Chapter 16: The Gardener's secret

Charles POV

The sharp odour of alcohol hit me as Nikki pulled me out of the kitchen. I lifted my face trying to escape the stench by placing my eyes on Linda, perhaps her beautiful face could help me, but she looked away immediately.

"Charles honey," Nikki said, fiddling with my nose. "I want you to bang me so hard that I won't be able to walk. I need to feel that hard dick inside me," she staggered drunkenly and I held her back from falling.

"Nikki, I can't do that tonight," I replied, steadying her legs.

"Why? Don't you love me anymore? You gave me those drinks and now I want you," she said.

"Nikki, I know that you're not in your right senses now. I need to take you to your room," I said.

"Yeah baby, inside the room where we can ride each other to the moon."

"Enough, Nikki! Where is your room?"

"Why are you scolding me? I'm gonna cry," she said and began to sob on my shoulders.

"Nikki, pull yourself together. Where's your room?"

"Over there," she pointed sleepily.

"Good, let's go," I said but she was quiet.

I called her name but received no response. She had fallen asleep on my shoulders. I guided her into her room and laid her gently on the bed.

I stood and looked at the mess she had made of herself. Her hair was scattered, her clothes reeked of alcohol. I shook my head in dismay and walked out of the room. I wondered how my future home would be with her, imagined her coming home drunk and the negative impact it would have on my children. I didn't think I would be having kids with her. I couldn't even visualize lying on the same bed with her.

God, this would really be a mess.

I went straight back to the kitchen but Linda wasn't there, then I stepped outside in search of Harvey.

An emergency message popped on my phone. It was from Harvey.

"I'm sorry Boss, an emergency came up and I had to rush to handle the issue. I would be back in a jiffy."

"It's late already, don't bother coming back. Calm down and handle whatever issue it is carefully," I texted back.

"No Sir, I can't let you drive alone. It's too dangerous." His response came instantly.

"Come on, Harvey. I'll be fine," I texted and turned off my phone.

Whatever issue that made him leave was worth it and he needed to handle it carefully. Harvey was officially my assistant but was more like a brother and friend. He was there when I began my business dealings from scratch, until it boomed and became what it was today.

I tucked my hands into my pockets and walked into the garden, enjoying the fresh air that danced freely around me. The greenish plants stood tall, waving to the tune of the wind. I sat on an empty deck chair and closed my eyes, immersing myself in the coolness of nature.

The sudden crash of bottles from behind startled me and I stood to my feet immediately. I tiptoed quietly and stood behind the shrubs where the noise came from. Then I saw Rick. He was obviously drunk, seeing the empty bottles of alcohol lying on the floor beside him.

He seemed angry and frustrated. Then he stood up, rubbed his forehead slightly with his palms and picked up another empty bottle.

Crash! The bottle broke into pieces. He spat on them and stormed out of the garden.

I made sure he was out of sight before I stepped out from behind the shrubs and walked towards where he had sat. It was a long wooden bench with a camp bed beside it. Empty bottles of alcohol were littered everywhere and an unusual odour oozed from there despite the fresh air.

My eyes widened as I saw unused condoms and lubricants beside the camp bed.

I scoffed in disbelief. "Why would a gardener have this instead of his normal tools?"

Then it clicked in my head. Nikki had come inside the kitchen with disheveled hair, drunk from alcohol. I remembered what she said before passing out.

"You gave me those drinks..."

She had run off with this guy earlier today. The way her face lit up when she saw him and the weird look he gave her.

I tried to dismiss the thought as it formed.

"It can't be!" I whispered loudly to myself. Why would Nikki stoop so low as to sleep with a gardener? I saw how she treated Linda, who was even more dignified than Rick.

But the thought stuck deep in my head. Nikki treated this guy differently. The spark that came into her eyes when he approached us was never there when she was with me. I remembered how Jessica gritted her teeth when I mentioned that Nikki had gone off with him.

Everything was just ridiculously complicated. How long would the Jenkins family keep playing this game with me?

John probably knew about the ongoing situation and that was why he had offered to leave his company to me if I married his daughter. And Jessica? She wanted us married the next moment if possible.

I sat down on the bench, tired and confused.

"Am I still ready to play along with them?" I asked myself.

I couldn't even visualize a future with Nikki, not with Linda in the picture. If there was anything keeping me stuck to the Jenkins family, it would be their company and most importantly Linda. I would do whatever it took to get her out of here, even if it meant forgoing the initial plan.

Rick's footsteps interrupted my thoughts and I lifted my eyes to his face.

Shock flashed through his face as he saw me and he increased his pace towards me, staring with those bloodshot eyes that looked like those of a criminal. Everything about him was suspicious. He looked just like a psycho and those bloodshot eyes saw me as his rival.

I refused to take my eyes off him as he came closer. He snatched the condoms from the floor and rolled them into his pockets, then folded the camp bed and took a trash can from behind. He walked towards where I sat and began to pick up the littered bottles. Intentionally, I rolled one empty bottle and held it firmly beneath my foot.

I watched triumphantly as he knelt to pick the bottle from under my foot, then I held his shoulders firmly, pinning him to the floor. He tried to remove my hands but my hold was too strong. I kept him kneeling to my satisfaction then released him and patted his head.

Embarrassed, he stood up, took his things and stormed out angrily. I stood up gently and followed but he dashed into the house through the back door.

I let out a small laugh that concealed whatever emotions I stored in my chest and walked to the front yard, heading towards the garage.

But something told me to wait. "Rick might do something stupid."

I was amazed at my own restraint. Normally one phone call and Rick would be thrown out of this house, but if Nikki's eyes lit up every time she saw him, it was far from me to put asunder.

On second thought, it would actually be a good arrangement that would benefit us both if we eventually got married. We would come to an agreement to be married only in name and each would be free to have a separate life.

Suddenly, the door behind me flung open and I turned back immediately.

My mouth opened as I saw Linda dressed in her nightwear. Staring at her made me lose control. I wanted to eat her up.

The full structure of her body made me lose focus so completely that I forgot Rick was chasing her.

"Charles!" Linda screamed, her voice filled with panic.

I came back to my senses and saw Rick clutching tightly to her and she shrieked in fear.

Rage filled my bones immediately but I tried to keep calm.

"Let her go," I told Rick calmly but he held on tightly to her.

"I am the gardener and I have every right to touch her. Why worry about the maid?" Rick said.

"Let her go!" I roared and Rick laughed.

It was the last straw. I clenched my fists and impulsively landed him a punch that sent him sprawling to the ground.

I looked at Linda, who looked so frightened and scared. I couldn't let her spend another minute in the Jenkins house. I scooped her into my arms immediately without asking, then headed towards the garage.

"Where are we headed?" she said, her voice shaking with fear.

"I'm taking you home," I said gently.

"Home? Where?"

"I'm taking you to my house," I said and looked into her eyes.

Her pale brown eyes stared helplessly into mine, her lips shivered and I couldn't resist. So I bent and planted a soft kiss on her lips.

I dropped her gently to the floor and opened the door for her, guiding her as she entered my car. I turned and saw Rick staring intently at us, a mischievous smile creeping across his face, but I dismissed it. I quickly made my way into my car and drove off.

I couldn't help but keep stealing glances at Linda. I tried so hard to hide the demon inside my body that wanted me to devour the sexy body sitting next to me. Her soft features sent waves through my body, her nipples standing erect and stiff from the cold drew me closer.

"Are you cold?" I asked as I noticed her shivering.

"Yes," she stammered, wrapping her hands around her body.

I pulled up beside the road and removed my coat. "Wear this," I said, handing it over to her.

"But..."

"No buts," I said and wore it on her myself.

"Thank you," she said, looking into my eyes.

I looked away to avoid the temptation, then I ignited my engine and sped off.

"Slow down, Charles. It's late. I'm a bit scared," she stammered.

And immediately, I slowed down until she was comfortable.