“No need to do that, this is Mr. Ford and I am his assistant,” Michael said.
“Oh, then I am safe. I should get your things in the car then. You guys probably want to use the washroom and get something to eat before we head out,” Davis said while taking their things and putting them in the trunk of the SUV.
“Why is that?” Michael asked.
“Well, it is now half four,” he said as he looked at the time on his watch. “It is peak time, fortunately, it is Sunday so there not supposed to be much traffic on the highway. It may take us approximately four to five hours for the most to arrive there.”
“Fair enough, which side is the washroom and the canteen?” Michael asked.
“I have never been inside the airport before, but there are signs around,” Davis said. “Anyway, I should move the car from here before the security returns.”
Lee and Michael looked at each other, their luggage was already inside the vehicle. Even though their suitcases were locked and couldn’t be opened easily, they still had priceless goods inside them. “Seeing that you don’t really know the inside of the airport, it would be best to stop by a bar or food outlet along the way.”
Lee and Michael were looking at him and observing all his reactions, they were trying to see if he had evil attentions or was innocent.
“I agree. It might take you guys a while to find the washroom and then the canteen, the best option is along the way. The longer we stay at the airport, is most likely we would encounter some traffic along the way, hope in guys,” Davis said walking over to the driver's side and getting in.
Michael got in the passenger seat while Lee got in the backseat, it was only after they pulled out of the curb, then out of the side road and they were on the highway did Davis start talking. “I am Davis Patiram, my parents own the beach house that you have booked for two weeks. Since I am home after my graduation and awaiting calls for interviews, my parents decided to assign me your personal driver for the two weeks. I hope you guys don’t mind.”
“I am Bernard Thompson, Mr. Lee Ford is my boss. It would be an honor to have a personal driver for the two weeks period. If you perform well, maybe my boss might want to hire you,” Michael said.
“It’s okay if he doesn’t, it would be an honor to be of assistance during these two weeks. If you guys need it, I can also change the vehicle to a regular car. My family owns a lot of vehicles which we also have for rental apart from the beach house.”
“Hmm, we will see about that later on. My boss came here to see if there are only potential business opportunities,” Michael said.
“Oh cool, then maybe I would really get a job with your boss then if that does happen,” Davis said.
Michael and Lee could clearly hear the enthusiasm in his voice after hearing that they may be employment opportunities opening soon. From the sound of it, the unemployment population must be really high and there were a lot of graduates that were looking for work.
Three hours later they arrived in San Fernando, “Hey guys I am making a quick stop at the mall as I need to use the washroom, do you guys want to go as well?” Davis asked as he was swinging off the highway and heading to Gulf City Mall.
“How long again before we arrive at the beach house?” Lee asked.
“We are only halfway there. It has a highway from here to Point Fortin but then from Point Fortin to Cedros, it is just the main road. The roads here in Trinidad are very bad, there are a lot of potholes on the road.”
“Potholes?” Michael asked.
“Well, it is depressions on the road that can damage vehicles when the wheels fall into them. We call it potholes here.”
“Oh, well then we would also take a washroom break, and get something to eat as well,” Michael said.
“Sure, I would make sure and park in a secure spot, and ensure that the locks are locked properly. I would have preferred to go to C3 Mall, as the security there is tighter, but didn’t expect that I needed the washroom. Here would have to do,” Davis said as he pulled into a parking spot that was just outside the mall entrance.
After the three of them got out of the car, Davis pressed the alarm and then checked to make sure all the doors as well as the trunk was open. Davis led them up the stairs from the outside and then they entered the entrance on the second floor. “The food court is right inside and the washrooms are next to the food court for convenience. This way you guys wouldn’t get lost, and I am sure that you both want to be in bed before eleven tonight.”
When Lee entered he saw that the food court was well organized with tables set for a couple, family, and friends. The washrooms were to the left upon entry and not far from the food outlets. The three of them walked straight to the male washroom, it was clean and organized and very hygienic. Lee thought that he wouldn’t mind owning a mall like this.
After the three men used the washroom and washing their hands, “Davis, do you have cash?” Lee asked.
“Yes, why?”
“We haven’t gotten the chance to change our money as yet, we would have to depend on you to buy us some food,” Michael said, as it only occurred to him after his boss asked the question that they didn’t have any Trinidad currency money.
“Sure, it would be my honor to treat the boss and his assistant,” Davis said. “So what would you guys like to eat? There is KFC, Subway, Mario’s, Pizza Hut, Pizza Boys, some local outlets.”
“KFC safe,” Lee said. “Cool, I was thinking about a Sub, but Subway is a little distance off, I would also choose KFC. What about you Mr. Bernard?” “Same here,” Michael said. “Anything in particular?” “The Zinger sandwich with the drink and fries for the boss, same for me but with biscuits instead of fries,” Michael said. Davis left them and walked towards the KFC outlet, he stood in line while Michael and Lee took a seat just around where KFC was. They sat down on a table that had just been cleaned and had four chairs, they would notice from time to time girls would keep looking in their direction and were laughing or giggling. Davis returned ten minutes later with a tray that had three drinks, a large box, and three smaller ones. “I bought some extra sandwiches for you guys. It’s for the morning,” Davis said while placing the drinks in front of each of them, then placing a small box. “Thanks,” Michael said, he could clearly s
“He seems okay and would be a good assistant,” Michael said walking towards the door and locking it. “Men would do anything for money, loyalty is what’s important,” Lee said, before pulling his suitcase to the master bedroom. “Boss we forget to ask him about the orphanage,” Michael said before entering the guest room on the opposite side of the living room area. “Didn’t we already find it?” Lee asked. “You mean the house we stopped in front of is the orphanage? How do you know that?” “Don’t ask any questions, just get some rest,” Lee said and then locked his room door. Lee head to the shower and take a cold bath, he found that this country was too humid for his liking, a good thing he brought a lot of cotton t-shirt and jeans pants, or else he would feel suffocated in only wearing suits the whole day. By the time he got on the bed, it was midnight in Trinidad but he couldn’t sleep as his body clock would wake him at five in the
“No matron, you know she is always lagging behind so that she wouldn’t have to do the chores,” the girl who was trying to chat up Lee said. “Lying is a sin,” everyone heard that fine voice. “I wasn’t lying. If you weren’t always invisible to everyone then people would see you. Don’t you get it, invisible that no one sees you,” the girl said. “Anna gets inside now, don’t forget you have to help out with the dinner. Girls inside now, don’t forget you have exams going on now and you want to get scholarships for a good university,” the matron said. After the four girls entered the house Lee asked Michael, “You heard her right? You saw her too right?” “Yes, well after she spoke. It was like she was invisible,” Michael said. “Boss you saw her last night?” “Yes, she was the one that put out the garbage, she was also the one looking at us from the window. She was also the one I wanted to shake hands with and she is also my mate,” Lee said look
“Why do you need to go and study? It’s not like you are going exams like the others,” the matron said. “Yes matron, I do have an exam tomorrow.” “What exams are you doing?” “CAPE ma’am. I am doing A’ levels.” “Anna you could go ahead and study for your exams,” the matron said. “Yes ma’am,” Anna said and they saw her walk up the stairs. Lee was looking at her every move and even saw when she turned back to look at him and wave before the wall blocked her. “Matron we would return tomorrow to negotiate more about this. We have somewhere else to be at the moment,” Michael said before opening the door and Lee was the first to walk out before Michael also exited. “Call Davis and ask him to take us to the supermarket,” Lee said. “Yes sir,” Michael said and then he made the call while they were strolling back to the beach house. Davis had just pulled out of their garage when Lee and Michael arrived at the beach house en
“I did say that we would be visiting again today,” Michael said. “Yes, you did. How can I be of assistance to you gentlemen?” the matron asked. “How about we help you with these bags inside first and then we can sit somewhere more confidential and talk,” Lee said, before the matron could reject their help Lee had already taken the bags that she had placed on the ground after getting out of the taxi. “Thank you,” the matron said since her hands were now empty and the two men had already walked towards the door and were waiting for her to open the door for them. Annabel opened the door and led them to the kitchen, “You can place them there, one of the caretakers would pack them away a little later,” she said. She watched the two men place the bags on the counter, “Come this way,” she then said as she showed them to her office. “Gentlemen take a seat,” she said while pointing to the two chairs that were across from her. Lee and Michael looked aro
When he came out he saw Anna hiding to the siding of the step. He just took a glimpse at her before walking away like he didn’t see anything. “What is it?” Michael asked when he looked in the same direction. “It’s nothing, I thought I saw something but I didn’t,” Lee said. Anna watched them walk away, she was about to come out from by the stairs when she heard the matron talking, she slowly walked towards the office door and listened. “About the girl, did you already make the arrangement…Someone came yesterday and today asking for her…I told them that there is already someone that wants her…The young man keeps insisting that he wants her…I tried to get him one of the other girls…Yes, I agree with you that Cindy would be the best candidate but the man only wants Anna…I tried, I even told him to leave…I don’t think this one would be as easy as the rest, this is already the second day he came…How do you expect me to do that?... I understand that after all Anna i
Anna didn’t really have to study for the eight paper one exam papers because she had revised everything for the paper two exams. She knew that she told the matron that she wanted to study, it was an excuse to get some rest as she could sense that things were not going to be quiet for her until she left. That night the matron called her in her office and told her since she was turning eighteen she would become someone's wife and as such, she had to know how to do all the house chores. The matron added laundry duty, sweeping and mopping, cooking breakfast and dinner, preparing snacks, stock taking, folding and ironing clothes and even taking care of the babies. On Wednesday Anna was very tired after doing everything, she wanted to tell the matron that she had an exam on Thursday morning and she couldn’t help with some of the chores, but when she was going to tell the matron Gemma walked in and said that she needed Anna to go into town to do something for her. T
At half nine Lee and Michael were already waiting for Davis by the roadside as Davis was reversing the car into the road to pick them up. They arrived at the orphanage in five minutes time as the house was only five houses away but because Davis mother also wanted Abigail to go with them and Davis had to explain to his mother that it was some business and confidential things that the boss was going to do, it took them a little longer. Lee and Michael knocked on the door, the matron was already dressed to head out and was shocked when she saw them but then became annoyed as she thought that they gave up when she didn’t see them the day before. “I have some business to take care of, I cannot delay my appointment,” Annabel said. “It’s nothing much, we are even heading into town and we can offer you a lift, that way you wouldn’t have to wait to get a taxi,” Michael said. “Fine, but we have to make it quick, so what do you want to discuss?” Annabel asked.