Branch Forty Four
The whole table turns to fave Genevieve seeing that her fake accent and high-pitched voice were dropped it seemed that she seemed serious. There are no traces of a prank or joke from her end. She seemed genuine.
“You mean you aren’t here to cough out money out of us?” Dawson asked.
Jessica was now sure that Xavier got his smart mouth from his grandfather. Dawson was on my grown and knew when to use it and when not to. Xavier on the other hand used it as long as he spoke.
“I am sorry about the past. I’m getting older and I realize that I need to have a stable income and probably settle down with a family” Genevieve responds.
“Did someone agree to marry….. You?” Dawson asked.
Xavier was quietly savoring the meal and not even looking up to check if anything was going on. He knew his grandfather would take good care of it.
“No… sir,” Genevieve said.
The air is grace and ‘I’m-above-you’ that she came with was suddenly like thin air as she was left looking like a person in actually serious needs.
“Do you want to penetrate the business to steal money since what we might be giving you is not enough?” Dawson sparked at her.
By this time both parties exchanging words were no longer eating but Xavier was almost done with what was on his plate and he was reaching out to get more.
“Not at all” She responded.
Dawson noticed that she was calmer than usual and was not claiming any rights as she usually did.
“So it will not matter the job we gave you?” Dawson asked taking a piece of the pancake and chewing slowly.
He watched Genevieve to get any reaction. Instead, she nodded and turned to face him from beside Jessica.
“The job doesn’t matter. Get me a job” she said also taking a bite of the food.
“Even a janitor or security would do?” Xavier finally spoke.Còntens bel0ngs to Nô(v)elDr/a/ma.Org
‘These men think alike’ Jessica thought within her. She had not been invited to talk so she was just going to quietly enjoy her meal all by herself.
“Get me that job,” Genevieve said.
Xavier and his grandfather exchanged glances. They found it unusual that she was asking for a job. Her usual method was to cough out a large sum from them and then leave. Dawson had said that if he was alive by the time she returned he was going to lock her up in a holding cell for twenty fours before sending her away.
It seemed that this time around she decided to become reasonable and earn money herself or that she has a scheme up her sleeves.
“Bring a CV to the office for the interview. If you are denied access at the entrance call me” Xavier said standing up and ready to leave.
“Wait” Jessica finally said.
Both men had probably forgotten that she was there.
“Oh, Jessica go on, Xavier sit and listen to what your wife has to say’?” Dawson said encouraging her to speak.
“I think I should be able to take Aunt in-law in as I am about to establish my business,” Jessica said.
The expression on Xavier’s face changed. To him, it seemed like Jessica was a master of jumping into unsafe situations and staying there as long as she could.
“A word,” Xavier said to her.
“Okay,” she said standing up.
She followed him as he walked till he was out of earshot from them. He stopped and turned to face her.
.”Why would you suggest that? She is a woman you barely know and all she does is cough our money from those around her”
“I know her kind all too well” Jessica sighed running her hand through her head.
“What do you mean by that?” Xavier asked concerned.
He thought back to how manipulating she had been all her life. He would be less than shocked if he later discovers that this was just one of her manipulation schemes.
“My mom’s sister was the one to take care of me after my mom died. She used up all the savings and insurance left by my mom and sent me to an orphanage” Jessica started
Telling this story was one of her absolute worse but she was going to tell it either way. How then would she convince him that she was aware of what relatives like that were? She was opening up a part of herself to him. She also hoped that this would bring them a tad bit closer.
“After I graduated she would show up once in a while and try to get all I had on me. She would then disappear only to reappear when she wants. She has been pestering me with calls ever since I got here. She must have thought this place to be a good ground to get as much as she wants” Jessica confessed.
If she was going to be telling him her back story she might as well tell him the whole truth without hiding anything from him.
Xavier was stunned to hear her short story. He now knew that she had suffered her own fair share of awful relatives.
“Why then do you think that her joining your business is the best way?” Xavier asked now concerned.
Suffering such a thing once was bad enough to not talk of adding another person with the exact same characteristics.
“My business is just starting up. I don’t even have a name for it” She said a little laugh at the end of her statement.
“And so?” Xavier asked not getting her point.
“So what I am trying to say is that she would not be able to get much out of me and I can out her to work. Even if you put her in the lowest position. These women have a knack for manipulating people. She can easily manipulate anyone she wants. With me she can barely get anything” Jessica said.
All the words Jessica said were not enough to convince Xavier and she could tell so on his face.
“Let’s do it this way then. She works with me until everything is set up. We test her out a little by putting her in situations that can make her want to steal and manipulate and see what she does. She would not be able to hide out for too long” Jessica told him.
Although her words were wise Xavier was not interested in putting Jessica in such an uncomfortable position.
“I’m fine use me. That’s the least I can do for the house and free food and even the doctor’s appointment. It must have cost a lot” Jessica said.
“I never asked you to pay for all those things. You helped me secure my place in the company so take it as a thank you from me to you” Xavier responded.
“Then use me again,” Jessica said plainly.
“What are you two love birds doing?” Genevieve’s voice came across as she approached.
“Jessica, the chairman needs you,” Genevieve said.
Xavier walked up to her and stood in her front.
“You would address my wife as the lady of the house,” he said to her.
“Stop it, Xavier. It makes me uncomfortable” Jessica walked up to them.
“See she said she doesn’t like it,” Genevieve said. Xavier standing so close to her made her uncomfortable. But then she saw her sister’s face in his and she wanted to touch it fondly but she could be thrown out for that so she cautioned herself.
“You would still address her as such” Xavier said in a firm tone before turning back to face Jessica.
“We will conclude in that matter when I get back. Don’t make any rash decision” he said and turned to start walking away.
He stopped halfway to the door and stared intently at Genevieve before speaking.
“I don’t trust you”