Chapter 10: Dissonant Voices

Words : 1916 Updated : Sep 11th, 2025

About thirty villagers, men and women of all ages, stood in William's courtyard. To Alex Hayde, every voice sounded the same-it was clear they'd all been coached by William. By the time it came down to the last few, Alex didn't even bother raising the camera; the slender-waisted beauty, Josephine, went through the motions and wrapped up the whole process. "Accountant Josephine, are we done? I need to get home and nurse my baby. Look, the milk's already soaking through my top." A pretty young wife rushed up to Josephine, one hand pressed to her chest. Alex caught the faint dots of milk seeping through her blouse. A prickle of heat ran through him. Must be something in the mountain air, he thought. That chest, the shadowy outline beneath it. He had to fight the urge to lean in and take a taste. "Hold on, wait for William's word. Cover up." Josephine gently lifted the woman's hand higher to shield her chest, shot Alex a quick look, and slipped into the house. "Damn it, how's it going? I'm drinking with Ricardo!" William's rough voice carried from inside. "They're all interviewed. Do we let everyone go home?" "Damn it, it's not like we aren't giving them anything. What's the rush?" Alex caught the most crucial line. He reached for the recorder switch but missed, then heard Ricardo's quick cover: "Let them go. Keep drinking." The crowd outside had likely heard it too. They scattered at once. Alex, careful as a cat, trailed them a few steps toward the gate. It seemed these folks really had been paid to sing praises. A few older men started cursing as they went. "Little bastard. If they hadn't slipped me two bucks, I wouldn't have talked nice. This job's so shoddy it falls apart in your hands." "Motherf-. Same old crap. They snap photos and record, and don't do jack." Alex flushed, the tips of his ears burning. So Ricardo was just staging a show. He hastily tapped the recorder on. They would keep grumbling, and that would be something Ricardo could report back to Evan Showyer. "Alex, want me to pose for a photo?" Josephine suddenly appeared at the doorway. He switched to camera mode at once. Only then did he notice William's woman, Marianne, standing off to the side, chewing out the old men while flicking glances toward him. Alex didn't dwell on her. Village squabbles were the last thing he cared to wade into. "Josephine, that slim waist, that fair face. You photograph well." "Do I? Alex, I hear city women all do nude shoots. Come to my place and shoot me nude sometime." "Happy to, if that's what you like." "Everyone, inside. These bumpkins can't keep their mouths clean. I can't stand listening to them, and half of them are itching to cop a feel." Marianne, full-figured, swayed past Alex and flicked the hem of her dress for him to see. He almost gagged. Kimberly Yoppe and Josephine both had far better skin than hers. As her skirt swished, a flash of bright red panties showed, marked with a telltale stain. Inside, Josephine poured wine for Ricardo and William, then filled a cup for Alex. He loved the look of her fingers-slender and fine, with a soft, dewy sheen. "Alex, how did the people respond?" "Good. They all said quality comes first." "Excellent. Public projects that improve daily life are what win hearts and minds. If the people say it's good, then it's truly good." Ricardo's grin spread wide. "That's right, under Ricardo's guidance, how could it not be good? If it isn't, I'll go sleep with their women." William barked a laugh. Alex set his cup down with care. "Ricardo, we've heard what there is to hear. Shouldn't we go take a look at the Water Conservancy Facilities? Seeing is believing." Like a bolt from the blue, their laughter stopped cold. "Look at what? What I say goes." "We still need to look." Alex met William's eyes and didn't back down. Josephine, still pouring, nudged his arm with her elbow, warning him not to go head-to-head. Sensing the air sour, Ricardo put on a smile. "Ha, Alex, didn't we see it just now? What the people say is the plain truth, right?" "What's there to see? It was built last year. Quality comes first. Alex, you don't mean you don't trust our Ricardo, do you?" "It's not that I don't trust you. I think we should carry out the work Evan Showyer assigned, thoroughly and solidly." "Is that so? Alex, your instincts are improving." Ricardo understood Alex was new and blunt by nature, so he let it pass, but a first tussle needed pressure to set boundaries. He hardened his face. "I know how to handle what Evan Showyer assigned. Mind your place." He set his glass down with a heavy thud. The sound was sharp enough to make Josephine flinch and pull in on herself. Alex understood. Ricardo had come to produce positive publicity. If he dug in his heels, it would do him no good. "Ricardo, drink. Alex is teasing you," Josephine said lightly, eyes on Alex. "Berton Village's Water Conservancy Facilities have been in use two years. How could the quality be poor?" She knew how to calm men down. Alex bent, midcourse. He would follow Ricardo's lead for now. Maybe this was only a cursory survey. "You're right, Ricardo. Let's drink." "Look at Alex, hm? Our Accountant Josephine settles it with just a few words. If Josephine spent the night with him, he'd be in our pocket." "Right, William." Josephine's cheeks bloomed pink, her graceful hands steady, her eyes going a little misty. They laughed and drank again. The mood lightened, and they downed a few more cups. Soon Ricardo was drunk. Alex leaned in. "Is there anything we need to take with us?" Ricardo chuckled, thought it through, then shoved the table and tried to stand. "We need the Berton Village Water Conservancy Facilities contract." "Josephine, isn't that over at the village committee office?" "I'll fetch it." Ricardo stumbled out from the table and reached out to take Josephine's hand. Alex tugged the table back and Ricardo pitched forward. Thud. Alex grabbed him quickly. "Ricardo, brother, you're drunk. I'll go." "You?" Ricardo sagged, limp as a rag, fingers clamped on Alex's hand. "Stick with me and you'll get your cut, hm?" "I know. You nap here at William's. I'll go with Josephine. That woman's bust is big," Alex lowered his voice, "I can cop a feel when I get the chance, hm?" His lewd chuckle rolled out soft and low. Ricardo, reassured that Alex was a worldly man swayed by beauty, waved him on. Let the kid have a taste. Josephine heard and hid a smile. She knew Alex was saying it to throw Ricardo off the scent. She led Alex out of William's house at once. William, for his part, ordered Marianne to tail them. They were not to set foot in the fields to look at the canals, and they were not to chat with those cranky old men they had just interviewed. Marianne beamed, hiking up both slits of her cheongsam. "Relax, William. If the boy tries anything funny, I'll sleep with him, pin him down, and bring you the result." Ricardo drank and laughed. "I trust you."

Chapter 10: Dissonant Voices

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