Page 6 of Daddy's Pretty Baby

I nodded gratefully, feeling better already. Something about the trees, the rolling lawn, and the house itself calmed me. Maybe it was the air of luxury, maybe it was the air of safety, I just felt like I belonged here, among the beauty of nature.

“Thanks, I’m really excited to get the job. Will you be staying here as well?” I asked. “I was just wondering,” I added quickly, “because if you are, why would the boss need a housesitter?”

Angela laughed throatily.

“I don’t live here, although I’d love to,” she said with a smile. “And I do work here, I have an office on the premises, but the problem is that I’m out and about most times, traveling and whatnot as Mr. Lancaster’s chief of staff. So you’ll be the only person on-site most of the time.”

I nodded.

“Will I be here by myself?” I asked, looking around, a little awed by the majestic space. “Not even Humprhey?”

And Angela laughed again.

“Humphrey will be here, sure, and other staff as well, the cleaners, the housekeeper, you won’t need to worry chores and maintenance.”

I nodded, relieved. Of course, a huge estate took an army of people to run, one person can’t do it alone.

“Anyone else other than the cooking and cleaning folks?” I asked carefully. “I don’t want to call the police on the gardener or anything.”

Angela thought for a moment.

“Yes, there are some landscapers, and also regular security, although they can’t always be seen,” she added. “But other than that it’ll be just you … unless of course, Mr. Lancaster is home.”

“Of course, of course,” I murmured, nodding. “This is his home, he can show up whenever he likes.”

Angela shot me a quick look again, but it disappeared just as fast, her face neutral once more.

“Let me show you to your room,” she said. “Or suite, more accurately.”

And we went up a staircase to a circular landing, before walking down another hall to a closed door. With a slow turn of the knob, Marie opened it.

“Here you are,” she said, voice betraying nothing. “Here’s the room set aside for guests.”

I stood stock still, unable to move, taking in the surroundings. But it wasn’t because the room was lavish, decorated to the nines. It was because the room was a little girl’s space, the walls painted a delicate pink, a mural of a rainbow with dancing fairies on the left wall, and an old-fashioned white four-poster bed in the corner.

“I’m sorry,” I stuttered. “But maybe we’re in the wrong place?”

Angela shook her head thoughtfully.

“No, this is the room that Mr. Lancaster sets aside for housesitters,” she said neutrally. “This is it.”

I looked around again, trying not to show my surprise. The four-poster was big enough for an adult, yes, but everything else about the room was more appropriate for a five year-old girl. There was a rocking horse in one corner, ludicrously small, plus a toy chest filled to the brim with dolls, and a large white dresser. This was weird. This was really fucking weird.

But I wasn’t in a position to negotiate, I was getting paid five thousand a month to basically do nothing, so if this was the room I was getting, then I was going to go along with it, no questions asked.

“Thank you,” I said in as steady of a voice I could manage. “Thanks Angela, it’s lovely.”

She nodded, expression smooth, ignoring the obvious, which was that I was about twenty years too old for this place.

“The en suite’s right over there,” she said, pointing to a closed door with a golden handle, “and of course, if you have any questions, you can always reach me at the phone number I gave you.”

I nodded, still trying to hide my surprise. There had to be at least ten bedrooms in this house. Why was I in someone’s girlhood bedroom? Why the fuck did Mr. Lancaster have a girl’s room, anyways? And I swung suspicious eyes to the middle-aged woman then, I had to ask.

“Does Mr. Lancaster have a daughter?” I said slowly. “Is this his daughter’s room?”

Angela laughed.

“God no, Mr. Lancaster has no children, he’s much too busy working,” she said lightly. But there had to be a reason for this room, and dread suddenly filled my soul, a deep, dark weight.

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