Phoebe walked the gardens, derp in thought. How damaged could Jason be that he had been resisting every means to get healed because only when he was truely healed would he allow himself to feel again. He acts like an Iceman. Someone who can give room for passion but not for love or any such feelings for the opposite sex.

How could he dampen her mood by asking such a clueless question.

Steven was not really a bad person and out of all the people she was seeing at the moment, he seemed more serious than the rest but she did not want to settle for less when she could have the best. She was tired of having to make do. It was time for her to have things in abundance and she could only get that when she became the lady of the manor not the truffle these men give to her. And even then she had had to make her demands in such a way that it didn't seem like she was trading her favours for the financial gain she could get from them. It was really frustrating.

Her time with Richard had thought her not to be the fool for any man ever again and though she was anxious to be married, she wanted to get the bes

t deal out of it that she possibly could.

She was seething. She didn't like losing. She knew the humiliation and hurt she had had to experience with Richard. She was not going to allow herself get hurt or used by any man again. She would rather use them for her own needs. Afterall the end justifies the means, according to her new resolution.

She was still derp in thought when strong arms went round her from behind.

She was shocked at first as she stifled. Then she relaxed as she recognised the smell of his aftershave and of his body.

She was determined not to give in easily though. It was time Jason started valuing her. She was done being taken for granted.

'Phoebe, I have apologised. I sincerely do not know what I did wrong but whatever it was, let's forget about it. Truce?'

'We may not have a commitment based relationship but that does not mean we should not respect the feelings of others, you know. Here I was getting myself ready for you and all you could think to bring up was my affair with another man? That question you asked may not sound offensive to you but it did to me because the timing was totally off. You ruined my mood, you know'. She pouted.

'Sorry. Thank goodness it was just that. I had started thinking that it was something more serious than that'. Jason said heaving a sigh of relief.

Phoebe silently thanked her stars that she had been able to divert his attention. She didn't want him being on his guard until she had successfully achieved her goal.

If he even as much as suspected her dissatisfaction with their affair, she wouldn't put it past him to call it quits immediately. So, it was necessary for him to keep thinking that she had no complaints concerning the nature of their affair her plan to succeed.

'Something serious? Like what?' she asked.

'I felt that you may be having some emotional issues with Steven and I was going to ask if it would help of I spoke to him.I wanted to make sure I got you back together if that was what was bothering you of course'.

Phoebe cursed this clueless man.

'Steve and I have an agreement, much the same way I have with you. So, there is no such problem. If either of us got tired of the relationship, we would just part as friends', she lied through her teeth. She knew that she was the one who had not shown seriousness. If she showed more commitment, she was sure Steve would propose the next instance but that was not her goal.

'I was going to suggest we parted ways if it would help but ...'

'No that is not necessary', she said too quickly. Jason looked at her surprise causing her to become defensive.

'I mean, Steve would read the wrong meaning to it of you did. We are not having problems. We are just fine. I just explained to you, the reason for my reaction and I wonder if we are going to keep talking about this issue till the break of dawn?'

Jason smiled and pulled her into his arms. He felt that there was no longer any need feeling awkward about being with her since she was not having a serious relationship with Steven as he had thought previously.

She fell into his arms and he stroked her breasts for a while as they remained in that position. She felt his manhood swell and start throbbing and she moaned softly.

He expertly turned her round to face him and claimed her lips. Her response was fervent, on the verge of desperate but Jason did not think along those lines. He just felt that she was in a hurry to get down to business just as he was.

He pulled the cape off her and without bothering to remove the short and transparent night gown, he pulled it up as he lay her in the grass and took her with an urgency he felt was mutual.

Afterwards, they stared at the stars for a while and because he started feeling sleepy, he pulled her up, so they could go in.

They went back inside though Phoebe would have loved it if they had remained there. For a moment there, she had thought that they had a connection and she had wanted that moment to linger so that they could form a bond but he obviously didn't feel the same way and she did not want to sound or act clingy, so she had swallowed her protest and gone in with him where he had fallen into a derp sleep, whole she stared at the ceiling, wondering how she got there and how she was ever going to achieve her goal.

Nancy could not sleep that night

She had packed the little she owned. She planned to take it to the office, so that she could get a cab to take her from the office to her new quarters but she planned to get to work early so that no one would see her with those things. The less people who saw her, the better for her.

After packing all that she felt was necessary, those clothes she considered no longer good enough, she folded and kept in a corner of the room for whoever would have need of them. Then she swept the room thoroughly. That was about an hour ago. She knew that she would have to tell Sarah, if not any other person that she was moving into another apartment.

But she was determined to leave early for the office and wondered how she was going to see Sarah before leaving. She was still thinking about all these when she eventually fell asleep.

She woke early and prepared for work. She carried her suitcase and a bag that contained her cutleries and utensils. It was not really heavy because there were just a few of them and she opened the door to leave and nearly bumped into Sarah.

'Good morning pretty. You'd better be watchful '.

'Good morning Sarah. I am sorry. Hope I did not injure you?' Nancy asked.

'No, you didn't. But where are you going so early in the morning and with a suitcase too? You must be travelling'.

'Nit so. I had wondered how I would see you so that I could tell you that I was moving into a new apartment. Thank goodness I bumped into you and now you know'.

'A new apartment. Happy for you. I always knew that this place was not suitable for the likes of you and when I saw that man of yours who came looking for you that day, I knew that it was just a matter of time before you left here. I must say that I am surprised that he allowed you to stay here as long as you have'. Sarah said smiling mischieviously at Nancy.

Nancy knew what she was thinking and decided to clear up her misconception.

'Sarah. I told you before and I am saying it again. There is nothing between us. He is my boss. He came here to offer me a job and now with his help, I now have a new place of my own'.

'So you say but my instincts tell me otherwise but there is no need being troubled about it but a word of advice my friend, he will surely make a great dad!' she said and moved away into her own room.

Nancy could not believe it. She had thought that she had hidden her pregnancy well enough by wearing oversized cardigan and taking other precautions but Sarah had known all the while that she was pregnant. She wondered how many other people knew of her condition. She guessed that she would have to start getting used to it. For how long was she planning on hiding the pregnancy anyways? Anna already knew and now Sarah. Soon the whole world would know that she was going to be a single mum.

But what was that Sarah had said? That Jason was going to make a great father? She wished. But he was not the father of her unborn child. The father did not want anything to do with either her or her baby. But that was okay because she would take care of both of them: herself and her baby. They didn't need him at all.

She called a cab who took her straight to her office and as she had hoped, only a few people had reported for work since it was still too early. She quickly went into her office as soon as the security guard gave her the clearance. She hid her luggage in a part of her office for easy access when it was time to go home.

Home! The word no longer felt alien to her because she felt that she was going home indeed. For the first time in a long while, she was going to be living in not just a descent apartment but in a place she considered Paradise.

She worked efficiently as always. Her boss did not come early to the office that day. She was beginning to think that he wouldn't and that she would have to go to her new quarters alone and thank goodness, he had had the foresight to give her the address to his house. Else she would have been stranded.

But he came in layer in the day but went out again. It was evident that he may not return to the office that day. So, Nancy prepared herself to go to her new quarters alone.

It was even in her favour so that he would be surprise to find that she had moved in.

Anna saw the things and smiled at her.

'Today seem to be the day that you move in with your boss, I take it', she said dryly.

'Please do not say it that way. Anyone listening would draw the wrong conclusions. And yes, I am moving in not with my boss but into the quarters he had graciously offered me to use for as long as I felt comfortable with it. I had hoped that he would drive me o my quarters but I guess that I would have to do so myself because from all indication, he won't be coming back to the office today.

At the end of work that day, she called a cab and gave the cab driver directions to her boss residence.

She was welcomed by Tim and given the key after he had the door opened for her and moved her things from the cab into the quarters. She thanked him profusely.

'Don't mention it ma'am. Mr. Campbell sir, asked me to make sure that you are made to feel welcomed whenever you moved in. I was just doing my duty and I am happy that you appreciate it. Enjoy your residency', he smiled and gently shut the door behind him as he left her to her devices knowing that she needed the privacy.

As soon as the door shut, Nancy fell into the bed with a sigh. She had thought that she would have to sweep the apartment but there really was no need because it was sparkling clean. She decided to have a shower and sleep. The next day was a weekend and she wanted to sleep in. But then she also wanted to be part of any activity in the house and help out in any way she could so that her stay would not seem like a burden. She did not want the staff to keep thinking of her as a guest or an outsider but as one of them.

So, she decided to be up early and go to the main house to help with the activities. Hopefully, she would get her part of the work do e and get back to her quarters for rest before her boss saw her.

The next day, Nancy felt so refreshed. She regretted not having allowed her boss to take her into the main building the day he had come to show the quarters to her.

But she refused to be deterred. She went up the doorsteps and pressed the doorbell. The door was opened after she had identified herself and it had been confirmed.

'Welcome, welcome my child. You must be Miss Nancy who moved in yesterday'. Mrs. Potts the main cook said.

Nancy smiled. She had not expected to be received as warmly like this.

'Thank you ma'am. But please it is Nancy. Call me Nancy'.

'Okay. But what have you come here for? Silly me. You must be very hungry. But I was planning on sending your breakfast over to you or inviting you to join us here if you would rather'.

'There isn't any need for that. I am not used to lazing around while allowing others do the work. I do not want to usurp your position or take over your job but I'd like to help since I am not going to the office today'. She explained. She knew from experience that cooks did not like people interfering with their jobs.

'Oh no, you won't. Mr. Campbell sir,instructed that we should not allow you to strain yourself and seeing you, I can understand why', Mrs. Potts smiled.

Nancy looked bewildered. There really was no use hiding her pregnancy since everyone seemed to have noticed it and it wasn't as though it was protruding.

Mrs Potts smiled further, interpreting her puzzlement correctly.

'You do not have to be baffled or ashamed. There is nothing to be ashamed of. It is a good thing. Please come right in, I could use some help'.

Nancy was glad. She met some other helps and they exchanged pleasantries.

Peeling the potatoes,mashing this,and that, chopping the onions and all. Soon the aroma from the kitchen was something to kill for. The coffee pot was put on the fire and .r. Campbell who had been up for sometime and was ready to go out to meet with some friends, came downstairs and Sandy, the kitchen help was asked to take him his breakfast.

'Oh no. Let me do it if you don't mind'. Nancy offered and before they could raise any objections, she carried the tray, then remembered that she didn't know her way around and definitely not to the dinning.

She smiled at Sandy who chuckled at the look on her face and directed her to the place. She thanked Sandy and carried the tray to the dinning to find Mr. Campbell already seated but with the day's papers.

'Good morning sir', she greeted.

He was so absorbed in what he was reading that he answered mechanically, thinking that he was responding to Sandy who always brought him his breakfast.

'Good morning'.

Nancy placed the tray on the table and arranged it for him. She was about to leave when he raised his eyes to ask Sandy a question when he saw Nancy's golden hair caught in a ponytail.

The hair was not Sandy'.

'Hello? Who are...'

Nancy turned back and he swallowed the rest of the words he was about to say or ask.

'What are you doing this early? I didn't give you the quarters so that you could work for me at home as well as the office. I already have people doing all that for me and why were you allowed, Mrs Potts! Sandy!' he called.

Nancy knew that he wanted to ask them why they had allowed her help out and she was angry. She was pregnant not an invalid for goodness sake.

'Okease do not be cross with them. They refused to allow me do anything and in truth, I didn't do much but I felt lonely and I just wanted to be around the people working here and familiarize myself with them. I can only do that if I come out of my quarters and socialize and while doing that, I could help put the coffee pot on fire couldn't I? If I were still living in my house, would I not have cooked for myself and washed and done other domestic chores? I am pregnant sir but not sick and I need the exercise to help me remain strong and aid blood flow for the health of my baby'. she said trying not to show her annoyance.

'I realise that you need to be around people especially when you are not at work but I am concerned for your health. You have not been taking good care of yourself till date and I want both you and your baby to be healthy but if you must, do not over exert yourself and yes, you are free to come in here to chat with them and I could chat with you as well if I am home and not busy'. he said relenting.

'Thank you very much. I shan't over do it. Just the basics'. Nancy said smiling at him happily.

Jason had not really looked at Nancy this closely before and with her casuals, she really looked good and naturally beautiful and that smile was something else. How had he missed such an alluring smile?

He caught himself. He had been staring as surprised as he felt. Nancy really looked transformed and he just wondered why he was just noticing it.

He looked away, reminding himself that she was in his care for protection and she was pregnant with another man's child. He was not supposed to get close to her that way or even allow himself to think along those lines about her.

He became abrupt to cover his confusion.

'Okay. You can leave now. I'd like to have my breakfast now'.

Nancy was surprised as his almost harsh tone but shrugged and left for the kitchen where she ate her meal with Mrs. Potts who scolded her for not taking her food back to her quarters.

Jason was not happy at the way he had spoken to Nancy but that was just what he could do at that time. He had wanted to invite her to join him at the table but the thoughts that had cropped into his mind that instant had been frightening.

He could not allow those thoughts. He had to squash them before they took root.