Chapter 11: Josephine's Overture

Words : 1980 Updated : Sep 11th, 2025

Alex Hayde was walking with Josephine toward the village office when his phone rang. It was Kimberly Yoppe. He slipped into a roadside restroom to take the call. "Ms. Yoppe, Alex speaking." "I didn't kick you that hard, did I?" "Not hard. I learned my lesson." "Good. That punk Lionel Denford won't behave. Stay sharp. The Eternal Construction folks are already set." "No problem, Ms. Yoppe." "Mm. Alex, do this well and there'll be a reward." When the call ended, Alex felt pleasantly dizzy, as if he'd had a few drinks. The two kicks she'd given him still burned in his memory, but his attraction to her had only grown. With a "reward" dangled before him, he couldn't help wondering if she meant to throw herself into his arms. The thought put a foolish grin on his face. "Josephine, I need to record a bit more. I don't buy that this project is top quality." He didn't take out his camera, reaching for his phone instead. Josephine caught his hand. "Alex, look at our village scenery. It's gorgeous. Our William is a good leader, a rare one." As she spoke, she held his phone up to her face. "What are you doing? I need real evidence." He stood his ground and glared at her. "Trust me. I'll help you. Quick, look at the scenery behind us." Alex's eyes flicked. He understood at once. In the phone screen, he caught a woman behind them in a qipao. He got it. Damn, William and Ricardo were slick. "Am I pretty? Everyone says I'm well endowed, the village beauty. What do you think?" "Beautiful. That's quite a rack. How about I have a feel?" He raised his voice and reached toward her chest, hamming it up. Josephine was acting, but Alex wasn't completely pretending. If she hadn't slipped aside, he would've grabbed her. "Not yet, Alex. Save that for my office." She ran ahead. He gave chase. The two of them burst into the bookkeeper's office like a couple of crazy people. His smile vanished. "Josephine, you said you could help me. Marianne is outside. How are we supposed to record anything?" "I can do it." Josephine stepped into him and wrapped herself around him. Soft, firm curves pressed against him until his breath hitched. He felt a rush of raw, youthful energy. Desire slipped its leash. "You?" "As long as you don't tell anyone about me and William, I can record whatever you need. I want everyone to know the truth too." "And the consequences?" "William Goulty will be finished, and I'll be so ashamed I won't be able to show my face." Seeing her serious face, the heat in him cooled. He couldn't ruin a woman just to get the truth. He shook his head. "Don't worry. Whatever happened in the cornfield, I saw nothing." "Thank you." Tears welled in her eyes. He reached to wipe them, but she turned her head aside. "No. I'm a married woman." She turned to the desk, took a key from a drawer, and unlocked the file cabinet. Alex sat back, casting quick glances toward the window. Marianne's silhouette was sharp and still. Josephine said, loud enough for someone outside to hear, "These houses are huge. William really knows how to work. Look, everything along the road is in perfect order." "I told you the pilot water project was top-notch. You never believe me." "Of course I believe you. Even if I don't believe anyone else, I believe you, Josephine. Those are some serious curves." Their banter kept up. Outside, Marianne didn't budge from her eavesdropping post. Josephine photocopied the contract for building the Water Conservancy Facilities in Berton Village and placed it in Alex's hands. Only then did Alex get why Evan Showyer had sent him here. The contractor named on the document was Prosper Construction. Shameless. They were trying to whitewash that scoundrel Lionel Denford. Alex slammed the table, so angry he could barely contain himself. "Keep your voice down. Someone is outside." "Lionel Denford is a heartless crook-shameless as they come. If the Water Conservancy Project in Hasson really ended up in his hands, Berton Village wouldn't be the only one to suffer. I won't let them do whatever they want. I'm going to get the real story." He stood, phone in hand, ready to charge for the door. Inside, Josephine was at war with herself. She knew Alex wasn't in league with Ricardo, not someone who would dirty his hands. He was upright, a rare man with a sense of justice. More than that, his clean, open face had already conquered her. She darted to the doorway and caught his hand. "Come with me." Her voice was low and tense. It had been a long time since a hand this soft had taken his. He felt its warm plushness and followed without thinking. "Let's play a song. I think my period just started." She kept one eye on the qipao-clad shadow outside and pointed to a folder on the computer. "Fine, I'll wait. If not, we can get a little noisy ourselves. Hahaha. Look, I'm already having a reaction." "Shameless. I'm a married woman. Oh my, that big?" She played Sandy Lam's 'At Least I Still Have You,' then set a brand-new USB drive in his palm. Alex dropped into a chair, plugged it in, and started copying the folder. "Sorry, Alex-I bled onto my pants. I'm going to the restroom." "Josephine, you're one unlucky chick. One look at the goods and you start bleeding." The line was for Marianne. Sure enough, her shadow vanished. Their bawdy talk had clearly stirred her up. Josephine slipped out of the bookkeeper's office and headed for the restroom around the side. Alex opened the folder that had already transferred to the USB drive. It contained only part of the photos, all taken recently. Irrigation channels lay shattered and ragged. Worse, villagers had dug their own earthen ditches to water the fields. Heat flared through him. The transfer finished. He didn't dare open the audio files. He wouldn't let punishing Lionel Denford and his crew bring ruin on Josephine. She was a good woman. "Alex, sorry. This time there was a lot." Josephine came back, holding up her pants. You could see a bright-red streak near her calves. Alex smiled. The red ink had done its job. He knew menstrual blood is usually dark; the stuff on her legs was obviously bright red. He glanced at the window. Marianne had her cheek to the sill again. He glanced toward the back room. What a woman. He hadn't expected to find someone with that kind of conscience out in the middle of nowhere. Without thinking, he pushed the curtain aside. "Alex, I…" Josephine said. She had taken off her pants to wipe off the ink. "It's fine. I won't disturb you." He felt awkward, yet he didn't want to leave. Her legs carried a cool, lush scent. Pale skin held a supple strength. Black lace panties traced the fullness of her body. He swallowed and stared. "This one's on me, Alex!" She rubbed faster, wiping the red ink from her thighs. "Josephine." He surged forward, gripped her shoulders, and pressed his chest to hers. Her full, rounded breasts swelled against him. "You're beautiful." Alex burned all over and held Josephine tight.

Chapter 11: Josephine's Overture

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