After a long moment, Leon finally goes back to typing. Elliot lifts his gaze, meeting mine fleetingly. Everyone else ignores me. Working my way around the desks, I follow my usual path until I get to the back. When I’m behind Leon’s desk, I push the toe of my sneaker under the electrical cable and, pretending to stumble, pull the plug out of the wall.
The fact that Gus doesn’t allow laptops for security reasons counts in my favor. Leon’s desktop computer screen goes dark.
Swiveling his chair around, he jumps to his feet. The office goes quiet. The typing stops. All eyes are trained on me, some with fear and others with pity. After the coffee incident, they must think I’m a klutz and a safety hazard.
Leon wraps his hands around my upper arms. “Careful.” He tests my balance before switching off the vacuum cleaner. “Did you hurt yourself?”
“No.” I motion at the loose cable on the floor. “I tripped.”
“You have to be careful. You could’ve sprained an ankle.”
“I’m fine.” Glancing at his computer, I ask, “Did I do any damage?”
“That’s not important.”
Going down on his haunches, he takes my right foot in his hands and turns it in a circle before doing the same with the left one.
I have to grip his shoulders for balance. “I’m fine, really.”
He lets me go and plugs in the cable, making sure the wire runs flat on the floor before popping the floor cord cover back into place.
“Thanks,” I say when he straightens.
He offers me a semblance of a smile.
Once the action is over, the other men bend their heads over their keyboards again, and Leon settles in his chair. I switch on the vacuum cleaner and put myself at a strategic angle behind Leon from where I have a view of his keyboard.
When he enters his password, I memorize it. It’s a long and complicated one. I have a graphic mind that’s better with images than with numbers. Instead of trying to remember the sequence, I associate each key with an action, building a story in my mind. One spaceship lands on Mars. Four explorers disembark. They’re looking for seven brides. They enter a bar called Terra, and so on. By recalling the scenes that build the story, I’ll remember the keys.
Trying hard to act normally, I finish my vacuuming and carry the vacuum cleaner to the kitchen. The minute I’ve closed the door behind me, I break into a sweat. My breathing is sharp yet shallow. Not wasting time, I pull the small notebook and pencil from my pocket and write down the password. The writing stares back at me like a verdict. Now that it’s printed in charcoal on white, it’s no longer an intention or a bad idea. It’s an image, a picture that tells its own story. I’m a thief. I’ve committed to it on paper.
CHAPTER 17
Leon
I work at home on Saturday morning, getting a head start on the second part of my software program. After a high-carb lunch, I spend the greater part of the afternoon working out on the deck next to the pool before swimming a few laps. By early evening, I’m invigorated and pumping with energy from the endorphins thanks to the exercise but also from the prospect of having Violet all to myself tonight.
Calling it a day, I shower and change. The restaurant I booked has a formal dress code. I’m not trying to impress Violet. The simple fact is she deserves the best. Opting for a casual gray suit with a white Fendi shirt, I finish off the outfit with black dress shoes and a matching belt. I check the time when I fasten my watch on my wrist. Being late is one of my pet peeves.
The summer evening is pleasantly warm. The neighbors are sitting outside on their porch when I pull the Aston Martin out of the garage. The woman waves so enthusiastically I can’t pretend not to see her. I prefer keeping to myself, but not acknowledging her will be downright rude. She’s been trying to catch my attention a few times already. I return her greeting with a curt nod as I drive past their house. When I reach the exit of the complex, I step on the accelerator and head with much impatience toward Midrand.
During the thirty-minute drive, I have time to categorize my feelings and analyze Violet’s reactions before deciding on a course of action. Violet is feisty, but that’s why I noticed her. It’s one of the qualities that not only draws me to her but also keeps me interested. Women quickly bore me. In the past, it didn’t matter, because our recreational activities didn’t require talking. I only needed them for sex. As soon as my dick was empty and the condom full, I paid and left.