Fuck, it’s going well already.
I choose to take her in. I wanted to. I still do. But fuck, the past keeps hitting me back as I watch a new women stepin my house and I guess I don’t know how to act since my last experience left me in pieces.
Perhaps she’ll be different.
Maria is waiting next to the stairs, her apron clean and her usual warm smile on her face.
“Could you show her around?” I ask her without consulting Mia. Not that there's a lot to show compare to the size of her house but still, it's good for her to know her new home.
“Of course sir. Welcome to your new home, Mrs Malone. I’m Maria, the housekeeper. Feel free to ask me anything you need.” She hesitates, but in front of the genuine smile of Maria, she turns to head up the stairs, her dress trailing behind her. I watch her go, heading to my office, clenching my fist hard.
I hope she’ll like the house. I hope she’ll love all the changes I made for her. And I hope she’ll see behind the fucking fortress, that I’m just a twisted and dark man looking for a match as wild as me.
Mia
What an asshole.
Ordering me around like a child. God, I hate entitled, self-absorbed men.
I mount the steps to the first floor, followed by Maria, who at least seems genuinely nice, which makes me wonder why the hell she would work for that man. After showing me three large bedrooms with adjacent bathrooms with high-end finishes and, well, it pains me to say it, but decorated with taste—she leads me to a large mahogany door. The house is nothing like I was expecting. It looks like a cabin where you sleep after a day ofskiing. Despite being different from my fancy house in Chicago, it's cozy, warm. The wood makes everything look…inviting.
“This is yours. Your belongings have been brought here today,” she says with a warm voice before opening the wood door and leaving me room to enter first.
It's big, with huge windows that let in the last light of the evening. The view is breathtaking, as if the woods were melting with the inside of the house. A king-sized bed dominates the center, draped in rich, beige linens. The furniture is all dark wood and leather, contrasting with the feminine touches of my old girly room. Wool covers are spread on the bed, and it makes me want to snuggle with a book and stay there all day.
The view is stunning, the trees stretching out into the horizon. Maria stands in the doorway, waiting.
“Thank you, Maria, it’s…stunning,” I say, wishing I sounded less impressed. Wouldn’t want to give him that kind of satisfaction.
“Mr Malone had had it redecorated a month ago, he wanted it to be more comfortable for you.”
What?
Why would he do that? I’m only a part of a deal he made with my father? Why would he change his home to accommodate me? It’s hard to believe, especially because in the few hours we’ve spent together he’s been all but rude to me.
But that kiss…
No, forget about that, it wasn’t real.
“Mr Malone is, um,” she looks down, reflecting on the words she wants to say, “he is a good man. Not everyone has the chance to see it, but with time, I hope you will.” Nodding once, she steps to the doors opposite the bed.
“Here is the main bathroom, and this other door is your dressing room,” she says as she opens two large doors, oneleading to a large sleek bathroom and the other one to a long walk-in closet.
The bathroom is straight out of a magazine, with marble floors and countertops, a freestanding bathtub, and a rain shower that looks like it could wash away a week’s worth of stress. Every fixture gleams, from the shiny, modern faucets to the polished handles on the cabinets. Soft, ambient lighting enhances the warmth feel of the space, casting a glow over the room. I could totally see myself doing my twelve step skincare routine here.
Maria gestures toward the bathtub and shower. “You have everything you need here—towels, toiletries, and anything else, just let me know.” I nod, still in awe of the room around me. It's simple, yet it looks like a mix of rustic features and comfort bound together.
“Thanks, Maria.” I’m used to expensive things and luxurious places, but here, there's nothing to envy about what I’ve always known. She smiles warmly and nods in return, then turns her attention to the closet.
“And here’s your dressing room,” she says, opening the doors wide.
My jaw drops at the sight before me. The closet is way bigger than I thought, with rows upon rows of shelves and hanging racks. It’s immaculately organized, with my colorful and luxurious clothes neatly arranged by type and color. The wall at the end of the closet is a display of my high heels, arranged perfectly as if they were on show. I step inside, almost afraid to touch anything, feeling like I’ve stumbled into a boutique when it’s actually my own wardrobe.
“This is…perfect,” I manage to say, my voice barely above a whisper.
Maria smiles proudly. “Mr Malone made it by himself, you know?” Her words hang in the air. Where I come from, mendon't do anything themselves, they hire people to do this sort of thing. And somehow knowing that he made it makes me respect him a bit more.
“I’ll leave you to it, Mrs Malone. Let me know if you need anything,” she says before quietly leaving and letting me alone to explore. As soon as she’s gone, I walk through the closet, running my fingers over the familiar fabrics of my dresses. I glance over at a set of drawers along one wall, and when I open them, my jaw falls on the floor.
