Page 13 of Working For A Billionaire

"Of course," I reply, feeling a little offended. I didn’t mean anything bad by this. It was just a little cleansing.

"I will see you when I get home."

I watch as he turns and walks away, wishing that I could make him see things the way I do. I want to go outside, but I know he’ll be worried if I do, and he’ll send his manservant or whatever Jasper is officially called after me. I don’t want to be watched over and controlled as if I’m a child. I already have a mother for that, and I’d rather be as far away from her as possible.

As the day drags on, I become more and more frustrated with the lack of stimulation surrounding me. There are so many empty rooms with no signs of life to be seen. How is he able to function in such a place? How is our baby supposed to thrive in a house with no life?

"Miss Riley, you need to eat," Gloria says when she knocks on my door in the afternoon. "Come downstairs. I made you some lunch."

Gloria is a sweet woman in her mid-forties with a Puerto Rican accent and calm demeanor. Her blonde hair is always in a braid that reaches the middle of her back. We have had only a few interactions due to my morning sickness keeping me in bed the last few weeks, but it has started to subside. I force myself to get up and drag myself downstairs, following her into the kitchen. At the kitchen table, where she and Jasper eat, there are three plates with sandwiches on them.

"Good afternoon, Miss Riley," Jasper says when he sees me walk in. "Come sit down. You can have lunch with us. That dining room can get pretty lonely when you are the only one in it."

"Thank you," I say as I sit down at the table across from him, and Gloria sits down beside me.

"How are you feeling, Miss Riley?" Gloria asks, looking concerned. "Is your morning sickness still bad?"

I've never had a maid or butler so I'm not sure how to act. Harrison is hardly ever home so I have only witnessed his interactions with them on a few occasions. It is always short and to the point, with little explanation or discussion. He gives an order, and they follow it, but I am not comfortable giving orders. If I am going to be spending so much time with them, I might as well make friends with them.

"No, thankfully it has gotten better. It was horrible for a while. Thank you for asking," I reply, before taking a bite of the sandwich.

"That's good," Jasper says in his baritone voice, "My sister's morning sickness lasted through her whole pregnancy. The poor thing spent so much time in bed. It drove her crazy, but in the end, she said it was worth it to have my nephew."

"That's awful," Gloria says, "But it's true, having a child is worth the discomfort. When I had my daughter, Pilar, I was sick for months before I started feeling like myself again."

"How old is your daughter?" I ask, surprised I never thought about whether they had children.

"She just turned twenty-one," she says proudly. "When she left for school a couple of years ago, Mr. Harrison offered me a room here, so I wouldn't have to worry about keeping up with my apartment or driving back and forth. It was a blessing. I have been able to help my daughter a lot more than if I was still paying rent."

"That was thoughtful of him," I say, slightly impressed by his showing of humanity. I never even thought he had that in him. I guess people can always surprise you.

After we finish lunch, I am a little more comfortable talking to Gloria and Jasper. They are both very friendly and remind me of my parents' friends. When I get back to my room, I call my mom but get her voicemail. I look over at my dresser and see the box sitting there and think it might be time to try manifesting the life I want for our baby.

With my candles lit, I pick up the crystal from the box on my dresser and grasp it tightly. I close my eyes and take a deep breath, letting go of any negative energy I have been holding on to. My mind is clear as I focus on what I want to manifest.

"What are you doing?" Harrison asks from the doorway, breaking my concentration.

"Manifesting," I respond, without looking back at him.

"Excuse me?" He asks.

I turn to face him and explain. "Manifesting. You visualize what you want while holding the crystal and it helps you achieve it."

He chuckles and raises his eyebrow. "A rock gives you what you want? That is ridiculous."

"Why is it ridiculous?" I ask, understanding that these things simply aren’t meant for some people. People like Harrison, for example.

“A rock can’t give you what you want,” he clarifies. “You have to work for it. It’s as simple as that.”

“Positive thinking never hurt no one,” I reply.

“True,” he nods. “Being positive can actually get you very far.”

This time, he smiles. Then he continues. "When you are finished playing with your rocks, come and eat."

I close my eyes and I start my meditation again. My focus is bringing our healthy baby into a world where they will be surrounded by love. A feeling of peace and serenity washes over me as I picture holding my baby in a beautifully decorated nursery. When I open my eyes, I know exactly how my time should be spent.

I walk downstairs to the dining room.

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