Page 6 of Off Limits (Alpha Billionaire)

“What does that even mean?” she asked.

“The amount of work that goes on behind the scenes at the theme parks so that the visitor has a magical experience,” I pointed out.

“You never watched any of those British shows that showed the dynamics between the servants and the family of the house, did you?” she asked.

“Can’t say I did. Mother did. She loves that kind of thing. I find those drama shows too boring. Why?”

We crossed into the dining room, and I let the kitchen staff member know we were going to need a place setting for Jessica.

“Breakfast is buffet style,” I pointed out. “Serve yourself.”

I hiked Max up to my hip so he could look into the covered dishes and make his selection. I gave him scoops of scrambled eggs and a few sausages before putting his plate on the table. He climbed into his chair and grabbed a sausage and began eating with his fingers.

I wasn’t until Jessica had filled a plate and was settled before we got back to our conversation.

“You were saying something about servants and television shows?” I prompted.

Jessica nodded. “But you don’t watch them, so my point is kind of lost.”

“Explain it anyway,” I told her.

“The shows illustrate the dynamic of how the family living in the house perceive reality and how things are done versus the perspective of the servants doing all the work. You don’t really think about the logistics. You just expect results.”

“I think about logistics all the time. That’s part of my job. It’s what I have to do to ensure that properties are acquired and developments happen. I do think about logistics. Why do you say I don’t?”

She held up a bagel covered in cream cheese with a bright red jam across the top of it all. “Take this bagel, for example. Is it fresh or did it come out of a plastic bag from a grocery store?”

“I assume it’s freshly baked. I know the cook likes to bake.”

Jessica nodded. “Freshly baked and delicious. What time did you get up this morning?”

“What’s with all the questions? Just say what you are trying to say,” I said. I didn’t need pop quizzes along the way to whatever point she wanted to make.

“You got up at six forty-five. You always get up at six forty-five unless it's the weekend. You don’t come to check on Max until almost eight, yet you are almost always amazed that Max andI are up and dressed and waiting for you. You come down to breakfast by eight thirty, and you expect breakfast to be waiting for you, including freshly baked bagels.”

“Your point?”

“At what time does the cook have to start making the bagels for you?” She smirked like she caught me out.

I shrugged. “I don’t know, and I don’t care as long as… Oh, I see what you’re doing. As long as my life continues as I expect it at home, I don’t pay attention to what others are necessarily doing to get their work done. And that includes when you eat your meals.”

She smiled and spread her hands in a wide gesture as if she were presenting something. “Exactly.”

She folded her arms and her hands rested on her chest. “And as a member of the staff, I’m part of what goes on behind the magic curtain. Max sees me eat because he doesn’t really care. And I can’t leave him alone with your mother, even to go to the bathroom, without bringing the wrath of Clara down on my head.”

“But she makes no pretense of hiding the amount of work she does,” I mentioned.

“Definitely not. And she likes to remind everyone that she is not normal staff.” She ended her statement with a small huff.

“Are you getting along okay with everyone here?”

“Do you mean, am I getting along with Clara?” Jessica cut straight to the real question.

“Everyone on staff is great, very welcoming. Lori, your cook, is actually the best. She suggested that I take cookies when I go see your mother. Not a lot, just a few, and she even makes them for me. Of course, that’s how I discovered there is a small war of wills going on between her and Clara. Apparently, Clara likes to be the one to take cookies to your mother, and she can be very territorial about it.”

My brow furrowed as I thought about her words. “Lori wasn’t trying to?—”

“No, not at all. She honestly thought your mother would appreciate some freshly baked cookies, and the timing was just that Max and I were headed there next. To be honest, anything can and does set Clara off. I lent your mother one of my ergonomic crochet hooks, and Clara took offense because she hadn’t thought of it.”

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