Stolen Identity: Mute Heiress

Chapter 207: Who Are You?

Josh sat silently in the backseat with Abigail, while Genevieve was seated in front with Jamal as he drove them to Josh’s school to drop him off before heading for the office.

Everyone was silent as they sat in the car, different thoughts running through their minds. Josh was thinking about all his mommy had said the previous night and the fact that she could speak. He was thinking about how he could protect her and who his real daddy was and if he was as strong as Superman and would be able to save his mommy from bad men.

Abigail on the other hand was thinking about what Jamal had said about Genevieve not being Ryan’s biological daughter. That explained why Ryan didn’t want to leave everything to her, but it didn’t explain why he took everything in the first place only to give it back.

Her heart ached as she thought about Genevieve, wondering if she knew that Ryan wasn’t really her biological father. She doubted that Genevieve knew, and she wondered how Genevieve would feel when she realized Ryan wasn’t her biological father.

Oblivious to Abigail’s thoughts, Genevieve thought about her escape plan that weekend, and she wondered if Abigail would be fine on her own. She trusted that if she told Jamal the truth, then he would be able to get the Hanks to act fast and rescue Abigail and Josh from her father.

On the steering, Jamal was thinking about everything else that needed to be done so he could finally get Abigail and Josh away from Ryan. If it were up to just him, he’d run away with Abigail and Josh before Ryan returns from his trip, but he knew Abigail wouldn’t agree to do that.

He really wished she would. He’d prefer to take them away to safety and leave the Hanks to take care of the mess that followed.

He glanced at his phone when it rang, and he saw it was a number he didn’t recognize. Since he was very close to the school now, he decided to wait until he got there before taking the call.

Abigail turned to look at Josh when she saw they were approaching his school, and she noticed he seemed lost in thoughts. She wondered what he was thinking when she saw how serious he looked.

She couldn’t believe that all these while she had never realized how observant and thoughtful Josh was. She wondered what he would think about her real face and how he’d react when she tells him Jamal was his father.

She tickled his side and he laughed as he looked up at her. [What are you thinking about so seriously? We are at your school.] she signed, jerking her head to the side.

[You said daddy travelled. Can’t we run away before he gets back?] he signed, and her heart skipped a beat.

Josh wanted them to run away? She could only imagine how scared he must be for him to think about that. She thought, looking at him with a concerned frown.

Jamal, who had read Josh’s hand sign through the rearview mirror felt his pulse quicken. Had Josh read his mind or what? How come they were having the same thought? And what did Abigail say to him to make him want to run away?

[You want us to run away?] she signed, and Josh nodded.

”We are here,” Genevieve said, turning in her seat to look at Josh and Abigail, assuming they didn’t know that the car was no longer moving.

[Let’s talk more when we get home.] Abigail signed and then kissed Josh’s forehead before getting out of the car.

Jamal got out of the car and helped Josh get out of the safety seat before Abigail could get there.

”Thank you,” Josh said, smiling at him as he got out.

Abigail smiled at Jamal as she lead Josh away to the entrance of the school, while Jamal took out his phone to return the call he had received earlier.

”Jam, this is my new line,” Mari said the moment the call connected.

”Alright. I can’t talk now. I’ll call you as soon as I can talk,” Jamal said before hanging up.

Once he got back into the car, Genevieve turned to look at him, ”Pete, I’m going to visit Jamal this weekend. Can I really...”

Jamal shook his head before she continue and placed a finger on his lips, not wanting her to ask any question that might make Ryan suspicious. ”Bug.” He mouthed to her.

Genevieve frowned. There was a bug in the car? How did Pete know?

”What were you saying? Can you really what?” Jamal asked, still shaking his head for her not to say anything.

”Never mind. It’s nothing,” she said, understanding what he meant, and Jamal nodded.

”Things must be getting serious between you two,” Jamal said, and Genevieve sighed softly.

”You could say that,” Genevieve said just as Abigail returned and got into the car.

”You have an appointment by 10 at Oris Palace. I guess you’d be taking the car with you,” Jamal said, and Genevieve turned to Abigail.

”Can I?”

Abigail smiled, more than happy to share since that would give her and Jamal time to talk, ”Of course.”

When they got to the company, as they all went to their various desks, Genevieve asked Jamal to follow her to her office.

Jamal made sure to leave the key behind in his drawer before going with her to her office.

The door had barely closed behind him before Genevieve asked him. ”What was that about?”

Jamal hesitated. ”I suspect that the car was bugged. Or maybe it’s the car key. I can’t tell,” he said, trying to sound unsure.

Genevieve frowned. ”Why would you think that?”

Jamal looked at Genevieve for a moment without saying anything. ”Think about it. Why would he suddenly buy Abigail a car and ask that I drive you both in it? I think he wants to keep an eye on us. He wants to be certain he can trust me while also making sure that he knows what you’re both up to.”

Genevieve frowned. ”While I won’t put that past him, I don’t see anything wrong in him getting Abigail a car. I have two cars after all...”

”I can’t tell you exactly how I know. But you need to be careful. How I know or what I think isn’t important. When you’re in the car, you should be careful what you say. Consider it a precautionary move,” he advised.

”Pete, whose side are you really on?” Genevieve asked, unable to understand him. ”Are you really just a driver? The more I interact with you, the less I believe you’re a driver.”

”What else could I possibly be?” Jamal asked, watching her.

She shook her head. ”That’s what I’m wondering. Who are you, Pete? Who really are you? And what do you want?” Genevieve asked, holding his gaze.

”I already told you what I want. Abigail,” he said with a shrug.

Genevieve frowned. ”Why? You just met her, didn’t you?”

”Do you trust me?” Jamal asked Genevieve, ignoring her question.

”If I didn’t would I tell you everything I’ve talked to you about so far? Would I have told you my father was planning to investigate you?I trust you but now I’m beginning to worry that I might be making a mistake,” she confessed.

Jamal nodded thoughtfully, ”You’re not making a mistake. You can keep trusting me. I can assure you that I have both yours and Abigail’s best interests at heart,” he promised.

Genevieve looked at him for a moment, ”Are you like a spy or something? Are you here because someone sent you to destroy my father? Or did he do something to you and you’re here for revenge?”

”You will find out the truth soon enough...”

”Please talk to me,” Genevieve pleaded. ”I’m about to do something really crazy and I’m worried out of my mind. I’d like to be able to talk to you about it, but I’m afraid to trust you. I want to trust you, Pete. I believe you’re a good guy. ”

Jamal thought about what to say to her, and then he glanced at the clock, ”Let’s talk after your meeting. I think you need to get going now,” he said, wanting to discuss with Abigail before saying anything.

Genevieve sighed as she glanced at the clock and then she nodded, dismissing Jamal.

As Jamal walked out of her office, he went straight to Abigail’s office. She looked up from her laptop when he walked in.

”We should talk,” Jamal said, and she nodded, thinking he wanted to talk about Genevieve and the DNA result.

”I just spoke with Genevieve,” he said, telling her all about the discussion and what he had decided to do.

”Do you think that is a good idea?” Abigail asked with a slight frown as she considered his idea.

”Yes. It’s no different from what we did by telling Ryan that you can speak. We will do it together...”

”No. If we do she might not be able to open up to you in front of me. You can tell her alone,” Abigail said, and Jamal nodded.

”What did you tell Josh? How much have you told him?” He asked, changing the subject.

”He knows I can speak now. He also knows Ryan is evil and isn’t his father. Earlier in the car he was asking that we run away,” Abigail said with a sigh. ”The last thing I wanted was to make him worried, but I think now he’s afraid and worried. Do you think if we leave now it’d be the same? I mean can I get my revenge even if I’m not under his roof?” Abigail asked with a frown.

Jamal nodded. ”We can, Abi. And if you ask me, I think it’s the best thing to do especially now that Genevieve is leaving the picture. It’s safer for you and for Josh. Ryan is up to something, and it bothers me that we don’t know what he’s up to or what he is thinking. I don’t want to wait around to find out.”