Jema stilled when she noted the amusement in his voice. She knew he might have come across the lies posted on the social media and could probably already guess why she was calling.
She calmed herself and proceeded with the reason why she called.
"I'm calling to ask about Lionel, not the car",she stated so as to clear the air.
"Oh,I know Miss Malteng,and I know how to get you across to Lionel", he said with mischief in his voice.
" I'm listening",she said paying more rapt attention.
"Lionel doesn't live in this part of town,his work doesn't even permit him to stay put so he's crashing at a hotel for this night only", he said with emphasis.
She raised a brow at his statement,
" What job does he do? ".
" He works with a security agency as a bodyguard ",he stated plainly.
" A bodyguard huh,interesting",she said in thought,fiddling with her hair.
"I could text you his number and his address", he offered generously.
" I would appreciate that and could you send me his agency's contact as well,and oh,please,whatever happens,let this just be between the two of us,please",she said,trying to make a bargain with the man.
"Definitely, I wouldn't want to ruin this,I want to see how all this plays out", he added and she sensed he smirked.
" Glad we're on the same page,see you tomorrow,with my car",she added just to confirm.
"I will,see ya too", he said and with that,cut the call.
Jema crossed her legs on the bed. She was thinking of a good plan that might mitigate the whole issue caused by the paparazzi.
Then an idea hit her,she could hire Lionel as her bodyguard,or better yet get him to pose as her husband.
Brilliant,she would make him her husband on a contractual basis. She knew that it was going to be difficult to get him to do it as in the little time she spent with him,she realised he wasn't going to be an easy nut to crack.
She had to go through with her plan with expert precision and creativity. She stroked her chin in thought and then her phone vibrated.
The truckdriver had sent her the info she needed, now it was time to get to work.
The first thing was to contact his agency to hire him as her bodyguard.
She called the agency,flicking her tongue as she did. A man with a baritone voice picked up.
" Hello,how can I help you?".
" Hello,am I speaking with consul care ",she asked despite knowing that she was.
" Yes you are,this is our official line,how may we be of service ",the man said politely.
" Well,I heard you deploy bodyguards upon request,I want to request one",she said with a demanding appeal.
"Okay,all you have to do is go to our website, fill in your information and your bodyguard would report to your house as soon as he can", he said and was about to bid her a good day when she said.
" And what if I request for one in particular ",she said drawling her words. She so loved being conniving.
"Who may that be if I may ask", the man questioned in curiosity.
" Lionel Delano",she replied smugly.
The man seemed to go quiet for a while when she mentioned his name.
"Hello", she said on not receiving an answer for quite a while.
" Oh,I'm sorry miss,I was just going through our files and it seems like Mr Delano is already booked with someone else",the man responded.
She felt her plan begin to crumble before she could even start. She fumbled through her thoughts, deliberating on her next line of action.
"Uhm,wait,can't I just,uhm, pay you off the other contract,I mean I would pay whatever cost it takes so he can come attend to me, I just really want him as my husba...I mean bodyguard", she said face palming herself for sounding so desperate, even though she was.
The man paused again for an even longer time.
" Miss,I don't know if this follows our work ethics,but if you insist,I'll send you your bill once you check in",the man said making her heave a sigh of relief.
"Thank you,thank you so much", she said feeling more calm.
" My pleasure miss,do have a good day",the man said before hanging up.
"Boy you just made my day good",she said to herself merrily.
She then made to call her lawyer to make preparation for the contract papers.
" Cilia,I have a special task for you and I need it tonight".
After that she made to change from her bathrobe. She was heading into town. She decided to wear a short floral casual evening gown. It was simple and it clung to her body in all the right places.
She went to her dressing table in order to look for what to do with her hair. She just decided to comb it and stuff it all the way back. She then decided to put on light make-up and a bold red lipstick, she can't be all too simple after all.
She wore a low heel to with her gown before grabbing her phone and shoving it into a purse she took from her collection.
When she was done she called Lily.
"What",Lily screamed when she heard all what her friend had narrated to her," have you lost your mind Jema,you are like hiring a husband,shamelessly",she said in shock.
Jema rolled her eyes at her friend's remark.
"A desperate woman knows no shame,oh,you want me to sit back and watch what is mine be handed to another, well no thank you very much", she replied, tucking her hair behind her ears.
Lily sighed and went quiet making Jema believe she was shaking her head at her.
"Sometimes,I wonder about your sanity Jema Malteng",she remarked,smiling over the phone
Immediately she was done with her call,Jema stepped out of her house. She had to wait for Cilia, her personal lawyer to come pick her since her car was 'indisposed'.
Almost immediately, a car pulled up in front of her house. Right on time.
She strolled to the car,opened up the door and got in boldly.
" Good evening Miss Malteng",her lawyer greeted.
"Evening Cilia, are the papers ready", she replied,cutting straight to the chase while putting on her seat belt.
" Yes ma'am",the lawyer replied and paused,wanting to ask a question but she decided not to,it was none of her business anyway. She just swallowed her question and started the car.
"Did you include all the conditions I told you to", she queried further and her lawyer nodded.
" Good",she said nodding slightly and highly satisfied with her plan.
"So do you know where the royals hotel is,I need you to take me there", she said and Cilia nodded her head.
Cilia drove out of the estate into town. She too had heard of the current situation her client was in and could hunch at what she might be planning to do.
She drove to the road and within seconds,hit the expressway. Jema looked outside as they drove on. She wondered if Lionel was going to agree to her offer. She had already paid so much to his agency and only needed for him to play along so desperately. She looked up into the now starry night sky,uttering her wish silently. She needed her plan to work and wanted to ensure it did,no matter what.
After quite a stretch of driving,Cilia headed into a street. The street was bustling with life and heralds of lights bounced off the building. Jema had never been to this part of town,she had never had a reason to until now.
Cilia parked in front of a sky rise building. It had a very elegant appeal making Jema marvel at Lionel's taste.
She got down from the car and thanked Cilia who handed the folder containing the contract to her.
"Do you want me to wait", she asked Jema but she shook her head.
" No,I'll find my way home,thanks, and please, don't forget to come to my house tomorrow",she reminded and Cilia nodded.
"Sure thing miss,good night", she said and with that drove off.
Jema stared at the building and took in a deep breath to gain back her usual perk before striding into the building. A valet opened the door for her to enter and she did so with her shoulders high.
She worked to the reception and was warmly greeted by the receptionist whose eyes widened slightly upon seeing her.
"Miss Malteng,uh good evening,welcome to the royals,how can i help you,do you want to make a reservation", she said,mumbling but still trying to sound professional.
Jema raised her chin,humoured.
" I'm not here to make a reservation, I'm here to meet up with someone ",she replied making the receptionist's eyes to widen in surprise.
" And who may that be,ma'am",she said,trying to hide her curiosity.
"Lionel Delano, he checked in today", she said and the receptionist quickly checked her records.
" Mr Delano is currently in his hotel room,does he know you are coming,he never informed us that he expected a visitor",she stated.
"He doesn't know I'm coming, I want to surprise him", she replied with a smug grin and the receptionist's eyes darted in an attempt to hide her shock.
" Oh,uhm,okay, just fill in this",she said and handed her a book to sign in.The receptionist then handed her a card containing directions.
Jema collected it and turned to walk away,but she paused and turned to face the receptionist.
"This,that happened now, mustn't fly around", she threatened pointing her finger back and forth between her and the receptionist before finally walking away heading to the elevator.
She entered the elevator,pressed in the number of the floor she was headed and took her phone from her purse to dial Lionel's number.
He picked up with a few rings.
" Hello,who am I speaking with ",he asked on answering the phone.
" Hello Lionel ",she said with a tease in her voice and smiled when she heard him groan.
" How in the heavens did you get my number,I don't remember giving it to you,you are the last person I want to speak to right now ",he said not hiding the fact that he wasn't amused.
Jema smiled even wider when she heard his comments.
" You are the only person I want to speak to right now, how paradoxical",she said as she watched the numbers go up.
He seemed to pause for a while,trying to understand her statement.
"I don't know how you got my number and I don't care,I have no business with you any more", he said slightly pissed off.
The elevator came to a stop and Jema walked out elegantly,calculating the room numbers as she passed by.
" Well, if you don't know our business is just beginning",she said causing him to groan in frustration again.
"I have no business with you, I don't know what you're talking about", he said and turned to face the door upon hearing a knock.
" Why don't you come find out",she said still wearing a wide, proud smile on her face.
Lionel opened the door and froze with what he saw. He looked at the phone in his hands and at the lady standing by his door wearing a proud look.
Jema ran her eyes over him in quick assessment. He was shirtless with a towel tied around his waist. Hus hair was damp telling her that he just stepped out of the bathroom.
He touched his chin as he felt a muscle tick in his jaw.
"Oh Adam you are so going to pay for this", he muttered to himself.
Jema raised a questioning brow at him.
"Is this how you welcome guests into your room", she said pushing the door open and walked in uninvited.