Claimed (10 page)

Jared bent down to release the ball out of Wolf’s clenching jaws. It was wet with droo
l and although he didn’t quite want to touch it, it would disappoint the dog to cut his play so soon. He tossed the ball as far as he could, giving Wolf a longer run; one that Jared hoped would tire him out gradually.

“I thought you said I needed to seduce
Callum’s daughter to gain his attention?” he stammered.

“I did. Governor
Callum has two daughters. It was Evelyn Callum I was referring to. Evelyn unlike her older sister Ellie, is very much unattached.”

Jared stepped away, trying to
make sense of James’ plans. “No,” he let out slowly. “I can’t do that.”

James narrowed his eyes. “What do you mean? Not long ago you were insistent upon it.”

Jared combed his hair frustratingly with his fingers. But that was because he thought it was Ellie Callum he had to win.

“
Jared,” James said carefully, watching him closely. “You need the girl to win the old man’s heart. There is no better guarantee to your successful introduction into the social elite circle.”

Jared looked down at Wolf. He was back again with his ball and he still hadn’t tired from his repeated fetches. He cup
ped his hand and Wolf dropped the ball neatly into his palm. Gripping it tightly, he whirled it even further than he’d done before. Wolf chased after it with delight.

“When do we start?” Jared asked
solemnly, resigning to yet another disappointing fate.

“
The Governor is going to hold his annual Tea Rose Ball in four months. He does this at least once a year. It’s a gratuitous party. Basically, it’s to show his appreciation for the support he receives from the elites in the country. I think it’s rather more to remind everyone that he still exists. Anyway, what’s important about the party is that everyone who is anyone in Sector 8 will be there. It would be the perfect opportunity for them to get to know you, and for you perhaps, to win the heart of the young Callum girl. In the meantime, this also gives you ample time to learn about the people in the hierarchy and most importantly, the etiquette you will need to charm them. The trouble is I need to find someone who can show you the ropes. Someone who is knowledgeable in the world of high-class socializations but at the same time is sympathetic to our cause. You don’t usually get the two together and any would be a rare find.”

Jared picked at a pebble with the toe of his shoe. He didn’t know if he would ever have the confidence to undertake such a burdensome task. He was never the social butterfly even
back in Sector 8 Central. He always preferred his own company and it was no wonder that he had rarely managed to keep a woman by his side in all these years. The very thought of him mingling with people far beyond his class unnerved him. There was no way he could accomplish such a feat unless…

He reached for his wallet and pulled out the photograph of the African slave Samuel
Glover had given him. He never disposed of the photograph, bringing it out occasionally to gaze at the shackled slave. The solemnity in the eyes of the man spoke louder than the chains that bound him. They were dignified and reflected a spark of refinement that none of his captors could ever subjugate even if they had tried. The manner in which the man sat boldly with his back straightened, staring directly into the lens of the camera declared that nothing could chain down his spirit. He had and always was a free man.

“I think I may know someone who could help us with that,” he muttered.

James Saunders glanced over quizzically at Jared. Who could he possibly know? Not a month ago, he had plucked the young man
from the slumps of poverty. As far as he knew, a man knowledgeable in the art of refined social etiquettes didn’t come from the beggary circles of Sector 8 Central.

They took a turn about the gardens. The two older men couldn’
t have been more alike. They were tall, and walked with an equal stride, class and grace in each step they took. The rays of the early sunny morning sparkled through the trees above them.

Samuel
Glover thought he would even hear it tinkle in the light breeze if he listened closely enough. He looked over at the man beside him. He had never spoken to him before, only ever being acquainted through the rare calls he made to Callum House. And today, the reclusive James Saunders had invited him to his house. He had supposed this was for an employment opportunity but when the very dignified gentleman decided to take their meeting into the beautiful gardens of his home instead of his officious study, Sam wasn’t sure any more why he was here.

Even though the
y walked together rather casually in the pleasant, warm morning, Sam reminded himself of his host’s status. There were just certain rules one didn’t trespass, no matter how tempting or comfortable it felt to encroach them. He waited patiently for the man to elaborate on why he was called with such urgency to his home.

“Samuel, do you know what a chimera is?” James started.

“A chimera?” Sam turned questioningly. “I have heard of chimeras. But aren’t they just fantastical imaginations of overzealous scientists?”

James placed his hands lazily into his pockets. “How about if I told you that chimeras could perhaps
be our first hope for democracy in a very long time?”

Sam stalled,
unsure of how he should share his opinion without offending him. Frankly, he didn’t believe in chimeras. They didn’t exist. So the possibility of a revolution by some experimental specie was just as likely as the world being taken over by space aliens.

“
Mr Saunders…,” he began

“Sam… can I call you Sam?” James interrupted him instead. “You are here today because you have been recommended to me by someone very special and intricate to the freedom of our people. But before I shed any more light on what I have to say, why don’t you give me your own opinion on why we need that freedom?”

Samuel Glover licked his lips. What was James Saunders up to? And why was
he
even recommended? By whom? “I have four children, sir,” he started slowly. “Two of whom I’ve adopted. I hate to explain it to anyone why I have four when the law states that a man can only have two biological children of his own. I hate to explain it because my heart tells me that all four are my own, biological or otherwise. Why do I need to class them? It hurts my kids, my family. It hurts me. I want the freedom to say they are all truly mine.” He paused and then continued. “Freedom lies in the heart of every breathing animal, sir. Everyone wishes to have the opportunity to do what they want, live however they please even if those choices may not entirely be right. Because what is freedom than the freedom to err and learn from them? Laws that take away our rights to live freely are nothing more than metaphorical chains that enslave us. But then again, freedom these days feel like a climate which historically once showered upon us. It’s been so long though since we’ve had a taste of it, that sometimes I think it would be foolishly enthusiastic of us to hope for what seems now more like a fairytale.”

“And when fairytales come alive, they are magical,” James murmured. “It looks like you may indeed be the man for this job I have.”

“But sir, I am not looking for another job. My schedule is already quite full as it is,” Sam blinked, feeling rather awkward into being cornered about the job offer. Had James Saunders told him this over the phone, he would have saved them both the trouble and the time then.

“Even if this had to do with the fairytale freedom that you’ve been dreaming of?” James looked up at him slyly over his brow.

Sam frowned. “Are you recruiting me to participate in some secret revolution?”

James let out a long slow breath of air.
“Revolution- a word that brings about so much apprehension at the mere utter of it.  But in fact it is nothing but a change and people have always detested change. Especially if they’ve become comfortable and fear that their nesting may be disrupted. Do you have a nesting, Sam?”

Sam clenched his trembling fingers. For the first time in all his life, he felt worthy. The agonizing trouble was
; could he afford to possess such emotion? “I have none, sir,” he said at last.

“And what of comfort?
Are you comfortable?”

“I am nothing more than a common class citizen of Sector
8 Central, Mr Saunders. Who is ever comfortable in our circumstances?” Sam swallowed. Had he just given his consent to James Saunders’ offer?

James Saunders smiled. “Well
then, you should call me James since we would be seeing more of each other. And titles and formalities do sometimes unnecessarily get in the way of bigger and greater things.”

*****

“Will there be anything else, Mr Ryder?” the butler asked as he placed the tray onto the table.

“No, that will be all,
Ray. Thanks,” Jared smiled, snapping his book shut.

“Shall I sweeten it for you, sir, before I leave?” the butler asked again.

“No, that’s ok,” Jared mumbled, engrossed in his own thoughts. “I can manage.”

The butler retreated politely towards the door.

“Have you seen Ma and Tara?” he asked before the butler could disappear out of it.

“
Mrs Saunders and Miss Ryder were in the gardens with the children, sir.”

Jared nodded as the butler closed the door behind him. “
Mrs Saunders,” he muttered under his breath. He still had to get used to his mother being addressed as Mrs Saunders. He didn’t know if he liked the sound of it, although his mother didn’t seem to mind it at all.

He threw the book onto the table and added in two spoonfuls of sugar into his teacup
. His mind drifted to the woman who pre-occupied most of his thoughts since he had met her. He stirred his tea absent mindedly and tossed his spoon aside onto the tray.

“
If that’s how you’re intending to make an impression at the ball, you’re not going to get too far,” a voice interrupted his thoughts.

He looked over the cup, spilling a little of the hot fluid onto himself on seeing Samuel
Glover standing at the door. “Mr Glover, I’m sorry I didn’t see you enter.”

Sam strolled casually up to him and nudged at the tea stain on his shirt. “That’s your third faux pas on tea etiquette
since I’ve come in.”

Jared huffed. “But now that you’re here, I should be in better hands.”

Sam smiled. “Can I sit?”

Jared looked at the chair by the older man. “Of course,” he said, leading him by slumping slowly into his own.

Sam followed suit, lapsing into a brief silence. “Why me?” he asked at last.

Jared lowered his head, thinking of how he should best answer that. He knew that Sam was the best he could ever get. But deep within, something told him that there was more to why he wanted Samuel Glover. He needed to make an impression on the Callums; specifically a very feminine Callum.

“You were the first one to tell me to appreciate coffee shat by a cat,” he smirked. “
And you got me to drink it as well.”

Sam sighed
and nodded. He didn’t seem utterly convinced by his reply but he didn’t push him for an honest answer either. “I’ll have to continue to work with the Callums. But what time I do have between that, I will be spending with you. I expect an attentive student. If I notice you’re slacking off even as an inch, I will quit. I will not entrust my life in the hands of a man who cannot take his responsibilities seriously, let alone the freedom of a nation. You see, democracy is as delicate as a feather. In the hands of a clumsy man, there is every possibility it will tatter.”

Jared
pursed his lips thoughtfully and then said, “Can I offer you a cup of tea?”

Sam smiled
and sat back into his chair, folding his hands together. “Thank you. I’d like that. Then perhaps I could give you your first lesson.”  He dropped his voice, leaning forward slightly. “Don’t you ever ding your spoon against the cup while stirring. Don’t let me ever hear you do that again.”

*****

The music played again as the couple continued to slow dance in the centre of the room.

“Keep those hands on her upper back, Jared,” Sam reminded. “Evelyn
Callum is not your girlfriend yet.”

Tara bit her lip to stifle a giggle.

Jared scowled, “Cut it, Tara.”

“You’ve got two left feet, brother,” she whispered with a grin.
“You sure you can pull this off?”

“If you don’t shut up, you’ll find yourself on the floor,” he warned.

“If you don’t position your feet correctly, she
will
find her way to the floor,” Sam growled into his ear.

The music drew to a close and Tara puffed tiredly, breaking away from Jared’s hold.

“Okay, I need a break,” she announced exhaustingly as she marched out of the entertainment room.

Sam watched her dress
swish behind her, her heels fading away into the distance. “She’s always been a lady,” he said with admiration. “But then there was always something about you Ryders that didn’t quite fit into the others back in Sector 8 Central.”

“Is that why you
’ve always put me through a grueling questioning whenever I came by to pick Tara up?” Jared joked.

Sam chuckled, shrugging his shoulders. “Well, I always
thought you were much better than your Neanderthal exterior.” He walked over to turn the player off.

“Why do you think James is involved in this? I mean
, he’s got all he needs to live a comfortable life,” Jared asked as he tipped a jug of cold chilly water into a glass.

“Some people are born with a conscience,” Sam muttered. “J
ames Saunders is just such a man.”

The two men grew quiet. Jared downed
his water while Sam scanned through the digital playlist of songs.

“Tara’s collection?” he asked.

“How did you know?” Jared asked back with a smirk.

“It’s a very feminine list
.” He scratched his chin. “You have three days before the ball, Jared. This is your best chance to win them. It will be hard getting another like this again. And first impressions; they do last the longest.”

Jared ambled towards the windows, picking up an apple on his way past the table. His mind darted with his thoughts, his fingers nerv
ously swirling the fruit slowly in the palm of his hand. “How… how is she?” he stammered.

“She is beautiful, strong-willed and very stubborn, just like her father,” he smiled. “
But she also loves her male attention. She has a particular weakness for the handsome ones.” He turned to him, observing him. “I don’t think you will have any trouble capturing her eye. As for capturing her heart- that lies on how much effort you put into taming down that wild personality of yours.”

Jared bit his lips.
It wasn’t Evelyn Callum he was curious about. “How is… how is Ellie?”

“Ellie?”
Sam raised his brow suspiciously. “She’s fine. She’s engaged to Edmund Farriss and they are currently in the middle of their wedding preparations.”

Jared clenched his apple tightly, swallowing a gulp caught in his throat.

“Jared, its Evelyn you need to be focusing on,” warned Sam.

Jared nodded as he turned around. He tossed the fruit back into the fruit bowl. “I just needed a comparison,” he muttered. “After all, it is Ellie who
m I’ve seen. And sisters usually are alike.”

“Not these two,” Sam said. “They couldn’t be more different.”

Jared marched towards the door. “Can we rest it for tonight? I’d like to call it early.”

“Of course,” mu
mbled Sam, confusedly. Though there had been no need to have answered him.  Jared hadn’t bothered to wait for his permission. He hadn’t even heard him. He was already out the door and out of ear shot. Sam let out an exhausting sigh. The boy desperately needed to brush up on his manners.

*****

He stood under his shower, the pressure of the spray hitting hard and firmly onto his body. He stared up at the square steel perforated shower head. It had been four hours since he’d called it a night with Sam, but he still had yet to find the peace he needed to fall asleep. He had thought a nice, long shower would unwind the tension in his body. But it seemed he would need more than that to let go of Ellie Callum.

He turned off the shower. This wasn’t going to do him any good. He wrapped a towel around his hips and walked into his room. Wolf was
lying on his rug, his eyes blinking tiredly.

“Looks as if
only one of us is gonna get some sleep,” he snorted at his dog.