Chapter Twelve

CHAPTER TWELVE

*The Jordans 1*

He could hear faint laughter and voices emanating from the far corner of the enormous house when he gingerly stepped in. He could see the maid, who was unaware of his presence, darting across the dining room where the faint voices and laughter were coming from with trays laden with sumptuous dishes of all sorts. The tantalizing scent of the food wafted through his nose causing his stomach to grumble. He let the door click shut softly behind him so as not to rouse their attention at the earliest second he stepped in. He did a couple of breathing exercises to gather himself.

Thinking about his past made him doubt himself a bit and now he's fidgeting.

Fuck! He needs to get his acts together!

Alright man, act normal you got this!

He took a deep breath and exhaled again.

His boots stomped the neatly polished marble flooring as he went. He flinched as the faint voices and laughter became louder and abruptly ceased when he came into view. At this point, he really wished his boots were not so fucking loud. He had hoped to creep up on them without them even noticing.

This is a ludicrous thought and he knew it!

Pair of eyes trained on him. He forced a smile like a timid teenager. Just when he was striving to get back into his usual aloof character that his eyes caught hers. And at that instant, images of her naked silky body against his skin flooded his thoughts. He cleared his throat as if to snap his thoughts out of it. He made his way to the empty seat opposite her. Mr Jordan sat at the head of the dining table.

Janice bit her lower lip nervously. She gently raised her glass of lemon juice with shaky hands to her lips, eyeing his features over the curve of the glass. there ought to be a law forbidding men to look like he did. His chiselled jawline enhanced his strong features and his beautifully moulded lips. Large biceps bulged beneath his crinkled white shirt. Damn! He's magnificent like a demi-god.

Her heart stirred at the thought of having this glorious body beneath her. She couldn't resist the urge to lick her

tongue in lust.

"Welcome, Drake. Help yourself." Mr Jordan said as he motioned to the table hampered with varieties of dishes. Drake fetched himself some pork soup and some vegetables. He met her gaze again. Her cheeks blushed as she averted her eyes. She quickly gulped down the chilled lemon juice almost choking on it. She is losing it! She thought angrily. Not when he's here with her to tease her with his side stares. She squared her shoulders and adjusted her short-sleeved vintage shirt.

A wily smile crossed his lips.

He took a sip of the hot pork soup. The taste was out of the world! The piquant sour-sweet taste nursed his grumbling stomach and he inhaled, savouring the food as it tingled his nostrils.

Mr Jordan gently placed his utensils down on the table and dabbed the napkin on the side of his mouth. He cleared his throat to get everyone's attention, especially Drake's as he fixed his eyes on him.

"Mr Hughen, I want to apologize for my rather brash behaviour yesterday. I took things too far. You saved my daughter and I'm eternally grateful for that." Mr Jordan said ruefully.

Drake was a little taken aback that Mr Jordan would apologize to him. But he didn't let his reaction show as he forced an awkward smile. Well, at least that would save him the trouble of trying to regain his trust again.

"You don't have to apologize, Mr Jordan, Yesterday put everyone on edge so it's quite understandable you would react like that."

"Still, that was ungentlemanly of me. And I take back my words about resigning you from your work. We are happy, my daughter and I, that you've finally returned to work with us again." He said as he gestured to his smiley daughter. "But, you never mentioned anything about your abrupt disappearance. May we know why you disappeared like that?".

This question alarmed him. Though he knew they were still going to ask sooner or later. That's why he had concocted a white lie about his mother's surgery. The truth is, his mother never did surgery but she's suffering from Bipolar disorder after losing her unborn child to miscarriage as a result of the devastating demise of his father. He had caught his mother one day when she was about to end her life with a pocket knife against her throat. Drake had walked in on his mother crouched on the floor, shivering in tears as her shoulders shook.

"I'm so sorry Douglas I can't do this. I can't take it anymore!!!" She wailed.

"Mum what do you think you're doing?!" He screamed in fear as he spotted the knife close to her throat. Like an arrow from a bow, he wrenched the knife from her hand and tossed it to the floor.

Drips of blood were leaking from her hand. He huddled down and took her in his arms, hugging her tightly with his eyes closed. He looked intently at his mother with concern furrowing his brows.

"Why are you trying to take your life?"

She shook her head frantically.

"I'm so sorry my child. But the burden is just unbearable. I feel like I'm losing my mind ever since your father died. And the thought that some rich folks are involved makes me even sadder. We couldn't save him I-" she broke down crying profusely.

"And taking your own life will? Look at me Mum, I can't bear to lose you. Dad's death hasn't been easy for any of us. I love you and we can get through this I promise."

"Whoever was involved in his death will pay dearly for it I assure you!" He said vengefully.

He clambered to his feet and fetched the first aid box from the compartment in the wardrobe. He helped his mother off her feet and gently led her to the chair in the living room.

"Let me look at your hand" He dressed her would neatly. "And we're done".

"Thank you. You are just like your father, sweet and kind. I wish this didn't happen for you to change."

"Mum, do you know who did that to father. First, he was unjustly imprisoned and then he died mysteriously in prison. I just don't get it. Who wants him dead and for what?" He demanded.

"The Jordans" she whispered as she trembled with tears yet again.

His hands curled into a fist as his blood-shut eyes burned with spite.