Chapter 58: Little Task

Chapter 58: Little Task Abigail wrapped her arms around herself as she paced back and forth in her room, her mind racing as she tried to make sense of everything. Jamal. Why had he been there? In the staff quarters of all places? No matter how much she tried to analyze and understand what was going on, nothing made sense. As much as she wanted to believe that he was working for Ryan, the shock on his face earlier when he saw her, mirrored her own, and it told her otherwise. If he was working for Ryan, he wouldn’t have looked so shocked to see her. His reaction had been too raw and real. Was it possible that Jamal wasn’t Ryan’s spy? Was it possible that their meeting had been a coincidence? And if that was the case... then what was someone like him doing here as a driver? She stopped pacing and ran a hand through her hair as she tried to recall her conversation with the cook earlier. She had gone to the kitchen earlier that morning to assist the kitchen staff, and she had casually asked about the new driver. The cook had said Mr. Bob told them his name was Pete. But none of the staff had actually met him yet because he had gone to bed before dinner and he had just resumed the previous day. Pete. But his name wasn’t Pete. His name was Jamal. Or did he lie to her about his name? She didn’t think so. So what did that mean? Why was he working here as a driver when she knew for a fact that he wasn’t poor? And why was he working here as a driver with a false name? She spun on her heel, glancing at her phone when it buzzed on the nightstand. Her breath caught in her throat when she saw it was a message from Jamal. She hesitated, then picked up the phone. > Jamal: Who are you? Why are you here? We need to talk. His question further confirmed that he had not expected her to be there. So, what was going on? Her fingers hovered over the keyboard. A part of her wanted to reply, to ask him questions and demand answers. But another part... the part ruled by fear and uncertainty... held her back. No. Not yet. She placed the phone back down, screen facing the table. She froze, and her heart pounded as a terrifying thought crept into her mind. Was it possible that Jamal had been searching for Abigail and had come here because of her? If Jamal had learned sign language because of her, then there was a good chance he had also been looking for Abigail, right? And right now if he put two and two together, it wouldn’t take him long to figure out she was the Abigail he met five years ago. Panic welled up in her chest. What was she going to do if that was the case? What if Ryan found out Jamal was the father of Josh? A knock on her door startled her. "Miss Abigail?" a voice called from the other side. She took a deep breath, shaking the thoughts from her mind. She couldn’t let her emotions show. She opened the door and came face to face with Josh’s nanny. "Josh is awake. He’s ready for his shower," she announced, since Abigail had asked that they leave Josh’s basic care to her whenever she was available. Abigail pushed all thoughts of Jamal aside. Josh came first. Always. She gave the nanny a nod, and took one last glance at her phone before stepping out of the room. On the other side of the house, Jamal followed Bob down the long hallway, his hands casually tucked into his pockets even though his mind was anything but relaxed. Ryan Harris had sent for him. The man who had kept him and the rest of the Hanks away from Dawn for twenty years wanted to see him. Why? Did the girl report him to Ryan already? Who was she to him? He remembered Genevieve saying something about Ryan’s precious Abigail. So, the Abigail she had been referring to was his mute friend? Was it a coincidence that this Abigail was ’mute’ just like the Abigail he met five years ago? Jamal’s gut twisted. The more he thought about it all the more confused and anxious he felt. He wished she would respond to his texts or at least come out and talk with him. He couldn’t go about asking for her now, else it would draw too much attention to them. Before he could pull himself together, Bob stopped in front of a large wooden door, knocking twice before pushing it open. "Sir, the new driver," Bob announced before stepping aside. Jamal walked in behind him, his face carefully neutral. Ryan sat behind a grand desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand despite the fact that it was barely eight in the morning. Ryan was a very fine-looking man with a commanding presence. His dark eyes studied Jamal for a moment before he gestured to the chair in front of him. "Sit," he ordered, wondering why he looked sort of familiar. Jamal complied, his face unreadable. Ryan leaned back, swirling the whiskey in his glass. "Bob tells me you’re the new driver." Jamal nodded. "Yes, sir. My name is Pete." Ryan took a sip of his drink, watching him closely. "Tell me, Pete... how ambitious are you?" Jamal’s brow lifted slightly, taken aback by the unexpected question. "Ambitious enough." Ryan smirked, nodding as if pleased with the answer. "Good. I like that." He set his glass down and folded his hands on the desk. "I have a little task for you. Something small to see where your loyalty lies and decide where to place you." Jamal didn’t respond. He simply stared back at Ryan. Waiting to hear what this task was. Ryan’s smile didn’t reach his eyes. "I want you to keep an eye on Genevieve. Report all her movements to me." He picked up his glass again, taking another sip before adding, "And I also want you to keep an eye on her visitor. Some guy named Jamal."