Bloom in Deception

ChapterFive:TheBleedingWound

Samantha stepped into the cozy waiting section of the office that feels like heaven, she was destabilized and uncoordinated, with many thoughts running through her mind.

“is it possible that this organization still belongs to the Reeds and I don’t know?, Is Marcus still monitoring me?”

The only persons that has this new line is Blackwood Associates organization because I applied for a job, my mom and Lila.

Is anyone feeding Marcus with my info from this circle?

In her deep thought came a beautiful voice like that of a river bird. It’s was the receptionist

“Miss Samantha, the interview await yo; it’s your turn”

The receptionist in charge of the interview led her to the polished conference room, where a panel of three men and an elderly woman awaited her with a no smile face as though they Marcus had informed them to deal with her in their own way.

The lead interviewer cleared her throat.

“Ms Reed? We’re ready to begin.

In few words, tell us about yourself”

Samantha: I am Samantha Reed, once a marketing head in Reed’s establishment, and I studied marketing at university…

She expressed herself to the fullest. This was unlike her. Something within her kept reminding her “this is your only chance to get a new perfect beginning without limitation.

Though obvious that her tension was high, she never gave up her words. It was as if her expressions was uprooted from a well where it was hidden for years.

suddenly one of the panel members a man cut in

“Tell us why you want to join Blackwood & Associates.”

“ I want to join because I believe I can input my long-term skill to achieve the organizational goal and in turn make me push to the next phase…….

Again she spoke at lent and poured it as though the brain locked in pains over the years just got a chance to reactivate.

The interviewers was amazed but something was still not clear within them: she worked in the Reeds Establishment, her surname “Reed”

“no one from the Reeds family seek job from outside; rather they buy the organization or join the board.

But that was a personal question and not part of the interview so, it was not necessary

As she was still speaking, the third man with gray hair and a funny glass as though it was specially created to fit his wide and heavy face, cuts in:

“It’s ok; you will hear from us soon”

Samantha: Ok, thank you very much.

She step out of the room! Back to reality again

“Good luck at Blackwood! I’ll be watching.”

Still ringing a bell in her head like a drum meant for a local community meeting, she brought out her phone from her purse, gazed on the phone as she managed to find her way outside the office. Her thumb hovered over the block button, but deleting it felt like erasing evidence.

She shoved the phone back into her purse, glancing around the estate grounds as if she might be lurking behind every oak; her eyes landed on the gardener again, the tall man by the rosebush, shears in hand.

He was still watching her, his dark, deep-set eyes steady and unblinking, like he was assessing more than just a stranger on the property. It unnerved her, that quiet confidence, but she shook it off.

She needed this job;

she needed to find out how Marcus had found his way into her new life,

and at the same time, she needed to prove that she could stand on her own.

As she turned towards the car pack section of the mansion, a sharp hiss cut through the air.

The gardener jerked his hand back, dropping the shears. Blood welled from his left finger, dripping onto the soil. He pressed it with his other hand, wincing but calm, like pain was just another task to manage.

Samantha froze mid-step. Instinct kicked in, the same pull that made her stop for stray cats or forgotten umbrellas. “Are you okay?” she called, already veering off the path toward him.

He looked up, surprise flickering in those observant eyes. Up close, he was taller than she’d thought, powerfully built under the simple work shirt, with a neatly groomed beard that softened his masculine features. “It’s nothing,” he said, voice low and even, never rising above a rumble. “Just a slip.”

“Can I see?

That looks deep!”

Without thinking, she pulled a little pack of wipe from her purse, an old habit from Ethan’s scraped knees; gently took his hand and wipe the surface.

The cut was clean but bleeding steadily “You need to stop the flow. Do you have a first-aid kit nearby? He tilted his head, studying her with that patient gaze. “In the shed over there, but I can handle it; you look like you’re headed somewhere important.”

“The interview; I just finished my interview “ Samantha admitted,

Gardener: How was it?

Samantha: Hmmmmmm, just believing in miracle, ( As she pressed the wipe to his finger) “ hold still.” She said as She wrapped it snugly, her fingers brushing his warm, calloused, steady ones. “that should hold until you get proper bandages.” She said

Gardener: Thank you very much for your kind heart.

Samantha: It’s nothing, just trying to help.

Gardener: I am Henry, the gardener in this estate.

Samantha: 'Nice meeting you; please always be careful,' she said absent-mindedly as she was about to turn away.

Henry said “ you are Sounding unsure about your interview? why?”

Samantha: nothing! Something personal! yeah, extremely personal…..

(She is trying to find the right words not to wash her dirty pant so soon in an expensive organization like this)

Henry: (Eyes still fixed on her as though he is trying to picture her past)

“Samantha is your name right?”

Samantha: yes Samantha Reed

Henry: Don’t worry you will get the job. I will talk to one or two persons if they can help. Can I get your number?

At first Samantha’s mind thought, “What has a mere garden got to know about job interviews and even helping me secure the job in a prestigious organization as this?

If he was that good, why didn’t he apply for a position in this firm? But let me just… as she reached out for his phone to type her number but no good expectations.

Samantha began to exit the garden

Henry: “You’ll do fine; you will get the job,” he said with quiet certainty. “People like you, resilient ones: they always land on their feet.”

“this guy speaks as though he knew something about me”

Samantha said in her mind but never said a word to henry in response

These words hit deeper than they should, stirring something warm and unfamiliar in her chest. Samantha glanced back at Henry, who was picking up his shears again.

“Thanks for the vote of confidence.” She said.

He nodded,

But as she walked away, she felt his gaze follow her.

The thought twisted inside her like a thorn.

What if the gardener wasn’t just a gardener?