Chapter Thirty One - Avoiding Adian

Hailey's POV

By four pm, I was ready to leave when Jerry came in.

"You're leaving already" he queried, looking at my handbag on the desk.

Uncomfortable, because maybe it's not my close of time.

"I'm sorry! Is it okay? I just wanted to do some shopping for the kitchen" raising my eyebrows I explained, hoping I didn't overuse my privilege.

With a concerned look, "Hailey, you're Adian's wife and you are not bound by time, so getting time off is not an offence" he smiles gently. "Okay?"

Nodding, "thank you" is all I said not wanting to explain that Adian and my lack of relationship doesn't give me any entitlements.

A loud knock together with Basil's voice sounded from the doorway, "Mrs. Knights, your chariot awaits you" he says rather loudly.

"Shush" I exclaimed, patting my palm of my hand downwards in the air, quieting him down.

Jerry starts chuckling to my annoyance, "this isn't funny and if people around here finds out they will have more reason to hate me" I rebuke them both.

Raising his hands in surrender "sorry, sorry, let's go shopping now" Basil said, tapping his watch.

Giving Jerry an apologetic smile, he nods giving me his consent, "also, do you think it's possible to take this file with me? I just want to go through the contract in depth before making contact with Simons." I explain.

Nodding, "sure, sure, that will be okay because you're Mrs. Knights and I" pointing to fingers to himself, "am a Prescott" he chuckles, before goth Jerry and Basil burst into laughter.

Wriggling my nose at them, I raised my hands in giving up and allowing these boys to have their fun at my expense.

"if your, best friend" I point at Basil, before pointing at Jerry, "and your nephew hears about this title you're giving me. it's on you!" I said picking up my keys and handbag looking at them, while tapping my right foot.

"Sorry Mrs. Knights, don't want to keep back the bosses wife" Jerry chuckles walking away, as I followed with an annoyed expression, behind him, taking out the A/C unit, lights and closing the door behind us.

Eyes and an eerie silence followed us, or me as we walked down the corridor to the elevator.

"The silence here is f***ing scary" Basil whispers, encouraging me to chuckle.

We entered the elevator with me standing in the front of the two men, when my eyes connected with one of the women who was in the boardroom earlier. Frowning as she gives me a mocking, mischievous look, whispering to the other woman standing beside her, as the door closes, leaving me feeling uneasy and exposed.

"Don't let the gossipers get to you." Jerry says encouraging me.

"They can be fired in the morning. You're a Knights, after all" Basil adds causing us to burst into laughter, but the uneasy feeling remained.

At the basement carpark, Jerry went to his vehicle, "I've been summoned to the Knights Foundation, see you tomorrow Hailey" he said, pecking me on the cheek, and saluting Basil.

Shopping with Basil was a blast, his constant flirting with shoppers and his overall bubbly energy kept me going.

I bought tea, coffee, water, crackers, bread, cheese and salami and other grocery items. Basil added a bottle of whiskey, "for your favourite guests" he said.

Dishwashing soap, hand towels, drinking glasses, coffee mugs, with Basil choosing his own with strick instructions, that no one use his.

He even choose one for Adain causing me to frown at him, because Adian visiting me is just as waiting for pigs to fly.

I ended up picking up sandwiches for dinner and of course my very observant companion commented on it.

"You ready to tell me what the the ass***e did now?' he asks as we wait in the checkout line.

"You skipped breakfast and you are clearly skipping dinner, so" he shrugged his shoulders, "just asking, if you want my support" he finishes, giving me a knowing smile.

My happy and fake smile all gone now, without looking at him, "I prefer not to say anything but I would appreciate your help with dinner because I love my food and pastries." I said smiling with the thought of food.

Chuckling, "you and Chubbs are so much alike, it's unbelievable" he shook his head, looking away, deep on thought.

Why did the mention of Adana distract him?

Pushing my trolley slightly without hitting me, "cashier's waiting" Basil whispers.

Embarrass, I moved away, allowing him to start taking out the items, since he refused my help. I understood why, when he started flirting with the cashier.

She looked at me confused. "I'm the baby sister" I clarified for her even though we look worlds apart. As if that was her cue, she started flirting with him in return.

I insisted that I pay for the purchase, while Basil pushed the trolley out with the cashier's number and a goofy smile.

The house was empty when we returned. as Basil helped to bring in some of the groceries for me, leaving some for the office.

"I will bring you a cup of tea, before you go to bed" he says taking a pack of chocolate mix from me.

"You don't have too" I said. not wanting to be a problem.

As he considers what to say next, "Hailey, I don't know what Adian said, don't" he stops me by raising a hand midair. "Just know he has a f***ing lousy way of showing it' he tries to explain his friends behavior, "but he does care"

He has a lousy way of showing it, that's for sure. I didn't say anything to Basil though, I just smiled and nodded.

"Chubbs had some kinda after school thing so Adian's picking her up. She will invade your space when she returns. Be alert" he walks away chuckling.

By the time Adana returned home, I was ready for bed without pills.