Chapter 115: She Is Not Mute

Chapter 115: She Is Not Mute Instead of hanging out further, Abigail decided it was time to go home. She didn’t trust Ryan. She couldn’t trust him not to have people on her tail. "I think he might have people watching us," Abigail told Jamal quietly. "I know. I’ve thought about that. We can’t put it past him. That’s why the car is parked in such a way that they can’t see into the car right now," Jamal explained. Abigail sighed deeply, "We’ve been parked in one position for too long. Let’s leave," Abigail said, and Jamal nodded as he started the car. "I’ll take you home. Don’t forget to clear your chats. If he ever asks you who texted you at night you can say it’s someone who has been bothering you for a long time and you deleted the text," Jamal suggested. "I have an idea on how you can gain his trust," Abigail said, and Jamal raised a brow. "You’re not going to like it, but we are going to give him something tangible to buy his trust," Abigail said and then she went on to tell him what she wanted him to do. "Are you sure that’s a good idea?" He asked with a slight frown. "Yes. If you do that he’s going to trust you more..." "But he will trust you less and want to monitor you even more," Jamal pointed out. "And who do you think he’s going to ask to monitor me. You’re going to give him something no one else has given him," Abigail said confidently and Jamal frowned. "I’m not sure how I feel about this," he said, and she smiled. "Trust me. It’s for the greater good. He’s going to find out sooner or later. That’s if he hasn’t found out already, anyway. Just do it," she said, and Jamal sighed deeply before driving the car away from there. All through the drive to the house neither of them said another word. Jamal thought about what Abigail had asked him to do and he couldn’t shake off the feeling of unease in the pit of his stomach. When they arrived at the house, Abigail got out of the car and went inside, while Jamal dialed Ryan’s number. "Pete... I was wondering when you’d call," Ryan drawled the moment he received the call. "I’m sorry, I’ve been busy," Jamal said apologetically. "It’s alright. I’m guessing you want to see me. Come to my study," he said before hanging up the call. Jamal couldn’t help but wonder why he was always in his study. Was he watching the security footage? How did he know he was back and wanted to see him? Jamal mused as he got out of the car and made his way inside the house. As he walked through the living room, he saw Josh’s toys lying on the floor and he couldn’t help but wonder where the kid was and what he was up to. When Jamal got to the study, the door opened before he could knock, and he remembered what Abigail had said Ryan having a security camera in the passage way. Jamal walked into the office and his heart skipped a beat when he saw seated there on Ryan’s thigh. Josh smiled at him, and he smiled back before looking up at Ryan. Why was the kid there? Jamal wondered. "Sit down, Pete," Ryan said, gesturing the seat opposite him. Jamal lowered himself to the chair, and forced himself to focus on Ryan and not the kid. "Pete, I caught you on camera whispering to Josh last night right outside my study door. What were you whispering about?" Ryan asked, startling both Jamal, and Josh who had thought they were done with that interrogation. Jamal hesitated for a moment, and then looked at Josh. If he was going to buy Ryan’s trust and beat Ryan at his own game, he needed to be more like Ryan. Mix the lie with just enough truth to make it believable. It was obvious that Ryan did not buy what Josh told him. "I’m sorry, sir," Jamal said, looking visibly guilty as he rose from his seat and bowed his head. "Sorry about what?" Ryan asked, narrowing his eyes. Jamal hesitated long enough to make Ryan curious, "I wasn’t entirely honest with you last night. And I may have told Josh to lie to you," Jamal said, and Josh’s eyes widened in surprise and fear. Ryan’s eyebrow arched but he raised a finger before Jamal could proceed, "Excuse us, Josh. Go find Abi. Tell her I want to see her in thirty minutes. You can stay with her until then." As Josh headed for the door, he looked at Jamal, wondering what Jamal was going to say. "My name is still Pete, I promise," Jamal said with a reassuring smile, wanting to let Josh know that has not changed. Once Josh shut the door behind him, Ryan raised a brow, "What did you want to tell me?" "I was surprised to see Josh last night. I met him at the airport yesterday while he was lost and waiting for you. I was afraid you’d fire me if you found out I’ve met him before. I thought it might seem like I was stalking him or something so I begged him not to tell you about it so that I wouldn’t lose my job," Jamal said, and Ryan watched him for a moment, and then chuckled. "Sit down, Pete," Ryan said, jerking his head to the seat for Jamal to sit down. "The first time I saw you I thought you looked familiar. And then last night when I saw you two huddled closely together, it came again to me until this morning when it suddenly hit me that I saw you at the airport. I saw you talking with Josh from a distance but before I could get to you, you left," Ryan said, and Jamal’s eyes widened slightly in surprise. What if he had made the mistake of lying? Ryan would never have trusted him. "Don’t look so surprised," Ryan said with a chuckle, "I’m surprised and impressed that you could convince Josh to lie to me. How did you accomplish that?" Ryan asked curiously. Jamal scratched the back of his neck awkwardly, "I don’t want to get him in any more trouble than I’ve done already." Ryan chuckled, "Do you think this is the only lie Josh would be telling me as he grows older? I’m more amused and curious than annoyed." Jamal hesitated for a moment, "He said he’d keep my secret on one condition. He hasn’t told me the condition yet," Jamal said, and Ryan raised a brow. "Josh said that?" He asked, surprised. When Jamal nodded, Ryan threw back his head and laughed out loud, his body shaking with the force of his laughter. "I’m so proud of my boy. He’s already showing signs that he’s going to be an astute businessman. Now I’m very curious to know what he’s going to request from you. Make sure you let me know whatever he tells you," Ryan said, and Jamal nodded, resisting the urge to scowl at his reference to Josh as his boy. "Does that mean you are not angry? You won’t fire me?" Jamal asked cautiously. Ryan smirked, "I might have had you lied to me. I knew Josh lied last night, but I couldn’t tell why. I also know Abigail helped him lie. Genevieve mentioned that both her and Abigail like you. I’m both surprised and impressed that you managed to get all my kids to like you, Pete. It’s a gift I can’t let go to waste by firing you," Ryan said, and Jamal released a breath, feigning massive relief. "Thank you so much sir. Thank you. I was so worried you’d think I was suspicious," Jamal said, and Ryan smirked. "What were you doing at the airport, anyway," Ryan asked curiously. "I had personal business to handle there," Jamal said knowing that if he over explained he’d seem even more suspicious. "One more confession," Jamal said, and Ryan raised a brow. "I also met Mr Jamal while I was at the airport, too. He offered to pay me if I could take him around the city and when I found out he was headed in the same direction as me to HM Corp, I accepted. That’s why we seem a bit close. I thought you should know," Jamal said, so that if Ryan ever decided to check the security tapes and saw him with Stefan, he wouldn’t be too suspicious. He was trying to cover all his bases now. Ryan raised a brow, "First Josh, now Jamal. Isn’t that too much of a coincidence in one day?" "I’m just as surprised. Maybe it’s the universe’s way of telling me I’m to work for you," Jamal said with a small smile. Ryan chuckled, "Indeed." Jamal cleared his throat, ready to deliver his message now, "About the reason I called you earlier." "Yes? There’s something else you want to tell me?" Ryan asked curiously, and Jamal nodded. "I think this might be of more interest to you than everything else I’ve said," Jamal said, and Ryan raised a brow. "You have my attention." "It’s about Ms Abigail. She is not mute."