Page 11 of Worthy

She smiled at me. “You won’t be disappointed, Mr. Blackwood. I can promise you that.”

CHAPTER SIX

over my head

FAITH

Be grateful, I reminded myself as the hired car took a left onto Hawthorne Drive. During the hour-and-a-half ride from Boston to Harbor Crest, I’d watched the driver’s GPS tick down the time and miles. I’d felt sick the whole drive.

Be grateful, I told myself again.

And I was grateful. Because of my huge signing bonus, I’d secured a one-year spot in the clinical trial for my brother. He had a private room at the treatment facility, a tutor, and a brand-new Play Station. I’d lied to him about my new position, saying I’d gotten a job in Rhode Island as a nanny and was going to live with a rich family for a year.

I also told him I could visit him all the time and that I’d call every day, twice a day. Maybe I’d said those things for my own benefit, not his…

Because although I was aiming for gratitude, I was scared out of my mind. I still didn’t know what my new job entailed. Not exactly, at least. Gina had told me I’d be living and working at Club 444, an exclusive club for billionaires that was members only.

She said I would be their companion.

She said I would do whatever they asked as long as I consented to it.

Gina had said a lot of things, but I’d blocked most of them out. Things like private club and viewing rooms and pole dances and sex wedges. I’d decided not to think about it. Once I got to the club, Gina could show me what a sex wedge was. Or wedgie. Or whatever. I needed to keep my eye on the prize; Lucas was safe for now, and he was getting the treatment he desperately needed.

This job might save his life.

God had answered my prayers. The sky had literally opened up and rained money down on me. All I had to do was… Well, all I had to do was anything and everything that the billionaire club members asked me to do.

I swallowed hard as the driver turned into a private drive and rolled down his window to check in at the gate. A uniformed security guard with what looked like a machine gun strapped to his chest checked his identification and then begrudgingly opened the gate. I shivered as we pulled through and started down the long gravel drive, the outside world disappearing behind me. Why did they need a security guard with an assault weapon? I added that question to the growing list of things I didn’t want to think about.

The drive opened up to the property, and I gasped. Gina had said the club was located on a luxury compound, but my imagination had not nearly done it justice. A mansion loomed before me, enormous and captivating, its rose-gold exterior glinting in the afternoon sunlight. The acres and acres of grounds surrounding it were green and lush, with statues peeking out from the gardens. A giant fountain bubbled in front of the mansion, making it look even more like a fairy-tale setting.

There were also several additional, separate buildings on the property that looked like mini-mansions, as well as a natural pool with a stone wall abutting it. What looked like small rooms were cut into the wall, interspersed with more statues.

The driver whistled. “Nice house,” he said.

“I don’t think it’s technically a house,” I mumbled, nerves thrumming.

“You’re right, it’s a mega-mansion—but oops, I’m not supposed to talk to you. Sorry, kid.” He put up the privacy screen as he pulled into the driveway, parking the enormous SUV in front of the mansion. He climbed out and removed my bags from the back. Another armed, uniformed guard came out, followed by Gina, and I blew out a sigh of relief. At least there was one familiar face.

The driver opened my door, holding it while I climbed out. He refused to look at me. “We’ll take it from here,” the armed guard said, grabbing my suitcases.

“Hello, Faith,” Gina said. As usual, she wore a formfitting wrap dress that hugged her curves. Her long, raven waves bounced in the breeze. “Are you ready for this?”

I looked around the lush grounds dotted with marble statues. I squinted at the enormous rose-gold mansion. I glanced down at my travel outfit, which was composed of a tank top, a pair of cheap leggings, and ten-dollar Old Navy flip-flops. My clothes were new, but I was still a bargain-basement Barbie. “Not at all,” I admitted.

“You’ll settle in soon,” Gina said encouragingly. “How was the drive?”

“It was fine.” I watched as the SUV pulled away; the driver stared straight ahead, not giving us a backward glance. “Except… Why did the driver say he wasn’t supposed to talk to me? And why are the guards armed with machine guns?”

Gina smiled. She didn’t seem surprised by my questions at all. “The driver wasn’t supposed to talk to you because Mr. Blackwood is very protective of his hires. He’s instructed all male employees to keep their distance from the female staff.”

I nodded.

She continued, “The guards have machine guns because this is a two-hundred-fifty-million-dollar property that’s been recently renovated to the tune of an additional thirty million. There’s an original Rembrandt painting onsite. And cash. And diamonds. And top-shelf liquor.” She nudged me playfully. “And you.”

I blinked at her. “Are you… Are you in a good mood or something?” I’d never seen Gina relaxed before. She’d been uptight throughout the whole hiring process, always tapping on her tablet, her brow furrowed as she checked emails on her phone.

“I am in a good mood.” Gina smiled. “This is a big day for all of us. The staff’s moving in, and you get to see the house, the grounds, and the club. I’m really excited to share this with you, Faith. This property’s incredible. You’re going to love living here. How’s your brother doing, by the way?”

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