Chapter four

.....still on the job

"would you like me to call Winston to drive you to your destination? " Roland asked John.

"No, we'll be walking" He replied.

"Very well sir."

"Would you stop calling me that" John said letting out a sigh,

"okay, John" Roland replied with a smile, not just contagious to John, but to me also, without even realising it. He treats his workers like..... family. Speaking of which, he just has only..... two.. Except the security and the third, the driver doesn't live with them? Unbelievable, total opposite of Luke.

"Where are we going? " I asked looking up at John as we walked out of the mansion. He waved at his security, they greeted back and he turned to me

"a walk doesn't have to be a specific place does it? "

"Well yeah...in, some cases-"

"some, not most"

"Uh, okay". He has a point.

We kept walking down the quiet street.

"So you have any friends Mary? Mary

right? " he asked.

"Yes, it's Mary and Yes I have friends" I replied, smiling to myself at the fact that he remembered my name. I'm not even supposed to use my real name, but it's all good.

"Would you mind talking about them?"

"Sure.......Well Edward, owns a bar, he's always been there and also his girlfriend, even though..." I'm saying too much.

" Even though what?" He stopped at my silence.

"Well we had a problem but I guess we're good now." He nodded.

"So how about you?" I asked.

"Well I have a best friend he's name is Josh, weird and funny guy, but he's a great friend. At least he's not after my money." He smiled at the thought of his friend.

"Is he your only friend?"

"Well I mean I have a few others, but he's the only I really trust, and also my sister, of course."

We began to pass a few houses, then we came to a park.

"Then we did have a specific location" I said.

"Nope we didn't plan to come to a park, You just followed me. "

"But then you did want to come here"

"No, I just happened to spot it and decided to come here instead."

I pursed my lips and drew my brows. He began to laugh at my confused expression.

"Come on let's sit on a bench, if you get too cold then we'll go back to my house and it's some minutes to 9pm".

"Okay" I smiled as we sat on a bench, staring at the green space with road LED lights illuminating.

"You know " he began,

"the night Stella, my ex-girlfriend, broke up with me, I just drove and drove, thinking about what I did wrong. Until I spotted the Lukeaid lounge, the strip club. I told myself that it'd been a while, maybe I could get a drink watch a couple of girls dance, maybe I'd forget about it just for a moment."

He stopped, taking a deep breath, he continued

"After watching and drinking all I could, well not too much, your boss recognized me, I guess. Asked me what was wrong, I tried not to tell him but somehow he guessed"

That's Luke for you, always thinks he knows what a man needs.

"So I just told him and he said he knew what would make me feel better, so he talked me into booking one of his girls, and I did. I gave him my contact and address, The next day realising what I did I tried to cancel but I didn't get his phone number. He told me he wouldn't tell anyone, about my visit to the strip club. He actually made sense saying and I quote, "a man would do anything to heal his broken heart"

He's right though and he said, me coming to his strip club, gives him a reason to trust me, and I him."

He let out a sad laugh and all I could feel was the guilt of bringing up the break up.

"Why are you telling me this? I'm nothing but a-"

"Stranger?" he cut in turning to me.

"I mean even if you'd threaten to tell the whole world that Downey Patterson's son almost slept with a stripper after his break up you'll have your boss to deal with. I'm pretty sure all he wants is the money. Plus I can tell you're not enjoying this job.

When you came today, I could've denied your coming to the security......but something inside of me told me to let you guys come in, then I thought to myself that I would say no right in Luke's face. Then I saw you, you looked tired, hurt. You just didn't look happy."

I looked away. What is he a psychic? I must have given away too much.

" Look, at least that's what the voice inside me told me, well more like the Holy Spirit, definitely isn't my instincts."

"I....don't have a problem with my job" I lied. There I was again, pretending to be fine and acting like I didn't here him mention the Holy Spirit.

Why would the Holy Spirit tell him that. What could John possibly do? Nothing.

"Yeah but.....this isn't what you want" he said and I averted my eyes again, uncomfortable with the eye contact that made my heart pound.

"If you don't want to talk about it, it's fine"

I nodded in response."

can I ask a question?"

"yes.. Sure" I replied hoping it wasn't a personal one.

"Do you believe in God? " My breath hitched. I turned to him speechless.

I took a deep breath,

" I uh "

I looked down, thinking of the right words to say, then I looked at him.

"yeah.....I mean, I kinda do but..... not really, at least not like before. And before you ask why.... There has been a lot things that have been going on in my life that I really don't want to talk about."

"Hey, I won't force you." He raised his hand in defense.

"Sorry, it's just, sometimes I just wonder if he cares about me, if he actually still loves me."

"He still does you know-"

"Then why do all the bad things in my life happen if he loves me! " I yelled in anguish. John stared at me shocked, completely thrown off.

"I, just-"

"You can't blame Him for all the bad things that happen in your life, if your gonna blame him, there's a devil too you know." He sighed.

"My point is, just don't blame him. We live in a broken world. Bad things happen but God isn't the cause of it. He'll be there to get you right back up. He hasn't left you just know that."

I took a deep breath and let it out in a little sob. He wrapped him arm around me. A shoulder to cry on, a comforting arm, can't remember the last time I had that, not even as a kid.

We separated as I wiped my tears,

"if you're not happy with your job then you can come work for me, maybe along with Shanon, I'll pay you good money."

He offered. That's great but I don't have a choice. I  obviously I couldn't tell him that.

"Thanks but, I'll be there for a while." More like forever.

" I want you to know that God loves you, he wants what's best for you, he has great plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a better future and hope." He said, his voice laced with sincerity.

"Is that from the Bible?" I asked,

"Yeah why'd you ask?"

"well it sounded too smart for you to make up." He rose an eye brow and we both began to laugh.

"But seriously," he continued,

"You should believe that and your life would change for the better, you don't have to pretend to be okay, just tell God everything. He's listening. And if you're ready to give your life to Christ then just say a simple prayer that you believe in his son and your sins are washed away."

I'm not in that position to, but it's nice of him.

"Thanks,really"

" No problem, I'm also pretty new in believing so..shall we go back, it's beginning to freeze out here",

"Yes, we should." With that, we began our walk back to the mansion.

We came back realising that the clothes in the closet had been cleared out, Shanon, is amazing. I should have been the one doing that.

"Guessing you need something to sleep in and if you wanna shower I could give you some privacy." John said to me.

"It's okay, I don't have to shower. And I have my-"

"that? You don't think we're still going to..... I'm...I'm still going to pay, if that's what you're worried about."

I opened my mouth in shock. And without thinking, I threw myself on him, giving him a hug. He's grip tighten on my waist as we hugged longer than normal.

"Thank you" I said trying to let go, but he wouldn't. He must really miss her. Maybe men do have hearts.....At least, some.

He finally let go,

"I'll get you something to wear". He said smiling, but under that smile, you could read the hurt in his eyes.

He gave me a red striped on white pajamas from the closet.

"It's big but you don't have to wear the trousers"

I nodded and went into the closet, arranging my clothes- Alice's clothes with his. The pajamas were actually big. The shirt almost knee length. I came out hoping to not see and wishing to see the same sight as last.

Well, he was still in his jean trousers and Jean jacket over a black T- shirt, probably waiting for me.

"All done", I said to him.

He got in and changed to well he just took the jacket off and replaced his jeans with shorts.

"Hey I'm, I sent $3,000, to Luke's account-"

"Thank you, Thank you so much"

"it's fine, I want to give you $5,000-" "what!.....no, no, no, no-"

"I can give you in cash, guessing your probably not paid enough" I just stood, confused. Who is this guy? and why in world would some one want to let him go.

Are there really people, men, that nice and generous?

"it's okay, I'm not gonna tell Luke"

"no.. " I shook my head.

"I don't know what to say.... It...its too much."

"Hey...Just...take it as a form of blessing. You need it more than I do. I insist."

I just stared at him, speechless.

" Just give me your account number and I'll send it. We both don't want Luke to find out."

I let out a little sob,

"thank you"

" it's fine, so you're gonna give me the account number or what"

"yes, I... I saved it on my phone." I checked my bag for my cellphone and gave him the number.

"Can I....Can I have your phone number?" he asked a bit nervous. "I....can't sorry, we're not suppo-"

"why not?"

"My phone gets checked every now and then, almost unexpected."

"Okay why don't you give me your number, then by any chance I call, you could clear your phone history immediately."

He just had to figure a way around it. It's almost like he had a suggestion or an answer to everything.

"Come on, for a guy, who didn't sleep with you and still paid you, that's the least you can do" he cocked his head.

"Okay, sure I will", I said finally.

He handed me his smartphone and I dialed my number.

" You can sleep here in my bedroom, I'll Just sleep at my sister's" He said as I have him his smartphone.

"Why don't you just sleep here then I'll sleep in a guest's room or something?" I asked.

"You don't wany to sleep in a guest room, we haven't had guests in like ages, but I guess , Shannon's been cleaning it? Yeah I don't know.... But it's okay. You just sleep here, its fine." Could he be any sweeter. stop it.

"Aren't you like, scared I'll steal

something?"

He laughed shaking his head.

"I highly doubt you will"

"But what if I do" I said smiling.

"Well now that you're telling me, it's obvious you won't so I'm not worried"

He said with a smile.

It feels like I'm flirting. I thought to myself. I should stop.

"Okay" I said quickly.

He shook his head still smiling.

"Well, good night" he said as he opened the door to leave.

"John," I called.

"Yess"

"Thank you, so much"

"It's fine... Good night Mary"

"Good night".

As he left, I stared at the bed, such massiveness, and comfort, haven't had that in a while, more like forever.

I turned off the alarm on my phone.

"won't be needing that" I said to myself  shoving my phone in my purse.

"I don't know what just happened, but I'm love it."

I said as I let out a sign.

"God, I don't know if this is you, or just some coincidence....... I'm greatful."

I slept off without realising it. The next day I woke up pretty soon, too soon. I looked at the wall clock, 7:55

"shoot!" I jumped out of my bed, well his bed, the bed..... Whatever, I put back my wig on, and picked up my things and ran out of the room, hoping I didn't leave anything. Thinking about it, that could be a great Cinderella moment...

"Seriously Mary" I slapped my forehead.

Running downstairs, I heard two familiar voices laughing. I stopped to pick up what they were saying.

"You know she's great, I mean as a person, she's awesome."

" See I told you, Mary is great, a little stubborn but she's okay."

Immediately recognizing the voices as Luke and John's, I began walking slowly.

"So still thinking about your ex? "

"You know what.... no" liar.

"Ah Mary, hope we didn't wake you up from your beauty sleep"

Luke said to me with a grin that made me worried.

"No" I said raising a brow.

"Well John, great doing business with you, we'll be on our way"

"Okay... Bye" he replied.

As Luke got into the limo, I looked at John, over my shoulder, he nodded, guessing good bye? I nodded back and got into the limo.

During our journey back to "The house" I found myself thinking about the nod, was it his way of saying, I'll be okay, or take care of your self or-

"Mary! "

"Um yeah?" I replied to Luke clearing my throat.

"What are you thinking about, called you like twice....... Anyway, you have done a great job, my am I proud of you" he said rubbing my back.

"Okay?" I said giving a confused expression, he never ever says he's proud... Unless... Its definitely the money. Obviously.

"Look at you acting like its a regular day at work" he said nudging my shoulder.

"Because it is?...... " totally not.

"He paid $3, 000 Mary"

"Wait what really?!" I exclaimed with the excitement of my windfall.

"Yeah, $3000 in one night good job. You know what, take a week off, no two Weeks off-"

"Wait are you, are you serious?"

I asked quelling my excitement.

"Have I ever really joked about anything Mary, no really,have I? "

"Thank you, thank you so much"

"You deserve it."

As we almost got to "The house" I started thinking about what the other girls would think, what Jasmine would think. I'm not supposed to care but, I think she also deserves a time off. Well Thank God, for my time off! Thank God..... Something I haven't said in while. Thank God.