Chapter 3

JOE’S POV

I watched as her expression changed from that of suspicion to pain …raw pain .

She pressed a smile , her eyes moist from holding back. She glanced up , her gaze meeting mine .

“ Welcome to my world Joe” she said , her gaze not leaving mine until she stood up.

Your world ? That's too bad of a way to put it , don't you think ?

“ I will take a walk outside” she said, then paused , her gaze scanning the entire space , a scowl slowly settling on her face “clean up the building , it's a little dusty” she added and walked away , her shoes echoing as they slid against the dusty marble floor

I bowed, my back stiff from the constant bending. When I was sure she was out of sight, my gaze went to the television which was still on and displaying Claire's interview. I pulled out my phone and dialed a number. It connected immediately, “What is going on?” I asked, dragging in one breath.

“ Boss …Miss Claire refused your conditions and grandma King is actually in support of her” Raymond, my secretary said , his voice trembling .

My hand tightened around my phone , my gaze fixed on the woman on the television, she was playing with fire . Thinking she could get whatever she wanted by manipulating my mother ? She was courting death .

“ Boss uhm..do you wish I terminate your contract with her ?” Raymond asked , a little hesitant.

I flicked my tongue, slowly rubbing my temples with my left hand . Terminate the contract ? He didn't want his grandmother nagging him for a wife anytime soon .

Grandma was only after one thing , to see her great grandchildren . Making Claire pretend to be my girlfriend was enough to make her stop worrying.. but Claire ….she was biting off more than she could chew .

“ No…only keep an eye on her” I said , my gaze not leaving the proud woman on the TV screen .

“ Okay boss, I will send you the company reports now” Raymond said and the call was disconnected .

I clenched my phone tightly, a sinister aura surrounding me . Not only was she sinking her fangs deep into me, she was also wrapping my grandmother right into her palms , making her a useful pawn .

“ Claire Jackson” I breathed out , “ a game you want ? You are not worthy” I pressed out , word for word , my voice cold and detached .

My phone chimed, it was a notification alarm, Raymond had forwarded the entire company reports to me .

I looked around the house , the dusty curtains , old chairs and crappy desk. My hands folded into a neat blow.

How in the world was I going to clean this mess up and also live …here ? I asked, taking in the look of the apartment .

How could a well known celebrity be living in such a crappy place ? Well, unless….she didn't deem me worthy enough to be trusted. I sighed, she used a fake identity to get herself a cheap maid and then tried to intimidate me with her real identity?

Quite fierce !

I hissed , sliding my phone back into my pocket as I made for the kitchen , maybe I can start from there .

My gaze fell on the broken faucet and leaking pipe, my eyes momentarily darkening .” Dammit! She went too far !” I cursed .

One thing is finding a method to clean up the house , the other is repairing broken stuff. Maids don't have engineering degrees or ..do they?

I picked up the white tape on the sink , trying to slap it on the pipe or stop the leakage but the tape was too weak to hold it .It was actually harder than I thought it would be.

I quickly dialed Raymond's number.

“ Tell me how do I fix a broken faucet and a leaking pipe?”

“ Boss ..are you okay ?”

My hands tightened, “ answer me” I bit off , my voice cold .

“ Uhm… I think you need to find the main problem and then find a replacement and …fix it” Raymond replied .

I sighed loudly , irritated “did you think I would call you if I knew how to do that ?! How is what you just said a freaking solution ?! ”

I heard Ray gulp , silent for a few seconds, “ get your ass down 63 Brooklyn Street , don't be late!” I barked an order and disconnected the call.

The gushing water was too much, so much that a lot was going down the drain and a little dropped on the floor . I found the water supply and switched it off before the entire apartment ended up soaked in water .

Several hours passed with me figuring out a way to clear the mess and Raymond helping me fix the damn faucet.

“ Can I ask a question?” Ray asked, after long hours of cleaning and fixing. His clothes were dusty , with specks of dirt on his face and arm.

I …looked worse!

I lifted a brow , “ you just did” I deadpanned, making Ray adjust awkwardly.

“ Are you doing all of this to …stay away from more hostile attacks?”

I paused, my fingers hanging mid air from my phone , I glanced at him, brows raised “leave, she would be back soon” I said , brushing off his question.

I saw him look down and then nod slowly. “ Tell no one where I am or what …I'm… doing” I said through gritted teeth . Every word, a silent threat.

It would be a shame if words slipped that I , Jay Kingston, was a maid ! Of …a mere actress .

Ray fidgeted and bowed multiple times before storming out of the apartment.

I slumped onto the bed. The furniture creaked, making me hiss . The bed was hard and grumpy, making me doubt I would ever get to have a good sleep.

The room was small, more like a mini- condo inside an apartment. The window was almost non-existent, very tiny to let ventilation slip in . Also very difficult for light rays to find its way into the room.

The bed took most of the space in the room making walking around a little too difficult.

“ Just what did I get myself into?” I asked, groaning from butt pain.

My phone lit up, my gaze fell on the caller ID and my eyes darkened . I stared at the name for a while before answering.

“ Ah Jay” Claire's melodious voice rang out from the other side.

I held onto the phone tightly, enough to make it snap into two.

“ What do you want?” I asked , suppressing my obvious irritation.

“ Grandma King wanted to have a little dinner , you …..”

“ I'm busy” i bit out through gritted teeth

Claire pressed out a sigh, feigning tiredness. “ Of course I know you are busy , I just told her that I had a role to audition for…but turns out , it has already been snatched from me” she said , her voice masked with innocence and savory calmness.

My brows arched a bit , “if you have anything to say , pass it to my secretary, he would convey the message to me” I said and immediately disconnected the call .

I heard a slight noise in the background, a perfume , rosy and expensive cut through the air, the scent wafting into my nostrils. Someone came in through the door . I stood up , wanting to check the living room.

My phone vibrated …a message from Claire .

“ Jay, the role of Cecilia Hartwell in Eclipsed heart was snatched from me. You won't let people mock me right ? Grandma king would not be so pleased” the message read .

My jaw clenched, she dared to involve my grandmother ? Did she wish to die ?

Then a slight hiss erupted from the living room, Sienna seemed to be on a call “Tell me , who tried to diss my role ?!” Sienna barked , her voice audible.

Wait , did Claire take this to the internet?