Chapter Twenty-four

Argument set in on which house to stay in. Joe wanted everyone to stay in his mansion at least to pass the night while Mary was not in support of it. She wanted to go to her apartment and not stay in Joe's apartment; perhaps she wasn't comfortable that she was going to stay in an apartment where males were more than the female or because this was her first time of knowing Joe's mansion, and she wouldn't want to take risk of staying in a house where she doesn't know the in depth of the people she with whom would spend the night. Meanwhile Bianca was neutral, which showed in the way she smiled at their arguments.

The argument was getting so intense that Bianca became worried and had to suggest an idea.

"Please stop the argument," Bianca began as they stopped talking to listen to her, "This is how it is going to work, since the car is heading to Joe's apartment. Mary, it would be better for all of us to go there for now and maybe by 9 in the night, you will go back."

"9pm is too late, I would leave earlier than that," she said.

"Whatever the time, that's your choice," said Bianca, "But do you agree with that?"

"Where would you love to stay?" asked Mary.

"Anywhere would do." Bianca answered.

"But would you love staying in his house?" pressed Mary.

"Of course," she answered confidently.

"Okay, since I would be the only one going back there is no problem."

They all laughed. Except for the humming of the moving Jeep and other vehicles' tyres crushing on the granite as they sped along it, there was silence. Philip drove past Macy Shoprite, bringing back memories of when Bianca first met Joe.

"You've been smiling for some while now, what is giving you goosebumps?" noticed Mary, breaking the silence.

"I am happy that at least we were rescued from those gangs' hands." she said.

"What baffles me was that nobody came there, it was bereft of human beings," Mary voiced out.

"Oh," Bianca exclaimed, "That place is the most dangerous road on campus, most especially at night."

"Are the school authorities aware of that?"

"They are aware; security men were always there at night, but people still dread passing the road."

"Hmm," Mary echoed with traces of trepidation, "But we passed there."

"I believe a lot in Joe's words," Bianca said, looking at Joe's face, "He promised that he would put his guard around the area."

Mary began to get the impression that Joe might not be such a bad guy after all, thanks to the confident manner in which Bianca spoke of everything involving him. She recalled the tale Bianca had told her about Joe, the kindness he had shown her, and if there was any proof to support her story, it was the brand-new car Joe had given Bianca and the lovely clothes she had worn while staying at her apartment.

They arrived at Joe's address on Prince Ville Street at last. Mary became enamoured with the surroundings and scanned left and right to take in the amazing structures erected all around.

"Oh," Joe began, "We have reached it at last."

The guard went to open the gate for Philip to drive through after opening the car's door. The entire building surprised Mary, and she wasn't herself because so many thoughts were racing through her head.

After wheeling down to the front compound, the car came to a stop. Joe gave Mary a quick glance before guffawing at her.

"Does the place look so beautiful?" asked Joe.

"Of course," Mary answered.

Joe came down from the car stretching at his full length, while Bianca opened the door and then came down assisting the guards to also come down from the car.

"Men of battle," Joe hailed his injured guard, "don't worry, there is an amazing offer for you guys during Christmas Eve. I promise you that."

The injured guards laughed.

Joe signalled for Mary and Bianca to follow him as he led the two women to the house. He pulled out the door's key, put it in the keyhole, and opened the door. Joe moved aside to make room for Bianca to enter first, then Mary, who was already enamoured with the surroundings. Mary stumbled inadvertently as she entered the building. She was astounded by the interior decoration, particularly the colourful, constantly-glittering chandeliers. Everything Bianca saw served as a reminder of her first visit to this place for her. She didn't blame Mary's obsession because she had experienced it when she had first entered the house. Bianca noticed a new face that was very different from the one she had seen the previous two years as he attempted to help her and Mary carry their respective bags. Bianca started debating whether or not to give him her bag after Mary declined the offer. Joe called him right then and asked him to put out the load in the car. He was compared to Lucky by Bianca. Lucky was amiable and cheerful, while the new one was modest. If it had been Lucky, he would have cheerfully welcomed them with his funny statements and would never lower himself to assist in carrying their bag, while the new servant attempted to collect their bag as a form of assistance but never issued a funny statement to at least relieve Mary of her suspicious thought. Probably he was just new to the house and trying to study it before doing what he knows how to do, which pleases him and everyone. This was the thought that went through Bianca's mind.

"JK, what is the name of this new face I saw when we entered," Bianca asked, sitting down on the sofa.

"Wilson is his name," Joe responded.

"A cool guy though," Bianca commended, "Just that he is not jovial like Lucky."

Joe laughed.

"He is new to the house," said Joe. "Just give him some time."

"Alright then, but, have you called Lucky back?"

"Should I be the one to call him?" Joe threw back wryly.

Bianca noticed that he was getting pissed off. "I am sorry, JK."

Joe smiled, "But he called Philip on phone that he would soon resume his duties back here."

"Did he give you a fixed date?" said Bianca carefully.

"No," Joe replied.

Joe looked at Mary, who was pressing her phone and was less concerned about the discussion that was ongoing between him and Bianca.

"Hello, Dear," Joe called, looking in Mary's direction.

Mary stopped and looked to see if it was her that was being called or Bianca.

"Can I help with getting some refreshment for you?" Joe suggested.

"Don't bother, sir," she said, smiling.

"But your physical appearance is badly in need of a refreshment," observed Joe.

She smiled and then nodded to Joe in rejection.

"Don't feel shy," Bianca went on, "this is our home."

Mary observed again that Bianca expressed herself freely as if she was in her biological father's sitting room.

"This was how you behaved when you came here for the first time," Joe stated as the both of them burst into laughter while Mary just smiled.

Joe got out of his chair and made his way to the other end, where there was a door. He pushed open the door, then quickly closed it from behind. With a hand signal, Mary tried to whisper something to Bianca. It was difficult for Bianca to understand what she was saying. Mary was seated opposite to her, and she was about to get up to say something when the door squeaked open to reveal Joe carrying a tray of drinks and cookies. He shifted it closer to their sides and summoned them to take their preferred snacks. Mary was motioned to take hers first by Bianca before she would take hers. Mary smiled and expressed her gratitude for Joe before hesitantly reaching out and removing a cookie from the tray. Bianca gave her a smiling look before taking her own. Joe followed suit as they munched and sipped.

Following fifteen minutes of eating and drinking, Joe struck up a conversation with Mary by inquiring about her academic pursuits and the courses she was learning while still a student. Mary responded cautiously at first, but as the conversation progressed, she spoke boldly and even laughed at Joe's smallest jokes. Her mind cleared of the unsettling suspicions. As she talked with Joe, she felt more at ease. James Brin was briefly discussed, but they became aware that Bianca was nearby and stopped the conversation immediately. Mary became shocked that it was already nine on the dot. She noticed that the time had gone by one hour after her scheduled time.

"My time has gone."

Bianca giggled a little and then spoke out, "this place would deceive you. I already knew from the onset. That was why I didn't bother when you said you would leave at exactly eight."

"I think it is already late. I would be sleeping in here with you," she said to Bianca

"Finally, you would sleep here."

Mary smiled.

Joe continued the conversation but took notice of Mary's inability to keep up with the conversation as she battled with sleep. He stopped talking and then told Bianca to take her to the room where she stayed when she first came here. Mary and Bianca stood up from their seats, leaving when Joe gave Bianca the key to the door of the room.