Chapter 5 - Chapter 5

 The week had flown so fast. It was Monday in Bienville county. A very busy day for everyone. The hustle the bustles. Those on their way to work and those searching for jobs 

" 7 Dawson Street Blake Leslie Estate. Be there at 8am sharp. Remember this is your last chance to redeem yourself. Have a nice day" 

Gloria instructed in the wee hours of the morning.

Feeling a rush of positivity, Nessa hummed out of the house.

She wore a a long silk suit pants and a white puffy long sleeve dress .

 Boarding a bus, she sat at the window staring at beautiful scenario from the window pane. 

"Tuk Tuk Tuk" the noice the bus made Midway of the journey.

Not long, the bus jerked.

" I think we have a problem" the driver said aloud. This was by 7: 30 already. 

The bus made it's final jerk and stopped abruptly. Everyone came down to see what had happened to the bus. 

Opening the bonnet a lot of smoke emanated from it. 

" Oh boy this is going to take a lot of time " the driver said wiping beads of sweat from his face..

 " Did you say lot of time? Common we have work to be at!! "

 " Yeah and the bus stopped at a wrong place. We are far from a bus stop at this point." 

" Why didn't you check the bus properly before driving ". 

The people in the bus ranted at the driver. Their rage enough to eat him up . Nessa stayed quiet. A lot of things ran to her head. Her first serious mission starting on the wrong foot. She checked the time 

"7:59 Darn it!"

Leaving the driver and his angry passengers she walked towards in hope to find a bus stop or even to the office. She wasn't going to get anywhere with the heels on her legs. Her face had become tired and her clothes full of sweat. She felt like turning back and just forgetting everything. It seems her walking were not covering any distance. 

She didn't notice a black car trailing her

 " Good morning" a cold voice greeted drawing her attention. 

" And good morning to you too " she turned looking at the young man behind the steering. 

This struck a shock in the man's heart " is this possible?" He muttered to himself.

 " Excuse you? Did you say anything?"

" No, I didn't "

"I thought I heard something. " 

"Where are you heading to? I could drop you off" 

Nessa's heart leaped with joy. 

 " The Leslie's empire sir" . 

Wait hold on! That was his company! It was Blake. 

" Get in!" He returned to his old cold voice. 

" I am so sorry sir for staining your car seats with my sweat "

" It's fine" 

Mason was shocked. The young lady seemed she didn't know who he was. 

Many people knew of the ruthless son of the Leslie.

 " Aren't you late to where you are going to?"

 " I am very late. I hope I get an audience when I get there. The bus I boarded broke down".

 " That's not an excuse young lady" " 

"Young lady? We might even be mates. I can't see any grey hair or wrinkles on your face. Call me Renee instead."

 Blake was surprised. She was outspoken too for someone meeting a person the first time.

 She was just like her; bold , outspoken. 

The difference was that the girl in his car was younger and way prettier..

 " My biggest fear is that it's the ruthless Leslie Blake's company. I hope they'll give me a listening ear or at least treat me nicely" she breathed out and facing the window..

 Blake stole glances occasionally at Nessa.

 Could it be her? But he watched her die. .

" And we are here" Blake said. Nessa's sweat had dried off. Her makeup had cleaned too. She still looked beautiful either ways. They both came out of the car and headed to the office. There were people sitting at the reception. Nessa noticed they showed a fearful and surprised faces at Blake. 

She didn't even ask him for his name. And why did he enter the office with her. He had a menacing aura. .

A handsome blonde hair man, maybe 5'8 walked up to Blake. He looked Italian.

 " Sir" " did he just say sir" she muttered to herself. " We are done with the interview and these are the successful applicants. They passed through rigorous screening. All this was done on time so we could continue with work today. Who is she sir?" 

" She came for the interview" his cold voice replied.

 " Well I'm sorry sir she just missed it"

 " Give her the job as a receptionist " 

" But sir we already screened a very good receptionist " 

" I wouldnt want to repeat myself. Last I checked I am the owner of this company. And call me Blake not sir. Understood?" " Yes sir sorry Blake" 

Nessa's heart dropped to the floor. Did she just hear Blake? The ruthless man she was sent here for. Why didn't she figure out it was him. Gloria had shown him his pictures but he looked different today. Beads of sweat formed on her nose.

 " Hey you get to work!" The Italian man spoke rudely.

Everyone left her at the reception and she was still lost in thoughts. 

"Yes sir " " and listen if you don't prove yourself competent enough. I'll ensure you are out of here . The name's what?. 

" Renee Hughes" . Gloria also gave her a name to work with.

"suit yourself" He curted at her and left.

 Knock knock 

"Who's there " Blake's voice rang out. 

" It's charlie "

 " come in". 

" Sir these are the records of the new staff" 

" thank you . Drop it here" Charlie dropped it still standing. 

" Anything else?" 

" Urm Blake. Based on your love for competence. I still want you to rethink the decision of your choice of the receptionist. She looks like a novice and…" 

" Charlie. This is my company and I would not have you decide for me. Leave my office" Blake thundered. 

Charlie left feeling ashamed. Hatred for Nessa stirred in his heart 

First she made him feel less when Blake warned him in the reception and now this. 

 Blake didn't know but he felt an attraction to Nessa. It felt there was more to it. 

***"*************"**"******"*"****

In a dark quiet room. A fat man sat on a chair with a pipe in his hand. A woman was seated opposite him. 

" How are things going?.

 " we are in the initialization part of the plan.. She has started work in the company already" the woman replied

" hope this your bait won't fail"

 " she won't. She thinks she's the main deal in the operation but she's crap.

 She has a whole lot to loose if she messes up. The real trap, our real insider also got a job today at the company. Our work is about to start " 

" I like the sound of things Gloria." " Thank you sir. Our baits job is to get closer to our target and our insider gives us when to strike." 

" Hmm Gloria. I've told you many times that getting your hands dirty will fetch you more money. Why do you keep playing good?" 

" I have to be two edged so I get to cover my tracks easily "

 "hmm wild card. Can I see the picture of the bait again? 

Gloria moved closer to him and showing him Nessa's picture. " She looks just like her. Tessa!. Their eyes, lips. They are just one person This is one good bait. They look like one person. Let's see how that stone cold heart will act with time. His frozen heart will thaw with time. Let's cheer over glasses of wine this evening " 

" sure why not" 

" Blake Leslie enjoy while you can. Your doom is near and watch us take what is rightfully ours" he laughed evily . Gloria joined in the laugh.

 ****************"*******"************

 Work wasn't going well for Nessa. She wasn't comfortable with the job. Ever since I she walked into the office with Blake and the new receptionist got fired, no one liked her. They sneered at her. They looked at her with anger and jealousy in their faces. She was the least earning after the cleaners so she didn't get why they disliked her. Charlie didn't make things easier. He would shout at her in the prescence of the staffs and visitors. It wasn't a real real job but it hurt so bad. Blake hardly moved around the office. He came earlier than everyone and left later than everyone or if he ever left no one knew. The work of the receptionist didn't make it any easier to see him lest steal a glance at his face. Ever since Blake saw Nessa that Monday. He hadn't been the same. The striking resemblance between her and Tessa was quite baffling. Far from that he felt a connection with her . He made her the receptionist so he could be closer to her. He wouldn't let her go till his curiosity was satisfied.

 " Hey Charlie, take care of the office for me. I'll be going out " 

"sure thing Blake! But Blake hope there's no issue?"

 " Not at all and if there is, it doesn't concern the company ". Blake said leaving the office.

 With that he zoomed off to Jeff's hospital. Jeff was a medical doctor. He owned a lot of hospitals within and outside Bienville county. His medical services were top notch and sought after. Funny how he could be wasteful about his own health and care for others.

 Everyone stared at Blake from the entrance of the hospital. He was a tall , well built muscular man. His hair covered most of his face leaving only his piercing blue eyes and plump lips visible. He's menacing cold deadly aura made everyone notice his presence. How one was cold and deadly and could spark flames in people's heart no one knew. He walked to the receptionist. 

" Good afternoon sirrrrrrr"the nurse greeted seductively 

Blake didn't respond 

She openly made flirty eyes and gestures. She bit her lips, curling her hair tips with her hands. This disgusted Blake even more. He hated women and hated women like the nurse more. Looking straight into her eyes, he gave her the coldest meanest stare. This startled the young pretty nurse. She was shaking at some point. 

" Where's…

" " He's in the surgery room. He'll be out in a few minutes. You can wait for him in his office " she didn't let him finish. Her feets wobbled in fear.

" thank you Miss" with that he smirked and went into Jeff's office

.

 " Someone startled one of my finest nurses today and guess who it was " Jeff shouted playfully when he entered the room . 

 " Common man what did you do to her. She was shaking when she was saying you came by"

 " I have to say you need to teach your nurses some manners then." " Did she try flirting…. Oh boy I think she made the mistake. Oh well she would be fine. You have taught her some act of decency today". 

" How did the surgery go? " Oh well it went. We gave a patient with cystic fibrosis some good pair of lungs. I'm so happy"

 " I can't relate to that". " Today you came visiting. Do you want us to have some drinks today again?"

 " No not again. I won't have you staining my car again. You can go drinking and waste yourself alone"

 " ouch that was so mean" he pretended to be hurt. 

" So what brings you here" 

" Tessa" Blake's eyes widened

 "Tessa?" 

"I mean no" 

" what's wrong with you Blake? Are you okay?"

 " I am not and that's the point. So few days on my way to work I saw this lady and she looked like Tessa"

 " okay" 

what's okay?" 

" People look alike Blake. "

"That's what I thought to myself too. I decided to help her and give her a lift to work. But this is more than people looking alike. They act the same way. Her laughter her smile. The way she talks. She seems younger a bit. You need to see her for yourself. She even has a dark her strand in her auburn hair "

 " woah this is much to take in. First the cold evil Blake gave a girl a lift?. Second of all what if Tessa was her sister or something. Did you check her resumè" 

" yes I did and it's totally different from Tessa's history. They aren't even from the same state or anything. Tessa was from the upper class family of this county. This one is just an average young girl. It bothers me so much and scares me too."

 "Scares?" 

" For goodness sake Jeff she looks like my dead fiancee"