Page 18 of Shattered Hope
“And you’re not willing to share them?” more than a question, it sounded like a statement.
“Correct, sir.”
“Even if it costs you the job?” he insisted.
“Yes, sir, even so,” I assured him.
I wasn’t ready for another rendezvous with Daniel. God, I doubted I would ever be. I had barely escaped last time. I wasn’t taking any chances.
“How will I pay you?”
“Cash is the only option, sir,” I informed him, as I scolded myself for not having clarified these things earlier.
Losing this job would be a major setback for me, but it wouldn’t kill me… or so I hoped.
“Are you escaping from the law?”
“No, sir. I’m not escaping from anyone. I just decided to visit Seattle at the worst moment possible,” I explained, the lies coming out of my mouth quite effortlessly after all these months on the run.
I didn’t share my problems with anyone. One, because the last thing I needed was people’s sympathy and two because it could be dangerous, and I was done taking risks.
“Well, cash it is,” he finally said, and relief made my legs wobble.
“Thank you, sir.”
“Susan already left. I got her a flight to Los Angeles, first thing in the morning, and she wanted time to pack a few things,” he informed me. “She asked me to give you her apologies for leaving so suddenly, but she will call you tomorrow as soon as she gets to L.A.”
Knowing I was alone with him in the house tipped me off balance, but I quickly recovered.
“Thank you for letting me know, sir. Dinner is almost ready. When would you want me to serve it?” I asked, assuming my new role.
“We’ll eat in the kitchen in half an hour if that’s alright with you,” he replied, jumping to his feet. “Susan never felt comfortable sharing her meals with me, but I know you don’t have the same problem. Call me when it’s ready,” he concluded, leaving the room and heading to the master bedroom.
I stared at him, wishing I could throw something at him. Having dinner with him? When was that a part of the deal?
Cursing my luck, I went back to the kitchen to finish the meal. Susan had left me a quick note with some instructions on what was needed to finish preparing dinner and apologizing for her abrupt departure.
I scowled but focused on the task I had rather than obsessing over something I couldn’t change.
Thirty minutes later, he entered the kitchen just as I was about to call him. I had set the table for two, but making sure I wasn’t anywhere close to him.
Not that it did me any good. Jayden moved his setting closer to mine and took a seat at the table.
Pursing my lips, I served the Caesar’s salad I had prepared as entree and took a seat next to him.
“Susan was very excited about you. She told me she felt confident that you would handle the job almost as good as she,” he said, at some point.
“That’s very kind of her, but I’m sure she would feel the same about anyone capable of relieving her of her duties,” I mumbled, my eyes locked on the food on my plate.
“No… she wouldn’t. We interviewed a couple of housekeepers, and she turned them down,” he assured me.
“Well, I happy she’s pleased with me. I’ll do my best not to fail her.”
“Shouldn’t you be worried about not failing me?” he asked, sounding offended.
“I doubt you would notice if I was doing or not a good job,” I mocked him.
“What makes you so certain?” he asked, looking at me.
