CHAPTER TWENTY TWO

The ride home was in awkward silence. I shot Jonas daggers that could kill if not it was my eyes I shot with. He was still livid, as his palms were in fists and his muscles were flexing rigidly. His suit jacket was gone and his buttons were open, revealing his chest and abs. I studied his chest to try and calm down. Miss Jane was irritated, as she kept gritting her teeth audibly.

What could've caused this? Why would he just jeopardize our plan?

Once we were in the house, Miss Jane fired. "What was that all about? I thought you had come to your senses."

"Mother, I'm sorry. That was not supposed to happen," Jonas apologized to his mother.

"So why did it happen? This would not just jeopardize the mayor and his family, we're also in danger of shutting down for what you did," Miss Jane reprimanded.

Jonas's body was tensed when he said, "First thing in the morning, I'll go apologize."

"Good. Make sure you do that," Miss Jane said and went to her room.

We starred at each other, still angry. It annoyed me more that he won't just explain.

"So I have to ask for it," I snapped. "You're not getting my trust and appreciation if you don't explain right now."

"There's nothing to explain to you. I like my life private," he replied.

I almost lost it, "Did you just say private? We planned this together. We decided to do this. We not just you. So whatever happened concerning this concerns me and not just you. The girl we were fighting for, had just been given to him as a trophy after you messed up. You had better start talking."

He exhaled and said, "I didn't trust you but I trusted you enough to go through this with you cos we had the same goal. And I'm trusting you now with one of my secrets."

I softened and walked up to him. Whatever he wanted to tell me now was going to be big and I was sure that once he was done, I wouldn't be angry anymore. I just knew. I placed my palm on his bare chest, a sign to tell him to trust me and go on.

"I went to get the girl, to smuggle her out like we planned. I got there to find out she is my ex whom I still love dearly. She broke up with me, I remember, telling me she had things out of her control she needed to handle. And that she didn't want to put me in the middle of the mess. That was immediately her parents told her she'll get married. She didn't tell me then but she promised she'll come back to me once she had settled everything. I told her we could settle everything then if she'd just follow me and run away. But she refused. She told me she was being used to pay a debt her parents had. And if she ran away, she'd be putting her parents in danger. She had tried to fight when Lucas threatened to kill me. She said Lucas needed to marry her in order to get his inheritance from his father. So he's doing everything he can to quicken the marriage. I told her not to worry about me. But she said she was doing this because she really loves me and won't forgive herself if anything happened to me. I got angry and frustrated because I knew that whatever I said, she won't follow me out. That was when I acted irrationally. I'm sorry."

My hand had dropped from his chest. This was too much to take in. I was speechless.

I finally found my tongue and said. "None of this was your fault after all. I'm sorry I got angry. Now I understand your motive. I'm still going to help you."

He groaned, "But there's nothing we can do."

I grinned, "There is one thing."

His face lit up with hope, "What could that be?"

I extended my palm like before and asked, "I'm sure you trust me now."

Unlike before, he didn't struggle. He placed his palms in mine immediately and dragged me to the direction of our rooms.

∆∆∆∆∆∆

The next day, Jonas had gone to the Kanes to make amends while I and Miss Jane manned the shop. I was at the counter, dishing out meals and working at the cash register, when two ladies walked up to me.

"The mayor's son would like to speak with you," One of them told me.

"We are to take over from you," the other one said.

"Talk to the owner of the shop. I'm only but a worker here," I told them, continuing with my work.

"We've done that already," they said.

I looked at Miss Jane for confirmation but she was so engrossed in taking orders. When she looked up, she smiled and nodded at me. I went out to find a sleek car without a roof and Lucas wearing sunshades sitting in it. He was drumming his fingers to the beat of a loud music coming from his car. I went to the driver's window and folded my hands.

"What do you want?" I asked him.

He smiled smugly and replied, "I want you."

I laughed sarcastically, "If this is about last night, I'm no longer interested."

He frowned, "This isn't about last night. I just really like you and would love to make you mine."

"But dude, you're engaged," I argued.

He waved his hand, like he was waving off the topic, "Please. She's stale. And I didn't kill her. I want to get my kill myself."

I gawked at him. I can't believe he'd say that about someone.

"You must be a joker," I told him and began walking back inside. "And don't you ever come looking for me again."

What a silly joke.