I lifted a brow as she turned to face me. It had been a few months between having a house guest. I just wasn’t going to say that this guest stayed in my room. She’d figure it out soon enough anyhow. “He does everything but the cooking while he’s staying.”
“And how long is this one here for?” She sat her purse down on the small table I had gotten just for her to use.
“A week or two. Just enough for him to heal while my boss searches for a better placement.” The white lie worked well enough. “Do you mind teaching him how to cook some? Just some easy things? You don’t have to, though.”
“Of course, I don’t, Allister. Now shoo.”
“He’s-“
“Shy? Skittish? In a bad place?” She didn’t pause long enough for me to answer her. “I know who you bring in. I got this. Now go.”
I held up my hands, knowing she did have it under control.
Alex had been my maid for many years. I couldn’t be bothered to keep a house, cook, and domy job as well as I needed to. So hiring someone who knew how to keep secrets and not ask questions was required. Plus, her husband worked in the same department as I did, so she knew better than to ever speak up about certain things.
“I’ll be in my office if you need anything.” Alex waved her hand, her back towards me, as she walked towards the kitchen.
I shook my head. Alex was one of a kind. She wasn’t scared of me or of the people I brought into this house for short periods.
Once in my office, I shut my door so Alex’s voice didn’t travel in as loudly. I knew she’d turn on some music while she cooked since she hated the quiet.
Turning to my computer, it didn’t take long to get it booted up. At the same time, I picked up my phone, calling my boss.
Chapter 14
Dakota
I stood there like a deer caught in the headlights of a fast car coming toward me. My eyes were wide, my body refusing to move as a woman who was like half my size marched up to me. Okay, she was a little over a foot shorter than me, and if you took my weight when I was soaking wet, she’d still be minuscule compared to me.
When Sir had said his cook was coming, I expected some grumpy older person who was on the plump side. Not this gal who moved through the house as though she knew she was the boss of what went on.
I swallowed as she stopped in front of me, her gray gaze looking me up and down as though I was a piece of dirt. Or maybe she was picturing me being a piece of cake she could eat.
“Alex, you are?” her voice was airy, soft.
“D-Dakota.” I gulped, my feet taking a step back from her.
“Nice to meet ya.” Her eyes softened, and I finally was able to drop my own to the floor while wrapping my arms around my torso. “So, Allister says you want to learn to cook?”
I lifted a shoulder. If he wanted me to, I guess I did.
“You aren’t like the others he’s brought here.” At that comment, I quickly looked back up. Of course, there would be others. I wasn’t the only slave. But I hadn’t seen anyone else here in my time so far.
“They aren’t here now, obviously.” Alex rolled her eyes as she turned her back on me and went straight to pulling things from the cupboards. Bowls and pans. And ingredients. “Allister brings guests here off and on. It’s part of his job.”
Was his job to buy and sell humans, then?I slowly stepped towards the counter where the stools were, taking a seat on one. That way, there was something in between this woman and me.
“The others always ran off to hide somewhere.” She shook her head, causing the messy bun on top of her head to wiggle at the motion. “They never wanted to cook.”
“Sir says I have to.” The words were out before I could stop them. I knew right away I shouldn’t have spoken. Alex’s expression fell, and something dark came across her face.
“You don’t have to do a single fucking thing he tells you.”
Uh yeah, I did.He owned me.I dropped my gaze. There was no way I’d speak out of turn again. It was going to be bad enough when Sir found out as it was. I didn’t need to add fuel to the fire.
“I think I understand why the others always run off to hide,” she mused when I didn’t say anything for a few long seconds. “Anyhoot. I’ll measure what needs to be in this dish,” she tapped the big silver bowl, “and you can dump it in.”
Easy enough. Even though I had no clue what this was meant to be, food-wise.
