Chapter 59: I Like You

Chapter 59: I Like You Jamal’s heart skipped a beat, and his blood ran cold, but he kept his expression carefully controlled. Why did Ryan need to keep an eye on Genevieve or him? Ryan tapped the rim of his glass, studying him. "You’re quiet." Jamal shrugged. "I’m here to drive, not to spy on people." For a brief moment, Ryan looked surprised. Then he let out a laugh, shaking his head. "I like you," he said, pointing a finger at him. "You’re a smart one." "Thank you," Jamal said, deciding there and then that he didn’t like Ryan. He usually liked to give people the benefit of doubt, but he had dealt with men like Ryan before. Power-hungry. Controlling. They always wanted something. Ryan leaned forward. "Don’t think of it as spying. Think of it as working for me. You do the job Genny employed you to do, and you work for me at the same time. I reward those who work well for me." Jamal gave a slow nod, pretending to consider it. "What exactly am I to report about?" Ryan smirked. "I just want you to keep an eye on her movements. Tell me where she goes, who she meets, what she does. Who she talks to and what she talks about while in the car." "And her visitor, Mr Jamal? What am I to do?" Jamal asked, curious to know Ryan’s plan. "I want you to do the same. Observe their interactions when they’re together and let me know what they talk about," he said, and Jamal nodded. "I understand." "Good. After the visitor leaves, you’ll also be driving my other daughter around. Abigail." Jamal stiffened. Abigail was his daughter? His biological daughter? Was that why Genevieve seemed so upset when she referred to her as his ’precious Abigail’? Did he give her preferential treatment over Genevieve? Ryan didn’t notice the change in Jamal’s disposition as he continued. "I want you to keep an eye on Abigail too. Just let me know what my children are up to. That’s all." Jamal forced a neutral expression. "I didn’t know you had another daughter apart from Miss Genevieve." Ryan took another sip of his drink before setting the glass down. "The public doesn’t know." He let out a dry chuckle. "She’s my illegitimate daughter. I can’t acknowledge her public. Her mother was my maid and she’s mute." He shot Jamal a sharp look. "I trust you’ll keep that piece of information to yourself?" Jamal nodded. "Of course." Ryan grinned. "Good man." Jamal stood. "Is that all, sir?" "Yes. So, will you do it?" Ryan asked, and Jamal nodded. "If doing this will get me all I desire, then I will," he said, referring to the answers he wanted, but Ryan assumed he was referring to material benefits. "Sure. I always reward those who work well for me. Do not forget that," Ryan said, and Jamal nodded. "I’ll keep that in mind, sir." "Here is my card. You can report directly to me whenever you have any information for me," Ryan said, and then waved him off after he took the card from him. "You can go." Jamal nodded as he rose. "Do not tell Genevieve about our conversation. Everything we discussed here should stay between us," Ryan warned. "I’m not that stupid," Jamal said, and Ryan nodded with approval before dismissing him. As Jamal walked out of the office and down the hallway his mind whirled with different thoughts as he tried to organize all the information he had gotten that morning. There was no doubt that he had made the best decision of his life by deciding to be Genevieve’s driver. How else would he have gotten all of this? He mused as pieces of the puzzle started clicking together. The Abigail he had met five years ago had been mute. She had a cruel stepsister. Her mother had been a maid. This Abigail was Ryan’s daughter. The daughter of a maid. Supposedly mute. Genevieve was her stepsister. His heart pounded. What were the chances that both Abigail’s were not the same person? Was that why she had asked for his number at the airport so boldly? Because she recognized him but he couldn’t recognize her? His stomach twisted as a new thought settled in. Five years ago when he met Abigail she had looked so much like Dawn and had reminded him of her. What did that mean? What were the chances that there was someone who looked exactly like Dawn in this same house? Why was her face different now from it was five years ago? Had something happened to her? He needed to see her. He needed to talk to her. He pulled out his phone from his pocket and quickly texted Abigail again. > Jamal: You’re Abigail from five years ago, aren’t you? You better respond to my text else I’m going to let EVERYONE know you’re not mute! Although he had no intention of exposing her, especially when he didn’t know the reason she was pretending to be mute, he hoped the threat would be enough to get her to talk to him. Why was she running away from him? Why did she cut him off five years ago when he tried to find her only for her to ask for his number at the airport? Why did she ask him to pretend not to know her at the airport after all the hours they spent in the plane? Why was she pretending to be unable to talk? What exactly was going on? He needed answers and he needed it all from her, not from anyone else. "Why are you coming from that direction?" Genevieve asked with a slight frown when she saw him as she descended the stairs. Jamal stared at her for a moment wondering who she was. Why did he feel more connected to Abigail, who was Ryan’s daughter than to this person who was supposed to be Dawn, his first love. Who was Genevieve? And who was Abigail? He was going to have to find out. "Pete?" Genevieve called, arching a brow. "I’m sorry, ma’am. Mr Bob took me to the study to introduce myself to your father." Genevieve raised a brow at that, "Let’s leave now. I was just about to call you," she said, and Jamal nodded as he followed her out of the house. Once they got into the car, she cleared her throat, "Did my father say anything to you? Did he perhaps ask you to spy on my friend Jamal?" She asked knowingly. Jamal said nothing, and then she sighed, "I employed you. I am your employer, not my Dad. If I find out you’re reporting my movements or that of Jamal to him, I’m going to fire you like I fired every other driver before you," Genevieve threatened. Jamal remained silent. "I’m not going to the office today. Take me to Jamal’s Hotel." "Yes, ma’am," Jamal said, and started the car. Genevieve eyed him from behind with displeasure, wondering why he didn’t respond to every other thing she said but that. She hoped that he had given her father the same attitude he had just given her.