"I have already said that it's cool if you want to spend time with us but that won't be today. You have agreed so why are you still trying to make things difficult for me?".
"But…," Joanna's piercing glare caused Anthony to swallow back his words. He stood up from the couch without being asked to do so.
He led the way to the door.
Downstairs, Joanna was surprised to see Chris standing beside the car with the backseat door opened.
She looked around and when she had confirmed that it was just the three of them around, she approached the car.
"You don't need to do this?" She muttered as she stared at the guy beckoning them to hop into the car.
"Also, we don't intend on using the car so you don't have to worry," She said and tried to walk away but Chris jumped and stood in front of them.
"Please don't do this to me and enter the car," Chris was polite in his manner of speech.
Anyways he has never for once talked down to her like others in the Kingdom. He has always been polite and nice to her.
Maybe his kindness to her was because of her title, she isn't sure and has never thought about it before.
"He has specifically ordered me to be at your service today. He won't only get mad at me but he will kill me this time around if I make a mistake," Chris pleaded.
Joanna might have understood Chris' plights but not the innocent Anthony.
"Brother Amos is nice. He would never harm you…,"
"How I wish that was true," Chris spoke in between his teeth.
He understands that the King wasn't a bad person but never would he believe that he is nice.
"I will tell him I insisted on leaving alone. I am sure he won't make things hard for you if I do that," Joanna assured and tried to leave but Chris obstructed hers and Anthony's path again.
"Miss Joanna, please have mercy on me. I am begging you," Chris pleaded with his palms joined together.
Looking at the pitiful guy who was ready to kneel for her Joanna couldn't help but wonder what Amos must have said for him to act the way he did.
With Chris acting this way she was left with no other option than to enter the car with Anthony.
Chris let out a sigh of relief after Joanna and Anthony entered the car. He closed the door and proceeded to the driver's seat.
Inside the car, Joanna kept stealing glances at Chris. The poor guy who caught her did this thrice felt so uncomfortable because of this.
"Miss Joanna, what's wrong? Do you need something? " Chris brought him to ask when he caught her stealing glances at him for the fourth time.
"I-I don't need anything and everything is fine," Joanna stammered like someone who was caught stealing. Even when she said that Chris didn't feel relaxed.
Judging from the way she stared at him it was obvious she needed something or wanted to ask him a question.
So he couldn't understand why she said everything was fine.
Despite the uneasy feeling, he kept driving. Some minutes later he peered at the rear mirror to check what they were doing and yet he caught her still gazing at him.
"Miss...,"
"I wanted to ask whether he has contacted you ever since he left?" Joanna blurted knowing very well what he would say.
"He?" He asked as he slowed down a bit.
"Oh, do you perhaps mean Sir?" He tried to guess when she didn't say anything.
"Sir?" She blurted. "Who is that?"
"She is asking you about Brother Amos," Anthony decided to help out, noticing that the two adults were confused.
"I was also referring to him too," He replied meekly.
"So you guys refer to him as Sir?" She asked rhetorically. There was a momentary silence in the car.
"He hasn't called me since he left....,"
"Are phones not allowed where he is or is he that busy?" Joanna quizzed and looked at his face through the rear mirror.
"Hmm... I don't know about that since I haven't been there before to witness how things are over there....,"
"You are his right-hand man so how come you have never been there? Also, I have noticed that you don't follow him as you normally did in the past. Why is it that?" Joanna demanded out of curiosity.
"Is he perhaps still furious with you about the incident...,"
"Of course not," Chris blurted. How he replied made him look suspicious.
"You don't have to lie to make him look good. If he is still angry I can talk to him on your behalf. Although I might end up scolded, I am sure he will listen to me," Joanna offered to help.
"Thanks for the offer Miss Joanna but, indeed, the two of us are now fine...,"
"If that is the case then why aren't you joining him and the others? From what I recall, he said the task was important and dangerous so shouldn't you be with him?" Joanna cut in sharply.
She can still recall his opinion concerning her disappearance. She was afraid he might be bullying Chris because of this.
"It's true the task he is undertaking is important but to him, nothing is more important than you," Chris replied firmly. "And it was because of this reason he kept me in charge of taking care of you".
"Aww... Brother Amos is so sweet," Anthony said as he hugged his hand to his chest.
Joanna ignored her brother's words and stared at Chris instead. "So, is he the one who said I am important to him or are you the one who insinuates it?" She asked seriously.
Her question caught Chris off guard for a minute but he composed himself.
[Did he and Miss Joanna get into a fight?]
He thought as he kept his eyes glued on the road.
"He doesn't have to say it directly for me to know that. His actions say this…,"
"Actions don't always mean the truth, ok," She said and leaned back against the chair.