CHAPTER 172: PERMISSION

Genevieve walked beside her father, Ryan, as the elevator doors slid open. The mirrored walls reflected their image— her neat blouse tucked into her skirt, his grey suit crisp and sharp, like a man who always had the final say.

As the doors shut with a dull chime, Genevieve turned to him. Her brow was raised.

"I thought you said you wanted to talk to me. Why didn’t you say anything in the car?"

Ryan didn’t look at her. He was staring straight ahead at the glowing floor numbers above the doors.

"Because it’s private," he said coolly. "I didn’t want the driver to hear."

A cold feeling crawled up her spine at his tone. She pressed her arms against her sides. "Private... like what?"

Ryan turned his head, his voice calm but serious. "I want Pete to marry Abigail."

Genevieve’s heart dropped. Her brows pulled together as she frowned. "What?" she asked. "Why would you want that?"

"Because I need someone she trusts to keep an eye on her," he said without flinching. "Someone close. Someone in the house. Pete is perfect. And I want you to help him win her."

Her jaw clenched. "You want me to help Pete... win Abigail? Why would I want to do that? Why do you think Pete would want to do that? He has a girlfriend."

Ryan nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "I already discussed it with him. He’s on board."

Genevieve’s lips parted in disbelief.

"Is that why you asked him to take Josh to school?"

"Yes," Ryan replied easily. "He needs to get close to the boy. If Josh likes him, Abigail will open her heart, too. Once marries her and moves into the main house, we won’t have to worry anymore. She’ll be where we can control her. Safe and happy in love with Pete. No one will ever know the truth."

Genevieve shook her head. Her voice grew sharp. "I’m not going to help with that. Why can’t you let her marry someone she chooses?"

Ryan chuckled dryly, then looked at her. "All these years and you still ask such a stupid question? Still acting like a dunce, aren’t you? Use your head for once."

Genevieve glared at him. "I’m using it, and my head says your plan is stupid and evil. Let the girl be! You’ve done more than..."

"I think Abigail remembers. Or at least... parts of it," Ryan cut in.

Genevieve stared at him, wide-eyed. "What do you mean?"

He smirked, eyes narrowing. "She can speak now."

Genevieve felt like someone had punched the air out of her. "What?" she gasped. "She... she talks?"

Ryan nodded slowly, savoring the moment. "You didn’t know? I thought you did since you’ve been acting like her best friend for some days now. She talks. Pete heard her. She’s been talking to him. She wants us to think she’s still mute. She is playing us. And that is because she knows something now. It’s only a matter of time before she knows everything. What do you think will happen then? Do you love her or feel remorseful enough to spend the rest of your life in jail?"

Genevieve leaned back against the elevator wall, her mind spinning.

"Listen, Genny, we are in this together. We are a team, and whatever I do is to ensure everything stays buried. So listen to me and do as I ask. Help Pete win Abigail’s heart. He is the best person to pick her brain and find out all she knows," Ryan said in a softer tone now.

"You really think so?" Genevieve asked, her head still spinning.

"Yes," Ryan said. "She trusts him already. He’s a fine young man. Even you said it yourself that you like him. I know Josh likes him, too. We’ll get more out of her that way."

The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Ryan stepped out first. Genevieve followed in silence, the words in her mouth tasting bitter.

As they walked down the corridor toward his office, Ryan spoke again, switching topics without warning.

"Things went well with Jamal, didn’t they?"

Genevieve blinked. "What do you mean?" She asked, detecting something in his tone.

"I mean," he said, opening the door to his office, "what do you think will happen if Jamal or Abigail finds out the truth? I noticed you like him a lot."

Genevieve hesitated. Then she said quietly, "Jamal... invited me to Ludus."

Ryan raised an eyebrow. "He did?"

She nodded, slowly. "Yeah."

"What did you say to him?"

"I told him I wasn’t sure it was a good idea since I don’t want to meet the Hanks. But I said I’d ask you first."

Ryan walked around to his desk and sat down. "Good enough. But you’ll have to meet the Hanks eventually. Just be careful. Keep the contact lens in. Always wear the wig and you’re good."

He waved his hand, brushing it off like it was a small thing. "They did the DNA test years ago when she was a kid, so they have no doubt she’s a Hank. There’s no way they think there was a swap or anything. No need to worry. Maybe now you can cash out on the trust fund. I will let you keep that," he said as Genevieve sat down in the chair opposite him.

Genevieve sighed softly. "So... you’re saying I can visit him?"

Ryan nodded once. "Yes. Take it as part of your annual leave. And who knows? Maybe your absence will help Pete and Abigail get even closer," he said with a chuckle.

Genevieve didn’t answer.

"Be a good girl, Genny. I have your back. I want you to have mine too, okay?"

"Okay."

"Good. You can go to your office," he said, and she rose quietly.

"Alright. Thank you," she murmured and left his office.

As she walked back to her own office, Ryan’s words echoed in her mind.

Abigail can speak?

Could it be true?

She thought about asking Abigail but then she remembered Pete. He was the one who heard her talk. If she wanted answers, he was the place to start.

Why did he report Abigail to their father? Why didn’t he tell her about it first since she was his employer and he knew how she had been trying to practice to sign for easy communication?

When she got to her office space she noticed that Pete was not on his seat yet. That meant they were yet to arrive.

The moment she walked into her office and sat behind her desk, she pulled out her phone and texted Pete.

[Come to my office as soon as you get in.]

Then she sent another message, this one was to Stefan.

[Good morning, Stefan. I’m sure you’d see this when you wake up. My father gave permission. So we can start planning my visit you in Ludus. Call me when you wake up.]

After sending the text she went to make herself a cup of coffee, and just as she settled down in her seat again, a soft knock sounded at the door.

"Come in," Genevieve said.

Jamal stepped in. "You wanted to see me?"

She nodded, motioning to the chair across from her. "Sit. We need to talk."

He took a seat, resting his elbows on the arms of the chair. Genevieve’s eyes stayed fixed on him.

"My father said Abigail can speak. Is it true?"

Jamal blinked, clearly surprised that Ryan had told Genevieve that. "Yeah... it’s true. But it was supposed to be a secret," he said, trying to figure out the best way to go about this. He didn’t want to complicate things by giving a thoughtless response.

Genevieve frowned. "A secret? Between you and Abigail or you and our father?"

"Ms Abigail and I."

"Then why did you tell our father?" Genevieve asked, giving him a pointed look.

Jamal’s voice dropped. "Ms Abigail was scared. After I confronted her in the car, she thought someone might’ve seen us talking. She didn’t want him to find out some other way from any of his spies. We agreed to tell him."

Genevieve leaned forward, her gaze narrowed suspiciously. "So, you’re telling me you told him on her request? Are you on her side?"

He shook his head. "I’m not on anyone’s side here. I just want to do my job without getting on anyone’s bad side. I told him because I was worried someone might have seen us talking and if I don’t report back to him then I’ll be in trouble because he’d think I’m disobeying him and hiding things from him."

She studied him.

"I’m only telling you this because I trust you. So, please do not tell you father that Abigail knows that he knows she can speak," Jamal said, and Genevieve nodded.

"And don’t tell Abigail that your father told you that she can speak either. I don’t want her to know I told you the truth," Jamal said, and Genevieve nodded again.

Then, quietly, she asked, "He told me you plan to seduce her and get married to her."

Jamal didn’t answer at once. His face was calm, but his eyes were guarded.

Was Genevieve still working so closely with her father for him to have told her all this? Were they making a mistake by trusting her too soon?

"I am considering it. I haven’t made up my mind yet," he said quietly.

Genevieve stared. "You are what?"

"I said I am considering it."

Her voice rose, edged with anger. "Why would you consider something like that? Abigail has someone she loves. She has a boyfriend. You’d be a jerk to play with her like that if you don’t even like her."

"What if I do like her?" Jamal asked, voice even.

Genevieve narrowed her eyes. "What about your girlfriend?"

"We broke up."

Genevieve sighed. "I didn’t figure you to be this kind of guy," Genevieve said, sounding disappointed.

He leaned forward now, his tone quiet but firm. "I really do like Ms Abigail," he said simply. "And it has nothing to do with our father."

Genevieve held his gaze, "She has a boyfriend. Someone she loves."

"She can never be with that guy as long as your father is against it. You know that. I want to be with her. I believe I can win her heart if I give it a shot. Will you let me be with her if I win her heart? If she refuses I won’t force it. I will let her be," he said, and Genevieve looked at him for a long moment, heart thudding.

"Did you tell my Dad that you like her?"

"No," Jamal admitted. "And I don’t think he would’ve asked me to do this if he knew I liked her."

Genevieve tilted her head. "So... how do you plan to report Abigail to him?"

"All I want is to keep her safe," Jamal replied. "That’s it. I won’t let her do anything that puts her in danger or makes him worry. But I won’t spy. I won’t hurt her."

Genevieve watched him. His face was steady. Honest.

Finally, she nodded. "Alright," she said slowly. "You can give it a shot. But if you hurt her... if you break her heart, I’ll make you pay for it. Personally."

Jamal smiled happily. "Fair enough. So, will you help me?"

Genevieve sighed. "I don’t know. I really don’t want to get involved in this directly. It feels wrong."

"Would you rather I say no, or fail, and your father asks someone else to do it? Someone you have no control over?" Jamal asked, and Genevieve frowned.

"I will help you," she said, and Jamal grinned.

"I guess we are going to be in-laws. I will get to work, sister-in-law," he said with a polite bow as he rose, and Genevieve smiled as she watched him go.

Better Pete for Abigail than anyone else, right? She asked herself, trying to feel less guilty about deceiving Abigail.