Chapter 46: Staying Hopeful

Chapter 46: Staying Hopeful Instead of going to the hotel, Stefan and Jamal walked into a discount clothing store so they could get Jamal the clothes he needed for his new job description. Rows of shelves stretched before them, stacked with shirts, pants, and jackets in muted colors. The store was nothing like the high-end boutiques Jamal was used to, but it served his purpose. Jamal pulled a plain gray longsleeved shirt from a rack and held it up against his chest. "How do I look?" he asked, smirking. "Like someone who’s trying too hard to be average," Stefan replied, crossing his arms. "Perfect." Jamal tossed the shirt over his arm and grabbed another in black. Stefan exhaled, watching him sift through a pile of chinos trousers. "So how long am I supposed to be here pretending to be you? Earlier she asked when I was leaving Westend." "What? She already wants you to leave? You must have shown her how annoying you can be," Jamal teased with a chuckle as he picked up a pair of dark-wash denim and turned to Stefan. Stefan snorted, "She asked because she wanted to know how much longer we have together." "Well, today is Thursday. You can leave on Sunday. That was our plan anyway," he said, and Stefan groaned. "What am I supposed to discuss with her? She wants us to have dinner tomorrow. I’m not sure how much I should say," Stefan said and Jamal shrugged. "Be yourself. She doesn’t know what I’d say or wouldn’t. So, do you," Jamal said, and Stefan eyed him skeptically. "Are you sure about all this?" Stefan asked again even though he had asked a couple of times already. Jamal nodded. "Yes, I am. Listen, I know this isn’t what we planned, but trust me, I really feel like there’s something going on here that I need to know. I don’t know why. It’s just a gut and I have to trust it. So, I’ll be here. But you have to get back because someone has to make sure things are running smoothly at the company in my absence and you’re the only one I can trust to do that." "Yeah, I’m the Harry to your Tom," Stefan said dryly, and Jamal chuckled. It was a joke the family had come up with over the years since Jamal relocated to Ludus. Because of how competent and reliable Stefan was, Jamal’s Mom had jokingly said Stefan was as important to Jamal as his uncle Harry was to his mentor, Tom. Although Jamal didn’t agree with it. He wasn’t sure any two people could be as perfectly suited as friends and business partners as his uncle Harry and his mentor, Tom. Their bromance was one he envied. Stefan gave him a long look before shaking his head. "Fine. But don’t say I didn’t tell you this was a bad idea when this all blows up in your face." Jamal grinned. "Noted." They moved to the shoe section, where Jamal picked out a pair of plain sneakers and a pair of cheap dress shoes. He examined them with mild amusement. "I think my feet are offended." Stefan chuckled. "They’ll survive." After checking out, they stepped onto the sidewalk. Jamal adjusted the weight of the shopping bag in his hand. "Alright, I’ll head back to the company to pick her," he said. "You should take a cab to the hotel. We’ve already wasted too much time shopping." Stefan gave him a skeptical look. "Aren’t you supposed to drop me off at the airport, Pete? I’m sure she wouldn’t mind if you tell her I had to make a stop somewhere. You’re at my beck and call, remember?" Jamal chuckled. "You might be Jamal right now, but I still control your salary, you know?" He asked in a threatening tone. Shaking his head, Stefan let out a low chuckle. "You can’t take a joke." "I took one as my assistant," Jamal said as he tossed the bag into the trunk. "I hate you," Stefan said with a chuckle as he watched Jamal slide into the driver’s seat. "See you later, Mr Jonas," Jamal said, laughing as he drove away. By the time Jamal reached the company, the afternoon sun was beginning to dip, casting long shadows across the parking lot. He parked near the entrance, fingers tapping the wheel as he debated his next move. Should he call Genevieve or go up to her office to let her know he was back? After a moment of considering it, he pulled out his phone and dialed her number, deciding to just call her instead since there was every possibility that she might be in the middle of a meeting. If she ignored his call, then at least she would know that he tried reaching her. Genevieve picked up on the third ring. "Why are you calling me?" Her tone was clipped, as if he had interrupted something. Jamal’s lips twitched. "I wanted to let you know that I’m back and I’m waiting in the car." There was a pause. Then, "I’ll be out in an hour." "Got it." He ended the call and leaned back in his seat, pulling out his phone to kill time. His eyes widened slightly and his heart skipped a beat when he saw a notification from Instagram. The mute girl had responded. [Yeah, I got home safe. And you?] A slow smile spread across his lips. She had not ghosted him as he thought she would. He was glad to know that he could keep in touch with her. He quickly typed a reply. [Yeah. I got home safely, too. What are you up to?] It took a moment before she answered. [Trying to get some rest now since a certain someone wouldn’t let me be in the plane.] Jamal chuckled, then sent: [Are you really not going to tell me why you acted that way at the airport?] A longer pause. Then— [If you want to know, pray to God that we cross paths again. Time to put all that gospel songs you listen to into practice.] Jamal let out a soft chuckle. [Something tells me we will meet again. And soon.] [Really? Why do you think so?] she asked. [I don’t know. It’s just a feeling. I’m hopeful. And excited. You know the feeling you have when you know something good is coming your way? That sort of feeling.] There was another pause before she replied: [I like that. Stay hopeful.] Jamal’s smile deepened. [I plan to. So, how can I convince you to tell me where you live? We can arrange a coincidental chance meeting.] Jamal texted with a wink emoji. As he had expected she responded with a laughing emoji. As she was about to type something else, movement caught his eye. Genevieve was stepping out of the building. He locked his phone and slid it into his pocket before stepping out of the car. Her gaze swept over him as she drew closer to him, lingering on his change of clothes. "Good to see you actually listened to my instructions and acted immediately." Jamal bowed his head slightly. "I try." As Genevieve started getting into the car, she paused when something occurred to her and then she narrowed her eyes slightly. "You didn’t take my car to your place to change your clothes, did you?" He immediately shook his head. "No, ma’am. I found somewhere to change. My clothes are in your trunk if you don’t mind." She seemed satisfied with that answer. "Good. Let’s go." Jamal moved to the driver’s side and slid in while she got into the backseat. "I don’t know where you live, ma’am," he confessed, and Genevieve rattled off the house address to him. Jamal had no clue where it was, since he wasn’t exactly familiar with Westend, so he quickly entered it into Google Maps before pulling onto the road. As he started the car, Genevieve took off her stilettos and relaxed against her seat with her eyes closed. Abigail was back. She really wished Abigail had stayed back in Husla. She wished Abigail knew everything and stayed away from her father instead of coming back here again. She was tired of constantly being compared to Abigail, and she knew without a doubt that now that Abigail was back her father was going to become very verbally abusive again. She had tried all these years to impress him in Abigail’s absence, yet not once had he commended her or told her he was proud of her. A few minutes into the drive, her phone rang. She glanced at the screen, then let out a groan before answering. "You don’t have to keep calling, Dad. I’m on my way home," she said irritably the moment she received the call. Jamal kept his expression neutral, but his ears perked up at her tone. Did she always talk to her step father in this manner? "I was in a meeting," Genevieve snapped. "And if you hadn’t fired my assistant just to force your precious Abigail on me, someone would have been there to inform you." Jamal’s brows lifted slightly at the name. Abigail? Interesting. Who was Abigail? Was Abigail her step father’s girlfriend or perhaps his mistress’s daughter? Or an illegitimate daughter? Jamal pondered. Then Genevieve added, "Anyway, I was with Jamal in my office when you first called." Jamal’s fingers tensed slightly around the wheel at the mention of his name. So, she had told her step father about his visit. What did they discuss about him? Why did her step father allow her meet him when he had stopped everyone from the Jonas and Hank family from seeing her all these years? "Yes. Jamal Jonas. You don’t have to worry," she said, and then when she caught Jamal’s eyes in her rearview mirror she sighed, "I’ll tell you about it when I get home," she said, deciding not to talk about it in front of her new driver who had Jamal’s number. Jamal Jonas. What was going on? Jamal mused, glad now that he had taken the role of her driver. It was obvious that something was going on and he intended to find out exactly what it was.