Instead, we both let the silence stretch between us as we heard everyone in the kitchen approaching the door again.
It’s as if he took that as his cue to back away from me. “Dress appropriately around my men from now on, Mia.”
“Or what? I’ll pay the consequences?”
The corner of his mouth kicked up before he warned, “They will, darling Mia. Not you.”
Mia
JAMESON DIDN’T STAY FORthe tour, but he was more than happy to iron out everyone’s schedules as he called them all back into the room before he left.
Throughout the week, Rosy would relieve me of nannying at four on Tuesdays and Thursdays, as she taught piano and foreign language to Franny before Jameson had dinner with his daughter at six o’clock. My meals, I insisted, would be brought to my room unless I needed to venture around Paradise Grove for a particular craving. In that case, Archer would escort me.
That morning, Jameson instructed Rosy to take Franny while Archer drove me to pick up materials for the study area we would set up. There, I would find a laptop and tablet ready for me.
He excused himself to work in his office but not before he informed me that after my tour with Hades, I could go over lesson plans with him if I needed to, but it would have to be quick.
“I can email them if you don’t have time to meet,” I offered.
“Probably for the best,” he agreed as if his time were so valuable. And maybe that’s how they all felt, because we only got through about half of the estate before Hades summarized that we didn’t need to look over the rest that day and I was pawnedoff on Archer. I agreed we didn’t have time to meander about, considering I was now worried I’d have to prep an area for learning and order teaching materials all in one day.
Yet, Paradise Grove supposedly had a hub that corporations would ship quickly to if residents couldn’t find what they needed. Same-day shipping on steroids.
I’d heard of this enclave but couldn’t have imagined the beauty and architecture as Archer drove me around and pointed out the tennis courts, gardens, country club, salons, and boutiques available. I was able to find some teaching materials in a department store I’d never heard of. For the rest, Archer supposedly put in an order.
Then, we worked to set up the study next to Jameson’s office as a classroom, and by the end of the day, I had to smile. Plants were basking in the sun by the floor-to-ceiling windows with a calendar on the wall that I’d picked out for Franny to stick different Velcro items on for specials for the day. I had a learning rug where we’d read and a desk where we could practice writing together. I even found some lavender to place in a vase by the window. It was perfect—except for my boss.
The first day of teaching should have started smoothly, but I woke to a knock at my door atsixin the morning this time. “You’re whimpering in your sleep, Ms. Darling,” Archer informed me.
I rubbed at the sand in my eyes. “I set my alarm for six fifteen in an effort to make sure no one heard me.”
“It’s only me.” He shrugged and I patted his shoulder to let him know I was thankful.
“Psh, the only person I trust around here.”
“Don’t forget Franny,” he pointed out.
“Her too. But I only get to tell you my thoughts on it.”
“I don’t want your thoughts, Ms. Darling.” Archer almost groaned. We’d built a sort of camaraderie over the month and I was happy to see that it was still there.
“Not even about how to keep your plants alive?” I faked a look of horror.
“I don’t have any plants.” He harrumphed.
“I told you to get one weeks ago. I’m disappointed. They’re good for your health.” I glanced over at mine in the room. “Although, I have to make sure these survive first.”
His blank stare told me he wasn’t at all interested in their well-being. Instead, he moved on to his priorities. “I’ll knock if I hear you in the morning so as not to disturb anyone else … and you can water your plants when you wake up.”
I smiled. “There’s the spirit. Don’t let me or Ms. Prim and Mr. Bos down. We need you. Plus, I can’t have my boss hearing me screaming.”
I saw the corner of his mouth lift a little, and I was happy about it. Normally, Archer was pretty laid-back, but he’d been wound tight since we arrived in Paradise Grove. He even pointed to my attire. “I can bring breakfast up for you, but you were also invited to eat with the Knights. What would you like?”
“Is there a third option?”
Being sequestered to this room again wasn’t ideal. I sat in it for hours in silence, not sure who was listening or watching. My mind ran away with the possibilities, and I hated it. Hated feeling trapped and like I was in witness protection.
Or prison.
