CHAPTER 170: ALREADY?

Abigail was still wondering what Jamal was up to as she had breakfast with Ryan, Genevieve and Josh.

Did he realize that saying that had been a mistake and he was trying to correct the mistake? Or was it part of a new plan with Tom and the others that she didn’t know about yet?

Josh chattered as usual in the background, talking to Ryan and Genevieve about the kids in his class.

Once Ryan finished his coffee, he looked at Josh, "I thought about what you said yesterday. I think Abigail should take you to school daily. What do you think?" He asked, and Abigail’s heart skipped a beat.

Josh’s face lit up with a happy smile. "I will love that very much!" Josh said happily.

Abigail looked at Ryan wondering what he was up to. In dealing with people like Ryan even their most seemingly harmless gestures couldn’t be taken at face value. Abigail knew that he had a reason for deciding that and she couldn’t help but wonder what his reason was.

"Genny, you can join me to the office today. Pete will drive Abigail and Josh to his school then..."

"The car can take the three of us. I could sit in front with Pete while Abi and Josh stay at the back," Genny cut in, wondering what her father was plotting now.

"You can do that from tomorrow. I want us to talk about important business on our way," Ryan said giving her a pointed look and she nodded.

"Okay. That’s fine," she said, since she trusted Pete even though she didn’t trust her father, and she believed that Pete wouldn’t hurt either Abigail or Josh.

After breakfast they all headed outside and while Genevieve got into Ryan’s car, Abigail and Josh headed for Genevieve’s car where Jamal was waiting.

Jamal’s brows pulled together when he saw Abigail and Josh approaching, then he glanced at Ryan to find out what was going on.

He wasn’t surprised to see Ryan watching him. Ryan gave him a subtle nod, and Jamal nodded, deducing that this was Ryan’s way of making him spend time with Abigail and Josh at the same time so he could win Abigail’s heart.

Whether Ryan knew it or not, he was doing the Lord’s work, Jamal thought happily as he went to take the booster seat from Ryan’s car and put it in place.

What more could a guy ask for than to drop off his kid at school and the love of his life at her place of work? Jamal asked himself as he held out the door for them to go in.

He waited until Abigail had secured Josh in his seat before starting the car.

Abigail signed to Josh. [You didn’t say Good morning to Pete. Be nice to him today. He’s going through a heartbreak.]

Josh nodded then looked up at the rearview mirror and caught Jamal’s gaze. "Good morning, Pete," he greeted.

Jamal smiled at him. "Good morning, Josh."

Abigail tried to keep the drive interesting by engaging Josh in a conversation and making sure he talked so that Jamal would hear him.

She asked him questions she already knew. She asked him about his favorite meal and colors and toys and general things that she thought Jamal would like to know.

Jamal listened to Josh’s end of the conversation with a smile. He was very grateful that Abigail was doing that. He knew it was going to take a while for him to get back into Josh’s good book so he wasn’t going to rush it.

When they got to the school, Abigail escorted Josh to the gate, and then Josh embraced her and she kissed his forehead before letting him go.

She returned to the car with a wide smile and the moment she got into the front seat she turned to Jamal.

"So, want to tell me what that was about earlier in the kitchen? What girlfriend broke your heart?" She asked curiously, "and why did Ryan want you to drive me and Josh? Did you both strike up some sort of deal?"

Jamal chuckled without bothering to start the car. "You won’t believe it if I told you," he said, turning to look at her. "Before I get to that, you look exceptionally beautiful today," he said, letting his gaze wash over her.

Abigail felt a blush steal up her face at the warmth in his gaze and she laughed softly. "Thank you. I put in the extra effort for you," she admitted and Jamal grinned.

"How did they make it look so real that it shows when you blush?" He asked. "Some times I forget it’s a mask."

Abigail touched her face with a small smile. "I have no idea. All I know is that it’s an ultra realistic mask custom made for me. It’s comfy though, but I can’t wait to finally be rid of it."

"I can’t wait for the time when you don’t have to wear this mask anymore," he said, and she smiled.

"Me too. So? What’s going on?" Abigail asked, reminding him that he was yet to answer her question.

"Ryan wants me to seduce you and get married to you," Jamal said with a grin.

Abigail was taken aback for a second and then she burst out laughing. "Wait. What? You’re kidding, right?"

Jamal laughed. "Nope. He was pretty serious. He wants me to make you fall in love with me then marry you."

Abigail laughed. "I swear that man is out of his mind. What is he plotting this time? Why would he want you to marry me?" She asked, and then paused when it hit her.

"He probably thinks it’ll be easier to monitor and control me if I get married to someone that works for him. And he chose you because you’re the only one that knows I can speak and he believes I trust you," she said thoughtfully and Jamal nodded.

"That’s it basically," Jamal said, then went on to give her the whole details of their conversation.

By the time Jamal was done, Abigail wasn’t sure if she was more amused or annoyed. Who did Ryan think he was to play with her life in that manner? So, if Jamal wasn’t on her side and he wasn’t the biological father of Josh, what would have happened?

"I feel really irritated by this stunt of his. I can’t wait for the day when he finds out he’s been making a fool of himself this whole time," Abigail muttered.

Jamal took her hand in his, "Don’t worry. That day will come sooner than you think. By the way, Tom’s men successfully hacked his systems. Your office is safe and they will keep their eyes on him."

Abigail let out a relieved sigh. "I’m glad to hear that. Tom seems really capable."

"He is. Tom and my uncle Harry are two very dependable pair," Jamal said confidently.

"So, I guess Ryan’s plan was the reason you had to put up that drama at the kitchen!?" She asked with a grin, and Jamal groaned.

"I was so embarrassed that you saw that. I know the domestic staff are important to you. I didn’t want them to disapprove of our being together," he explained, and she laughed.

"That was quite a performance. Well done," she said, still laughing.

"Cheers to more performances to come. I can’t wait to seduce you, Ms Abigail," he said with a grin, and Abigail laughed despite her annoyance.

"Don’t expect me to make this easy on you. I’m going to be very hard to get. I can’t settle for a mere driver. Especially not one who was dumped by his childhood sweetheart," she said, and Jamal laughed out loud.

"I’m going to treat you right, Ms Abigail, I promise," he said, and she grinned.

"You’re really making me feel excited about this. I can’t wait. Let’s make the best use of this opportunity," she said with a grin and then snapped her fingers when she remembered something. "I have something for you," she said as she reached for her handbag in the back seat.

"What?" Jamal asked expectantly.

"The samples you wanted," she said, taking it out of her bag.

Jamal looked at her with disbelief. "Already?" He asked, and she grinned.

"Your girlfriend is a genius, did you forget already?" She asked, and he laughed.

"How could I forget when your genius speech was all they kept talking about at the team dinner last night? But at this rate I think you’re more than a genius," Jamal said, and Abigail smiled widely.

Jamal looked around them and started the car before she could speak, "I should start the car now. We’ve been here for a while. You can leave it in the car. I’ll get someone to pick it up later."

As he drove Abigail excitedly told him how she had gotten the juice can and coffee cup.

"You’re the smartest girl I know," he said and she grinned.

"And the most beautiful, too?" She asked, batting her lashes at him seductively.

Jamal turned to look at her and he laughed, "Of course. Who else could be as beautiful as you?" He asked dramatically.

"Absolutely no one." She flicked her hair playfully, making him laugh.

"What’s your passcode? I should give you the number of the blackmailer," Abigail said as she picked up his phone which was on the cup holder between them.

"290923," Jamal said easily.

"What’s that? Does it mean something?" She asked, trying to decode the password.

Jamal grinned. "Figure it out. If you are able to, you can ask me for anything."

Abigail rolled her eyes playfully. "We both know I can ask you for anything even without figuring it out."

Jamal chuckled. "I’m glad you know that. But I also know you’d be more excited about figuring it out yourself."

She pursed her lips. "Does it have anything to do with me?" She asked thoughtfully.

"Yes. Shouldn’t you unlock the phone and save the number now?" Jamal asked her.

"What name should I use? Bitch or blackmailer?" She asked, and Jamal chuckled.

"Blackmailing bitch."

Abigail laughed and did as he said before returning his phone to the cup holder. "Is it the day we met?" She asked, still thinking of his passcode.

"No. It’s something pretty simple," he said, and Jamal watched from the corner of his eyes as she took out a journal and pen and scribbled on it.

She separated the numbers and kept gazing at it as she tried different means to decipher what it meant.

Jamal chuckled at intervals each time he glanced at her and saw her brows furrowed in concentration.

"So, can you put that aside long enough to tell me about Josh’s first day at school and what you both talked about?" He asked, and she set the journal aside and smiled at him.

She told him all that Josh had said, and by the time she was done they were at the company.

"So, are you going to tell me what the number?" Abigail asked again as Jamal parked the car.

"What do I get in return?" Jamal asked with a grin.

"What do you want?"

"I’ll think about it and let you know later. You can’t say no," he said and she rolled her eyes.

"What could you possibly ask me that I’d say no to?" She asked and he grinned.

"We’ll have to find out. 290923 is your day of birth, your month of birth, and your present age," he said, and laughed when she smacked her legs.

"That’s so easy! Why didn’t I think about it? I was making complex calculations and even used alphabets in trying to decode it."

"Maybe because you didn’t think of 29-09 as your birthday?" He said, and she nodded.

"You’re right. I think that’s why. I still sort of think of Genevieve’s birthday as my birthday," she admitted.

"This has been my passcode for years. I only change the age each year," he said, and her pulse quickened.

"When all this is over, I’m going to get married to you, Jamal Jonas, and I’m going to make you a very happy and proud husband," Abigail promised, and before Jamal could respond she stepped out of the car, leaving a letter on her seat as she walked away.

Jamal grin as he watched her walk away, swaying her hips dramatically for his benefit.

With a chuckle he picked up the letter, and tucked it into his pocket where his letter lay.