Ten

Desmond smiled as he listened to Ava explain what had happened to him. He had not believed it at first, thinking that the simple method could not have worked that easily. He became convinced as a result of the smile on the lady's face. It was not faked, but a genuine one, meaning that the method had actually worked. All he could see on her face was happiness, pure happiness. And that was what he wanted for all his  'patients' as a 'doctor.' 

"I am so happy right now. Gabby would have loved to be here, but he had an emergency. It's all thanks to you," Ava said. 

Desmond smiled as he leaned back on his chair.  "It is all thanks to God, Miss Ava," he said, still showing his pearly set of teeth. 

"I thank God, but I still have to thank you. Thanks a lot. I really appreciate it," Ava said sincerely. 

Desmond nodded gently as she rose to her feet in an attempt to leave. "You are welcome. Have a nice day," he uttered and watched her leave through the door. 

Minutes after she left, the telephone on his desk started ringing. "Yes?" he said as he put the receiver in his ear. 

"There is someone called Faith Smith here. She wanted to see you, but without an appointment. I asked her to leave but she insisted on –," the caller was saying. 

"Let her in,"the words flowed out of his mouth without second thought. He placed the receiver back to its holder and rested his forehead on the fists he had formed with his fingers while his elbows sat comfortably on his desk.

A knock came on his door, and then, the visitor came in. She was casually dressed in a blue Jean trouser and a plain t-shirt that matched his brown tie. 

"Can I have my seat?" Faith asked formally. 

"Yes, you can," he answered politely and pointed toward the seat she had taken a week and a few days ago. 

Before he could ask for her purpose of coming, she spoke first, "Uhm..Mr. Desmond, I am sorry for the way I lashed words for you that day. I shouldn't have behaved like that. You're the employer, anyway," she paused and looked at him. She was grateful she had his full and undivided attention as he stared intently at her. 

Desmond urged her on by adjusting on his seat. 

"But, I was just in so much pain that all the applicants left angrily after bad-mouthing you and I took it upon myself to transfer the anger to you," said Faith. "It was just a few days ago that I met one of the applicants and was told that you actually contacted all of them and compensated them. I have not been able to sleep well since then. My conscience kept blaming me for thinking you're a bad person." 

"It's okay, Miss. You don't need to apologize. I was not nice to the men as well." 

That was a lie. He was as polite as he knew how to. Since when did rejecting unqualified applicants become not being nice? 

"Did you know I promised to spread a fake rumor about you that day?" 

Of course, he knew. That was why he agreed to interview her the first time. "Oh! So, did you?" He knew the answer to that question. If she had done as she had threatened in her mind, he would not be sitting in the comfort zone of his office. He would have been in trouble with the press, giving answers to the questions he knew nothing about. 

Faith shook her head. "Truthfully, I was tempted to do it, but I didn't," she said. 

Desmond smiled inwardly. "Well, I have not found a driver yet, so if you don't mind and that's if you're still interested, I can just give you my car key for a driving test to know your skills and to see if the way you drive pleases me. 

Happily, she widened her eyes in surprise while using her hand to cover her mouth. "Really? Wow? Thank you so much," she said and then remembered to be formal, so she added, "Sir." 

"You don't need to be formal with me. It is okay. I only have rules to be followed," Desmond said. 

"Go on," she liked speaking informally, anyway. It always gave her the freedom of speech. So, telling her not to speak formally to him would only make things easier. 

"That would be later," he replied before saying in addition, "Now, thing is this. This job is not just one to be taken lightly. I can be in need of the service anytime, any day." 

Faith smiled.  "That won't be a problem. I will always be available. I can always board a taxi and make it on time, so —" 

"No, you can't," he cut in while shaking his head. 

"I can't?" she was surprised. What was he talking about? 

Desmond nodded in reply. 

"Of course, I can. What are you talking —" 

"In summary, what I need is a live-in driver," he made known. 

Faith opened her mouth. "Ohhh!" That would be kind of difficult. A live-in driver? Didn't that mean she would have to be living with him? Like - living in the same house with him? 

Actually, she did not see anything wrong with it, but her mother. How was she going to take it? She scratches the back of her neck as she pondered on how to lay it down for her mother and get past it. 

One thing was certain though, her mother was definitely going to be furious. She would not want her to settle for a petty job like that and most especially because she was going to be living with a male boss. 

Desmond sighed, realizing she was a mummy's girl. "I guess you are going to decline that, right? I should tell the guard to put the board back outside. You don't have to —" 

"Nonono... No, please," Faith butt in. Who knew when she was going to get another job offer if she refused this?  "I... I will do it," she said and nodded positively with a smile. 

"So...." He said and rose to his feet while she did the same.  "Are you ready for the driving test?" 

"Yes, sir," she answered in nothing less than a whisper and suddenly burst into laughter.  "I can't believe I'm getting this job," she confided and Desmond smiled as a reply. 

He gave her his car keys and then went out with her following behind.