Chapter 63: Shopping (2)

Chapter 63: Shopping (2) As Jamal climbed into the cab, he pulled out his phone when he received a text notification from Abigail. > Abigail: I can’t believe it. Genevieve just texted me saying ’Okay’. Jamal smirked as he responded. > Jamal: Lol. She just asked me to go pick you up and take you shopping. Her reply came almost instantly. > Abigail: For real? What did you do? How did you do it? Jamal leaned back, his smirk widening. > Jamal: Let’s just say the universe was on my side. Abigail rolled her eyes as she responded. > Abigail: Be serious. Jamal chuckled. > Jamal: Just get ready and get one of the car keys. Tell your father you’re going shopping and that the new driver is taking you. > Abigail: Fine. But you’re going to explain what you did when we see. Jamal chuckled as he exited the chat and dialed Ryan’s number. "Hello, sir. This is Pete, Miss Genevieve’s driver," he said the moment the call connected. "Yes, Pete. Do you have news for me?" He asked, his tone pleasant. "Daddy look!" Jamal heard the voice of a little boy in the background and he paused, wondering if Ryan had a kid, and then he remembered seeing news some time in the past that Ryan Harris had a son. "I called to inform you that Miss Genevieve is currently having breakfast with Mr Jamal at the restaurant of his hotel. She just asked me to come back home to get one of her other cars and take Miss Abigail shopping," Jamal reported. "I see. That’s fine then. Thanks for letting me know," Ryan said, and then hung up when Abigail walked into the living room. He set his phone beside his wallet on top of the coffee table, and he smiled as he watched her. "Abi. What are you up to?" Ryan asked, pretending not to know about her plan to go shopping. He wondered whose idea it was. Was it Genevieve’s or hers? Why didn’t they consult with him before making the arrangement? Abigail took out her phone to type and then he shook his head, "Just sign." Abigail nodded as she signed, [I would like to go shopping. I need to get clothes for work, and I would like some new clothes.] "Did you talk to Genevieve about it?" He asked in a casual tone. Abigail nodded as she signed, [I sent her a text telling her I needed to get clothes for next week. I wanted to see if she would offer me her used clothes but she didn’t. I’m sorry I didn’t ask you first. I didn’t want to bother you with something that unnecessary.] Satisfied with her response he waved off her apology, "You shouldn’t wear Genny’s used clothes. Next time talk to me when you need something, not Genevieve, okay?" Abigail nodded, surprised that he had not objected to her going shopping. "Do you have enough money to buy good clothes?" He asked, further surprising her. Even though she had more than enough money stashed away, Abigail shook her head. It wasn’t like he was gifting her money that wasn’t hers. It was all part of her money and she was going to take it all little by little until he had nothing left. Ryan picked up his wallet from the coffee table and took out a card, "Here. You can get as many clothes you need. Not just office clothes. Get other nice clothes as well and whatever else you need," he offered. Abigail smiled as she took the card from him and then sighed, [Thank you. I’ll try not to exhaust all the money in the account.] she joked. Ryan laughed, pleased that she was relaxed enough now to be making jokes with him, "Thanks for being so considerate." "Can I come with you?" Josh, who was playing in the middle of the living room with his building blocks, asked. Abigail smiled. She would have really loved to take him along with her, but she needed to have a real conversation with Jamal and she didn’t want him to know about Josh yet. [Maybe next time when I don’t have to buy too many things. But don’t worry, I’ll make sure to get you something nice.] she signed to him and Ryan nodded. Josh nodded before turning his attention to his building blocks while Abigail went in to dress up. As Abigail walked away, Ryan picked up his phone and dialed Jamal’s line again, "Pete, make sure you do not let her out of your sight. Go into the shopping mall with her. You can offer to carry her bags if need be," he said the moment Jamal received the call. Jamal’s lips twitched with amusement, "I’ll make sure to do just that, sir." Well, that was the best instruction he had received all day, Jamal mused with a chuckle after the call ended. By the time Jamal arrived at the estate, Abigail stood outside the house, her hands clasped together over the strap of her handbag as she tried to still the erratic beating of her heart. As the cab pulled up in front of the house, her breath hitched as Jamal stepped out. Their eyes met. For a moment, the world around them blurred, the air charged with something electric and magnetic at the same time that seemed to pull at both their hearts. Jamal’s heart raced and the only thought in his head was that the person staring back at him was Abigail. The same Abigail who had reminded him of Dawn when he first set eyes on her. The same Abigail who had stolen his heart five years ago and crushed it by leaving without a goodbye and cutting him off. How come he had felt drawn to her all over again at the airport despite the fact that her face was different? Had it been because he thought she was mute? Or was there a different reason? A deeper one? He pondered as they both stepped towards each other. Abigail’s stomach quivered with a mix of fear and excitement as she handed a car key to him without a word. Jamal took the key and looked away so as not to be too obvious in case someone somewhere was watching them. He pressed the button on the key and turned when one of the cars made a beeping sound. They both walked over to the car and he got into the driver’s seat. Abigail inhaled deeply as she climbed into the backseat, forcing herself to keep her expression neutral. The engine came to life as Jamal turned on the car, and they pulled out of the driveway. The tension in the car was tangible but neither of them spoke. But as they drove off together, both of them knew— this car ride was going to change their lives in ways neither of them could predict.