Her mouth dropped open as the gates parted and allowed me to drive up to the large white building I called home. Three floors and a vast expanse of grounds to the rear of the property had fallen into my hands along with the business after Dad died. Compared to most homes I guess you could say mine was a little more ostentatious, but compared to where Mia was living it may as well have been a palace.
I parked in the circular driveway and got out of the car. Dominic must have been working in the garage since the bike and Range Rover sat outside. Once again, by the time I got around Mia's side of the car, she'd let herself out, the look of shock still written across her features.
“Did you expect me to live in a hole?” I asked her over the sound of the fountain in the center of the drive. There was no need to live modestly when you had more than enough money to be comfortable.
“Let’s get you settled.” I placed a hand on her lower back to lead her towards the house, but she stepped away quickly as if my touch was fire. Irritation flared in my chest, but I shook it off and strode past her up the stone steps and into the house. The sound of her footsteps told me that Mia had enough sense to follow after me.
“I’ll take you to your room,” I told her, not slowing my pace. “You can get yourself sorted. I have a meeting I need to get to but I’ll be back later tonight and we can have dinner together.”
There was no response from her as I walked up the stairs. When I checked over my shoulder, Mia was still following behind me, though her attention seemed to be drawn to the artwork on the walls. Once we reached the top floor, I pushed open the door to one of the bedrooms.
“Make yourself at home, Mia,” I told her.
She squeezed past me, careful to make no contact, and stepped into the bright, white room.
“I’ll be back later,” I said as I closed the door so she could get settled.
∞∞∞
“Evening, Luc,” Lydia, my housekeeper and the eldest member of my staff greeted me as I walked into the kitchen later that evening.
The meeting ran a little longer than I had intended and all I wanted now was a peaceful night. Organized crime had a high pay off but I dealt with plenty of idiots in the process. On more than one occasion my mood was soured by people who struggled to listen to simple instructions.
“Evening, Lyds,” I returned, and kissed her cheek.
Lydia had been employed by my family for as long as I could remember. Years ago, she was the nanny for me and Stefan and when we had grown up Dad kept her as the housekeeper. With Dad no longer with us, Lydia kept her position. I needed to be surrounded by people I trusted, and Lydia had shown nothing but loyalty to me and my family.
“We have a guest staying for the foreseeable future,” I informed her, straightening up. “Can you set another place at the table and get her from the bedroom next to Stefan’s?”
Lydia gave me a look, her eyebrows arching. “Her, Luc?” she asked me curiously, focusing on that particular word. “Finally, being serious about someone.”
“It’s business, Lydia,” I clarified shortly. “She’s a payment for a debt I’m owed.”
She fixed me with another look, less curious and more aggravated as she huffed a breath that fluttered the fringe of her greying pixie cut. Lydia knew better than to question the decisions I made, though, and left to do what I’d asked of her.
The dining room was more formal and only used for special occasions or if I entertained business, which didn’t happen all that often. My father was more of a host than I was. I tried to keep business and personal as separate as possible but there were times when work inevitably came home with me. For that reason, I took my meals in the kitchen and sat at the heavy wooden table in the room.
Undoing the top button of my shirt, I leaned back in the deep-seated, high back chair and closed my eyes. When I took in a deep breath, the scent of whatever Lydia had sorted for dinner tonight made my mouth water. There were times when I wondered how I would survive without that woman. I’d voiced these concerns to her once when we began to settle back into a routine following Dad’s funeral, but the conversation took a swift turn to me settling down with a woman, and I escaped as soon as I could.
Settling down was not on my agenda. At 25 I had several businesses that demanded my attention and left little time for much else, or at least that’s what I’d have people believe. The truth was that to settle down I would be required to let someone get close to me, and I felt uncomfortable at the thought of that magnitude of vulnerability. Not all women fared well in my line of work and I’m not sure what would happen if I stuck a ring on one and introduced her to this life. Plus, I knew too well the consequences of what happened when life was cruel enough to put one in the firing line…
The sound of footsteps pulled me from my thoughts, and I opened my eyes to see Lydia had joined me again, standing in the doorway alone and looking nervous.
“Where is she?” I asked, sitting up and noting that she was alone.
“Luc,” Lydia started softly. “She doesn’t want to eat with you.”
I narrowed my eyes and ran a hand over my trim beard. “What did she say?”
“That’s not…”
“What,” I spat the word out, cutting Lydia off from whatever excuse she was about to feed me. “Did she say, Lydia?”
She let out a breath and closed her eyes for a moment before answering me, “She said, and I quote, ‘He can go and fuck himself’.”
Lydia startled as I shot out of the chair. It scraped against the kitchen tiles, letting out an uncomfortable screech, and Lydia flattened herself against the doorframe as I took off past her and up the stairs. She followed behind me hastily, her skirt billowing out in her rush.
“Don’t!” I said, turning to face her. “This is between me and her!”
