10 Chapter 10

I had waited for Lucas to say something about my tone but he hadn't. He just carried on driving and at the same time he was humming. How did he manage to be so calm and composed about it? He was so calm about everything and it frustrated the living day lights out of me.

It was almost impossible to tear down his walls, he knew what he was about and his life seemed to have a purpose. He was from a different mould. In all my life that I had encountered man I knew everything and the role that I needed to play according to them.

All I had to do was to study him so that I would be able to break down his walls. I was determined to do that and I would smash him to pieces. "What are you thinking about?"

"Nothing in particular" as I looked out the window. I studied the places that we were going to and they looked really nice. We parked outside a building, it was very huge. I followed Lucas as he opened the door.

"Where are we" as curiosity got the best of me. "We are at my art gallery". Lucas walked inside and I followed him, I can't help but to look around and the paintings are so beautiful they seem to speak with you. "You paint all these?"

"Yes I do" as he is checking for something by the counter. I would admit he was talented alright but what kind of man was he? "what am I doing here?"

"I need an assistant and I think you would be perfect for the job" I look at his face and I can tell that he was serious. I am so nervous and excited "are you being serious?"

"Yes Olivia I mean it" as he looks at me quizzically . "I'm Olivia and I'm reporting for duty. How may I be of your assistance?" as I say it in a high pitch voice, which is topped off with a salute. "I would like you to clean up this place first" he shows me where to mop, where I should dust the tables and set up.

I start cleaning and scrubbing making sure that the place is left spotless. "Olivia come here, I need to show you something of great importance." I put down the broom and I walk over to him. I see he is looking at a computer screen. "This is the cash register that you will be working on." I nod my head.

"I will teach you how to cash up, invoice receipts and make online payments so that whilst I'm at the back room I will be painting and you can be at the front."

"Yes sir!, anything else?"

"I also need you to learn all the paintings and interpret what they mean for the customers" I nod as I listen to him intently. "I want you to explain it to the customers in a way that draws them in and gets them lost so that they are in a different world."

"How am I supposed to do that?" as the panic in my voice is clear. He puts his hand on my shoulder "Olivia don't worry you will grow into it and you will figure it out as you find yourself more." I sigh. How was he so sure that I would get the hang of it? What if I became a failure just like I had been my whole life. Maybe you should just go back to what you were best at Olivia and that's just having sex with man.

I shake my head as the thought of going back to being a prostitute is too unbearable. I had reached my limit before Khloe had screwed me over. I wouldn't have been able to survive even if I wanted to. "Earth to Olivia please."

"Sorry Sir" as I come back to the present. "Where did your mind wander off to?" I avert his gaze as I don't want him to read me more than he had. "Nowhere" as I clear my throat. He seems like he wants to protest but he stops himself.

"Where was I?" as he tries to regain his train of thought.

"By the art explanation."

"Of course, so here I also have a painting room because at times I get inspired and I don't want to forget it so I go to the back."

"So I need you to greet customers and if they insist upon meeting the painter then you can call me. I will come out and talk to them in person."

"I see."

"Okay you can go finish off what you were doing and when you are done, I will explain in more detail on what you are supposed to do."

"Yes Sir" as I go back to what I was doing. I cleaned to the best of my abilities as this was my first different job that I had. I had to prove to myself that I could do something different from my other previous job I had. But for how long are you going to last Olivia?

That was a question that even I didn't want to answer myself, why did these dark voices have to persecute me all the time. "I'm done with cleaning Sir and what would be the next thing you want me to do?"

"Okay now I will teach you how to use the cash register and how to cash up." As we move onto there. "Why do you trust me so much, what if I steal your money Sir." He chuckles a bit "I know you wouldn't Olivia" as he looks at me straight in the eye. I feel a bit uncomfortable as I look away. Why did he say it with such confidence as if he has known me for the longest time?

Most of the times as a prostitute, clients would come back and accuse you of stealing things you never stole or say cutting remarks about you "you better not steal anything!" and I tried to not let those words bother me at all, but I knew those remarks hurt. They would call you vile names and here this man that I barely know is putting all his trust on me. I couldn't let myself overthink as much as I already did. I didn't like this at all.

"Where does your mind keep wandering off to?" as he searches my face. "Sorry, I am going to focus more than hundred percent Sir."

"I wasn't asking for an apology Olivia. I am just worried about you because you seem like you are somewhere else."

"I am fine, can we carry on with our work?"

"Sure" as he carries on explaining to me how it all works. I focus on getting everything right. "Okay let me void this ticket." Yet it doesn't work and I end up making a bigger mess. Lucas sees the distraught look on my face and he rushes over. "I'm sorry I didn't mean to get it wrong."

"Its okay Olivia" as he fixes it with a flew clicks.

"I'm so stupid, I will never get anything right!" as I go outside. I sit there for half an hour, the day is already gone and it is late at night when Lucas comes out the shop. "Let's go home." He smiles at me and I am puzzled.

Why didn't he yell at me for the mistake that I had made? Was he going to do it later? Or didn't he want me to work for him anymore since he also thought I was useless. I get into the car and we start driving home.

Was he disappointed in me? He probably was, I would be too. My heart feels very heavy. What if I can't do anything right? Of course I can't. What if he chases me out? Where would I go then? Should I offer him sex as a payment? But he didn't seem like he was interested. Just go back to what you have always done. At least you will have money.

I shake my head, no that's not right. I couldn't go back to that. I couldn't endure it anymore and it had been a while since I felt like I had gained my freedom. "Its okay Olivia, you can't get everything right especially when you are doing it for the first time."

I turn to see Lucas is looking at me fondly. Why wasn't he angry? Why did he have to understand? It would have been much better if he got angry. I couldn't let my defence down to where he was concerned.

I don't respond to him and I Just look outside into the darkness. We get to his house. "Go change and I will get dinner going" I nod as I walk off. I go to our room and I undress so I can change into my pyjamas. I feel very comfortable as I walk downstairs.

I find him cooking and it smells delicious. I sit by the counter as I watch him cook. "Do you want to tell me what has been eating at you for the whole day?" I look up at him "nothing that I can't handle"

"Why don't just tell me at least a bit." Huh… "Fine, I don't know when you are going to fire me or get tired of an incompetent person like me."

He laughs as if it is some joke "Olivia I have had my own shares of mishaps. This is your first time and you will learn to be better with time you just have to be patient with yourself."

"What if I DON'T?" as my frustration is more prominent. "You need to go easy on yourself and realize that you are human just like everyone"

"Its easy for you to say since you already have found your passion as a painter"

"And so will you Olivia" Why did he have to say it with such calmness and assurance. It angered me more that he was so calm and sure about everything.

"Fine if you say so" as I don't want to go in any further into the matter with him. I would play what ever he wanted me to be. I see him do his usual routine of praying before he starts to eat, he raises his head and I glare back at him. He knew what I thought.

He just smiles at me and he starts to eat. "Sir how many women have you slept with in your lifetime?" he chokes on his water as he starts to cough really loud. He is beet red and I see the look in his eyes. "Wow don't tell me you haven't slept with anyone."

His silence confirms the answer that I was looking for. He was a virgin. "I could teach you a few things you know" he doesn't say anything. "But Sir" I wait for him to look at me. "Why haven't you had sex?"

"Because I'm not married yet." He really does look calm. "what?"

"The first person I'm going to make love to is my wife." I tilt my head in amusement "so wouldn't a virgin be better for you too?"

He looks up and gazes at me squarely "No I don't care if you are a virgin or not, Olivia."

"Really, wouldn't it be a magical experience" as I mock him. "Two virgins find love and they stay together forever as they discover each other."

"Life is not all about sex you know. I believe if you find the right person then everything will fall into place." It seemed as if Lucas was living in a bubble, did he really think that life was that simple. If he knew half of her past, he would have already left.

"You don't know much of this world. You would run for the hills if I told you half of what I have done."

"Try me then."