Romance: Hired (2 page)

“And the repayment?”

“As much as you need to pay off your debts.”

Richard left me with a lot of debts that I don’t have the ability to pay.  It would take me years to work them off.

“Even if it those debts ran into the tens of thousands?”

“Yes.”

His response was honest.

I have no doubt that he could pay for it but I felt sorrow deep with my soul.   

Taking piece of towel with my trembling hands, I dried my eyes. I have no other solution but to accept.

“And this won’t be talked about to anyone?” I asked.

“If you wish.”

“And there will be no photos,” I stated.

“That’s fine,” he replied calmly.

How could he be so calm with what he was asking me?

He must have done this before.

This must have been a normal day for him.

With all my strength, I mutter the acceptance of his offer.

“Ok.” 

I couldn’t believe what I was saying. 

I couldn’t believe what I was agreeing to… 

Chapter 3

Damon arranged for a limousine to pick me up at my apartment complex. 

I watched out the window of the back seat while the luxury vehicle drove away from the city and through the suburbs.  It took at least an hour before we arrived at Damon’s large mansion. 

There was a large iron-wrought fence around the perimeter of the property that seemed to disappear into the distance and the surrounding vegetation.  The car drove through the elaborate front gate, past the security guards office and up a long gravel driveway lined by large trees.  I was amazed at the expanse of lush manicured green grass.  As we passed around a bend, the house became increasingly more visible. 

It took my breath away. 

The mansion was massive, made of brick with portions of it covered in ivy.  The mansion was at least a hundred years old, but happened to be in perfect condition.  I shudder to think of the number staff needed to maintain this place. 

“Hello Abbey.” Damon was there to greet me at the car door. “Thank you for coming.”

He opened the door of the car and offered his hand to me. 

Hesitantly, I took it and stepped out from the comfortable leather seats. 

This was the first step to selling myself. 

I imagine if Neil Armstrong were here, he would say something like, ‘One small step for a woman, but one giant step to selling your soul.’

I had suffered through a cold shower at my apartment before dressing my best, but I feel even colder now.  I didn’t feel like a princess in spite of being invited to Damon’s castle.  I felt like a whore arriving on time.

The massive doors leading into the mansion were easily eight feet tall. I was speechless as I walked up the stairs.  This was the house I had dreamt of in my childhood. 

I wanted to be that princess. 

I wanted to be swept of my feet by the fairytale prince and whisked away inside the mansion.

As a little girl, I wanted all of this.

Once we were inside, Damon led me from room to room, giving me a tour of much of the North wing.

He talked, but I struggled to listen. 

I was in awe of this house and it’s impressive beauty.  My mouth dropped as I was shown room after room after room.  The mansion almost made me forget why I was here.

I noticed every little detail of every room. 

I noticed the expensive marble that was used excessively. 

The dustless rooms.

The wide range of beautiful and rare artwork.

The astounding, winding staircase.

I was in awe.

But it was the feeling in the mansion that hit me most.  I felt it in every room.

The house was empty.

Every room felt alone.

Unused.

This was a house.  A mansion.  A piece of architectural grandeur. 

But it was not a home.

These rooms were for showing, not for living in.

One part of the house had a different feeling.  I was envious of the art studio that Damon had remodeled for himself.  I had never imagined that Damon would be a painter or a sculpture.  I admired the beautiful works of art that he had created with his hands.  He definitely had an eye for beauty. 

“When I feel lonely, I come here,” he commented.

“There must be fifty pieces of art here,” I whispered to myself, thinking that he must have spent a lot of time here.

He shrugged his shoulders to indicate he understood what I was implying.

Just as I had expected, there were servants bustling about the main rooms and the kitchen, ready to cater to his every whim. 

He greeted them all warmly and introduced me to each and every one by name.  He was extremely personable towards his hired help, and he was even more personable to me. 

As he introduced me to them, I almost forgot that I was also the hired help.

The most impressive part of the building was his study. 

It seemed nearly every great literary work ever written adorned its walls.  The oak trim adorned every inch of the room.  The marble floor beneath our feet was absolutely stunning.  The vaulted ceiling with the skylight in them made the space look heavenly.  A breath caught in my throat as I admired the view. 

“This house is absolutely breathtaking,” I complimented. 

I wish I had the words to explain the mansion, but I was at a loss for more words. 

He went on to tell me that he had other houses in other parts of the world.  One of his smaller homes was in London, another in Brazil.  He even had an island off the coast of Hawaii that he visited occasionally when he had to entertain business partners there. 

“But I like this one the most.  I always have.” 

He explained further that he had lived here for the past five years, since he came into a lot of money and success in his business. 

“I come here when I need to just get away. Hardly anyone knows that I own this mansion. You have to tell me you won’t share it with anyone.”

“Cross my heart.” 

I smiled at him warmly.  I was nervous, but glad that he wasn’t making me feel terribly uncomfortable at the moment.  As if reading my mind, he walked behind the bar in one of the lounge rooms and poured two glasses of white wine.

Damon sipped at the wine, never really taking his eyes off me.

“This wine would taste a lot better in the spa that is in the corner of the balcony over here.” As if on cue and preplanned, he handed me a towel, a sari, and a swimsuit that was my size.  There was definitely no lack of effort on his part to make me feel welcome. “If you want to, that is.”

I nodded. “That would be nice.” 

I collected the things and started toward the restroom that he had pointed out.

“I’ll have the drinks taken out,” he called out to me. 

I flashed a grin over my shoulder, then slipped inside the door, closing it behind me. 

I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror and my tired eyes were evidence of my restless week.  Staring at myself in the mirror, I questioned who I was. 

What am I doing?  I’m selling my body. 

I’m giving everything I own away to man for money.

I sighed and dropped my head as the thoughts continued to crash through my head.

What am I doing? 

This is not me. 

This is not what I wanted for my life. 

I was supposed to be settling down with Richard, thinking about a future together.  My twenties were about establishing my life for the future.  I should have been staring to plan for children.  If only Richard wasn’t such a prick.

Why do I have such bad luck with men? 

Or maybe it’s not me.  Maybe all men are bastards.

I begin to gather my things in preparation for leaving out the back door… but where the heck is the back door, anyway?  This place is enormous.

I had no choice but to stay now.

As I stared in the mirror, I wondered if I would ever really forget this weekend?

When I am old and wrinkly, would this weekend still continue to taunt me?

My shoulders dropped as another sigh escaped my lips.

Looking around the bathroom, it was full of accommodations, including a brush, shampoo and conditioner.  I take the opportunity to jump into the warm shower and relieve myself of the restaurant smell.  Under the beading of warm water, my shoulders finally relax. 

It is just one weekend.

One weekend.

Two nights.

And then I can start my life over again…

Chapter 4

“I hope you feel comfortable… I tried to think of everything that you might want while you stay.  I don’t exactly have a wealth of experience with someone like you.” 

As I walked out to the spa, I felt bad for wanting to leave him.  Damon seemed incredibly sweet and kind.  And I liked the way his hair always looked a bit ruff even though the rest of him was well kept. 

He sat relaxed in the spa, and not for the first time, I felt my heart beat faster.  It was the first time I saw him shirtless, and seeing his upper body naked made the moment feel real.  Not that it was a bad body… actually it was the best body I have ever seen.  His upper body was incredibly toned and bronzed.  I was staring at a chest that was packed full of muscle and a stomach that was incredibly ripped and flat.

That was definitely the sexist body I have ever seen.

His body took my breath away.

And everything about this situation made me feel nervous. 

From the money, to the house, to the man.  My senses were heightened and the world seemed clearer. 

“It’s just fine… more than fine. It feels…nice.” I hoped he took that as a compliment.  He sure made me nervous. “I mean, really nice.”

I couldn’t take my eyes off his chest. 

It made parts of my body tingle that hadn’t tingled in a long time.  Wow.  I never thought that I would be with a man like him.  I never thought that I would have had the opportunity to experience a body like his.

And to be paid for it…

I entered the warm water and felt the soothing bubbles and jets start to melt away my stress.  I closed my eyes, and drifted away.  This place was like heaven. 

“You took a long time to get ready,” Damon commented, breaking the silence.

“I was thinking,” I replied.

“About what?”

“About this.”

Damon nodded slowly. “I want you to stay.”

The firmness of the comment brought a smile to my face. “I’ll stay.”

The silence drifted over us again, providing enough time for me to think about my situation.

“About the money…” I stated.

“Is it not enough?”

“No, it’s not that.  I feel… dirty… for taking the money.”

“Don’t.  I have had a lot of good fortune in my life.  It is only fair that I spread that around.”

“I just… I just don’t know about it.”

“I really want you to stay.”

He was firm.  There was conviction and authority in his statement. 

“This is just so… you are…” I was stuttering.  “…I just can’t take your money. I know, I came here after you offered… but it’s just not right.  I don’t feel comfortable with it.”

“I only wanted to help you. I really want you to stay, and I thought I could help your situation too. I have enough money to be able to help out.  I want to help you.”

He struggled to get me to understand his reasons behind inviting me here.

“It doesn’t feel right.  All my life I’ve struggled and fought my way through.  I’ve earned my way this far.  It doesn’t feel right doing this.”

“Are you changing your mind?”

“I think so…”

Truthfully, I didn’t know. 

My thoughts were in limbo.  I was stuck between wanting to set myself up for the rest of my life and maintaining my morals like a good girl. 

Damon pursed his lips, as if he was thinking.

“I apologize,” he sighed, “I apologize for upsetting you because that’s the last thing I wanted to do.  I am truly sorry.” 

He stepped out of the hot tub, toweled himself off, and then covered himself in a smooth cloth robe.

“I was wrong to make the offer to you.  But I still hope you’ll stay.”

I wanted to stay.  If there was no money involved then this would be one of the greatest moments of my life.

“No talk of money,” I stated to him as he began to walk away.

Turning around, he had a smile on his face. “Agreed.”

I followed the cute bottom out of the hot tub and headed toward the restroom to put my clothes back on. 

When I entered the room, I noticed that someone had laid out a beautiful dress in my size, waiting for me. 

As I put it on, a dirty feeling came over me again.  I was being bought. 

I never thought the perfect dress could make me feel so bad.

Every time I accepted a small piece of luxury, it felt like I was selling my soul…