10. Mustache

I got home at 4. There was time left for the office. So, I laid back on the couch, hanging my knees down by its hand. I asked Lady Anna where's Adam. He's in his room. Putting a cushion under my head and closed my eyes.

"Aren't you going to have lunch?" She asked.

"No, I ate in college," I replied with my closed eyes.

There was silence after our little conversation.

The song 'Animal' of 'Martin garrix' was playing in my dream. By each second it's music was getting real and I was awake by the ringing of my phone. I searched my phone on the couch but found it in my jeans pocket. Lifting it with my closed eyes, I muttered a low. "Yes."

"Where are you, Miss. Troustkey?" It's uncle Wilson.

No!

My eyes were wide open now. I glanced at my phone to see the time. it's quarter to five.

I don't want to go now. I slapped my free hand on my forehead causing a facepalm.

"I will be there in minutes." By this, I cut the phone and stood in a sitting position. My legs were numb from hanging. I saw Adam sitting in front of me on the carpet with his legs crossed and a huge smile on his face. I asked the reason behind his smile but he did not respond instead, widened his smile. I turned towards Lady Anna who was still in the kitchen preparing dinner. She chuckled a little but there was no response from her too.

Why aren't they responding?

I cocked my head in Adam's direction. 
His smile is suspicious.

"What have you done Adam?" I asked him directly in a cold tone.

Without responding, he slants back with his palms resting on the carpet for support. The smile was not leaving his face. I knew he did something. So, I rushed into my room to see. Did he mess up my cupboard? He didn't. I was back in the hall to check, did he broke my favorite game CD? No, he didn't. I again ran into my room to ensure that he didn't touch my books which I won't allow him to do, not even this. What else did he do? I froze as soon as I reached in front of a long mirror that is engraved in one on the wall of the room. I yelled at Adam after contemplating my reflection in the mirror.

"Adam!!  You drew a mustache on my face!"

I walked down the hall with heavy footsteps where Adam was on his feet ready to bunk.

"I am going to put you on the roller coaster which never stops," I said vexedly as he doesn't like roller coasters.

"Woah! Mustache suits you, Levy." He said and ran behind Lady Anna.

"Do not call me by my name," I utter these words only when I am angry. "Lady Anna catch him. Don't let him go."

She raised her hands in defeat and spoke. "Keep me away from your Tom and Jerry fight."

That's not fair.

I ran after Adam. We're having rounds around the couch.

"I am going to tie you in a rope and hung you upside down," I shouted at him which made him laugh. "Oh! In that case, I will look like a pupa. I will break through the rope and fly away." He said while laughing.

He is talking like me.

"I am not got gonna let you fly." I ran after him and jumped from the couch to catch him.

After catching him, I was sitting on him with my legs on either side of and his hands in my grip above his head. I opened my mouth to speak but before I could let out a word, he spoke.

"Aren't you getting late for the office?"

I quickly glanced at the clock it reads 5. Shit! I wasted 15 minutes on this. Standing on my feet, I looked down at him. "I will deal with you later Mister," I said and rushed into my room where Adam shouts back at me.

"BTW that's a permanent marker." And ran in his room before I could even turn to see him.

Another 15 minutes wasted on cleaning. My face turned red because of the rubbing and wiping. I quickly dressed up and hastened toward the office.

When I reached, I saw uncle and Loren were waiting for me in the parking area. I parked my car, walked towards them and was greeted by uncle's words "What time is it, Miss. Troustkey?" I looked at my wristwatch it's quarter to six.

I said minutes but took an hour, now being late has become my habit.

"I-" I begin to speak but was cut by Loren. "Never mind, we're already late, now let's go." We all sat in one car, uncle's car, a black Jaguar. Uncle sat on the passenger seat beside the driver and, Loren and I were in the back seat. After a long drive, we halted at a deserted place, not fully dessert. There were few houses and construction was started on our land. Now I am doubtful whether this plan would work or not. My observation commenced as soon as we reached. I spot a familiar kid and called him but he ran away. I begin to follow him until a familiar hand caught me by my shoulder.

"Do not go anywhere," Loren said pulling me beside him.

"But I knew that kid," I said. 
He is the kid who was in the pizza shop along with that old lady.

Loren surveyed his eyes behind me but that kid was nowhere to be found "I cannot see anyone." He said and added. "Better you stay along."

I did what he said and after having a conversation with the workers, we're back to our office. To avoid boredom I took a French dictionary and begin to read. My reading was interrupted by Loren's voice. I raise my head from the dictionary. He was standing against a big shelf with glass doors where all files were kept in it. Big enough to cover half of the wall leaving a little space between its perpendicular wall.

"Miss. Troustkey, come here." Was his words.

I obeyed and walked towards him. He handed me some files and was searching more. Pointing his finger at them and moving along with the row. I mirrored his action and walked along with him with files in my hand.

"Ah! Here it is." He said and took out a file, walked towards his chair and sat on it.

"Hey! What am I supposed to do with these files?" I said raising the files in front of him.

"Keep them back." He replied and started reading the file.

"What do you think of yourself?" I snapped at him.

Though I didn't ask it as a question he answered. "Your sir."

I wanna rip his head off.

I sighed and kept the files back on the shelf. Dragging my chair closer to his, I looked in the file which he was reading. I cleared my throat before speaking.

"What does that file says?" I asked softly.

He stretched his hand holding the file towards me.

"No thanks. Please continue your read." I said and moved back on my chair. I read many files these days. Those are actually boring.

A door to uncles cabin ajar and uncle peeps his head with his hand resting on the door nob. "Mr. Blaik, Mr. Jaffery said he is trying to call you but you're not responding"

"Ok," Loren replied and uncle shuts the door.

Mr. Jaffery. I heard this name before.

I was in my thinking mode when Loren spoke. "Trying to remember the person?"

"Huh?" I turned towards him. "Yes."

He took his phone out and scrolled some images. Stopped when an image of a fat old man appears, he is as fat as Mr. Martin one of our employees. Old enough to be retired with jet black hair.

He surely dyes his hair.

"He is our business partner," I said remembering him.

"So your thick head remembers him." He glanced at me.

"Hey-" I begin to protest as usual but was cut off by him.

"He's my uncle." He said nonchalantly.

"What?" My mouth agape. So that's why this deal was important.

"Yes." He replied while examining the file.

I wanted to ask him about his parents but didn't. Instead of asked. "Aren't you going to call him?"

"No."

"Why not? He was trying to call you," I asked, confused by his reply.

"He lied." He threw his phone towards me. I took a hold of it before it meets the ground.

"There is not even a single notification of his call." He supplied.

I checked his phone. He is right.

"Why did he lie?" I was curious to know.

"So that I should call him." He was replying to my questions but his gaze was fixed on the file.

"So, why don't you call him?" I asked. This time he closed the file and stood on his feet. "Stop inquiring me." Just when I thought we're having a normal conversation, his cold mode is on.

His phone vibrates in my hand. He bends towards me, took his phone and walked away making his conversation inaudible. After completing his talk, he picked up his coat and walked towards our private elevator.

"Hold on." I walked in front of him blocking his way. "Where are you going?"

"I am off now." He replied and stepped aside.

"No. Wait. You can not go like this." Now I blocked the elevator's door.

I will be bored. You're not leaving Mister.

"Step aside Levy and let me go." He said in a petulant manner.

At least I knew that he is not going to push me away so I stayed stubborn.

"No. you are not leaving until I do." I crossed my hands over my chest.

He ran his fingers through his hair just like Jacob and said. "Your wasting time Levy. Now move. She will be here at any minute."

As soon as those words left his mouth, the main door of our cabin wide open with a click sound. We cocked our head in the direction of the door with a look: we do have another door to our cabin.

••••••••••••••

H.LOCKHART.