Chapter sixteen

John.....

A few days after that night. I couldn't get my head straight. I'd find my self drifting off, thinking about Mary and everything she told me. No matter how hard I tried to put those thoughts away, they kept finding their way back.

To make things worse. Alice had to go back to Los Angeles. For a photoshoot and a Fashion show. She kept me distracted for a while. Now I'm left alone with these hunting thoughts. I shouldn't be worried, I believe God is protecting her. But what if she's making a mistake going back and making me keep shut.

At the bright side, she finally said how she felt.....She'll be alright, yeah she'll be okay. God please let her be alright.

On the day of the meeting, I tried my best to keep my head straight. I managed as we started the meeting to sign the merger agreement.

I found myself staring at The CEO of Jarius Incorporated.

"Son, John!" My Dad called.

"Is everything alright?" Mr Jarius asked a bit worried, his Nigerian accent thick but yet comforting.

"Yeah, yeah, I'm- I'm fine."

"Okay son you sign here and Mr Jarius you sign-"

"Sorry but you have a striking resemblance to someone I know, well except older and you're a guy.... " I said cutting my Dad.

"Well, okay." Mr Jarius replied.

Something kept nagging me to keep asking but....Could he be, I mean, I don't know, they have the same last name and who even uses the name Jarius these days? Apparently people do. But she did mention a brother that-

"Son, son! you're turn to sign." My Dad said handing me a pen. I collected it and signed.

"Okay the deal is done, Patterson corporation and-"

"I'm sorry do you or did you by any chance have or had a sister when you were eighteen and she was ten? " I asked as fast as I could, cutting my Dad.

"Son, what are you-"

I thought for a second. What am I doing?

"Why'd you ask?" Mr Jarius said looking at me sternly.

"Forgive my son's manners he-"

"Yeah I'm sorry, I'm not thinking straight" I said. Mr Jarius nodded.

I keep having the nagging feeling to press on.

"But do you have a sister?" I asked finally.

"No" He dead panned.

"Are you sure-"

"I said no!"

The room grew silent immediately after his voice echoed. His assistant shrugged silently as she looked down at her note pad.

"Uh.... I'm sorry Jaden, it's okay calling you Jaden right? Forgive my son's manners, he's just been a bit under the weather." My Dad looked at me urging me to stop.

"I'm really sorry I shouldn't have" I said apologising.

Mr Jarius sighed and nodded again.

"I'm Sorry, but, how old are you?" I quickly asked.

"I'm just asking because I admire a strong young independent man."

I continued.

Mr Jarius took a deep breath and then let it out.

"I'm twenty eight and I have my wife's support but thank you." he said.

"Okay" I replied.

A few minutes later the meeting was adjourned.

"I guess I'll be leaving now. But I'll be in New York for a few days or a week, so... Thank you." With that Mr Jarius took off.

"What is the matter with you son"

My Dad began, "throwing questions like that at him, what was that about?" He asked.

"Dad it's a long story, right now we both need some rest." I said to him.

"I don't understand, who's the girl"

"like I said a long story, we need rest."

"John you better explain wh-"

"Dad, please not now at least." I said finally, then I left the room.

I didn't know anything about Mr Jarius. I guess it was just a coincidence, he had the same last name as Mary.

He is probably an only child or something. My thoughts kept running. But if he some how happens to be related to Mary, then Mary was right, he doesn't want to be found.

•~•~•~•

Mary.....

It's been a few days and Luke hasn't called me for a second job. He didn't call at all. But he kept sending me on errands through one of his boys. And by Errands, I mean dealing. Is this now his new thing for me? I thought to myself. But if I get caught, I get to testify right? But then again, he'd have me killed for being caught. But why send me. He already has boys to do that.

"No, no, no, where is it! " I said panicking as I looked for the necklace John gave me.

"I'm sure I kept it in the pillow case or, or did I put in the shoe box, God please! Okay calm down Mary, you just can't remember where you kept it. Madame Roseline.....but she doesn't go through our stuffs right? She just checks the room. But I don't know that. She doesn't even think we have anything worth stealing, but what if she did and what if she didn't and she'll probably wonder where I got the necklace. I could tell her Luke gave it to me- that won't work. It's here somewhere I should just, just calm down, I can't!

"What!" I was interrupted by a knock on my door.

I opened it to Marcus, the driver, with the same old blank expression.

"Come on Boss wants to see you."

"8:35pm?" I said looking back at my wall clock.

"you're asking me?"

"Uh, okay....let me just wear something....nice"

"Just come on"

"I'm wearing jeans and a T-shirt I-"

"Come on, it's just a few details about your next job. Honestly I don't even know why you're bothered about what to put on"

"But he always prefers I dress in something ni-"

"come on"

"o-okay." well that was the longest conversation I've had with Marcus so....Progress, hehe.

We got to Luke's house, Music playing loud, a lot of girls storming in and out of the building. He threw a party.

As I followed Marcus, I got uncomfortable with the way some of the girls were staring at me. Was it because I didn't dress like I belonged or, the "favouritism" Luke showed me? Either ways I didn't care.

Marcus told the bouncer standing in front of a door to let me in. Probably the VIP section or something. I pretty much preferred it when I was with Marcus. I smiled nervously at the bouncer, he had a sneer that made me regret my expression. I looked away and quickly walked in.

"Hey! you, out, both of you" Luke said to two girls snapping his fingers as they scurried out. I was the only girl left with three other guys with threatening looks.

"Where's my package" he said to me stretching out his hand.

"Package? you didn't-"

"Don't play with me girl"

"The last errand was yesterday and I had Jock give it to you."

He stared at me for a moment.

"Errand, she calls it errand." He said laughing to himself.

"Jock who was supposed to get my package today?" Luke asked turning to Jock.

"Eh... It was, it's Mike."

"Go tell that boy not to waste my time or he'll regret it."

Jock quickly obeyed.

"Hey, kid. Go get ready for your next job, tonight" he said to me.

"Tonight?"

"Yes tonight, you got a problem with that?"

"Well you could have told me earlier at least."

"boo hoo, we all make mistakes."

Tell me about it.

"Go get ready, he's a friend of mine and he paid $2000."

"Two thousand?"

"Yeah, it's weird what rich men do these days huh? Considering what happened with the rich kid, he'll probably pay more for a second time, maybe five thousand?"

"I....I can't"

"what was that?"

"I quit." suddenly realising what I said, I wanted to retract but, I didn't. Where did that confidence come from? I'm going to die.

your not.

"You quit. You quit. You quit? " Luke said staring at me, he began to laugh. As he laughed, fear crept in.

"You quit!" he said again as he banged the table with his hands. I took a step back.

"Do I look like a joke to you! " He stood up immediately.

"Luke.... I, I've been with you for about ten years and I'm not going to lie it's been a living hell. Just let me go and I'll leave, no cops, no snitching, no nothing."

"I should let you go! You want to go huh." He reached for his belt and pulled out a gun.

Shook, in fear, I stood still.

"You ain't saying nothing, now huh. You got some nerve, you walk in here telling me you quit."

I stood frozen, I dared not to move an inch.

"You can't talk now can you? "

"Please, Luke...." I said in a frightened whisper.

"Shut up! Or I swear I'm gonna pull the trigger!"

I kept shut and tears began clouding.

He put the gun away and sat down.

"Where's your phone?" He asked.

"I- I didn't think I'd need it so I, uh-"

"Speak up! "

"I left it at the house."

"Well I had someone get it for you just in case." No, no, no, no! I didn't clear the call history, how could I be so stupid.

"What? "

"Dammit where's Mike?"

"I'm sorry I'm late Boss." A guy said as he came running in. He handed Luke a bag.

"Where's the phone?"

"O sorry, here."

"Be careful with me man"

"Yes, I'm sorry."

"Now get out."

As the door shut Luke began,

"Now lets see what we have here."

He sat down.

"Password"

"Luke, please.. I "

"password! "

He handed me the phone and I typed in the password. I reluctantly gave him the phone.

God please.....please help me I don't know what to do please.

"It's been a while since I checked your phone don't you think." He scrolled through the call history. My heart started racing it's way to my throat.

"This specific number, it's here more than the others. Who is it? "

"It's, it's a friend of mine."

"The one with the bar? "

"Y-yeah. "

"How bout I give him a call-"

"no, i-its not him."

"Then who is it, the girlfriend?"

"No. "

"Who! Don't play with me girl!"

"It's. It's John" I said. Tears came rolling down.

"John? The rich boy? "

"Yes." I breathed.

"This just got interesting. Connects some dots huh boys." He said to them and their smiles caused goosebumps down my spine.

"What, what dots?" I asked terrified.

"let's go to text messages." He said ignoring my question. I'm doomed.

"What's this, ah... I have great plans for you says the lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you a better future and hope. Happy Birthday Mary. John" He started to chuckle mischievously as he read.

"We got a bad boy turned not just good but holy. And a couple of can I call you.....oh, there's a recent one how did I not see that. About an hour ago. Mary is it okay if I call? The same damn boy, John. Oh man, you've messed up bad kid." Luke said looking up at me. Everything I was afraid of about getting John involved all came to reality. Please God don't let anything happen to John, I'd never forgive myself.

"Now I'm going to ask you just one thing. Did you tell him anything other than what he thinks he knows"

"I...."

"did you!"

"No, I just told him I wasn't getting good pay that's it."

"Ding ding more dots connected." I looked at him terrified and confused.

No, he knows something.

"You know I had my suspicions Mary. Why would he come just because he wanted another night and agree to a thousand dollars, I mean he's rich, but still. I didn't bother about that because I hoped he'd pay more next time considering his first pay. But there was something off. I decided to go to your apartment. See if I'd find anything and then a woman came looking for you, I told her I was your uncle, she said she hoped you were doing okay. Because you're a blessing. I asked how. She told me about the donation and the singing too and I told her just how proud I was of you." he said with a smirk

"Nice lady though." he continued.

"I hope you didn't do-" I started terrified.

"Oh come on I'm not that bad. She's fine in case you're wondering.

The security in your neighborhood isn't that great. Well made it easier to break in, I'm not the one to complain, but you might want to have the locks checked out. But since you didn't notice the picked lock then I guess it's fine." He chuckled. Then he face grew firm as he continued.

I found receipts-"

"I saved-"

"Spare me that! You saved! I found a box too, a jewelry box, and I know a box of expensive jewelry when I see one." No, please no.

"I searched for the beauty and guess what I found in your pillow.....this."

One of the guys handed him a box. He opened it, and took out a necklace. I quickly recognized it as mine.

"A stupid place to hide it, but I guess you expected to come back to it" he continued.

"What....please Luke. Please I'm begging you,pl-"

"Shut it. I had it checked out. It's real diamond, real diamond, 2 carat.

And all trails lead to the rich boy. He gave you some money didn't he? Answer me! "

"Y-Yes. "

"How much? "

"uh.... "

"How much!"

"Five thousand."

"Five. Five thousand! Damn girl! I don't even know what I'm going to do to you. Even killing you won't be punishment enough."

"Please.....Luke, please don't hurt him." I begged.

"Nah, I won't, unless he knows something. Does he? "

"No, just about the pay and he decided to help"

"And the necklace, clearly he gave it to you. He's the only one in the picture that can afford it."

"He did, i-it was for my birthday.... I told him about the event too and he came, and gave it to me."

Luke took a deep breath pensively as he leaned against the seat.

"He likes you doesn't he?" He asked sitting up.

"I might even say love, but I don't know for sure." He continued.

"Yes, he, he likes me." I replied

"And do you him? "

"I-No"

"Don't lie to me!"

"yes...." I whispered wiping my tears.

"I want you to end this as soon as possible, you hear me?"

I stuttered.

"You hear me!" Luke yelled.

"Yes" God please don't leave me...

I won't I never will

I can't keep on...... Pls help me.

"You know what, call him" Luke said handing me the phone.

"What? "

"I said call him!"

"Luke please-" He shut me up by pulling out the gun again as he stood up.

"Call him, tell him to come over to your apartment. Make it sound sexy would ya." He smiled and winked at me.

"Call now,"

I collected my phone. My hands shaking, and my heart beating with fear as I pressed call.

"Hello?" I said clearing my throat.

"Put it on loud speaker" Luke whispered and stood beside me holding the gun to my head.

"Hi... Mary."

"H-hi John."

"Hi, are you-are you okay? "

"Yeah I'm fine." I said trying my possible best to sound as convincing as I could.

"I've missed you." I heard Luke chuckle but ignored it.

"I've missed you too"

"Get to the point." Luke said nudging me.

"Hey, could you come over to my apartment?"

"Your apartment? is it, is it okay if-"

"Yes it's fine, I just need to see you."

"Oh-okay, uh when."

"Tonight" Luke whispered.

Uh tonight, but if you can't its-"

"it's okay, I will, I'll be on my way." Damn it, he couldn't be busy this night? At least he should think it's late.

He obviously wants to make sure I'm fine.

"Uh.. The address."

"Oh... I know...I followed you that night when you left, after the event, I'm sorry about that." He laughed nervously.

"It's okay. Just come"

"okay. Bye"

"bye."

"He followed you, he probably knows something." Luke said after I cut the call.

"He doesn't" I said to him.

"Please don't do anything to him, please don't hurt him he did nothing wrong!"

"It's all on you kid. When he comes you tell him that you never felt the same, you don't need him, his money or his love."

"Luke.... Please"

"I'm not done. Tell him you want nothing to do with him. He should leave you and never try to contact you and you never want to see him again. I advice you to make it believable. Because a bullet's gonna make a hole in that head of his, you don't want that do you? Like I said It's all on you, don't say I didn't warn you."

"What did I ever do to you!"

"Stop winning and come on. You have no choice as long as he's coming. You wouldn't want his blood to be on your head, would you?"

He was right. I had no choice. I had to go with them. I had to do what he wanted. I can't let anything happen to John. I have to do what I have to do, no matter how painful it might be. It already is. He's going to be crushed, I'm going to be crushed.......I'm already crushed. What if he doesn't believe it, I obviously have to make him to. But what if he actually does? All that's going to matter, is that he'll be alright.

My heart was crushed, I started to get angry at myself for thinking I'd ever be free. The hurt was so overwhelming.

But with a clenched heart, I decided to say a little prayer.

I'm losing hope God. I don't know what else to do.

Is this it? Am I ever going to be free? Because it feels like these chains just got tightened.

Lord Jesus don't let Luke win.

There's nothing too big for you to handle and I'm trying to believe that.

Please Handle this God, there's no way I can myself.

A/N: Incase anyone wondered... Yes a picked lock can be relocked. Well some.❤️