by T. N. King
Megan looked up at Jensen realizing he was amused by her eating habits. She picked up a slice of warm banana bread and shoved half of it into her mouth. She turned away from him as she half-ass chewed it before swallowing it. She took another big bite letting the warm sensation melt in her mouth.
“So you are here for the house keeping position?”
She stopped chewing and looked at him. Half smiling, her face got red realizing her true intentions of being in his house. She quickly chewed up what was in her mouth trying to cover her mammoth attempt at being dainty. She took a sip of orange juice he poured her and she put the rest of her bread down on her plate.
Clearing her throat, she didn’t quite know where to begin. “Are you still thinking about hiring me?” she asked, amazed after what had happened.
“Well, I don’t know yet. We haven’t had our interview have we?”
“I just meant…um…after what happened….”
“It wasn’t your fault you were weak and passed out from lack of food…is it?”
“Well, no not really.”
He kept a smile on his face, obviously amused at her pathetic attempt at being civil.
“So, why do you think you are a good fit for this position?”
“I am loyal, reliable and good at what I do.”
“I assume you have a list of references in your application?”
She pressed her lips together. “Not exactly.”
“Do you have experience?”
“Not in housekeeping, but I’m a fast learner and anyway, how hard can it be to clean and keep up someone’s house?”
“You’d be surprised.”
“I have an excellent customer base with each job I have ever done.”
“So I can call your previous employers?”
She pressed her lips together again.
“I’ll take that as a no,” he said.
She put her head down into her hands. “Listen, I know it might sound like I am not a good fit here, but I am and I can prove it.”
“How so? You have no experience and I can’t seem to call previous employers.”
“I’ll work for you. A week, free. Just let me stay here and…eat.” She looked at the food and then at Jensen. “I can show you I can do this.”
He laughed. “I will definitely take it into consideration. May we continue?”
“Yes. Please.”
“Okay,” he said keeping his eyes on her. He watched her fidget a few moments longer before continuing. “What is your star sign?”
“My…my what?” She looked at him curiously.
“Your star sign? Your horoscope sign?”
“I’m a Taurus.”
“Oh? Your birthday is not long off then is it?”
“May eighth.”
“Mine is November first, making me a Scorpio.” He watched her face for any signs of knowing what that meant to her. She nodded and smiled. “Do you like cats?”
“They are okay. I had one when I was little. It ran away.”
“Tell me about your family. Are you close to your mother and father?”
“Why all of the personal questions?”
“If you are going to be living in my house, going through my personal belongings, I want to know what kind of a woman I am living with.”
Megan shifted awkwardly in her chair. “My real Mother died when giving birth to me.” She picked at her bread. “My father left me before my first birthday and I grew up in an orphanage. Was adopted out to a few families and ended up on my own when I was seventeen.”
“Why did you leave?” His eyes were fixed on Megan.
She swallowed hard and took a deep breath. “I didn’t get along with the last man who claimed to be my father.”
“How so? Explain.”
“It’s kind of personal.”
Jensen seemed annoyed that she didn’t answer his question. “Tell me about your work experience.”
“I worked at a college cafeteria for a couple of years, taking culinary classes part time. Got fired for stealing food. Went to work as a waitress at a nice restaurant for a year and then worked for Gustaf’s Bistro for five years.”
“So why aren’t you there now?”
“Customer’s loved me, but because I wouldn’t screw the owner, I got fired.”
“He tried to get you to have sex with him?”
Megan nodded. “He was known for it.”
“Why was he never stopped.”
“Robert Gustaf?”
“Ah, enough said.” He tipped his head toward her. “I commend you for leaving instead of giving in to his antics.”
It wasn’t a choice,” she said sternly. “He was a sleaze and I wasn’t going to let him put his hands on me.”
Jensen got up and walked behind her. Megan tensed up and just before he turned to walk back to the head of the table she got up and moved to the other end.
He furrowed his eyebrows and looked at her. “Are you okay?”
“I’m sorry. I just don’t have a lot of trust in men.”
“But yet, here you are…alone in my house. Wanting to live here…to work here and be this close to me?”
“I just…I need the money. Robert has blackballed me from working in the waitressing business. You have no idea the connections that ass…. Sorry.” She sat down in one of the chairs.
“Finish your breakfast. I’ll leave you alone.”
She watched him walk out of the dining room and she went back to her chair. She filled her stomach with fruits and another piece of banana bread. A small bowl of cereal and some pieces of ham finally did her good. She washed it all down with the orange juice Jensen had poured her.
When she stood up, Jensen reappeared in the doorway. “Did you get enough?”
“What are you watching me?”
“Just good timing. Sit.”
She sat back down and watched him as he slowly walked around the table, his hands behind his back. “I like you, Megan. There is something about you that is wholesome and pure. I’d like to give you a chance.”
“Seriously?” she turned toward him with wide eyes.
“Can you be back in the morning or is that too soon?”
“Yes. Yes, of course. No, tomorrow is perfect.”
“Good.” His smile was brilliant. “I will see you then.” He leaned over the table and set a small basket in front of her. “Why don’t you take this and load it up with whatever you would like. Take it with you.” He stood to escort her to the front door.
“Oh, no. I couldn’t.”
“This is all going into the trash when you leave.”
“Okay, maybe some.” She loaded up the basket he gave her and stood there when she was done. He watched her with the same smile on his face.
“I’ll escort you out.”
“Mr. Dean?”
“Yes, Megan.”
“Why are you helping me?”
“I will let you know…soon.”
She smiled and followed him to the front door.
“See you tomorrow.”
Chapter 3
On her way home from the mansion, Megan stopped by the grocer’s shop and collected boxes for her things. She wanted to try to get out of her apartment before the landlord noticed she was moving. She wasn’t sure how she was going to get all of her stuff in her car so she had boxed up most of what she absolutely needed that night in hopes of leaving before anyone was up in the morning. It was pushing two in the morning when she sat on her couch to take a break. She looked around to see what else she needed to do putting her head back and closing her eyes for a minute.
She jolted awake as the ring tone from her phone went off. She wiped the drool from her mouth and stretched her sore neck. She grabbed her phone and answered it.
“Hello?”
“Megan?”
“Who is this? Why are you calling me so late?”
“It’s Jensen.”
She sat up straight and cleared her throat.
“Should I have called you earlier?”
“What?”
“It’s almost nine.”
She looked at her phone and it showed 8:48AM. “Oh God. I fell asleep!”
“Calm down, calm down. I’m here to help you.”
“You’re….”
“I’m outside your apartment.”
Megan jumped up off her couch and covered her mouth. She looked around completely embarrassed at the dump she called home. Water continuously leaked through the ceiling in several places causing black mold to grow in the corners. Her cupboards were bare and some of the doors were falling off the hinges. Her furniture was covered with bed sheets to cover the holes and the floor was pretty beat up. There was a carpet, but it was so bad she pulled it out and dragged it to the dumpster when the landlord wasn’t around.
“Don’t come up! I’ll come down.”
“So…you don’t want me to help you carry your things out?”
“No! I mean. I’m not ready yet.” She wedged her phone between her shoulder and her ear and tried to stack the boxes up to get them out into the hallway. She tried dragging a stack of them to the door when her phone fell to the floor and smashed into a few different pieces. “Shit!” She scooped them up and tried to put the battery back inside the back of it. Just as she was popping the screen back into place she heard a knock at her door. Her stomach flipped and she froze.
“Megan?”
She gasped and looked around again.
“Megan, I know you are in there. Open the door.”
“Oh, God.” She rubbed her forehead and shuffled to the door. She opened the door completely ashamed at her apartment. Jensen stood in the doorway looking just as brilliant as she remembered. Perfect suit, flawless hair, dark and mysterious eyes. She gave a shy smile and invited him inside. He looked around the room as he walked through it then turned toward her.
“Did you eat?”
“I…um…some.”
He looked over toward the kitchen and saw his basket, still full sitting on the counter. He walked to it, picked it up and brought it back to the front door where Megan still stood. He looked at her with the basket in front of him. Without saying a word, he opened her front door and took her hand, pulling her along.
“What are you doing?”
He led her down the hallway and out the front door toward a long white van parked in front. He opened the passenger door and moved out of the way.
“Get in.” He ordered.
She slowly climbed in and just looked at him as he put the basket on her lap.
“Now eat.”
He whistled and the back of the van opened. Two men got out and followed him into her apartment building. A few minutes later each of them reappeared, carrying several boxes and loading them into the back of the van.
When Megan finished some of what was in her basket, Jensen popped his head in. “How we doin’?”
“Geez, you scared me.”
“Do you want to check the place to be sure we got everything?”
“No, I didn’t have much. I had most of it packed when I fell…when you called.”
He grinned at her, hesitating before disappearing. She heard the back door close moments before he jumped into the driver’s seat and pulled away from the curb.
When they pulled into the driveway Megan looked around as if it was her first time. The gardens, the tennis court, pool, everything was so perfect and beautiful. Jensen pulled around the mansion to a wing of the house separate from the main part.
“I get my own wing?”
“Of course. I wouldn’t ask you to stay in one room. There are stairs that enter into the main house. You’ll have full access but you can call this home.” He unlocked the outside door and handed her the key. “The guys will bring your things in and you’ll have the day to get settled. Dinner will be ready by five.
“Wait. What about my car? I need my car.” She started back out the door, upset that they left it in the city.
“Megan. Don’t worry. Please. Get settled, draw a bath, have some wine and relax. I will have your car picked up by tomorrow morning.”
She just looked at him.
“Is there anything wrong?”
“Why are you being so nice to me?”
“I’m paying you to look after my home, my things, me. I don’t want to piss you off.” Jensen laughed causing Megan to crack a smile. “Oh look. You do smile. It’s lovely.”
He winked at her and walked out.
The movers finished bringing her things in and she spent the afternoon checking out her new living arrangements and unpacking. She had a living room, a small kitchen and bedroom. Access to the rest of the house and a large window overlooking the gardens. “Beautiful.” As she pulled the last box open, she heard a knock on the door.
“Delivery.” A man’s voice muffled through the door.
“Delivery?” She walked to the door and peeked through the small window. Jensen stood there with a smile on his face looking even more gorgeous than he did earlier. She opened the door and he held a large pizza box and a six pack of beer in each hand.
“Dinner is served.”
“Oh.” She pushed away a stack of empty boxes from the walkway and let him in.
“It’s coming along,” he said looking around. “Definitely a sight better that your old place.”
Megan looked away and went to the coffee table that sat in front of a large overstuffed couch. She cleared it off and sat down.
“Do you want plates?” She got back up and pointed toward the kitchen.
“For pizza?”
“Guess not.” No matter how she tried to read him, it was impossible. He was nothing like she had expected him to be. “Do you always dress in a suit?”
He looked down. “No. Not always.” He smiled and opened the pizza box.
They sat on the couch and she watched him pick up a slice of everything pizza and devour half of it before dropping it back down onto the cardboard box. He cracked open a beer and washed it all down. Just before he took another bite, he stopped and looked at her. He reached down and pulled another slice, handing it to her and watching her until she decided to take a bite. She pulled off most of the toppings and slid a small corner into her mouth.
“I never knew how horribly uncomfortable this couch was,” he said.
“I think it’s fine.”
He got up and moved over a few inches, trying it out again. “No. This is terrible. I can’t have this.” Megan looked at him a little annoyed. “This one has to go.”
“Really, it’s okay. I like this one.”
He pulled another beer and cracked it open. “I will have a new one to you by tomorrow.”
She rolled her eyes and excused herself to the bathroom. The longer she thought about a new couch, the more annoyed she got. She finished her business and washed her hands.
“Mr. Dean, I don’t think a new couch is really necess….” She stopped when she saw him asleep, laying halfway on the arm of the couch, his feet still on the floor. She sat next to him and watched him. He looked so peaceful, so happy. She took another small bite of her pizza slice, putting her head back and closing her eyes.
She felt a blanket covering her and she opened her eyes. Looking around she noticed the pizza and beer were gone. Jensen sat on an ottoman, on the other side of the coffee table. His eyes were fixed on her as if he had been there for quite some time.
Megan sat up quickly, embarrassed that he was still there. “What time is it?”
“It is seven in the morning.”
“Why are you watching me like that?” She grabbed the blanket and pulled it into her chest.
“I enjoy it.” She kept her head down until he stood up and walked toward the door. “I’ll leave you for now. Shower up and I will meet you inside to start you on your work week.”
“Thank you,” she said, still looking away.
When he finally walked out and closed the door she let her guard down and pulled the blanket
off her. She took a deep breath wondering why he intimidated her so much. She was used to handling men who were too direct. Jensen was different.
She went down the stairs that led to the main house and heard someone cursing and swearing. She followed the voice until she reached the kitchen.
“Mr. Dean? Are you…okay?”
“I cut my damned finger.” His face held a disgusted expression as he held it underneath running water.
“Let me do this.” She picked up the knife that cut him and set it in the sink. Looking around the kitchen she reached for a new one in a wooden cutlery set on the counter.
“I can’t even make a simple mushroom omelet. This is why I order take out.”
She started slicing the mushrooms he had in a pile and rinsed them off when he began bandaging his finger.
“So, how is it that you have become so successful in life and can’t make a simple omelet?” She asked, taking a drink of her tea.
“Oh, I see how it is. You subject yourself to teasing me now.” He stopped eating and looked at her for a long time.
She began to feel awkward and turned away. “You should really learn to cook. You can’t rely on someone all the time. Well, maybe you can.”
“Tell me more about you.”
Megan looked back at him. “What is there left to tell? I haven’t had the most brilliant life. No extravagance, nothing easy.” she said pointing out her new surroundings. “I have had to work my ass off for a long time just to get by.”
He was still watching her. “What is your favorite color?”
“My…color? Um…I never thought about it really.”
“Eat some more and I’ll take you for a tour around the place.”
“I’m actually not very hungry.”
He didn’t like her answer but he let it go. “Come on then.”
She followed him around the mansion as he introduced her to each room, explaining what he expected of her. It was getting overwhelming but she did her best to keep it all straight in her head. Almost every room was perfect, clean, nothing out of place and in show room condition. A few of the rooms looked lived in, but she didn’t expect it to take her long.
“The upstairs is much like it is down here. A few bedrooms, bathrooms, a sitting room, dressing room. It shouldn’t be too bad.”