Chapter 202: The new deal
“I’ll pay him handsomely for one month and see how it goes.”
Mavis rubbed his forehead slowly. “Boss, isn’t that risky?”
“I don't care. I need to talk to the gardener,” Alex insisted. “So give him the phone.”
Mavis looked toward the man sitting beside him peacefully sipping tea.
Then back at his phone. Then back again.
“Boss,” he muttered weakly, “This plan sounds like the beginning of a disaster.”
Inside the kitchen, Lucas suddenly laughed at something Jerry said, the sound drifted outside.
Alex immediately went silent for a second before mumbling softly, “Exactly why I need to do this. I want to see those laughs. I need to be close to him. I believe I will be able to help trigger something in his memory.”
Mavis sighed deeply. Then stared at his phone one last time before finally giving up.
“Unbelievable,” he muttered under his breath.
The old gardener looked at him curiously. “What’s unbelievable?”
Without answering immediately, Mavis closed the distance between them and stretched out the phone towards him.
“Mr. Macho,” he called the name, "Someone needs to say hello to you.”
The old man blinked in confusion. “Me?”
“Yes,” Mavis replied firmly. “Is that not your name?
The gardener chuckled softly while taking the phone from his hand. “Young people nowadays, that's my young age nickname.”
“Oh, that's what my boss called you now. I didn't know it was a nickname. Well, the name suits you.”
The gardener chuckled. Then lifted the phone to his ear carefully.
“Hello?”
“Hello, Mr. Macho,” Alex’s smooth voice greeted politely from the other side. “It's me, Alex.”
“Alex Benson?”
“Yes sir.”
The old man laughed instantly. “Ah, so you’re the one encouraging this boy.”
Mavis grinned shamelessly beside him.
Alex continued respectfully. “Please, I need your help with something.”
The gardener’s expression softened slightly. “Help?”
“Yes sir.”
The old man adjusted properly in his chair. He had known Alex through his father. To him, they were good people. So if he needed help that he could render, he would gladly do that.
“Okay, what do you want from old Macho?” He said, listening attentively.
Inside the kitchen, Lucas and Jerry remained busy cooking, unaware of the strange conversation happening outside.
Alex took a small breath before speaking again.
“I know this may sound unusual, but… Lucas means a lot to me.”
The gardener glanced unconsciously toward the kitchen window, where Lucas stood. He was stirring a pot while smiling faintly at something Jerry had said.
A knowing look crossed the old man’s face.
“I see,” he murmured.
Alex continued carefully, “Right now, things between us are difficult. He keeps his distance from me due to his amnesia and manipulation by others.”
The gardener remained silent, allowing him to continue.
“I heard he feels comfortable around you,” Alex admitted honestly. “And when Mavis mentioned it, an idea came to my head.”
Outside, Mavis facepalmed already knowing what was coming.
Alex cleared his throat lightly. “I was hoping… maybe I could temporarily work there as your assistant.”
The gardener nearly dropped the phone.
“What?”
Mavis quickly covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing loudly.
“Yes sir,” Alex continued quickly before the man could reject him. “Just for a while. I won’t cause trouble. I will compensate you. I only want a chance to get close to him naturally.”
The gardener stared ahead in disbelief. “You want to become… a gardener?”
“Yes.”
“But why not simply talk to him directly?”
“I’ve tried, but it's not easy because his partial amnesia made him forget everything about me. Besides that, Derby and his accomplices wouldn't want to see me near him. They were afraid my being around him would trigger his memory.” Alex admitted quietly.
I don't want to push too hard, to avoid scaring him further away.”
Those words made the old man pause thoughtfully.
There was genuine helplessness in Alex’s voice.
“He smiles more lately,” the gardener said slowly while watching Lucas through the window. “But there’s still sadness in him.”
Alex remained silent before he replied softly. “I know.”
The old man sighed deeply.
“And what exactly do you expect me to do?”
Alex’s tone brightened immediately. “I can compensate you generously for one month while I stick around there. I’ll obey your rules completely.”
Mavis muttered under his breath, “This is madness.”
The gardener shook his head in amusement.
“Young man,” he said warmly into the phone, “love truly makes people foolish.”
Alex laughed softly for the first time during the call. “Probably.”
The old man looked toward the kitchen again where Lucas now argued playfully with Jerry over seasoning.
A small smile formed on his face.
Then he spoke calmly. “Since your intentions are sincere, I will think about it.”
Alex instantly sounded hopeful. “Really?”
“Yes. But only if you promise not to hurt that boy further.”
Alex answered without hesitation.
“I would rather hurt myself first.”
The gardener went quiet for a moment after hearing the sincerity in his voice.
Then slowly, he smiled.
Maybe this foolish young man truly loved Lucas after all. He thought to himself.
The gardener leaned back in his chair thoughtfully after Alex finished speaking.
Then suddenly, he waved his hand dismissively.
“Alright, there is nothing more to think about,” he said calmly. “There isn’t much work here anyway except watering flowers and berries.”
Mavis’ eyes widened instantly.
The old man continued casually, as if they weren’t discussing a completely ridiculous plan.
“So… how about you give me a nice trip to Miami instead?” he suggested with a grin. “I would like to relax somewhere close to the beach.”
Mavis nearly choked on air.
Inside the kitchen, Jerry’s laughter echoed faintly while Lucas remained unaware of the conspiracy forming outside.
The gardener crossed his legs comfortably. “I’ll tell Mr. Ashton that I’m visiting my mother and that my little cousin will take my place for a month.”
Then he smiled into the phone.
“What do you think?”
For a moment, Alex was completely speechless.
“Sir…” he finally breathed out in disbelief. “You can do that for me?”
“Of course,” the old man replied warmly. “It’s no big deal compared to what I’ll gain in return.”
Mavis narrowed his eyes suspiciously. “Gain?”
The old man chuckled knowingly.
“You’ll have more privacy with Lucas. Sometimes when he quarrels with his wife, he sleeps over here.”
The moment those words left his mouth, Alex nearly stopped breathing.
“He sleeps there?” he asked immediately.
“Yes.”
Mavis rubbed his forehead. “Oh no…”
“Mr. Macho,” Alex said emotionally, “I’ll give you one million dollars for your trip.”
The old gardener jerked in shock.
“What? A million is too much for that!”
“No sir,” Alex replied sincerely. “It’s not payment for helping me. It’s my way of thanking you.”
The old man became quiet.
For a brief moment, even Mavis stopped joking around.
The gratitude in Alex’s voice sounded painfully genuine.
Finally, the gardener sighed softly with a smile. “You really love him that much?”
Alex answered without hesitation.
“Yes, more than I can express.”
The old man slowly nodded to himself.
“Then I hope your foolish plan works. Try your best not to blow your cover.”
Mavis immediately cut in, “I still think this is madness.”
“It is madness,” Alex admitted proudly.
Two days later.
The estate remained peaceful that afternoon as workers moved around trimming hedges and cleaning pathways.
A cab slowly drove through the gates before stopping near the servants’ quarters.
Every head snapped in the cab's direction.