by Amy Sparling
“I like that idea better than my idea of Theo having a secret girlfriend,” I say. “He wants me to meet him at the pool an hour before dinner so he can explain things to me.” I make air quotes around the word explain. “So I guess I’ll know more then, but I have no intention on leaving.”
“Cara, if the boy is going to buy you a freaking house, maybe you should leave, if it means being with the guy you want.”
I shoot her a look. “I can’t leave you! I can’t leave a hundred thousand dollars. And I don’t even know Theo that well. I mean, I think he’s the greatest guy ever, but I need time to get to know him better.”
“I guess we’ll have to see what he says.” Riley looks at the clock on my wall. “We have an hour until you need to meet him, so get this dress on and I’ll do your hair and makeup.
“I didn’t bring any makeup,” I say. “Can I borrow yours?”
“Oh honey,” Riley says, rolling her eyes. “You spent so much time kissing that boy of yours that you didn’t bother checking your vanity. The whole bathroom is stocked with stuff. Brand new stuff. We’re talking Sephora level makeup in there, and all of mine matched my skin tone perfectly, so I bet yours does, too.” She snaps her fingers at me. “Now get the damn dress on!”
I pull the dress from the bag. It’s a deep purple gown that’s made of a satin type fabric that seems to flow like liquid under the lights. I run my fingers down the skirt, imagining what it’d look like on me, hugging every single curve I have. Like Riley’s dress, this one is form fitting and sleek.
“Get dressed,” Riley says. “We’re going to make lover boy’s jaw drop so far he’ll have to use duct tape to hold it back up.”
She disappears into my bathroom and I shrug off my clothes, then carefully slip into the dress. There’s no size on the tag, but somehow it fits me like a second skin.
It’s sleeveless, with metal in the bust area to hold the chest part up over my boobs. The skirt flows down to my feet, looking like rippling water with every step I take. I can’t help it—I twirl around.
I choose a pair of black heels from the bottom of the garment rack and slip them on. I’ll need to practice walking for the next two hours if I have any chance at all of not looking like a total idiot at dinner.
“What do you think?” I ask, walking carefully into the tiled floor of the bathroom.
“You’re a babe,” Riley says with a grin. She gazes at our reflection in the large mirror that stretches across the wall. “This is why they hired us. They saw two scrappy teenagers with potential. Now, go take that off so I can do your makeup.”
I groan and turn around, my heels clacking on the floor.
Once Riley has finished my makeup, I start getting really excited and nervous for the night ahead of me. Thanks to her killer makeup skills, I look just as hot as she does. Elegant, but not overdone.
Riley keeps my hair down, saying I look more mature that way, but she straightens it and sweeps a part of it to the side, pinning it back with a barrette that has purple gemstones that match my dress.
We spend at least ten minutes admiring ourselves in front of the mirror, and then there’s a knock on my door. All the blood rushes from my face as I go to answer it, expecting Theo since it’s only a few minutes until six.
Unfortunately, it’s another housekeeper. She’s holding a tablet in her hand as if it were a clipboard. “I’m getting some shopping done,” she says by way of greeting. “Can I get your orders?”
“Um, I don’t really need anything,” I say, turning to Riley.
“What did the other girls order?” Riley asks.
The housekeeper looks down at her tablet. “Shampoo from a store called Barneys, nail polish, a bigger television, new laptops…” She looks up at us. “Anything you want that’s local. The Barney’s shampoo isn’t local so I have to order it.”
I consider it for a moment, but there’s not really anything I need right now. The bathrooms are filled with amenities and I’m not one for special shampoo so I can use the stuff they have in here with no problems.
“Maybe some magazines,” Riley says. “Like fashion and women stuff. I need fashion tips since my wardrobe just got a whole lot bigger.”
The housekeeper makes a note of it in her tablet. “Anything else?”
I’m coming up blank. Never in my life have I been asked a question like this. I run my whole life based on the cheapest possible outcome, the bare necessities. Now I have a blank canvas before me, a woman offering to buy anything I want, and yet I can’t think of a thing. “No, I guess I’m good for now.”
This seems to surprise her, but she nods anyway. “Most items you can order through here,” she says, tapping the screen near my door. “But things you need immediately, let me know and I will run to the store.”
“Okay, thanks.”
“So,” Riley says. “Do you travel with the guys of Rosewater Industries?”
“No, ma’am, I just work for the house. I am contracted out to whoever rents it.”
“Do you like these guys?” Riley asks.
She nods. “They are nice. But I am paid to work, not to have an opinion. Have a good day.”
After she’s gone, Riley says, “Do you think it’s weird having these people we can boss around?”
“Very weird.” I start to rub my forehead, but then I remember the face full of makeup that Riley has so carefully applied, and I stop myself. I have to stay perfect for Theo and for the dinner later where we’ll meet Alexo, the real boss of this place.
“It’s almost time for your clandestine meeting,” Riley says, nudging me with her shoulder. “Let me know how it goes. And remember, if you make out down there it’s going to ruin your makeup.”
The thought of another kiss with Theo lights up my insides, but I give Riley a sarcastic look and shoo her out of my bedroom. I really don’t think we’ll be making out by the pool, because being told to pack up and leave isn’t exactly romantic. Hopefully Theo doesn’t try too hard, because no matter what, I’m not changing my mind.
Chapter 21
The house is quiet as I make my way downstairs and out to the pool. The only person I see is a maid dusting some of the statues in a sitting room. She doesn’t look up at me as I walk by.
The back of the house has a large back porch that stretches from one end to the other. A white concrete handrail lines the porch, and recessed lighting makes the pathway glow as I make my way toward the pool. I’d heard this type of pool called an infinity pool, and I understand why now that I’m seeing it up close.
The back half of it just drops off, the water flowing over the edge. From the back porch, you’d think the pool went on forever because the water looks like it’s spilling out into the lake that’s actually pretty far away from where we are on the hilltop. Really, it just dips over the side and cycles back into the pool. The water is a gorgeous blue that reflects the sun as it begins to descend beyond the horizon.
There are patio chairs and lounge chairs near the pool, and closer to the house there’s an outdoor kitchen and two televisions hanging from the ceiling.
I don’t see Theo yet, so I walk up to the porch handrail and lean on it to take some of the balance work off my high heels. I realize I’ll probably have to wear fancy clothes a lot around here, so I better spend my free time practicing walking in these things.
The rest of the back yard slopes downward and the grassy areas fade out into thick groves of trees. I spot a small golf course to the right of the property, the grass expertly landscaped and unnaturally green.
To the left, there’s a tennis court and the gardens, which Bethany had told us were very beautiful. She said it made her feel like she was Elizabeth Bennet in Pride and Prejudice when she walked through the gardens, and somedays she dreamed she’d run right into a modern day Mr. Darcy when she went walking alone.
I didn’t bring my phone and I don’t have a watch because that wouldn’t match my dress, so I don’t know what time it is. But as the minutes
stretch on, I know it’s after six and there’s still no sign of Theo.
I walk down to the pool and stand at the water’s edge, watching my reflection wobbling back at up at me. In the distance, the blue sky turns shades of red and orange, casting a stunning sunset glow on the landscape before me. I glance back at the house, but I don’t see anyone through the windows. However, I do find a wall tablet in the outdoor kitchen. I check the time.
6:18
It’s hard not to let disappointment sink into my bones when another ten minutes pass and Theo still hasn’t arrived. I try to look like I’m not bored, worried, and embarrassed as even more minutes go by. I wonder if Theo is upstairs somewhere looking at me through a dark window, laughing to himself for setting me up like this.
But that’s just my imagination. He wouldn’t do that.
I take another walk around the pool. I gaze out at the breathtaking view of Texas, and I casually look around for Theo. My toes are killing me in these shoes, but I don’t want to sit down and risk wrinkling my dress.
My thoughts go in a million different directions as I stand around like a loser waiting for a guy who isn’t showing up.
I count to one hundred in my head and promise myself I’ll leave if he’s not here by then.
And then I count to one hundred three more times.
Birds sing and squirrels chase each other through the tree branches in the yard. The sound of the pool filter churns beneath the water, and somewhere in the distance I can hear an airplane soaring through the sky, but I can’t see it in the clouds. I gaze out at the wonders of nature before me and stay focused on the sound around me, hoping that soon enough one of them will be Theo’s footsteps.
But by 6:55, he’s still not here.
I take a deep breath and walk back inside. It takes every ounce of energy I have to keep my expression serene, like I don’t have a care in the world. I’m not going to be the girl who is full of drama on her first night here.
On my way to the dining room, I see the maid again.
“Excuse me,” I say, going over to her. “Is there a second swimming pool here?”
“No, ma’am,” she says. She points in the direction from where I came. “Just that pool back there.”
“Thanks,” I say. “That’s what I thought.”
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I look for Theo on the entire walk to the dining room. I see Nia and Jayla in gorgeous shimmery dresses, but they ignore me as if I were part of the help instead of one of the girls who live here.
I need Riley right now, but there’s not enough time to find her before dinner begins. Hopefully she’ll be waiting in the dining room when I arrive.
And hopefully Theo will be there, too, with an explanation for why he made me stand around feeling lonely and stupid for an hour.
Chapter 22
The smell of roasted garlic fills the air as I enter the dining room. The other girls are here, standing next to each other, all in dazzling gowns. Riley rushes over to me, a magical smile on her face.
“It smells so good in here,” she says, gazing around. “And the food’s not even out yet.”
“I can’t even begin to think about food right now,” I say quietly. My eyes divert around the room, to the faces of Kyle and Henry who are standing in the nearby sitting room having a glass of wine. To Nia and Olivia and Jayla, all huddled together like wallflowers at a high school dance. There are two men dressed in black tuxedos with long tails, standing straight backed and ready for service near the dining table. The other guys from the plane are here, mingling with Henry and Kyle. Everyone but Theo is here.
“What happened with the talk?” Riley whispers while pretending to fix my hair.
“Nothing. He never showed,” I whisper back. Riley’s face flashes with concern, so I smile all happily so no one thinks anything weird is going on with us. We need a no drama night so we look good in front of our new boss.
“I don’t see him here, either,” she says, gazing around casually, a pleasant smile fixed on her face.
“He got a phone call earlier and said he had to take care of something.” I shrug, ignoring the tightness in my chest. “I guess he’s not back yet.”
She squeezes my elbow reassuringly. “He’ll be back. Don’t worry.”
“Welcome!” The booming voice comes from the hallway. We all turn toward the man whose black suit is tailored perfectly. His presence is like a force of nature the moment he enters the room.
The guys immediately stop talking and the other new girls seize up like they’ve been frozen in place with fear. I look over at Bethany, who only got here a few seconds before Alexo, and she’s smiling happily, so I relax as well.
Alexo is not as tall as some of the guys here, but he definitely looks like he’s in charge. He has olive skin with shoulder length dark brown hair, the ends sharp and slicked back. His beard is trimmed neatly, his square jaw making him look a little more stern than handsome. Although he is definitely handsome in a traditional sense. I’d guess he’s probably in his late thirties.
“My name is Alexo,” he says, spreading out his arms in greeting. “I’m so honored to welcome our newcomers to the clan.” He takes a moment to gaze at each of us, a sweet smile on his lips. “Unfortunately, a matter came up that can’t be put off, so I will have to miss dinner tonight. I’m so very sorry, as I know it would have been delightful getting to know you all.”
He checks the time on his watch, which is one of those gold and massive designer things that swallows his wrist. “I usually save the clan initiation ceremony for after dinner, but tonight we’ll do it before.”
Riley and I exchange a glance. Clan initiation? Why do they keep calling us that? It reminds me of a group of vampires or something.
Alexo flicks his wrist in a come here gesture, and five maids walk out, each holding a black velvet pillow like the ring bearers in a wedding. Only instead of a ring, each pillow carries a beautiful silver bracelet.
“Bethany, sweetheart,” Alexo says. “Would you like to help me initiate your new roommates?”
“I would love to,” she gushes as she hurries over to him. She doesn’t stumble at all in her high heels and I really hope that kind of skill is in my future.
As the maids follow Alexo toward us, I realize the bracelet looks just like the one Bethany wears. That’s kind of cool, actually. It’s like a gift for everyone, maybe to make us feel like a family.
Or a clan. Whatever that means.
Alexo stands in front of us and I’m reminded of the Olympic medal ceremony. Everything feels so formal. The guys line up behind Alexo, their hands clasped behind their backs. There’s still no sign of Theo, but I try not to worry about him. One thought that does cross my mind is how on earth will we be together happily if he’s always dashing off to take care of business?
I shrug the thought away.
“Ladies, I am so honored to have you here with us,” Alexo begins. “Your job may not be backbreaking or hard, but I assure you, you are doing a great service to the Rosewater clan. Just like my darling Bethany,” he says, turning to her with a smile, “You are all about to become the lifeblood of this clan. Your beauty and charm all help make us better men. With your presence, you are helping us achieve our goals and obtain success in our greatest missions.”
He reaches for the first bracelet which is in front of Jayla, who of course has positioned herself to be first in line. He holds it up and I notice a deep blue marbled stone glisten in the light. “With time, you will realize what a valuable asset you have been to the cause, and your legacy here at the Rosewood clan will endure forever. Now, I’m sure you have been told there are only a few rules here as part of your employment,” he says, his voice taking on a more serious tone.
“The first and only rule that you must follow at all times is this:” He twists the bracelet in his hand, then reaches out his other hand to Jayla. She puts it in his palm. “You must never remove this bracelet. Not for showering or swimming. Not for anything
. Jayla, dear, do you vow to wear this bracelet every moment of your time here?”
“I do,” she says formally. He slips the band around her wrist. She beams, then brings it closer to admire it.
Wearing a bracelet all the time is kind of weird, but then again, a job like this is weird. Maybe it has a tracking device in it to make sure we don’t run off or go into the private areas or something. Oh well, I think. That’s not really a big deal. I’m here for the money and the luxurious living.
And maybe for one of the guys.
Alexo moves to Nia and says the same thing, for which she also agrees.
When it’s my turn, I hold out my hand and Alexo’s fingers are cold on my wrist. “Cara, sweetheart, do you vow to wear this bracelet every moment of your time here?” he says.
“I do,” I say, smiling sweetly at him. He may have an intimidating presence, but this man’s kindness also shows through. I have no doubt he won’t let anything bad happen to us while we’re here.
The bracelet slides onto my wrist. It’s a silver bangle, rigid like every other bangle I’ve ever known, and maybe it’s just my imagination, but the moment it touches my skin there’s this split second sensation like it has formed exactly to my body. I look down at it, at the beautifully ornate curls of silver that wrap around the band and hold the blue stone in place. It’s not loose or tight. It fits perfectly.
It’s so beautiful it takes my breath away. I’m staring at it so long I miss Riley’s oath, but soon the bracelet is on her wrist too and she turns to me, smiling wide, her eyes sparkling.
This is kind of crazy, and I know it sounds weird, but in this moment, I do feel like I’m adding something to the Rosewater clan. Like I’m doing something great by being here, even though I’m not really doing anything at all. As I gaze around at the guys, I feel a sense of belonging with them that I hadn’t felt earlier.