Chapter 9: Something Is Not Right
“I don't know sir, what about Grace?”
“Don't worry about her, just bring him here now”
Lucas hung up and called Grace,
“go to the company café and tell him to make my unusual snacks”
“yes sir”
Grace headed towards the cafe after dismissing the three people who came to look for jobs, she took an elevator to the first floor and the man from earlier speaking with Emily, as she passed, the man turned and stared at her till she opened the door and headed towards the cafe, Grace felt weird.
Jason followed the hefty-looking Paul without any question, he was hoping to see Grace but was surprised when he didn't catch a glimpse of her. They entered the elevator and headed for Lucas's office, Paul knocked and entered with Jason following him, Lucas who was on call gave a wide smile and ended the call,
“sit down please”
Jason sat down and Lucas signalled Paul to excuse them,
“Jason huh?”
“yeah, I am Jason, what're you looking for me for?”
Jason asked, Lucas noticed how unbothered he answered the question and how relaxed he was,
“I presume you know who I am?”
“Lucas, well I don't know you, but given the name of the firm and your aura I can tell you are Grace's boss”
“Good because I am”
Jason nodded his head in affirmation,
“So why am I here?”
He asked,
“Grace seems to worship you, I just don't see why-
“well, we're dating so it's vice versa-
“I see so Grace knows you have a criminal record?”
Jason's facial expression changed immediately and he sat up,
“I don't have a criminal record, Mr. Lucas-
“c'mon boy there's no need to lie about it, now listen to me, I have a deal to offer you, I will be fast because Grace will be here in like-, let's say in 8 minutes and I don't want her to know you were ever here-
“So? Are you threatening me with a criminal record-
“No Jason you must think I'm a cruel man, am not threatening you Jason I simply want to offer you a deal-
“a deal?”
“yes Jason, you see I had my men do a thorough research about you and I know you don't exactly give a fuck about Grace, so I know you will love this deal, are you in for it?-
Jason stared at him for some time and shrugged his shoulders,
“go on”.
Paul led Jason out through the staircase, and almost immediately, Grace came in with Lucas's order from the cafe,
“here you go”
She said giving him this death stare,
“so have you decided on signing the
“listen Lucas you and my father will have to tie me to a chair and force me to sign that paper because I won't”
“yeah? Do You think you can challenge me?-
“oh Lucas you don't know half of it”
She said placing her hands on the table and staring at him,
“you are indeed an ingrate-
“you don't know me, Lucas, I assure you that am more than that-
They stared at each other eyeball to eyeball,
“your first appointment is ready”
She said breaking the stare and leaving the office, Lucas hit the desk with his fist,
“Who the fuck does she think she is, I own her, she will regret every word that came out of her stinking mouth today”
He sat down and shut his eyes tight, he opened them and smiled.
After work, they went home, Lucas retired to his study and remained there while Grace went to her room, she was surprised to see that the tray had been replaced with another tray of food and drink, she smiled, she knew it was Emily's doing, Grace undressed and wore only her underwears, she sat down at table to eat, she was exceptionally happy the way she stood up to Lucas,
“This is just the beginning”
She smiled and her phone rang, it was her Father, she declined it and dialled Jason's line,
“Jay baby, are you okay I called you yesterday”
“I'm fine babe”
His voice did not sound okay,
“no you are not, what's the issue is it money?”
“no babe-
“then what talk to me, okay how about we go to a restaurant-
“babe I'm okay am just occupied, your father told me you moved to your boss's house-
“yes I was going to tell you, I just didn't know how you would react”
“it's okay babe, alright you be good I will text yeah?”
“yes, bye-yee”
She said and hung up, she finished up her food.
Grace was surprised that Lucas had not sent for her since they returned from work, she wondered why. Still, in her underwear, she went to the wardrobe to bring out a cloth to wear after bathing, just then, she heard her doorknob turn, with all the speed in her, she rushed and grabbed her clothes and covered her lap and boobs, the door was already open and Lucas was standing staring at her, he closed the door and locked it, Grace's heart skipped a beat, Lucas walked up to her and touched her face, she threw her face away and stared him in the eye,
“Are you trying to seduce me?”
He asked smirking,
“seduce? This is my space, Lucas, learn to knock-
“This is my house, I don't need to knock before entering anywhere I want, I own and control everybody under this roof including you-
“count me out”
She snapped, Lucas gave a short hysterical laugh and walked out of the room leaving the door open, as he walked out, Emily passed without saying a word to her, she quickly rushed, closed the door and locked it.
She went into her bathroom filled the bathtub with water, removed her clothes and stepped inside the bathtub, she went beneath it and came out, she lay there thinking of what Lucas just said to her,
“no one owns me”
She thought, she recalled everything that happened at work, the terror on Lucas's face as he spoke to the man from the elevator, the way the man stared at her, something was not right,
“I will find out”
She said and went beneath the bathtub again.