Thirty Eight

Chapter Thirty Eight.

‘What? Your help at the mansion? That is the lady in the video?’ Charlie’s very soothing voice asked from the other side of the dial.

Jennifer sat on the nearest couch as she walked into the living room of the penthouse, the phone rested between her ear and raised shoulder as she struggled to open a bar of chocolate. “Indeed. It is still crazy to me even though Francis claims he is telling the truth. I just can’t help but wonder, if it is all true, why would she do what she did? Why she try to get rid of me.”

‘Hey Jennifer don’t beat yourself up over this issue okay? I am sure the police are trying hard to find her and you would eventually get an answer to your question.’ A strange sound followed his statement, it sounded like he was trying to keep a word from leaving his mouth.

“Charlie, what was that?”

‘What was what?’ Jennifer could picture him trying to put on a straight face which he always destroyed by laughing.

“For a second, you sounded like someone was trying to force a word out of you.” She broke a part of the chocolate and dropped it in her mouth, savouring the taste as she waited for Charlie’s answer.

‘No, it’s nothing.’ He sounded like there was something but Jennifer decided not to push it.

“Whatever you say Charlie. How are you doing? Have you been sleeping well?”

‘By sleeping well, do you mean have I been taking my sedative drink? Yes.” Charlie’s voice sounded like it was taunting.

“You are not going to shut up about the other day will you?”

“Nope, I will not. Uh… Jennifer I need to go.” She heard some weird shuffling noise in the background, but as she had decided earlier, she was going to mind her business.

“Alright Charlie. I will talk to you later.”

“Bye.”

“Finally. I can have my phone back.” Silvanus voice startled her as she cut the call.

Trying to get over the mini scare his deep voice gave her, she closed her eyes for a second and said, “How long have you been sitting there?”

“Actually, you met me here, I was in front of you all this while, but you were busy chatting with dear old Charlie,” He got up and walked towards her. “…using my phone.” He took the phone off her hand and she rolled her eyeballs at him.

“I should get a phone.”

“And risk you being followed or stalked at worse, nope.” He walked to the bar which Mark took the effort to stock with drinks and poured himself a drink.

“You guys are acting like my brothers. Brothers I never had.” Jennifer pouted as she put part of her attention on the chocolate in her hand.

“Brother? You certainly don’t want Mark to hear that from you. I don’t think he would want to be called a brother especially with the way he looks at you.”

Jennifer’s attention was back to Silvanus who sat, a glass of wine in his hand. “What do you mean the way he looks at me?”

“Look, I am no expert at this feelings thing, but I know even though Mark doesn’t say shit, he likes you a lot. Yesterday during our pizza dinner, he had his eyes on you a lot, but you couldn’t see it because you were excited to watch your favourite movie again.” He gave her the cringing face he gave the previous day when she made them all watch her favourite movie.

“Don’t give me that face, that movie was and is dope.”

“Yeah right.” He took the tip of the glass to his mouth.

“But, really? He was staring at me?”

“Like a love sick teenager.”

“But he doesn’t act that way around me, I have not noticed it at all.”

“He is a man with freaking ego Jennifer. He has serious pride issues and if there is one thing I am sure of when it comes to Mark, he hates admitting his feelings.”

“B…but…”

“You like him don’t you?” Jennifer nodded in affirmative. “Why not drive those feelings out of his mouth before he leaves your life? Tell him how you feel. Because once this court issue is done with and your murderers are behind bars, he is going to leave and trust me, he will leave without saying anything feelings related.”

Jennifer stared thoughtfully at Silvanus, digesting his words. Seeing sense in what he had just told her, she decided it would be best if she told Mark how she felt no matter how unsure she was about whatever was going on between them. For some reason, the thought of having him out of her life, sucked.

“So tell me, what are your plans when this is finally over?” Silvanus brought her out of her thoughts.

“Uh… I guess I will be back go back to work. I will try to bring back order to the company, do some tightening here and there.” Silvanus looked at her like he expected her to continue.

“What?”

“Is that all?”

“I guess so.”

“Why? Why are you intent on having a boring life?” Jennifer frowned as it seemed Silvanus had become serious.

“You could be dead by now you know. Your body could have been somewhere deep in the ocean, all flesh eaten .”

“What are you driving at?”

“You survived the ocean. The deadly ocean. You were given a second chance to live. And you want to spend it doing what? Working in the office for the rest of your life? Girl, screw that thought. This is the time for you to explore life to its fullest. Life is so much more than waking up, going to work, eating the same sad shit everyday. There is a lot of things life has to offer you Jennifer, it is left to you to explore those things. So, would you rather sit on the same chair everyday, overseeing office things till you die? Or you would take time off to enjoy life to its fullest?”

“I don’t want to leave my company unattended to, not at this time when the company is vulnerable.”

“We are in the freaking twenty-first century, you can have all of your company on your laptop, very portable and easy to access.”

“He is right you know.” Mark’s voice interrupted what was about to leave Jennifer’s mouth. He dropped the packs of food in his hand on the table that was in the center of the living room.

“This is life is too short to bore yourself by doing the same thing everyday. Once in a while, take a break. You can make a bucket list or something. Travel to places you find fancy, try new food, get exposed to new culture, different people, just enjoy life while you can.” He gave her a smile as he sat beside her. She returned the smile as she unconsciously bit her lip as she looked into his eyes.

“See, even Mr Grumpy Pants agrees with me.” Jennifer chuckled at the comical frown that was on Mark’s face when he heard what Silvanus called him.

“I guess you both are right.”

“Uh… Jennifer. Could you uh… come help me get some things from the kitchen?” Jennifer nodded a bit suspicious his question. He never let anyone help him with anything. At all.

“Great.” He got up and Jennifer followed him.

“What…?” His mouth stopped the question in her mouth as they entered the kitchen. Jennifer leaned closer to his body as her whole self gave in to his claim. As their lips moved, so did their hands. Mark held Jennifer firmly by her waist while Jennifer’s hands roamed his neck as the kiss became heated. Mark raised Jennifer unexpectedly and made her sit on the island, staring into her eyes, a smile playing on his lips as he re-captured hers, the set of cutlery just beside them falling down in the process.

“Okay, I know you both are trying to make babies or whatever, but keep it down!” Silvanus shouted from the living room.

“He says we should keep it down.” Mark said in-between kisses.

“I say we don’t keep it down.” Jennifer smiled as his hands tugged at the hem of her oversized shirt. As soon as he hand touched her skin, like last time, she gasped. His touch was like an electric charge, it made her heart race faster as his hand went round and round the skin hidden beneath the shirt. He made to take the shirt off. “Wait!”

A look of surprise flashed through his face. “I should stop?”

“Yes, I mean no.” She sighed, her finger drawing circles on his neck. “Don’t stop, just wait, I want to ask you something.” She noticed his facial expression had changed, he was no longer smiling.

“Uh… I don’t want you to stop, okay? I just have a simple question to ask”

“I have a question too.” His voice came out hoarse and low and sort of sexy, she almost smiled.

“Could you stop touching my neck?” Jennifer frowned sadly, it was as if he was disgusted by her touch suddenly.

“W… Why?” He looked down at his trouser and she did the same, noticing the rising going on there. She nodded, feeling stupid, smiling sheepishly as he looked back at her.

“So, you wanted to ask me something?”

“Yes. I just want to know…” His phone chimed.

“Excuse me.” He looked at his phone then back at her. “They have found Hannah Solver.”