Chapter Forty-one Estera Roberts’ POV (Ten Years Before)

After last night’s encounter with Evan Sterling, I thought to avoid him like the plague. I made a few resolutions while I struggled with insomnia. And every single one of them boils down to me running in the opposite direction whenever I see him. Except he took that choice from me. The following day after work I found the same grey sports car that he used to drive me home the previous night waiting outside as I walked out of the restaurant. I first thought perhaps he just entered the building and was wondering why he loved visiting restaurants late at night. But then I saw a uniformed chauffeur exit the car and approached me. The man was of a typical average American height, and weight with light brown eyes, clean-shaven, with hair cut low to his scalp, and I guessed he couldn’t be less than fifty years old.
“Miss Roberts?” he called hesitantly with a hint of Texas drawl and sounded like he wasn't entirely certain it was me.
“Yes,” I answered.
“Good evening, Mr. Evan Sterling, assigned me as your chauffeur,” he explained, paused then added, “--And he also said to give you this…” He handed over a sealed envelope. I took it from him, left a few inches between us, and tore the letter open.
As soon as I broke the seal, Evan’s familiar cologne filled my nostrils. I succumbed to the urge to close my eyes and inhaled the masculine scent. I love the way he seems to have a somewhat signature scent with a light base of sandalwood mixed with some exotic floral scent which gave a faint woody musk that carried everywhere he went and even with the things that he had touched. I swallowed softly, pulled out a small, fancy, rectangular sheet of paper inside the envelope and silently read the cursive scribbled words on the white pad:
“Hi,
If you are reading this, it means you have met Henry Jackson. He is going to be your driver. He is to drive you everywhere you want to go, whenever you want. I have him bring my car so you know he was from me. Tomorrow he will be at the chalet to take you to school in a new car. He is to wait for you till you are done and make sure you get home safe. Don’t question him. He is newly hired and just there under my directives, and please Estera, let him do his job. I have to go out of town for a few days I will see you when I get back, you can quiz me then. One more thing, you can sit in the passenger seat this one time, because it’s a sports car, but as from tomorrow, do not sit in the front seat with him.
Enjoy your day.
E. S”
I read the note thrice. That was how stunned I was, and each time I kept thinking I must have read wrong, cos did Evan just insinuate that he hired a driver to drive me about?! I mean, let’s not even touch the fact that he was acting possessive, and ordering me to do stuff that doesn’t make sense like when he said he forbid me to answer Brian’s calls. And what is this about not sitting in the front seat with the driver? What does that even mean?!
“Ma’am?” Henry called. I suppose he must be thinking that I had forgotten he was still standing there.
“Yes, t - thank you, let's go,” I said and he hurried to the passenger side to open the door for me. I tried very hard not to cringe. He was doing his job, just following directives. I reminded myself. I have never had anyone open any door for me before. The last time I had a similar experience was in high school and the gallant gesture was done with the sole purpose to mock me.
I settled in the black leather seat and waited for him to get inside and drive away from the restaurant. For a few minutes, I just sat there staring outside the window, feeling beyond uncomfortable. I have no idea if I was supposed to strike a conversation or just stay muted.
“The weather is great isn’t it?” I said at a point.
“Better than yesterday, Ma’am. But I’m afraid is going to be downhill from here.”
“Why?”
“There was a weather forecast earlier today that it might snow early tomorrow morning. It’s unbelievable how erratic the weather is this year,” he carried on in a chatty, but polite tone, and I was glad cos it was better than the silence.
I wondered if the weather was part of the reason why Evan wanted me to have a car at my disposal. But even that couldn’t justify him hiring a driver with the sole purpose of driving me about. It was just unthinkable! Who heard of a waitress with a private chauffeur? It was just unbelievable. And I thought to do more than ‘quiz’ him about it when he got back. And I also needed to let him know he couldn’t just waltz into my life and start dictating my every move.
“Would you like me to play some music, ma’am?” Henry asked drawing me out of my musings.
“Sure,” I replied offhandedly.
“Preference?”
“Evan’s selection should do,” I replied with a polite smile. Henry promptly pressed a button with a music note icon on it and then a deafening hip-hop song thundered inside the car. I tried so hard not to burst out laughing. Henry quickly pressed it again to put it off.
“Maybe we should just … um enjoy the quiet night,” Henry said, tapping his ears. I chuckled.
“Yeah, we should,” I replied.
I breathed a sigh of relief when I got home and found Aunt Sophia haven’t returned. And the thought of explaining Evan Sterling’s unusual kind gesture made me groan. I silently wished I had his number so as to put a stop to whatever he had planned. I didn’t want to freak my aunt out by giving out the impression that I was frolicking with her employer’s son or had done something to make him want to go overboard to do me favors.
Again, Evan was way ahead of me in that one as well. The following morning before Aunt Sophia left for work, she came to my room as she always did to let me know she had something prepared for me in the kitchen for breakfast. Normally she would drop a kiss on my forehead and then leave. But this time she came to sit on an empty space beside me on my small bed and reached for my hand.
“Evan Sterling had a talk with me late last night,” she started and I tensed up, praying he hadn’t overstepped yet again and put me and my aunt in an impossible position.
“What did he want?”
“He gave me the permission to have you stay here for as long as you want,” she said with a pleased smile.
“But what about his parents?”
“He said he would take care of that. And he also asked me something really bizarre,” she said and chuckled.
“What?”
“He wanted my permission to be your friend. Isn’t that sweet?”
“Yea, indeed…” I said, sounding a tad befuddled.
“I told you he is a gentleman. He promised to look out for you. You should have seen how earnest he was. He made me so happy that I have someone else, besides me and your uncle Joshua of course, looking out for you, and it wouldn’t hurt to have someone of his status on our side. But he assured me no hanky panky. Just friendship.”
“What?!” I exclaimed with heat rushing to my cheeks. She laughed. “Oh, my God! Aunt Sophia!” I cried, dying of embarrassment. I picked a side pillow and covered my face with it. An action which only made her laugh louder. She removed the pillow and brushed back my hair with a motherly affection shining in her eyes.
“I think he likes you. And what’s there not to like. You are adorable, beautiful, and brilliant.”
“You are just saying that because you are my Aunt,” I said and grinned at her. She pulled my nose, making me laugh.
“I just want you to not get carried away, and always remember who he is. Their world is different from ours, and they often do not play by the rules. I have lived with this family long enough to know their world is a double-edged sword. Evan is different from his parents and a lot of the rich people in their circle. But that doesn’t mean a little of their lifestyle hadn’t rubbed off on him. So, be careful my angel. Don't overstep, and accept his friendship, but only if you want. If he ever puts you in any situation that makes you uncomfortable, come home. And don’t do anything with the thought of saving my job. You are far more important to me. Estera. I lost a sister. I am not losing a niece, no matter the cost, okay?”
“Yes, Aunty,” I said in almost a whisper and sat up to wrap my arms around her.
“I love you, Aunt Sophia.”
“I love you too, darling.”
Aunt Sophia left long before Henry came to pick me up for school. I quickly packed my books and bag and hurried outside when I heard the sound of a car engine, and then stopped in my tracks when I saw the white colored 2015 Land Rover Discovery Sport in front of the house The 4-door, 5-seat sport utility automobile gleamed beautifully under the soft glow of the early morning shine. My eyes trailed on the distinctive tyre tracks left by the car on the snow-covered driveway and I released a shaky breath.
“Good morning, Ma’am,” Henry called as he exited the car, and walked around it to open the back door for me.
“Good morning, Henry,” I said, remembering Evan’s warnings not to question the guy and just let him do the job he was hired to do. I have a million questions right now, and keeping it in, was beginning to make me feel sick. I couldn’t wait for Evan to return and explain to me just what he was up to.