Chapter Forty-One
We all wake up in the morning a little shocked about his car, my head was just swirling with the question why? Whenever Markus does something like this, it means you have done something to anger him and he wants to teach you a lesson. But I have no idea what we could have done, I know it can't be down to him finding out about me helping Jacob. He would do much more than just burn Austin's car, it can't be that he knows Austin and I aren't really a couple because I make sure Roman and I can never been seen together when we're not at home.
But then my mind goes to what I heard yesterday, Markus was telling his friend that he had big plans for his company which involved, me and Austin. But how is burning Austin's car helping his company?! I have so many questions, which I have no idea what the answers could be!
I leave my bedroom where Austin was shouting down the phone, at first I was a little confused on who he could be talking to, until I heard him discussing his car. He must be talking to his car insurance company, I walk over taking a seat on the sofa just looking at him.
'You need to stop telling me that you can't give me my payout, I have never missed a payment or have claimed on this at all!" He shouts down the phone anger clear in his voice, I was feeling sorry for whoever was on the other end. Austin saw I was looking and places the phone on speaker so that I could hear.
'We are not holding back due to your payments, but due to where you live" the dude says which did confuse me, it also confuses Austin who shouts down the phone telling the man to explain. 'It would have been fine a months ago, but now the level of crime has gone up substantially, you would have had to pay us more money if you wanted the pay out" the man says as Roman walks out of the bedroom and stands behind the sofa where I was sitting, he looks down at me confused asking what's going on.
'Austin's insurance is refusing to pay him the money he is insured to be payed" I say looking up at Roman for a second before turning back to Austin, the man on the phone tells him he won't be getting his money which causes Austin, to throw his phone across the room where it hits the windows, luckily it didn't break.
'Just because you can't get the money from the insurance, doesn't mean you have to smash the window!" Roman exclaims from behind me which did make me jump, Austin just replies by throwing his arms in the air not turning around to look at us.
'Do you have any idea about what happened last night?" I ask hoping to calm him down a little, but I also wanted to know if he found anything out after we parted ways last night. This does make him take a deep breath in before turning to look at us, where I send him a little smile.
'Once they put out the fire, the firefighters gave me a report which said they are more than certain, that the fire was set intentionally" he explains pointing over to a piece of paper which sat on the counter, this telling us alone who did it.
'I guess we can throw the theory of the car accidentally combusting out if the window" I say to lighten the mood slightly, this does make both of the guys laugh whilst shaking their heads.
'It isn't as bad as you're making it, you can borrow my car to get around until you are able to get another" Roman says looking over at Austin, but let's be honest, Roman never uses his car as he doesn't go out the house much.
But before any of us could move or talk, the front door opens and in walks Markus smiling. My heart instantly sinks, Roman was stood right behind me! He smiles over at me knowing that he made me jump, before pulling a key out his pocket and dangling it on his finger.
'They'll be no need for that, I heard what happened last night and knew I needed to help, I can't let my best worker not be able to get to work" he says smiling over at Austin who looked confused, I was also very confused on what's happening. 'I'm giving you a car" Markus says throwing the key over to Austin, who catches it but still looked at Markus with a strange look.
'What's the catch?" He asks looking down at the key suspiciously, when it comes to Markus and his helping, there is always a catch. Markus holds his hand to his heart looking shocked.
'Do you really think there would be a catch? You have helped me and my company, call this a bonus" Markus says happily while Austin just plays with the key in his hand, but Markus soon turns to his attention to me. 'How is little Payton? This must be the roommate I have heard nothing about" he says now looking behind me to see Roman, while I look down at my lap uncomfortable.
'Hi, I'm Roman it's nice to meet you" Roman says behind me still, I think he could sense how uncomfortable Markus was making me feel in this moment, but really every moment.
'Likewise" is all Markus says as though he was brushing him off, this does make me wonder if he for some reason doesn't like Roman. 'Oh before I forget, I have a dinner coming up that I was hoping my best worker and his beautiful girlfriend could attend" he says looking down at me but it was like he was looking me up and down, this once again makes me look down to avoid eye contact.
'This won't be a dinner where 100 other people will be there right?" Austin asks with a little laugh but I knew he wasn't joking, I didn't want a repeat of what has happened the last two times we have gone to dinner with Markus.
'Absolutely not, I'm holding off having any of those for awhile, we all know how the other two ended" he says with a little laugh, but I was more than glad that he didn't bring up what actually happened with Austin and I. 'I could really do with your help" he says looking between me and Austin again, but he knew it wasn't really a question but he couldn't just flat out tell us we had to go.
'We'll be there" Austin says answering for me, but we both knew that we didn't really have a say and it was down to Austin to agree.
'That's exactly what I like to hear, the dinner starts around 9, where I'll need you to dress smart" he tells us before his eyes land on me, but I also know what was going around his head right now. 'Payton, we know you never disappoint" he smirks looking me up at down as I feel Roman take ahold of the sofa behind me, I was used to Markus making comments like that.
'I better get going, but I will see you two at dinner later tonight. It was great meeting you Roman" he smiles finally, looking at Roman who was still stood behind me.
'Likewise" is all Roman says copying what Markus said to him, this alone makes Markus chuckle before walking over to the front door to leave.
He sends us a final wave before opening the door, walking out and closing it behind him. Austin runs over to the window to make sure Markus left, before he walks back into the living room joining me and Roman.
'Well I guess we need to start locking the door even when we're home, why are you so cool with that man looking Payton up and down?!" Roman asks annoyed over at Austin, while I just sat there pulling my phone out knowing who I should call.
'I of course, hate when that happens but when it comes to Markus, you can't tell him what to do! Look what happened last time I tried that very thing!" Austin says annoyed that Roman would even suggest that. 'That's the first time you have ever came in contact with Markus, you probably think that we're over reacting but you don't understand how bad this man actually is, just wait until he gets comfortable with you and you'll see the real Markus trust me" Austin says sitting back on the chair, but I knew what he was saying was too true when it comes to Markus.
'Well now because you don't know how to stand up for yourself, Payton has to be put right back in the firing line!" Roman says which was the thing that told me to ring Jacob, at least I know he'll set up a plan.
'I need to make a call" is all I say standing up from the sofa and walking into the bedroom to ring Jacob, I can't believe this is happening again.