Chapter 30: £5000 For A Secret

Chapter 30: Chapter 30: ￡5000 For A Secret

In the morning around 6:30am, Simon was already awake,he couldn’t sleep.

The morning was beautiful, but his night was ugly. The lights coming in through the curtains were soft and gold.Outside his window, the birds were chirping. The morning breeze felt so cool and fresh.

He had not slept at all. His eyes were red. He sat on the edge of his bed with his phone in his hand. He had been holding it for hours.

He had made a mistake. Now he is afraid that Flora Darwin would dig out informations about him.

He looked at the time again. 6:43am. He took a deep breath and dialed the girl’s number again.

He has been trying to reach her like forever, it did not go through. Now it rang. One ring. Two rings. Three rings.

Then she picked.

"Hello, my name is Simon, the guy who bought items worth ￡20,000 at your store.....

"Hellooo," she said. Her voice was sleepy and playful. "Mr handsome has finally remembered me."

Simon swallowed. "Good morning," he said. His voice was low.

"Good morning to you too, handsome," she said."You called several times last night. I thought you forgot me. Did you miss me?"

She laughed softly.

Simon did not laugh. He was not in the mood for flirting. His heart was beating very fast.

"Please, I need your help," Simon said. "I am serious. I need you to do something for me."

There was a small pause on the other side. Then her voice changed a little. She still sounded flirty but she was listening now.

"Ooh, you need me? What do you need, Sir, a sizzling hot massage? Tell me."

"Could you please connect me to the person in charge of receiving calls at your branch?," Simon said. "The owner or the manager. Please. It’s very important."

The girl laughed again. "Sir, really. You are calling the person. I am the one."

"What do you mean?" Simon asked.

"I mean I am the one in charge of incoming calls . You are talking to the owner’s rep. What is the problem? She asked

Simon became calm. Just a little bit calm. If she was the one in charge, then she could control the situation.

"Okay, good," Simon said. "Thank God you are the one. So I want to ask you. Did anyone by the name,Flora Darwin call? Did Flora Darwin call the store yesterday or today?"

He held his breath.

There was silence. He could hear her shuffling some papers on her side.

"Flora Darwin?" she said slowly, as if she was thinking. "Flora Darwin... Flora Darwin... No. No one by that name called. I am sure. No, Sir. No Flora Darwin called."

Simon closed his eyes. A wave of relief came over him. He felt his shoulders drop. He was calm.

"Are you sure? Are you very sure?" he asked again.

"I am very sure ," she said. "No call from Flora Darwin. Why? Is she your wife? Are you in trouble?"

Simon did not answer that. He had another plan.

"Listen to me," he said. His voice was now steady. "I need you to do something for me. To cover me up."

"Cover you up? How?" she asked.

"The gifts," Simon said. "The gifts that came from the store. If anyone ask, or if anyone who bears the name call to ask, you should say the gifts are a present from a wealthy woman that I met at the store. We tagged along but something came up, she had an emergency so she left the gifts for me. "

The girl was quiet for a moment. Then she giggled.

"Ah, Sir," she said. "So you want me to lie for you? You want me to tell a sweet story to save you? That a rich woman is chasing you?"

"Yes," Simon said. "But you can switch it up a bit. Please."

"And what will happen to me if they find out I am lying?" she asked. Her real tone was back, but now there is something sharp inside it. "I could lose my job, Sir. I am risking my job for you. Is that how you treat a girl who likes you?"

Simon understood what she was doing. She wanted money.

"What do you want?" Simon asked directly.

She laughed. "You are smart. I like smart men. I will do it. I will cover you up. I will tell a befitting story. But it will cost you. Five thousand pounds."

"Five thousand pounds?" Simon repeated.

"Yes, five thousand pounds," she said. "For my risk. For my help. For keeping your secret safe. That is my price."

Simon thought about it. Five thousand pounds is a lot of money but not to him, his secret is bigger than ￡5000. If Flora Darwin finds out the truth about where the gifts really came from, everything would scatter. His whole life would scatter. Five thousand pounds is small compared to that.

He did not argue.

"No problem," Simon said. "No problem at all. Send me your account details. I will send it now."

"Really? Just like that?" she said. She sounded surprised and happy. "You are a real deal, Sir. Okay, hold on."

A few seconds later, his phone beeped. She had sent her account details. A bank name and an account number.

Simon opened his bank app. His hands were still shaking a little, but he typed the numbers carefully and pressed send.

He waited for two seconds.

The money was sent.

"I have sent it," Simon said.

She checked. "Yes, I have seen it. I have received it. Five thousand pounds. Thank you, Sir"

"So you will do it?" Simon asked.

"Done," she said. Her voice was now very confident and sweet. "You should not worry. Everything will be sorted out. I will handle it. I will tell her your story. No one will ever know your secret. Your secret is safe with me. Trust me."

Hearing those words made Simon feel calm again. Truly calm.

"Thank you," he said.

"No need to thank me, Handsome," she said. "Just remember me when you become even richer."

Simon ended the call.

He dropped his phone on the bed. He looked out of the window. The morning was still beautiful.

He sat there and waited patiently. He did not know what he was waiting for. Maybe he was waiting for war. Maybe he was waiting for the lies to become the truth.

But for now, for this morning , he could breathe again.

At about 7:32 am, there was a bang on Simon’s door.

BANG BANG BANG.

Simon jumped. He jumped like his soul was about to leave his spirit. He was still lying on the bed, holding his phone.

The banging came again.

BANG BANG.

"Who is there?" Simon shouted. His voice was shaking.

"It is me, Simon! It is me!" a voice answered from outside.

Simon stood up slowly. His legs were weak. He walked to the door and opened it.

It was the gardener.

The gardener was standing in front of the door with a big smile. He had his dirty work clothes on,a grass cutter in one hand and a small bucket in the other. He was sweating already even though the morning was still cool.

"Good morning, Simon!" the gardener greeted him happily. "Good morning to the hottest driver in the whole of London!"

Simon tried to smile but his face could not smile. "Good morning," he said quietly.

The gardener looked at Simon from head to toe. Simon was still in his night shorts and singlet. His eyes were red.

"Handsome driver, why are you still sleeping by this time?" the gardener asked. He sounded surprised. "Why are you still inside? This is unlike you. Normally, by this time you have already washed the cars. Are you sick?" Or have you been upgraded to top premium package?

Simon shook his head. "I am not sick. Why are you sounding so silly? Can you be serious for once in your life? I just... I just did not sleep well."

The gardener nodded, but he was not really listening. The gardener love to gossip. He loves to talk.

"Premium driver, you need to sleep well o," the gardener said. "Sleep is good for your heavy muscles. Yesterday night, I saw when Madam was scolding you. I hope you have not stolen her money? If you try it, Madam will make sure you serve 50 years in prison with hard labour . This your handsome face will fade with wrinkles and by the time you are released, you will become an article of no commercial value with second hand price tag. Just make sure you play your cards well, Madam is a billionaire in different currencies, no jupiter will save you. Have you heard about the driver that sold Madam’s car engine..?"

He was talking and talking, trying to engage Simon with gossip. But Simon was not in the mood. Simon’s mind was far away. He was thinking about Flora Darwin.The gifts inside the boot,his flight is in two weeks,the five thousand pounds he just sent and what the girl at the store will say.

Simon cut him off.

"What brought you to my corner?" Simon asked. His voice was a bit harsh. "What do you want? Why did you come to my room?"

The gardener stopped talking. He looked a little embarrassed.

"Sorry, premium driver," he said. "I came to know why you have not washed the cars,the cars are dirty. Madam said you should always wash them early. So I came to remind you."

As the gardener was talking, he was busy sniffing his nose like a dog searching for food. Sniff sniff. Sniff sniff. His nose was moving left and right.

"What is that smell?" the gardener said. He dropped the bucket and looked through Simon’s window. Through the window, he could see inside Simon’s room.

On the center table inside, there was Simon’s last night meal. The food was still there. It was covered but not eaten.

"Ah! Simon!" the gardener shouted. "You did not eat your food! Why? Your last night food is still there! Why didn’t you eat your food? Are you fasting? Did you quarrel with the chef?"

Simon looked at the food too. He has forgotten about it.

"I was not hungry," Simon said. "I was not hungry last night. So I did not eat."

"Not hungry?" the gardener said. His eyes were wide. He was staring at the food. "Really, you didn’t devour the salmon fish? Well spiced to my taste. And you say you are not hungry? Since morning,I have been hovering around the kitchen for another plate. But this new chef is very strict with food unlike the former one who is very generous.,I really miss her but since she choose to be the Peter who betrayed Madam, who am I to save her"

Simon understood. The man was hungry.

"Should I give you the food?" Simon asked.

The gardener’s face lit up immediately. A big smile came on his face.

"Ah! Will you give me? Simon, you will give me?" he said happily. "God will bless you! You have been the best driver ever employed in this house"

Simon went inside his room. He brought out the food. It was still fresh,he didn’t touch it . He gave it to the gardener.

The gardener collected it with both hands like it was gold. "Thank you sir! Thank you sir! You are a good man! God will bless you! You will live long!" Madam will not fire you! I will always watch your back!"

He turned and was about to leave. He was already opening the plate to check the food.

Then he stopped. He turned back again.

"Ah, I forgot!" he said. " Simon, there is one more thing."

"What is it?" Simon asked.

"Madam is at the garden," the gardener said. "She is doing yoga. She said she wants to see you. She demands your presence immediately."

When the gardener said that, Simon’s heart skipped.

His legs refused to move again. He was dumbfounded.

"Madam?" Simon said. His mouth was dry. "Our Madam?"

" Madam Flora," the gardener said simply. "Madam Flora Darwin. She is at the garden now. Doing yoga. She said I should call you. She said ’Tell Simon to come now.’ That is what she said. Immediately."

Simon stood there like a statue. He could not move. He could not speak.

Flora Darwin was at the garden. Doing yoga. And she demands his presence immediately.

After everything he had done this morning? After the call? After paying five thousand pounds to cover his secret?

Why was she calling him now?

Did the girl at the store lie to him? Did Flora already know? Did someone call Flora?

A thousand thoughts ran through Simon’s head at once. Fear. Guilt. Confusion.

He looked at the gardener. The gardener was looking at him.

"Premium Simon, are you okay?" the gardener asked. "Your face has changed."

Simon tried to move his legs but they were heavy like cement.

"Did she... did she say why she wants to see me?" Simon managed to ask.

The gardener shook his head. "No o. She just said you should come immediately. She is doing yoga. She looked serious."

Simon swallowed hard. His beautiful morning had just turned ugly again.

He stood at his door, frozen, while the gardener stood with his plate of food, watching him.

He knew he had to go. He had to face Flora.