Page 3 of Unravelling The Beast

Her cheery, upbeat personality immediately calms my interview nerves, and I follow her as we stroll towards the house.

As we approach the front door, I turn and smile at her before taking a glance down at her incredibly big baby bump.

"How much longer do you have left?"

She smiles warmly as she cradles her bump and looks down at herself.

"Any day now!"

I smile at her, and while following behind her, I speak again.

"Is this why you need a nanny? For when you go into labor?"

She looks me in the eyes and offers me a wry smile.

"Something like that."

When I glance ahead as we enter the house, I'm forced to come to a standstill due to the interior, since it's unlike anything I've ever seen before.

It's so cold and dark, but modern, sexy, and dominant. Blacks and grays cover the high walls and ceilings, as well as the floors, and I stare in utter disbelief, unable to wrap my head around it.

I suddenly realize I'm gawking, and Sara is going ahead of me, oblivious to the fact that I'm standing here like a fucking idiot, so I hurriedly catch up with her, lost in thought as I walk through the mansion, absorbing everything in sight.

This is not at all like my bright, white, cozy home. When I wake up in the morning, my house gives me life. This house is so gloomy that it nearly seems to contain something wicked and evil. It's almost suffocating and it's difficult to believe that a three-year-old child lives here.

When we enter the living room, I take a deep breath as I look around at the endless space.

There's a big white corner couch in the center of the large room that can seat at least thirty people; the walls are matte black, of course, but there's a huge electric fireplace with a dark gray marble backsplash behind it that travels all the way up to the towering ceiling.

I crane my neck to see the ceiling shining black, with tiny twinkly lights protruding through like little stars, and a giant spiral chandelier hanging low. It’s fucking breathtaking.

"Wren! Come, take a seat!” Her voice takes me out of my trance.

I cast a glance her way as she settles onto the white couch, and I smile before approaching her and taking a slow seat beside her, feeling a little on edge.

"Where is your son?"

Her small nose wrinkles as she smiles while waving me off with her perfectly manicured hand.

"Oh, Cree isn't my son; he’s my nephew, and he is taking a nap in his room right now.”

She throws out a girlish giggle, and I join in before speaking again.

"So, where are Mom and Dad?"

She gazes at me with a slightly hesitant expression.

"Dad is working a lot, and mom... Well, she passed away during childbirth."

My eyes soften, and my heart breaks for the little boy and his dad immediately.

"I'm so sorry to hear that."

She glances down at her hands, which are resting on her lap.

"It's fine; usually I would continue to look after Cree while Arlo works, but unfortunately..."

She motions with her hand toward her bump, and I nod with a small smile.

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