Chapter 59: Housemate
Instead of answering him, she turned to the old lady who went out from the front seat. “Hello,” her warm greeting made her smile.
“Hello, ma’am.” She took her hand out for a handshake but to her surprise, she hug her and kissed her on her cheek.
“I didn’t know, Benjamin is seeing someone, what’s your name?” She asked and she plastered her soft fake smile.
‘I’m Lora, Ma’am.”
“Call me, Lola Clarita. I like your taste, Benjamin.” She said while cheeking her from head to toe.
“Thank you, Lola,” Ben answered despite her annoyance she also offered the old man a handshake.
“Hello, sir. I’m Lora.”
“Nikolas,” he didn’t decline it and gave her a quick handshake.
“Nice meeting you, sir Nikolas.”
“Alright, we need to go, these men need a rest.” She declared and they hopped in their car as soon as they left her smile dropped and turned to Benjamin.
“What was that?”
“You introduce yourself, don’t ask me.” He said and walked to his door.
“You should have said that, this is my friend Lora. But you didn’t, you even said thank you when she said you had good taste.” But she saw his unstable walk so she walked to him and held his arm to help him a bit.
“You should be thankful she complimented you. And in fact, I didn’t know you. What’s wrong with that? What are you doing here anyway?”
“Well, because I am working with you about the Fuentes.”
“I mean with luggage.” He opened the door and let her in.
“I am staying here until this is over.” He cringed his forehead and looked at her.
“Who said you can stay here?” He slam the door and closed his arms.
“I said so, and please don’t act like you don’t want me here,” she saw him stun by her words so she went out and got her things. She pulled her stuff in. She saw him walk out to the door but she stopped him from getting out of the house.
“Where do you think you going?”
“Help you?”
“No need, walk slowly to your room and sleep. You walk like a penguin, you need rest. I can manage.” She pushed him back and heard him mumble.
“Letting you stay isn’t a good idea.” Then he walked to his room. She let him rant all he wanted and got all her stuff in his house. His house was the safest place, for now, she had no doubt that he was good at it and his house was well guarded. ‘With ghost,’
It was her chance too to observe him, the fact that he was one of her suspects wasn’t making her think twice. She could even consider herself one of the suspects if she hadn’t known her. She was one of the closest to Fera and knew all she does. Making her a good candid.
This manipulator should know her well to do it flawlessly, nana Felly was dead and she wouldn’t be surprised if she would hear the news that Nick is in the hospital or it could be her.
When she finished getting her stuff in she realized she didn’t have a room. She looked upstairs and saw Ben looking at her with his usual stare and a mag in his hand.
“I need a room.”
“Of course,” his bored voice didn’t bother her and waited for him to tell her where her room would be.
“Last room at the left.” He said and turned his back going to his workplace.
‘As if he had other room,’ she mentally remarked, he only got three and his workplace was the fourth one. She went there and checked it, good thing it was clean but it smells, Nick?
“Did Nick use this?”
“Yes.” Her eyes widen and instantly looked around. He suddenly answered and he wasn’t around which startled her.
“Were you watching me?”
“No, I can just hear you.” She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms then sat on her bed.
“Remove that device.”
“My house, my rules,” said he. Her head flared up when he heard him.
“Yeah, I got your point that this is your house but, can you at least respect my privacy and give this little to me?” She tried to sound kind but her pride was too high to hide.
“I won’t be having much time to listen to you, and I won’t be crossing anyone’s privacy. Those were just for security purposes and that won’t be a problem unless you are hiding something.” Her face fell and took a deep breath.
“I feel watched! And I would feel unsafe, you don’t need you to protect me and this space because I am more capable of protecting myself than those devices.”
“Not going to happen.”
“Please,” but she received no response. “Benjamin!” She waited for a minute for his response but nothing happen so she stormed out of her room and knock on his.
“Benjamin Leonardo!” And she started knocking on the door harder.
“You don’t need to shout, I can hear you.”
“Then why you weren’t answering, remove that device or whatever it was or I will start smashing you electrical stuff here.” She said and heard him chuckle.
“You have the nerve to blackmail me in my territory? My rules or you’d be sleeping in the garage.” He shouted back, he never dare to open his door.
“Does your garage have no surveillance stuff that would monitor me?” She asked but she heard nothing in response. “Hey!” She thought silence means yes so she walk to her things and went to the garage.
“This would do.” She said when she saw it was spacious enough and safer for her. She heard the door open and Ben came. “Why?”
“What are you thinking?” He was looking at her unbelievable.
“No rules for me, I’ll be staying at the garage. Be a man with principle, Ben. You have said what you have said and I chose this. Now go and I need privacy. I hate it when someone is watching me while I am busy doing things.”
“You’re crazy.”
“And you heartless.”
“I’m not, you are just prideful.”
“Said by the prideful himself.” She raised her eyebrow at him and waved her hand to make him leave.
“Remember that I offered a more comfortable room than this, it’s your choice to stay here.” He said before he head out.
“I know, I know.”
“And say hi to your roommates, okay?” The small noise of the little creature responded instead of her. Horrified look plastered on her face.