Chapter 4 Lucifer's diary

The lonely hoot of an uncaged bird woke her from her restler from her restless sleep,sometime near dawn. The cold air from the windows outside seeped into her bones. Her arms and shoulders ached from the hours spent working,scrubbing and trekking the other day.

Eddy had personally shown her to her room yesterday night that she was surprised at the attention she was getting from him but decided to keep quiet as usual.

He also took his time inspecting the room, "precautions "he said as the room had not been used in a long time,while she was studying him as he flipped the pillows over searching for what only God knows.

He glanced up and his gaze clashed with hers,knocking her pulse off course. Appalled at herself,she stalked back into the room ,she had to focus on being his secretary,not ogling at her boss,she thought as he headed out.

"Good night ma'am",he said.

She folded her two hands together to form a prayer stance which signifies acceptance as her reply.

Assuming she also meant good night,he spoke to her " I'm working from home tomorrow so we'll meet at the home office by 7am tomorrow" he said sharply.

And now it was thirty minutes to the expected time,feeling nervous. She tried to calm herself by counting from one to ten continuously as her father had taught her. One...Two... Three..she counted as she checked her skirt for signs of wrinkles and dirts.

Then the knock came,she waited, expecting a second knock but it didn't come as she expected rather it came as a rough sound,shocked she walked to the door.

"Open the goddamn door", the person said angrily,obviously a lady.

Wait...a ...minute,she said to herself,as she walked towards the door.

Sighing,she clicked the door open and was faced with the angry eyes of Jessica Ravens.

Keeping her mouth shut,she waited for Jessica to speak first;soon enough she started to.

Oh yeah!, you think you can come right into my house to humiliate me like you did yesterday.

How she wished the ground would open and swallow her at that instant,she decided to switch to her normal mode-keeping mute of course.

She watched disinterestedly as Jessica kept on ranting about how embarrassed she was yesterday not knowing Eddy was lurking around.

He was restless throughout the whole night, thinking of the secretary lady,he felt he should apologize to her for using her as aid to avoiding Jessica's advance, knowing that she wanted to hug him yesterday and since he didn't want to give Jenny the wrong impression that he was engaged to her,he decided to ignore her,not that he ever felt an ounce of attraction to her anyways.

"It's mother's fault", he muffled as he opened the door leading out of his room, cross checking his now tie for the umpteenth time he stepped out of his room,with only one expression on his face: Nervousness, he reminded himself that the only reason why he'll relate to her as a brother rather than a boss is due to her status as an orphan and a reticent lady.

As he heard the familiar rant voice,he knew at once that trouble was beckoning, increasing his pace he walked towards the source of the noise, "God help me", he muttered silently.

Still keeping mute,she continued to withstand the pressure and urge to talk back at Jessica but she waited hoping to tire her out.

"You're not going to say anything"?,she asked

Not knowing how to reply,she kept mute.

All she heard was the whizzing sound of her palm as she smacked Jenny across the face.

"Are you crazy"!Eddy exclaimed as he ran towards the scene.

"She deserved it" was her reply.

"Do you think she's a maid or something"?You just assaulted a woman and I'm calling the cops on you unless you apologize to her now.

Everyone around them at that instant paused to look at Jessica's reaction.

Of course knowing she would not apologize and not wanting to lose his worker's respect he brought out his phone and made the call.

Still dazed,Jenny tried to stop Eddy from making the call,pls...don't,she said weakly trying to get up from the floor,but she couldn't stop him. Jenny and Jessica both watched as he conversed with the dispatch policeman who affirmed he was on his way.

Fuming, Jessica screamed.

"You're calling the cops on me all because of this filthy thing".

"Shut your mouth up",she's an employee and it's the rule,he replied to her as he helped Jenny get back on her feet.

As soon as she stood on her feet,with her face burning red,he drew her closer and hugged her while speaking soothing words into her ears.

This embrace means nothing,she thought. He was holding her out of human kindness giving comfort,nothing more.

But then why did he feel so safe,so virile...so arousing?,she blinked trying not to think to that extent. But his big hand crept to her neck ,sending waves through her nerves. He pulled back slightly and she turned her head and met his eyes.

His hot,golden eyes.

She blinked again,trying to get herself out of her hallucination or better put imagination.

Their embrace was taking too long, she thought as she pulled out of his hold.

Oh,sorry!, he said as he finally let her go reluctantly.

"I'm so sorry about what happened",he said to Jenny.

The police sirens were audible enough now as they drove into Arnold's mansion.

Jenny could spot hatred and fear at the same time in Jessica's eyes as she was torn between swallowing her pride and apologizing or going with the police men.

You're really going to let them take me,she said.

Yes I am,and if Jenny wishes to press charges,It could get really bad...he trailed off.

Hearing that,she apologized,

"I'm sorry Jenny",she grunted.

Much better ,let me thank the policemen for their presence,he said as he started off the walkway, knowing it would be awkward leaving Jenny,he turned and said;"If you don't mind,I'd like us to go together so you can make a statement.

Alright sir,Jenny said, trying to adjust her disheveled dress.

She took his hand as they left Jessica standing there alone.

*********

Well,that was three hours ago and it's work time now,Eddy had called her into his office to discuss the latest invention technology from his corporation.

"Your CV was impressive",he remarked.

"I must say,your results and inventions are incredible,tell me about the electric wheelchair you invented for a disabled man back at your secondary school"l,he said, dropping his pen to listen.

Uhm...I'm flattered sir...she mumbled as she searched for the right words to say,finding none she added,the whole aim and objective is attached to the leaflet sir,she said.

I knew you wouldn't talk,he said,anyways,as you know there's a new contract to be handed over to either I or Henry and I wouldn't want him to get ahold of it. I'm counting on you to also come up with ideas that would enable Lumina corporation to soar higher,he said as he explained by moving his hand into a soave like a kid.

Jenny chuckled,no problem sir,I'll think of something.

One more thing, you'll have to stop calling me sir, Edward would do or Eddy for short,Jessica nodded.

Is that taken?,he asked, smiling at her.

Yes sir,she answered shyly.

And also...,he paused to pick up his phone as it rang.

Morning.

Hello mum.

Alright ma,he groaned; I'm on my way he added quickly.

I have to go pick up my mother from the airport,he said to her after dropping his phone. Feel free to study my ideas and jottings before I get back, he said , handing over a huge book to her with scribblings of ideas she guessed.

After an hour of studying his scribblings and modifying them,she was glad that life was coming into the project at least,she stood up to view the various awards lined up his office wall,most of them showing off his thirty two smiling teeth sets as he received them;she smiled as she viewed one which was a portrait of the family with young Eddy smiling as usual just like his father's,only his mother stared sternly into the camera,as if the camera man had just lost one of her garden flowers,she laughed at her own joke.

Suddenly recalling the protrusion she found out the other day but couldn't investigate,she walked round the office trying to remember where she felt it.

She finally found the little protruding lever,pulling with all her might,she got elated as the wall gave way to a secret entrance to his secret chamber she presumed.

Adrenaline level at the highest,her heart pounded as she claimed the stairs into thé chamber that looked líke an attic below the ground.Pieces of paper were scattered around the floor with just a central table opposite a large portrait of his father such that anyone would always sit facing the portrait.

He must indeed miss his father,she thought out loud moving towards the table to study the notes on them,thinking they were probably more jottings and scribblings,she opened it and realized the mistake she had made. It was a diary,she dropped it knowing it was improper to read other people's diary as she had been taught but curiosity got the better of her as she went back to study the diary.

It contained boyish adventures as expected of course, Jenny taught as she smiles at one of his childish wishes of owning a flying unicorn.

This book must be a hundred years old,she thought as she continued to flip the pages over until she got a familiar date.

It was three nights after her parents' accident and death.it was not the death of her parents that made the night a special one to her,but what happened later in the day, she sighed as she sat on the only available chair in his den to read.