As the old man slept, the environment turned a bit noisy. The whisper turned into an audible chat. His silence warranted his repose and their business's safety. It was certain that he won't poke his nose in their private matters by raising his head and his reposing body.
His presence had alarmed Joe's intellect. Unlike Sophia, he had watched over humans of diverse natures, backgrounds, gender, and religion. He had tasted human nature, bitter, sweet, sour, and mixed, and could easily smell the intentions of every single creature.
But when he met this old man, some kind of energy clashed with his power, the power to smell human motives. That kind of energy sent a stream of electric shock to his frozen heart through his index finger. Something was mixed with the old man. Something was against the future happenings. But what would that piece of human flesh do against the gang of vampires? pure white his intentions may be, but he won't compete against them.
Joe shifted his thoughts to the actual matter. He snapped his thumb to attract Sophia's attention. Sophia turned her eyes to Joe. " Sophia, you should stay at my bungalow today." as he completed his words swiftly, Sophia's eyes looked down. Her eyes shimmered with an indication of deep thought. " What, are you not happy?" Joe's suspicion flinched her. She glued her concerned face to Joe. Then she uttered," I think Edward was not that bad as we framed him. What we needed was just a talk and everything was resolved. You could have lived happily with your brother."
Hardly had Sophia's lips parted those words when Joe sealed them with his palm."No need to return to that ancient sandstone castle. You deserve much more than that. I will teach you how to live a millionaire's life." And Sophia glimpsed at a face of bitterness and hostility with her glum expression.
The chaos captured her mind. Was she the same lady who ridiculed her lover's brother and at the present moment felt pitiful for him? It was indeed her sensitivity that gave her a path to warmth and affection. But the fact that she had mocked Edward out of her nature, faded her happiness and teleported her into a world of darkness and guilt.
Yes, she would get over it soon, but what about Edward? What would he think of her? He might regard every human as hard-hearted and that made her cry inwardly. And the vampire in front of her was rapt either with his phone or talking to his bodyguard. He had no idea how hollow her lady felt at that moment. Just because she was plain from the outside, her mood was judged. How things changed.
Sophia would gaze at the ice-capped mountains with a dull expression. It was not later that she sunk into an afternoon nap at the sight of high peaks. Those pointy mountains made her feel dizzy and so she had herself reposed on the car seat.
After a gap of four hours, Sophia slowly advanced her eyes. With the laziness still on, she winked at a large building to the top. She managed to shed her sloth and got off the car. " Where are we?" asked Sophia with half-shut eyes." Guess yourself." With Joe standing mute and reflecting with a calm expression, Sophia returned her stare to the building with shock.
" Don't say it's your house. It's so beautiful, Joe." And she was standing in front of a twelve feet long bungalow with roofs made of cement shingles, tortilla brown in hue, with a porch supported by six white pillars on the ground floor and a hut on the first floor with narrow window panels. The bungalow was nicely whitewashed, with a beautiful garden, and covered two hectares of land.
Subsequently, she was escorted by three guards inside the bungalow. The inside of the bungalow smelt good with lavender deodorant and the golden appeal of the entrance further attracted visitors' attention. A visitor would feel the heavenly presence in every room. It seemed that the Interior designers had sweated to make the soul fit in the body.
" Everyone gather here. We have a guest to attend." with just a light clap, a total of thirteen members gathered in front of them, standing next to each other. They stood there like a robot, paused at the controller's command.
Sophia moved her parallel gaze at the guards standing in attention. As her gaze roamed over to the last servant, her expression changed. She lowered her eyelids to form slits and pointed at the maid.
" I think, I have seen you somewhere, but can't remember where?" Sophia's suspicion made her flinch.
" Where did you meet Rose Marilyn?" And Joe stood beside Sophia shifting his stare at both the ladies.
" I met her at the store, I remember now. Great Rose, I didn't know you work for my lover. I hope we can be good friends." Sophia's excitement and Rose's dismay, both were unnoticed by Joe.
Even while shaking hands with Sophia, she was sweating through her red face. It was unknown why her expression hinted at some inkling when Sophia was around. Why she grunted after meeting Sophia was only known to her. But to Sophia, such behavior was the day's weariness, which Sophia, as a maid had experienced in the past.
Rose had to assist Sophia to the guest room. On Joe's gestures, she could make out her present task. She had herself go to the guestroom and start with the tidying and organization of the room to make it suitable for Sophia's staying.
" Remember Rose Marilyn, we have a grand party at night. So make sure you prepare a list of the food items, decorations, and drinks." Joe's instruction could even alert the nearby guards, but Rose's eyes were staring down, her dumb face agitating her master. With Rose still in the old fashion, Joe smacked her head.
" Rose, where are you lost? Do you hear what I say?" Joe enraged.