*2 months later*

   I would be starting a new job in a newly built store tomorrow, I was really looking forward to it. Being independent again and being able to provide for me and my daughter will be great, there's only one problem. I will be working for him.

   Annette had said she didn't mind working nights at the pub downtown, but I know she would need a break now and then.

  The store I would be working in was the newest and biggest in a not so big town, but quite popular and busy from truck stoppers, tourists, and other travellers.

   The place was beautiful with a sense of peace to it, the scenery was breathtaking and I was glad for the change.

  I didn't have much of a life back home and since the war had end and people from all the affected countries were picking up the pieces, I felt  relieved.

  When I finally regained my health and talked with Annette, I felt a guilt that I was carrying lift from off my shoulders.

   I had been feeling guilty for running away leaving her that night, but when she told me the men hadn't gotten to rape her because she fought with all her might, I felt so relieved.

   she told me I saved her, because she was at her last fighting strength when the first shot went off. We hugged and cried, we talked about what happened and how we felt.

  Decided to put it all behind us and start anew, it was the most mature thing to do.

   She didn't have anything except, a small bag with important documents she had given me to keep safe in the camper, I did not even remember about it until she asked me for it.

  Kemeil's mother and sister help us to settle down and gave us out of whatever they had. We were like a small family, only we were of a different race and we spoke differently. 

  My english was improving, and so was my health, I know many others especially women haven't been so lucky therefore I considered myself blessed.

  I wasn't going to dwell on the past and I sure as hell won't forget it, but I'm going to be a tougher person from here on.

  School will be opening in two days time here, Ms Eloise Kemeil's mother had gotten Lori and Annette's daughters into a school a short distance away from where we lived.

   Proper precautions are still implemented for the novel Corona Virus, so masks, sanitizers and temperature checks are in effect.

  I was afraid to ask where the children's school supplies came from because the finger only pointed in one direction. So I just said thanks and accepted them from Ms Eloise.

   A newly constructed house for me, Annette and our daughters to live in,  was built within a month after we came. We decided to stay together, we are far away from the town but Kemeil said it was for the best and no one dares to argue with him or say other wise, whatever he says goes.

  His brothers worked with him, though I did not know what they did differently when they were not here.

  Most of the houses built here are between clusters of trees but it was beautiful. Kemeil had barns, store houses and animals including horses on the farms, some close by and some miles away.

   I didn't ask anyone any questions me and Annette just observed and chat sometimes. We mostly kept to ourselves.

  I got my daughter ready for school and joined Annette downstairs with her children. I made the breakfast and we ate, then the children were sent off to school.

  As I was getting ready for work Mishand came over, thier house wasn't far from ours but I like the distance, it means me and Annette can have privacy as we were still not acquainted with them fully.

  She informed us that she would be taking us to work and that Annette would be going with us to the store, ordered by Kemeil.

  After introducing us to two spanish women, we hadn't seen before and showing us around, making sure we understood everything.

  Mishand went to open up the stores for business, she would be working as managing/supervisor. I would be working as a cashier clerk in the clothes store, it was very big with adults and children clothing.

   Annette would be working across from me in a food takeout shop, the place was built like a small mall, it was beautiful and convenient.

  I put my big girl panties on and start my day as the first shoppers came in. I could see Annette through the glass  being busy with work too.

   My job was not only sitting and cashing I had to interact with the customers too, which was awkward at first because I was black and I spoke different.

   But I guess they loved it since at the end of the day I had over five hundred pesos worth of tip.

  At the end of our work day we waited on Mishand, who took us home. The stores and compound were locked up by one of the man who were on the ship with us, his name was Sleven and he didn't talk much.

  "You ladies had a good first day today?" Mishand asked on our way home. "Yes I did," I replied, "Yes me too" Annette replied.

  On the way home Mishand told us the reason why they came here and that the place where we live, her father onced owned, now it belonged to her and her three brothers and she said her father was killed.

  She did not have many friends, just those that lived with us and those that work with her brothers.

  I nearly didn't recognize the campervan when Kemeil drove up to us, it was sprayed into a different colour and had on a Uraguayan licence plate. It looked great.

  Of course we went shopping with our first pay, two weeks after we started working. I didn't expect to get that amount for my pay but I was very grateful and I would be able to save.

  I'm still getting used to the currency and the prices for things here, it's different and was sometimes awkward.

   Has the store was new, I worked hard in keeping our customers comfortable and encouraged them to shop again.

  By the end of my first week I had made over four thousand pesos which was not a lot in U.S.currency, but considered a lot here.

   I had looked at clothes at the store that I would like to buy for me and my daughter, when Mishand summoned me to the office to collect my pay, I told her of my desire and she said I should take the clothes I wanted to purchase to her.

  After my bill was calculated the total was deducted by half for employees, I  was even more overjoyed. I could get to purchase more things and save a little more.

   I wrote a note and send to Annette telling her about the half price employees benefited from, she came over lunch time and I helped her to chose clothes for her and her daughters.

  We had just left the bakery after I purchased, a small rum chocolate  baked pudding for Ms Eloise, it was a thank you gift for keeping the girls after school.

  Kemeil took us home that evening, he waited on us to put down our shopping, then he took us to say good bye to four of the other Jamaican women who were leaving in two days time.

  After getting in touch with thier families back home, they decided to go back home to thier children and  families.

  Kemeil had made arrangements for them to get back safely, they promised to keep in contact with us, we wished them a safe trip and a better future.

   The following Monday Me, Annette and Reneize were at the bank, to get our bank accounts set up. That way we could get our pay and do other transactions using our bank cards.

   Kaheim, Mishand's fiancé would be getting that setup for us, we were not citizens so it was a different process. He had start working at this bank, the same week we all started working.

   We were happy to see Reneize and the others, who decided to live with Everol and his family. The others lived on the farms, a mile or so from where we lived.

  Reneize had left a son behind living with his father, she however thought it better to stay and start a new life here, after finishing up at the bank we headed back to work.

   Reneize showed us where she worked, at the gift shop in the same mall where we worked, Everol wife took her and others home in the evenings.

   We made plans to entertain ourselves and catch up on Sunday at our place for dinner, then we parted ways going to our separate jobs.

    Work was busy as usual when Kemeil's brother Crushnar came into the store, I went to assist him but he wasn't buying anything. He asked if I would like to go out with him for lunch and I agreed, promising to come and pick up at twelve in the afternoon he left.

   Kemeil came into the store at eleven forty-five that morning, while I was assisting a customer, I was surprised to see him. This was the first time he came here since I started working, he carried a brown paper bag and went into the office.

   As I was getting ready to go off for my lunch break, Mishand came up to me and told me Kemeil wanted to see me in the office.

  She would be filling in for me while I took my lunch break, she always did for me and the other cashier. The other lady that worked with us, was  stationed to work on the floor, meaning she fixed back anything the customers messed up, keeping the racks and shelves in order, helps to assist them in trying on and purchasing clothes, she also makes sure the place is kept clean.

  She did her job remarkably and we all get along well, though I don't really talk to them much, only pleasantries and pertaining to work.

  I knocked then went into the office upon hearing 'enter', closing the door and standing a feet from his desk I said, "Good morning sir," and waited for him to acknowledge me, he looked up from the desk of papers and said "morning" lamely.

  He sat back in his seat staring at me, so I looked at my nice dark blue flat shoes, with my arms at my side I was beginning to get really uncomfortable, how long was this silent staring was going to last?

  Holding up my head and looking directly at him, I do not know where my bravery came from. He was staring me up and down, I didn't understand the feelings I felt when I looked at him, which is why I avoided him as much as I could.

  I was feeling that way now, so without saying anything I turned heading towards the door. I was really intimidated by him, but I was not afraid of him.

    With my hand on the door knob, I felt rather than saw his hand on mine, a small tremor ran from my hand to somewhere within me. I felt his breath on my neck and I was afraid to turn around.

  Clicking the door lock shut, he hugged me from behind and I froze, squeezing me to him in his embrace, I felt his dick above my butt, I allowed him to turn me around.

  With all kinda nerves tingling through me, I was at a lost to think clearly, he tilted my head up to look at him, his grey eyes were glazed with orange specks glistening in them, his eyes were beautiful.

   He was staring at my lips which begin to tremble, and I knew he was going to kiss me before I saw his head dipped then felt his lips upon mine and I wanted it.

  I kissed him back but not as hungrily as he was kissing me, he held me tighter to him with my hands resting on his chest between us, thinking I was going to suffocate from lack of oxygen because he wasn't releasing my tongue.

  Someone knocked on the door, and he slowly released me staring intently at me, we were both breathing hard. The knock came again, he pointed towards the paper bag on one of the filing cabinets and mouthed, "for you".

   I walked towards where the bag was, and he opened the door, before I could look at what was in the bag Chrushnar's voice came from the doorway.

   "Hi big brother, I have a date with your lovely employee and Mishand told me you have her back here, so I came to relieve her." He said smiling, "I hope you haven't been bullying the poor woman."

  Kemeil's face was unreadable while I stood holding the paper bag without knowing what to say.

   "Urghh! Good afternoon Crushnar," I said with my black face blushing. I could not look at either of them, so I opened the paper bag looking in it, the scent of a cheese burger immediately attacked my nostrils.

  In the bag there was a chicken vegetable salad, large fries and a burger.
  

    "Bro did you finish attending to the supplies?" Kemeil said breaking the silence, "not yet, I'll..." Chrushnar was cut short in his reply, "Come on let's go." Kemeil said hug-hauling him out of the office, he pointed to the small refrigerator in the office then close the door.

    There was a large cup of fruit drinks bearing the same logo has the food wrappers, I took them and went into the small lunch room and ate.

   My birthday was next week, me and Annette was looking at some phones in a phone shop, since Kemeil took the  camper, he had only brought my clothes, food, seasonings and other possessions, I had not gotten my gun, nor my phone and I haven't summoned up the courage to ask him as yet.

   There weren't any public transportation to and from where we live, but someone is always on hand to take us to and from work.

  There were guards stationed around the property, though we don't see them we know they were thier.

  We bought groceries, me and Annette just picked up what we and our children wanted and split the bill she pay half and I pay the other half whatever the total was.

We tried to agree with each other has best as possible, if we were buying personal things, we just cashed it separately not adding to each others responsibilities.
   

   I had a small space upstairs where I and my daughter lived it was a small sitting area, but I use it for a sitting area slash kitchenette. I've lived with just my daughter and myself all along so I was still used to just us, whatever I didn't want Annette and her daughters messing with, I always kept them in thier.

   She didn't crowd me and I like that about her, we gave each other thier space but live well together our children was respectful and they bond well together.

  Though they have thier little disputes at time, it's always quickly resolved, has I made sure to teach them that we are here alone and need to always stand up together.

  I did not want any bad living around me, we had enough of that from our own in Jamaica. Annette made sure she enforced that in them too even when I'm not with them.

   We stood in front of the bakery where we always waited for our ride from whomever was to take us home. Me and Annette chatted about the things we like, what we could improve at home and so on.

  Then she told me she liked someone and the person seemed interested in her but she wasn't sure.

   My secretive ass didn't think it was wise to say anything about me and Kemeil, after all I didn't know what we were into so I kept it to myself and I didn't ask her who her crush was.

  "U na fass in a mi bizniz an' ask a who?" She asked me. I laughed but before I could respond our drive arrived.

After putting our shopping in the back of Chrushnar's Honda-civic, I went to the back seat while Annette hurriedly got in the front.

   A bit puzzled because we normally drove in the backseats, of whichever vehicle came to pick us up, my brain wondered if Chrushnar was her crush. We drove home in silence.

   When we got home the fisherman that normally brought over whatever fish he had to sell was in the yard front along with Kemeil and his mother, who sometimes drove her motorized wheelchair, over with the children.

  We came out of the vehicle and exchanged pleasantries, Kemeil looked at me angrily and went to carry in our groceries.

  I pretended to not see as it was only directed at me, I thanked Ms Eloise, gave her, her pudding and she left after Kemeil ordered Chrushnar to take thier mom home.

  When the fisherman was paid and went away, I went about preparing dinner, I was the main cook while Annette took on the laundry, she didn't like cooking most times hence this arrangement. I was also prepping for Reneize's visit.

   Kemeil walked into the kitchen from the back door, I couldn't look at him, he went upstairs carrying a medium sized box as if it was normal for him to do so.

   I turned looking at Annette who had came in behind him, she looked back at me, I hunched my shoulders in an I don't know fashion and she did the same.

   There was knocking and clanging sounds coming from upstairs by Kemeil but I was too nervous to go and look at what he was doing.

  When he was finally finished he came downstairs again with the box, after saying goodnight to us he left.

    Annette could not wait to know what he had been doing, she sprinted pass me running up the stairs.

  I finished washing the dishes and dried my hands, aiming to bathed and get to bed. She came out of Lori's room just as Lori was entering, with a puzzled look on her face she said, "mi no c wa him did a do."

   I looked around, in Lori's room, my room, our bathroom, the small space and the small porch, we didn't see nowhere where he might have been working.

  Lori was already asleep when I went back to her room, so I covered her and left only her nightlight on. The climate had gotten cold and thier were a few showers of rain since week.

   When I was done cooking that Sunday afternoon I went to get a quick shower before Reneize arrived.
The girls an Annette were already bathed and dressed, so I left them setting the table.

  I went into my closet for something simple to wear and thier was small splinters of wood on one of my jeans, I moved the clothes a bit and thier was a very small button on the interior panel.

  I pushed it and the paneling slid up silently, placed like a hanging picture frames was a brand new mattic, two extra load clips and a pair of black leather gloves.

  I knew Kemeil does woodwork but this was neat, it would be hard for anyone to find it.

  This was a brand new gun and I like it, I put it back in, take out my clothes and shut the closet.

 
  Putting on my nice little dress, I went downstairs upon hearing a vehicle and knowing Reneize had reached.

   To be continued...

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