Chapter 6 - He's rich, am broke

"What's up Liam... Am on my way to your house" Andrew's voice rang into my ear from my phone's earpiece.

"Uh... No don't!" I exclaimed sharply.

"Why? -- or wait... You have some chick around and you don't want me to ruin your show right?" Andrew chuckled over the phone.

Then I shook my head amusingly and said in a playful tone "Seriously bro, can you ever stay a day without thinking of ladies huh?"

"Okay okay" Andrew replied in between his laughter before clearing his throat and said. "So what are you up to?"

"Nothing much... Just went out early for a job interview" I answered with a wide grin on my face - turning around slowly before leaning my butt on the wooden table inside the garage.

"Woa!... Tell me, have you gotten a job and when are you starting?" Andrew asked over the phone with his voice sounding very surprised.

"Hm-mm" I hummed softly with a nod of my head. "And I've started today... Infact, I was about working before your call came in" I added in a hearty voice - turning my head sideways to glance about the garage as I waited for my friend's response.

"So any good good in your new working place?" Andrew asked in a somewhat teasing voice.

"What?" I exclaimed quickly, trying as much as possible to hold my laugh; although I didn't quite understand what he'd asked, but I was sure it wasn't far from a lady being the subject.

"C'mon man... By 'good good' I mean a chick or fine girl, whatever" Andrew replied over the phone with an infectious laugh that got me laughing hard.

So I turned my head and looked at the garage entrance to see if someone was standing there and by 'someone', I meant Chloe -- but no! There was no one there just me and myself. Then I cleared my throat as my laughing subsided and replied my friend's questioning, saying "Actually there is...Her name is Chloe and she's damn cute bro. But I doubt I'd want to do anything with her, you know what I mean?"

"Are you kidding me right now? -- The Liam I know will shoot his shot at any girl he desires, no matter what" Liam replied in a somewhat motivating voice which sounded a bit amusing to my ears.

Andrew wasn't far from the truth, he knew me well - infact, I wasn't known to backing down easily on any girl; I loved challenges, but as for this girl Chloe, I wasn't sure if I should shoot my shot! Besides, it will be a risky gamble doing anything with my employer's daughter.

"I dunno bro... I just don't feel like I should, you know -- she's the daughter of the man am working for. I really need this money for my mom and won't want to screw things up" I answered with an unsure shrug of my shoulder - rubbing my left hand over my left thigh with so many conflicting thoughts clouding my head.

But to my greatest surprise, this was what my friend Andrew said to me. "Come on! What's the harm in a little adventure?. Look, I bet you 100 -- no 300 box that you won't be able to lure this Chloe of a girl to your room, let alone kiss her"

Andrew's response seemed to have woken the other side of me as I became hungry for a win; this was my weakness -- a challenge, and he knew how to use it against my resolve!

"I see... Well that's a bet. Oh, and don't say I didn't warn you when you loose your 300 box." I agreed with a teasing voice, laughing hard at the stupidity of our gamble; I mean, of all the things to bet on, why a girl? Chloe for that matter!

"Hey hey... Don't get your head all swollen already, my bet comes with a condition" Andrew chuckled over the phone - clearing his throat halfway as he spoke.

"Oh really...now am scared. What's the condition?" I asked, faking a surprised and cowardly tone of voice as I spoke when infact I wasn't; whatever his condition was, I just knew I could beat him to it!

"You have just 8 days from now to kiss this Chloe of a girl and lure her to your room" Andrew answered confidently with a mischievous giggle; the mere sound of his giggling brought goosebumps rushing through my skin.

'What?, how am I to do that in just 8 days?!' This doubtful thought echoed loudly in my head as I adjusted my butt on the table before parting my lips in response.

"Andrew, come on bro -- 8 days? Seriously?" I growled in a somewhat playful but frustrating voice as I felt regretful for even accepting his challenge.

"None can do man... We have a bet" Andrew chuckled over the phone in a purposeful voice -halting my will to call it off; but I just have to see it through - atleast, to keep my integrity.

"You know what bro, not only will I kiss Chloe and lure her to my room -- but I'll also get down with her in bed, so you know I haven't lost my game" I bragged with my head nodding convincingly after speaking; but deep down inside, I had questioning doubt like 'will I ever succeed in what I have just bragged about?'

"Now that's what I call a bet... May the best man win. And oh, can we meet at the bar 6pm later today?" Andrew gave out a hearty response and asked as he concluded.

"Yeah I guess... But if am not able to make it, I'll call and tell you before time... I have to go. Bye" I replied quickly and hung up the call before he could even say a word in response.

"Boy, I should never have answered this call" I chuckled to myself with an amused shake of my head; placing both hands on the table as i sat on it to glance at all the tools inside the garage.

'Aha That!... Now how do they operate that stuff?' My mind chorused rhetorically in confusion when I caught sight of the mower; this was the first time I was ever going to use such an equipment and I had zero knowledge of it or how to even put it on!

So I raised my phone to enter my browser and on the search bar I typed 'Quick tutorial on how to use a mowing machine'...

"This should do" I muttered inaudibly when I found a brief detailed article about it; then I stood erect and moved to get the mower.

*****

I was done leveling the lawn with the mower at about 2:15pm in the afternoon; infact, the article I read online came pretty handy as no one would ever have believed me to be inexperienced.

The only issue now was that I was feeling a bit tired and hungry with my shirt slightly damp from my sweating. Working the lawn took hours for me because of its size -- it was massive, almost the size of a tennis court!

"God, I need to go get something to eat, am famished" I mumbled inaudibly under my breath as I took the tools back into the garage - arranging them in the order they were before.

Then I paused instantly and stood erect when I heard light footsteps of someone approaching behind me. So without wasting much time, I turned around swiftly and saw that it was Chloe entering into the garage and holding two cans of soda in both hands.

"I thought you might need a drink?" She said courteously with a cute smile on her face as she approached - halting her steps few metres in front of me.

I couldn't help my heart from pounding hard on seeing her again - especially when I thought of the bet I made with my friend Andrew. Seeing her stand in front of me with such beauty and glow made my bet seem almost impossible!

"Ah yes... Sure, i'd like that" I answered in a somewhat nervous but hearty voice - clapping the fragments of grass and dust from my hands before collecting the soda from her.

"Thank you" I added with a friendly smile and opened the can soda - gulping hard on it with my eyes closed in relieving pleasure as the chilled drink sank down my throat.

"Here, you can have mine" Chloe offered with a faint giggle - extending her drink to me when she noticed how fast i finished mine In few gulps.

"No... No, it's fine. Am okay... Was just feeling thirsty." I chuckled, motioning my hands at her not to bother. Then I placed my empty can of soda on the table and fixed my gaze on Chloe who held onto her drink with both hands.

"So errm... I see you're done for today?" Chloe asked, turning her body halfway to glance at the tools before returning her gaze back to mine.

"Yes I am... I need to go home now, I just realised I came to work without having my breakfast and am so famished" I answered with my shoulders shrugged as I dipped both hands into my pocket.

"Do you mind staying for lunch?, I mean -- it's the least I could offer" Chloe blurted sharply with a concerned tone - giving me a searching gaze after she spoke.

"No!" This word flew out of my mouth instantly in nervousness before I even had the chance to think it through. "No... Am sorry, but I'll have to decline. Maybe some other time." I added, but this time in a more calmer tone.

"Okay" she replied in a low voice, forcing a smile on her face as if trying to mask some feeling of embarrassment; seeing that I turned down her friendly offer. But how could I accept with today being my first day at work? What if her dad comes back to see me in their dining room?! Trust me, it wasn't ready or willing to find myself in such a scenario.

"Errrm... But you can walk me out if you don't mind" I said, trying to sound a bit gentlemanly.

"Okay -- sure" Chloe agreed with a courteous smile and turned slowly to face the garage entrance - sluggishly moving towards it as I followed beside her.

We were almost close to coming out of the garage entrance when the loud voice of a guy echoed - bringing our steps to a slow stop.

"Babe, I was looking all over for you" The guy said as he jugged towards us with his car key rattling in his left hand. Then he gently pulled Chloe to himself and gave her a kiss she could hardly resist - not minding my presence whatsoever, like I was a ghost or something. Of a truth, I felt embarrassed and stupid standing there just watching them kiss; if I had known better, I would have left a long time ago.

"Oh, babe I want you to meet Liam, he works for my dad.. and Liam, meet my boyfriend Kevin" Chloe said immediately the moment she pulled away from Kevin's kiss.

Looking at this guy, I knew I was never in his league; he probably had a car of his own, his outfit seemed pretty much expensive to me -- plus, he was handsome too. I mean, he had everything I didn't have - well, except for the handsomeness because I was handsome too!

"Hi... Nice to meet you" I said, faking a pretentious smile on my face to mask my embarrassed feeling before extending my right hand to Kevin for a handshake; but all I got was a snubish nod of his head while he wrapped his right arm around Chloe's shoulder.

"Babe, let's go inside -- I don't even know what you were doing in your dad's garage" Kevin's teased with his voice gradually fading in the distance as he walked back to the house with his right hand wrapped behind Chloe who didn't have the chance to even say bye to me - or maybe she didn't want to! After all, I was only a gardner for her dad and nothing more!

So I lowered my right hand in bitter frustration and walked out of the garage and out to the road to get a cab - feeling so dispirited alongside the hunger that was...