1-3

"Lovely name. I'm Evan Jackson and this is my wife Michelle." He gestures to the lady beside me before introducing the boys. Roman is indeed the eldest son. After that are the men whose pickup truck I was in, Noah and Theo with Noah being the youngest child in the family. "How old are you?" "Nice to meet you all." I nod nervously. "I'm twenty-one." There are a few seconds of silence as I think about what to do next. I have some cash left that will get me a taxi to a hotel nearby, after that I can change my identity and start job hunting. I subconsciously nod to myself as a plan forms in my head before looking back up at the family. "Um...I should get going. Thank you for your help and I apologize once again for the trouble." I stand and start towards where my backpack lays on the table when Theo stops me by saying, "Where will you go?" I shrug before lifting my bag up and holding onto the strap. "I'll just check into a hotel or something." I turn to face Michelle when she gasps and stands while shaking her head. "No, you certainly will not! You can stay here." I immediately refuse and shake my head vehemently. "Oh no really, I'll be fine. I've already caused you enough trouble, I wouldn't want to be a burden." "Do you have a job? A home or family?" Roman asks quietly while crossing his arms intimidatingly. I bite my lip and remain silent. I don't have anything anymore. I'm literally going to try and make something out of myself in an unfamiliar place. However, I don't want to trouble the nice family any more than I have already plus I can't have them finding about my past. I have left it behind and that is where I intend it to stay; in the past. "Are you any good in math or accounting?" Michelle asks while resting a hand on my shoulder. I nod in reply as I glance at her curiously. I wonder why she asked that question and frown when Evan, Noah and Theo grin widely. Roman remains stoic as ever and it's like he refuses to show any emotion. "We have been looking for an accountant for days and have found nobody. If you want you can stay here and work for us? We'll pay you and all you have to do is help with the books and occasionally some office work." Evan proposes and his words make my eyes widen. They're willing to let me, a stranger, stay in their home and handle their finances for them? I think to myself in shock. Plus, they're going to pay me too. I ponder over the thought of accepting his proposal as maybe I can earn enough for me to secure my future. But before I can reject or accept the proposal a voice cuts through the silence like a knife. "Who wants Ella to stay?" Noah asks with his hand in the air before glancing at me with a mischievous look in his eyes as if daring me to object. I stare at him in shock with my mouth agape. Everyone's hands raise with big smiles accompanying them. "Girl, you have nowhere to go. Why not stay here until you find your bearings?" Evan speaks gruffly as he tries to convince me into staying. "So, Ella...do you accept?" Michelle asks before hushing the boys when they whisper-shout at me to say yes. I laugh softly at their antics before shrugging. What could it hurt? I excelled in my studies so maybe I can earn myself some decent cash and save up. "I guess I do." I nod with a smile when they cheer joyfully. "Okay wait, where is Ella going to stay?" Theo asks loudly over the noise of the others. "Oh, you are right honey. Evan –" "The guest rooms are free." Roman waves off their concerns. Michelle stands and demands for Theo to follow her before hurrying out of the room with him. I watch him follow her upstairs and her voice is rushed as she talks about making sure the room is clean first. I look back at Roman who is watching me, as if trying to uncover every secret I hold dear. We stare at each other until his mother calls him from upstairs. He gestures for me to follow him and I do. "You'll be safe here, Ella." I stare up at him in slight shock. I know that he has his theories about what happened to me but decided to remain silent instead. I murmur my thanks, appreciating that he let me have space. And with that, we carry on upstairs to where the matriarch of the family is fussing loudly over the room.