CHAPTER 222: HINTS

As Jamal drove them home, he kept glancing at Abigail at intervals through the rearview mirror, but her gaze was fixed on her phone all through, and she barely looked up at him.

He wondered if she was really pissed at him because of a lady he didn’t even know anything about.

It seemed like she was a very possessive and jealous girlfriend.

Would she be okay with him hanging out with Mari and Emily? Those were his female best friends, not to mention Bella and Brenda, who were always all over him when they were together.

How was he going to be able to handle her possessiveness without having to push away those that mattered to him? He loved his friends and didn’t want to ever have to choose between them and Abigail.

Abigail, on the other hand, didn’t even notice Jamal looking at her.

She was too busy searching. She scrolled through the early episodes of her podcast, her eyes scanning for one name: J.J.

She wanted to know the exact time Jamal began to follow her so that she could read through all his comments.

Her chest rose a little when she finally found it. He had followed her just one month after she started the show. Her eyes widened, and her lips parted in surprise.

She didn’t expect that. She knew he had followed her for a long time, but hadn’t known just how early.

Back then, she barely had listeners. Most of her views came from bots or random strangers.

But Jamal had managed to find her.

She opened one of the earliest posts. And she saw his comment.

J.J: Is it just me, or is there something so peaceful about your voice? Has anyone told you that?

She blinked.

Her fingers trembled a little as she tapped the next episode.

J.J: I’ve been looking forward to your next episode. This felt like you were talking to me.

Her heart was filled with love for him as she saw he started following her just a month after she started her podcast. The more she read through the trail of comments he had left on each of her posts, the more her eyes filled with tears.

Episode after episode, his words were there.

J.J: This made my day.

J.J: Please post another one soon.

J.J: This made me smile. I had a really tough day, but I feel better.

Her throat tightened.

Tears blurred her vision.

Jamal had loved her voice before he ever knew who she was. He held onto her words like they were precious, without knowing she was the one.

How could one person be that loving? How did he always end up finding her? How could he love her that way? It didn’t make any sense.

She sniffed and wiped her eyes, then glanced up for the first time. Her eyes met his through the mirror.

Their gazes locked, and Jamal frowned when he saw the tears in her eyes. Was she crying because of that? For Christ’s sake! He didn’t even do anything wrong.

"Abi, are you okay? Why are you crying?" Genevieve asked, reminding them both that she was in the car.

Abigail turned to look at Genevieve, "I was just reading something emotional online."

"Oh," Genevieve said, and smiled.

Abigail was surprised to look out the window and see that they were already approaching the house.

She hadn’t realized that she had spent the entire time reading Jamal’s comments.

As they got out of the car, she looked at Jamal, and signed. [I’m not upset. I was just pulling your legs earlier.]

Jamal looked at her, wondering if she was saying that so he wouldn’t feel bad or if she meant it.

Seeing the doubt on his face, she smiled and signed again. [I mean it. I’m going to listen to all her podcasts and follow her.]

Jamal smiled, relieved that she wasn’t mad as he had thought. He turned to look at Genevieve, who was staring at both of them with a curious expression.

It seemed to her like Abigail was already playing along with Pete’s plan, but she was still wondering who Pete was and why he wanted Abigail. The last thing she wanted was for Abigail to get hurt.

"Can I speak with you briefly, Miss Genevieve?" Jamal asked politely as he handed the car key to Abigail.

"Sure," Genevieve said, watching as Abigail walked away before looking at Jamal, "You both seem to be getting along."

Jamal shrugged, smiling as he looked at Abigail’s disappearing figure. "I wanted to let you know I’ve cleared up your schedule for the rest of the week. I guess you’re leaving tomorrow."

Genevieve frowned, "Leaving tomorrow? Leaving for where? I’m not leaving for Ludus until the weekend..."

"But I thought you changed your mind since Mr Jamal is on his way to pick you? He told me..." Jamal trailed off and pretended to look shocked and embarrassed as he slapped a hand over his mouth. "Oh. I’m sorry. My bad."

Genevieve’s heart skipped a beat. "What did Jamal tell you? Is he coming here? What exactly did he say?"

Jamal shook his head, "It’s nothing. I was mistaken. Never mind."

She leaned forward, her voice hopeful and serious. "Pete... Is Jamal coming?"

He pretended to look confused. "What? Did I say that?"

"Not directly. But you’re hinting at it."

Jamal backed away slowly. "I didn’t say anything! You can’t tell him I said anything. It was a slip. I thought you knew..."

Her heart fluttered a little at that. So, he really was coming? Was that the reason he had been busy all day and said he would be busy until tomorrow?

Genevieve stared at Jamal with a smile that grew wider by the second. "When is he getting here?"

"I can’t say. But if I were you, I’d have my bags ready for a getaway trip by morning. I don’t think you’d be going to work tomorrow."

"Pete," she called after him, half-laughing, half-blushing. "A getaway trip?"

He grinned. "You didn’t hear any of this from me, ma’am," he said before walking away.

Genevieve stood still for a moment. Her heart thumped hard in her chest.

Slowly, she headed inside. Her lips curved into a small hopeful smile as she walked up the stairs.

If Jamal was really coming... She wanted to be ready.

She dialed her father’s number as she walked into her room, but again, he didn’t take the call.

She decided it didn’t matter whether or not he permitted her, since this was her opportunity to leave now.

After all, he had chosen Jamal for her, so she was sure he wouldn’t have any objections to her leaving on such short notice.