Chapter 47

Tessa’s POV

I got the feeling someone was watching me, but figured it had to have been my imagination. I continued to write out my thoughts in my journal as I often did in the evenings. The sun was setting in the distance. There was just enough sunlight left to light up my journal and make it easy for me to see what I was writing.

But soon enough it would be gone, and I would only be left with the rays of the moon.

The outdoor lights would soon be turned on as well, lighting up the garden that I sat in.

Roses have always been my favorite flower and I was excited when I saw that Joseph had a rose bush section in his garden. It seemed he had a section for everything. There were even fruits and vegetables.

I was in awe of this entire area, and I couldn’t help but be amazed at how well-maintained his landscaping was.

There were cobblestone walkways that lead into each section along with stone benches for resting. I sat on one of the benches with my journal, long after I had finished decorating.

I knew Joseph was still sleeping and one of his rules was to not disturb him while he slept during the day. Besides, I saw how he looked earlier, and he was utterly exhausted. I knew that was my fault because he had to accompany me to school during the day and then nap in his office.

I wondered if he had any time to sleep at all while he went to school that early. Or if he just stayed awake and graded papers.

My personal journal, the one I was writing in currently, was all about my experiences during the day and my deepest inner thoughts. I write a lot about Ruby in this entry because I saw her earlier and I couldn’t get her hurt expression out of my mind.

I would never be able to get that look she gave me out of my head. She was hurt and upset, and she knew that I was lying to her. I was only digging a deeper grave in her eyes, and I wasn’t sure how to dig myself out of this.

I thought about calling her a lot tonight to explain myself, but I was also thinking she probably wouldn’t answer me if I did call.

I wouldn’t answer me.

So, instead, I grabbed my journal and went into the garden to write out my feelings.

I write a little about Jordan too and how he hated me from the beginning. However, it seemed he was warming up to me slightly during our shopping spree. He hated following me around and seemed bored for most of the day, but towards the end, he started to contribute and gave me some input on stuff.

He even wanted to go to lunch.

I found the whole ordeal to be strange.

“Oh, sorry. Didn’t realize anybody would be in here. Nobody ever is,” I heard a male voice coming from nearby.

I was startled because I too wasn’t expecting anybody to be lurking around the garden. Especially at this hour.

I looked up to see a man walking in my direction. He wore an old pair of jeans and a white T-shirt with dirt smeared all over it. He was also covered in a layer of dirt and sweat like he’d been working for hours. He wore a sun hat and carried gardening supplies with him.

It would make sense for Joseph to have a gardener tend to his garden considering most gardening is done during the day. Joseph was also very busy, and I assumed he didn’t have time to do mediocre tasks like gardening.

This man couldn’t have been much older than 30 and he gave me a lopsided grin as he came closer.

“Sorry if I startled you,” he said, rubbing his hand behind his neck and giving me a short laugh. “But you kind of scared me too. I heard the sounds of your pen scribbling, and I thought it was a rodent or something.”

I looked at my pen and then looked back at him. I guess I was still a little shocked that somebody else was there because it took up until that point to speak.

“Sorry,” I breathed, putting my pen down. “I didn’t think anyone was here. You must be the gardener,” I said, standing to feet and reaching my hand out for him to shake.

He took my hand and brought it to his mouth, causing my face to redden instantly.

“I’m Jack,” he said, giving me a kind, and yet lopsided smile.

“Tessa.”

“Are you a friend of Mr. Evergreen’s?” Jack asked, narrowing his brown eyes at me; he also seemed a bit confused.

“I’m his student,” I admitted. I wasn’t sure how much I should reveal to the gardener. “He’s letting me stay here temporarily for a little while.”

“His student; like his current student?” Jack asked.

I thought that was a strange question, but I answered him anyway.

“Yes,” I said, narrowing my eyes at him.

He looked like he was in deep thought for a moment, but then he shook his head like he was shaking away those thoughts.

“So, you are staying here? Do that mean you have nowhere else to go? Do you not have family?”

“My father lives a little far,” I explained. “I go to school nearby and something happened with my old living arrangements. Thankfully, Professor Evergreen was kind enough to let me live in one of his spare bedrooms.”

“I see,” Jack said, still looking at me like I was some kind of alien. It was making me feel a little uncomfortable and he knew this as well.

“I’m sorry that I’m staring. It’s just that he never has guests here that spend the night,” he explained, shaking his head with a timid frown. “I’m surprised he’s allowing you to stay here is all.”

This was my chance to find out how much Jack knew for sure.

“Why doesn’t he ever have guests spend the night?”

“I’m not sure,” Jack only shrugged.

“How long have you worked for Professor Evergreen?” I found myself asking.

“Only a few months,” Jack answered. “He moved here recently from my understanding. I work for a gardening company, and he called our services. Then they sent me over.”

“It’s beautiful here,” I told him, giving him a kind smile. “You are doing a wonderful job.”

Jack returned my smile.

“Thanks. It wasn’t easy. This place was a mess when I started. I’m not sure who owned this place before Mr. Evergreen moved in, but they didn’t tend this garden at all.”

That made me wonder who owned this Villa before Joseph showed up. I made a mental note to ask him later.

“Do you speak with him often?” I asked. “Mr. Evergreen, I mean. Is he kind to you?”

I guess I was just wondering how Joseph truly treats those who work for him.

Jack frowned as he thought of an answer to that question.

“Honestly, I don’t see him all that often. I’m not sure what he does in there all day, but I rarely see him leave the house,” he explained, furrowing his brows together as I glanced back at the villa. “Maybe working on his next big seller.”

“But when you did meet him, was he kind to you?” I pressed, curious about how Joseph treated others.

“I don’t remember him being mean. I just remember him being this really old man. That’s why I was confused when I thought you were a friend of his,” Jack explained, chuckling almost nervously.

His words made my entire body freeze; Jack saw Joseph as an old man. But in my eyes, and in the eyes of the other students, Joseph looked like he was in his mid- to late 20s.

“How old would you say Joseph is?” I asked, curiously.

Jack thought about it for a moment before shrugging.

“I don’t know, maybe like 80 or 90,” he said in return. “Which is why he has people helping him during the day. Like a grocery shopper and a maid.”

“And a gardener,” I said, meeting his eyes.

He nodded.

“It’s funny, but I don’t really remember the interview process that much,” he said, scratching his head. “I just remember him walking me around the garden and talking about what is expected of me.”

“Wait, he walked you around the garden?” I asked, raising my brow. “Like during the day?”

He narrowed his eyes at me, seemingly confused by my question, but then he nodded.

“My memory is a bit foggy, but yes. I believe it was during the day.”