Ethiopian lady with an enticing voice.

“Show me the balcony.”

She thought he was crazy.

“You know where the balcony is….”

“I have forgotten. Please show me.”

The lady nodded and they went back inside.

“I can’t believe you forgot where the balcony is. You’ve been here for two weeks!”

They arrived on the second floor.

“It is down the hallway,” Anita pointed.

“Show me,” Steven smiled, staring into her eyes.

She wasn’t comfortable with his face. She broke the stare and walked down the hallway with him.

“You are such a flirt. I do not know who you think you can fool!” She lashed at him, before placing her hand on the door handle. Steven took her hands from it and placed it on his heart.

“Can you feel it?” He asked. She avoided eye contact and tried pulling her arm.

“Damn flirt!”

He pulled her closer to himself and pinned her against the wall. Her hands were still on his chest. He could hear her breathing faster and her body trembling nervously.

“Can you feel it?”

She tried so badly to avoid his stare, but he was stubborn.

“Anita, you are the most beautiful lady I have ever seen. Tell me if you feel it.”

Anita couldn’t fight his charms anymore. She nodded and her eyes were locked in his. Steven could read her innocence. She’s never been with a guy before, has she? He felt bad for her. He didn’t want to use her. But he needed information. How else could he get information if he feels bad for everyone?

“I hear your heartbeat. It is beating pretty fast.” She said calmly.

He nodded and drew her lips close for a kiss. The kiss was awkward at first. Steven pulled away with a laugh.

“Have you never kissed before?”

She shook her head.

“I haven’t. I chose to keep myself.”

Steven's heart melted.

He couldn’t take advantage of her.

Why was he doing this?

“How old are you?” He asked.

“I am 24, but I do not mind the wait.”

Steven let go of her and opened the balcony door.

He couldn’t do it.

His conscience wouldn’t let him.

Things got awkward between them. Anita wanted to say something, but she had no confidence.

“Forget what happened,” he warned her.

Tears filled her eyes.

O! God!

She ran off sobbing. Steven knew he touched a spot he shouldn’t have. Perhaps, he reminded her of something she wanted to forget. He ignored her and focused on the balcony.

She better be hurt now than later.

He thought of the other servants. They were close in age, so it shouldn’t be so hard. There was Diana and Caro. The only male was the driver. But he was rarely around since Mr Jonas went out a lot.

The driver would be his last resort. At that moment, he needed to ask the girls one by one.

He approached Diana first and helped her with chores. Diana was confused before choosing to flow along. She was a natural flirt herself. It took no effort to lay her down and ask her for the information he wanted.

“Mr Jones has a wife and daughter abroad. They are both part of the mafia too.” Diana informed him.

“Really?”

“Yes,” she nodded. “They come during the holidays. But the house will be indifferent. They are never around and spend more time in the basement.”

“There is a basement?” Steven was surprised.

“Yes, but Caro cleans there all the time. She might know something.”

“Oo!” Steven kissed her hands.

“Is this going to be a serious thing?”

“What?”

“This?” She referred to them.

Steven felt awkward and avoided her gaze.

“Well….I….” He picked up his watch and checked the time. “O! Gosh!”

He hurried up and put on his trousers.

“What’s wrong?” She asked.

“I need to wash Mr Jones’s cars again. It slipped my mind.”

“Alright. Be careful!”

Steven blew her a kiss and hurried out. Diana was down. Caro to go. You might think he made up the story of washing Mr Jones's cars. He didn’t! He seriously had to.

“Can I get a bucket?” He asked Anita who arranged the groceries in the fridge.

“Sure, it is in the laundry.”

She avoided his gaze.

“Thanks.”

“Wait!” She stopped him from leaving.

“Yeah?”

“Where were you? The washing should have started since.”

“I was busy, I am sorry.” He apologized. She waved him to leave and he did. Now that was over, he had to get to washing!

The washing ended late. By the time he was done, his arm hurt. He could barely eat properly. Who told Mr Jones to get so many cars? His garage was full of them. 30 different cars to be precise.

“Do you want drugs for your pain?” Anita was being Anita. He got irritated by her persistent concern.

“No thanks.”

She left him.

What was wrong with Anita anyway?

He shows her fake love once, and she is drooling for him. Idiot! Perhaps he should have never initiated it. She was too innocent for his trap. He couldn’t let her go through what he went through.

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