Released: MC Secret Baby Romance (New Adult Contemporary Biker Romance) (61 page)

Loitering in a nearby alley with the distant din of music in the distance, she listened to the phone ring. It would seem as though no one would answer and she cursed herself for calling in the middle of the night.

“Idiot Janey,” she bit her lip in frustration.

It was then, when she was on the brink of hanging up that a voice emanated through the darkness.

“Hello? You’ve reached the Gilbert residence. How may I help you?” the sleepy voice spoke with a cold and brisk accent.

“Oh er…. Erm…” Jane stalled. “I saw the job posting.”

“Job posting?” the voice sneered.

“In the Keller Cellars,” she continued.

There was a long and ominous silence, as Jane chewed on her fingernails. It seemed as though the mysterious man on the phone had disappeared and, yet again, she found herself close to hanging up.

“Eh… hello? Are you still there, madam?” The voice returned. This time, flustered and apologetic. “I’m so sorry to keep you waiting.”

“No problem,” she said relieved.

“Yes, the job of the housekeeper…. You’re available to start right away like the ad suggested.”

“Yes… Absolutely,” she nodded, as she spoke.

“Very well…..” The man was heard scribbling something down, as though taking notes of the conversation. “And, you’re at the Keller Cellars now?”

“Uhuh….” Jane swallowed down her anxiety. “I mean yes. Well, right outside.”

“And name?”

“Eh…?”

“Your name, madam.”

“Oh! It’s Jane Kershaw.”

“Ok, Miss Kershaw. Can I ask you to wait right there?”

“Eh….ok….”

“I’ll be there as soon as I can,” and he hung up.

Jane found herself listening to the sound of the dial tone, as raindrops began to hit her on the head.

She placed her phone back in her pocket. “Now what”?

*****

The night was dragging on, as Jane shifted her heavy backpack from one shoulder to the other, her body still ached from Lee’s brutal punch. It was starting to grow tremendously heavy and so was the rain, as it beat down on her tired body. She was also starting to grow hungry and, as she looked around at the ever intoxicated crowd, she felt her stomach rumble and her mouth become dry. She wasn’t much of a drinker, so the absinth had taken a toll on her already. She felt the dull ache of a light hangover begin to sweep across her brow, and she rubbed at the bridge of her nose to ease the pain.

Looking at the time, she realized she’d been standing at the same spot for forty five minutes. Surely, if the man on the phone was to turn up, he would have done so by now.

“I’m so stupid,” she told herself. “There is no job.” And, she continued her frantic nail biting.

Pulling her coat around her tighter, she shivered as the wind blasted her face. It was getting late and the surrounding party goers were beginning to head home. She looked to them with a hint of jealousy, as she wished she had somewhere to go.

A car horn hooted and broke her from her thoughts. Standing beside her was a blacked out limousine. She moved out of its way to let it past, but it didn’t budge. The window slid down slowly and revealed a handsome and pale chauffeur with cheekbones that could cut glass, and icy blue eyes.

“Miss Kershaw, I presume?”

She took a step back.

“Yeah.”

She stood dumbfounded, as he stepped out and opened the back door for her.

“How did you know it was me?” She asked.

“I had a hunch.” He helped her place her bag inside the car.

After climbing inside, she took a backward facing seat so her head was beside the driver’s. She looked at his slim figure and perfect complexion, as he climbed behind the wheel and reflected on the weirdness of the situation.

“I’m Gerard,” he introduced himself, as he turned the key in the ignition. “I’d be happy to engage in more pleasantries, but I’m afraid there’s no time,” and he pulled the limousine out of the alley and made his way to the nearest highway exit.

Jane couldn’t see a thing from the inside; only the blackness of the glass with the occasional reflection of street lights.

“So, have you done this line of work before?” Gerard looked at her in the rear view mirror.

“No…” she shook her head. “I haven’t.”

“That’s ok,” he spread his lips into a faint smile. “You’ll get the hang of it. It’s all pretty straight forward.” And, he stepped on the accelerator, as they hit a stretch of empty road.

Jane looked out of the window into the darkness and wondered how her life could have changed so much in only a few hours. Butterflies were tickling the inside of her stomach, and she clutched an arm to her waist to try and alleviate her nervous nausea.

“What the hell am I doing?” She whispered to herself, as she pinched at her soaked-through clothes.

“What was that?” Gerard overheard her from the front.

“Oh nothing,” she said. “It’s just…. this is all a bit crazy.”

“Isn’t each day a series of crazy encounters knitted together to create this wonderful thing called life?”

“I guess,” she looked back round to the driver. “You do this a lot, don’t you?”

“What do you mean?”

“Pick up housekeeping recruits. I can see you’ve done it a hundred times before. You look almost bored by it.”

He chuckled and turned up his lips into a wicked smile.

“Ok…. If you must know. We haven’t had the best of luck with housekeepers.”

He didn’t care to elaborate, but instead, went quiet and looked out to the road ahead, as his eyes glazed over reminiscing.

“And, why would that be?” Jane was eager to know what trouble she was getting herself into.

“Because…” Gerard took a long pause and sighed. “My boss lives in an isolated house. One that, to the average city dweller, would seem quite romantic at first, but would then become more of a nuisance.”

“I’m not following.” She was beginning to get annoyed.

“It’s an interesting house,” was all he said.

“Is it haunted? Is that what you’re saying?”

“Oh, not quite Miss Kershaw, not quite.” He turned his head a couple inches and threw her a mischievous glance.

His pale blue eyes chilled Jane and she found herself holding her breath and clutching at her chest. There was something so sinister about Gerard, but apart from his prissy accent, she couldn’t put her finger on something tangible. It was, after all, the entire setting that had her thinking she was stuck in a dream. The limousine, Gerard in his chauffeur’s cap, the mysterious house in the country they were on their way to, the job being posted in an underground Goth club….
This has all been a terrible mistake
.

*****

The journey seemed to last for hours with Jane getting more terrified by the minute. The road was becoming increasingly bumpy, and she found it difficult to remain in her seat.

“I don’t mean to be a pain,” she turned to face Gerard. “But, are we almost there?”

He flashed her that crooked smile again, and his eyes shone as he spoke.

“As a matter of fact, we are…..” he slowed the car down, as they drove onto a graveled path. “Look up there,” he pointed out the windshield.

Jane craned her neck to see from his viewpoint and felt her heart skip a beat when she saw the building at the top of the hill. It was then that she only had one thought running through her mind.
This is how a lot of horror movies start
.

The house was towering and foreboding, and made from dark granite stone that glittered in the moonlight. The windows appeared to be more like spying eyes that were wary of visitors, and the door was large and gaping like a mouth in a twisted scream. The driveway was long and winding and, as the limousine reached the entrance, Jane didn’t want to get out. She hesitated for a moment, as Gerard opened her door with his perfect politeness. Wavering for just a second too long, she considered asking to be dropped back in the city or running away shrieking into the wilderness. Of course, she could do neither of these things, so she grabbed her backpack and took a deep breath.

“In your own time, Miss Kershaw.” Gerard tipped his hat.

“Are new recruits always as nervous as me?” Jane stammered.

“Oh…. Sometimes they’re a lot more terrified,” he dismissed her worries with a chuckle. “Now, let me take your bag.”

She handed it over and knew she had no choice, but to see to her new job…. and new life.

“So, this is home now,” she spoke to herself, as she looked up at the house.

Her gaze fell upon the precarious looking turrets that surrounded the top of the building like icing on a cake. For a moment, she was certain she saw a bat fly away from one of the windows, but then she pulled herself together and followed Gerard up the path.

“I’m sorry. I’m just not used to being in places like this,” she hurried to catch up with him.

“Oh, don’t be.” The butler smiled, as he struggled with the bag on his back. “We’re well aware it’s an unusual….. setting,” and he laughed once again; his voice echoing off the walls. “But now…. Let’s get you acquainted, shall we?”

He pulled out a large brass key that looked more like a book end than something you could open a door with. It was a two-handed job to open the main door, and when he did, it creaked ominously. Jane was soon hit by the smell of antiquity; old books, mahogany, and dust. It was a comforting smell and she breathed it in as a reminder of home. She had spent most of her childhood in the local library or perusing museums, and felt as though she had been instantly transported back to being twelve. However, she was soon pulled from her thoughts by Gerard slamming on the overhead lights and found herself standing in the center of a great hall. Taxidermied animals lined the walls with ancient portraits looking down on her with suspicious eyes. She had to admit, it was pretty cool.

“Is this place real?” she laughed. “It’s more like a film set.”

“I’m glad you find it entertaining,” Gerard said, as he took the first step at the bottom of the long and winding staircase. “But, follow me. It’s late and I must show you to your room.”

Jane struggled her way to the top of the stairs, and her legs were aching by the time she reached the landing.

“This way!” The butler called after her, as he disappeared down a long hallway.

She jogged to reach him and when she caught up, he was lingering outside a door with another large and peculiar key.

“This will be your quarters,” he explained. “You’ll find everything you need here, although I’m afraid it’s not the Hilton,” he smiled wryly with his eyes fixed on hers.

It made her shiver, but she was relieved that; at last, she had somewhere to live. Looking around at the building, she knew a good thing when she saw it, and it looked as though this house was a far cry from her humble, if not squalid, apartment with Lee.

Once inside the room, she thought it was plain, but tasteful and she loved that the décor was floral. She guessed it was very much a woman’s living space, as every surface was delicately flourished with a woman’s touch from the white lace curtains to the pink wallpaper.

“It’s lovely,” she smiled.

“It is, isn’t it?” Gerard placed her bag down and took off his hat. “Just off here” he opened a nearby door “is the bathroom… whereas in here” he opened another “is the living quarters with a small kitchenette and so on.”

“Very nice.” Jane poked her head round the door to take a look. “It’s bigger than my old place,” she mused.

But, Gerard wasn’t interested in hearing about her life. He lingered at the door, as if hoping to leave at any moment. He yawned uncontrollably and clapped a hand to his mouth.

“I’m terribly sorry, Miss Kershaw. It’s been a long day and it’s very late.”

“That’s ok. I’m dead on my feet.”

“Very well,” he bowed. “I’ll leave you to get settled. Breakfast is at eight A.M. Goodnight, Miss Kershaw,” and he closed the door gently.

For a moment, Jane listened to the sound of his light, quick footsteps, as they disappeared down the hall. Then she flopped onto the bed and stared up at the ceiling, gazing at the ornate light fixture and intricate cornicing. She pondered on the possibility that she had accidentally travelled back in time, but then she laughed at her own vivid imagination and sat up.

Pulling things out of her bag, she packed her clothes away and lay on top of the bed. It was time to reflect on the weirdest night of her life and, as she rested her head on the lavender-scented pillow, she wondered if Lee was worried about her.

A single tear slipped out from the corner of her eye and slid onto the pillow.
It’s for the best,
she thought.
That man was a brute.
And, she closed her eyes and let sleep take a hold of her.

*****

When the sun shone in through the window, it cast long and elaborate shapes across the bed, as it leaked in through the lace curtains. Jane stirred, as she heard the sound of birds chirping and opened her eyes. After a few seconds of great confusion, she soon realized she wasn’t at home, but was rather in the mysterious house she was so certain she had dreamt.