by Kari Shuey
In fact, any woman who would jump at the chance to work for him in his home now should probably be committed. Abby didn’t have any priors, she was born and raised in the area – she didn’t even leave the state for college. Best of all, she probably knew nothing about him besides what was being reported on the news. She would be the perfect fit. The drawback he kept coming back to, however, was his own personal infatuation with her. He’d resigned himself to never wanting a relationship. It wasn’t because he liked to keep to himself anymore… it was the drastic change his life had taken in the last five years he felt he couldn’t control. There was this urgency that called to him and he couldn’t say no.
After taking that path it was set in stone. Even if he wanted to find someone to spend his life with, there was no way to do it without opening a door to unveil all his secrets – something he was not willing to do.
Gavin slumped down into his office chair. Would someone even want to give him a chance after they knew him better? Would Abby? That was not something he would be willing to ask of anyone.
Typing a code into the security keypad that would allow access to his desk drawer, Gavin thought about all the secrets he now kept. It was burdensome at best… debilitating when it really got to him. He pulled the drawer open and took out a picture. As he scrutinized the photo, he couldn’t help feeling it was a lifetime ago. Putting it down, Gavin rummaged through the papers and important documents no one would ever lay eyes on. This was his ball and chain, the reason he lived his life the way he did, the cause of his emptiness.
Gavin leaned forward on his desk, his head on his arms. It had been a long week. It was only going to get worse until he got some things sorted out. Could he handle it? Raising his head, he noticed a letter on his desk from California. A letter that had been mailed to his private PO Box. He could trust only a select few these days. And currently no one in the Boise area would fit the bill. Picking up the envelope, he pulled out the letter and skimmed it. Nothing new. He tossed the envelope in the garbage and placed the letter in his drawer.
His thoughts drifted again to the red-headed beauty in the other room. Filled with a mixture of emotions, he allowed his mind to dart between thoughts like a hummingbird. She was definitely upset with something he had said, probably about her ability to perform her work. Yet, she chose to stay respectful rather than confront him. That was a skill lost on most employees these days.
Something inside Gavin was still pushing him in a direction that would allow them to get to know each other better. The advocate for his happiness insisted it would be good for him to open up to someone. On the other hand, he knew it was impossible. And here he was arguing with himself about something he had already internally decided.
The drawer was pushed shut and the keypad beeped signaling the drawer was secure. Gavin found the resume Mr. Perkins had sent over regarding Abby’s references and history, and he placed it in the file he had on all his staff. Keeping records helped him compartmentalize his life. It kept him grounded when he could stay organized – one of the big reasons he needed to keep a housekeeper on staff. Putting the file back into the cabinet it came from, his finger lightly brushed over all the files he had accumulated since becoming the CEO of Securitech. An odd sense of pride enveloped him. A world without order was not a world he would want to inhabit. Gavin closed the cabinet quietly and walked to his door. Straining to hear if Abby chose to come out for a late-night show again, he was disappointed when all he heard was stillness. He would have to wait until tomorrow to see her again.
The light turned off, the desk in order, Gavin headed to his room to go to bed. He knew his thoughts would keep him up, but lying in bed was better than being surrounded by the cool air of regret his office seemed to exude.
***
As Abby became more and more comfortable in her position as Mr. Saxe’s housekeeper, the discomfort only returned when he’d return home after work. Occasionally she would see Oliver arrive to do his bi-weekly lawn maintenance and she would meet him outside with a drink.
Oliver flashed his endearing and appreciative smile when he looked up and noticed her approaching. He had a way of making her feel welcome without even trying.
“Well, if it isn’t Miss Abby Russell, here to save me from my never-ending thirst.”
She held out the beverage to him and smiled back. “I bet you don’t bring water just so I will bring you something to cool you off,” she teased. “What did you ever do without me?” The question was meant to be silly, but the minute the statement left her mouth she realized she’d put her foot in its place. “I’m sorry, Oliver. Did you know her pretty well?”
Oliver shook his head. “It’s fine. No, I didn’t know her really well. She was nice, brought me the occasional drink… but mostly kept to herself.”
Changing the subject, Abby attempted to get to know Oliver better. “So, have you always lived in the Treasure Valley? Do you have family here?”
Oliver took another swig of his lemonade and brushed the lingering beads of liquid on his lip with the back of his hand. He nodded. “Yep, I grew up about twenty minutes west of here. My family still lives in my childhood home. What about you?”
Abby nodded too. “Yeah, I grew up here too. My family moved out of state, but I decided to stay put. I love the area.”
“Any boyfriends?”
She laughed. “Nope. Who has time for that? But I bet you have a special girl you’re dating – a handsome guy like you.”
Oliver sighed, “You’d think so, but nope. Not anymore. She cheated on me a few weeks back. My friends say I’m better off without her… and they’re probably right.”
Abby sympathized with him. Assuring him he deserved better. Their conversation took a slightly different turn and they spoke of their current job positions. Oliver mentioned he enjoyed being a landscaper, but not necessarily working for Mr. Saxe.
“What’s wrong with working for Mr. Saxe? He seems nice enough.” Abby was genuinely curious. If there was something she wasn’t aware of, she’d rather know now than a few months down the road.
Oliver’s countenance darkened. “There’s just something about him that rubs me the wrong way. I mean, nobody actually knows him. He throws money at his problems – why do you think he’s no longer a person of interest? Things just don’t add up. I think they need to take a second look into him. And I definitely think you need to be cautious around him.”
The constant reminder that Mr. Saxe was so secretive strangely bothered Abby. After talking with Oliver, she’d get the feeling she needed to go through Mr. Saxe’s background check again. They parted company and Abby headed straight to the file she kept in the drawer by the bed.
Opening the folder, she looked over the information. Gavin grew up in Silicon Valley. There wasn’t much about his family besides the names of his parents. He had never been married. There were a few traffic tickets, but no other citations. He had no history of violence nor any major infractions. Gavin Saxe was as squeaky clean as they came. Maybe too clean…
Whenever she was overwhelmed with her concerns, she wished she had someone to talk to. But with Lori gone, and her mother unaware of the situation, all she had was her brother.
Owen picked up on the first ring. “Hey, Abby. I assume you’re not dead yet?”
“Owen!” Abby chuckled a little bit. She envied his ability to make light of any situation. “But seriously, my job is what I wanted to talk to you about.”
Owen’s voice sobered. “Is everything okay? That Saxe guy treating you right?”
“Yes, of course he is. He’s like any employer I suppose. I guess I’m not sure why I am calling exactly. I just need someone to talk me off a ledge.”
“What do you mean?”
Abby took a deep breath. “Mr. Saxe has this landscaper who doesn’t really trust him. He didn’t explain much beyond insisting Mr. Saxe is hiding something. Tell me I am jumping to conclusions or something.”
“You said his background check w
as pretty clean?”
“Yeah. It looked pretty extensive. It doesn’t even look like he had a juvey record. He was a model citizen all his life. It doesn’t make sense.”
Owen was quiet for a few minutes. “Well, those can be doctored too, Abby. It isn’t easy, but people with connections can do it.”
“That’s not what I needed to hear right now, Owen.” Her disappointment and anxiety levels started to rise and a lump formed in her throat. “He’s a really nice guy, extremely closed off, but nice. He pays me well and he doesn’t make ridiculous requests. I couldn’t have asked for a better boss. And then there’s…”
“And then there’s what…?” Owen asked.
Abby hesitated. “You’ll think I’m nuts.”
“When are you going to realize that I will always think you are a little crazy. Just tell me.”
“So, one night I made dinner and broke a few dishes in the sink. I hurt my hand pretty bad… and he cleaned it up and bandaged it. Owen, I have never had someone be so gentle with me. At first I thought he was frustrated with me… but then he made a point to tell me he wanted me to be careful and he was worried about me.”
“Oh…” Owen’s tone of voice lifted a few octaves.
“Owen. Don’t. It’s not like that… Sure he’s attractive and…”
She heard him laugh on the other end. “Sure it isn’t… Look, Abby, Even I can tell he is quite a catch – in theory. Me thinks you are attracted to him more than you ought to be. And yes, I do think you’re nuts. So, as your brother, I want you to be careful. Don’t do anything stupid. Stay as far away from him as you can.”
Did Owen have a point? Or was he being too overprotective? Taking a deep breath, she slowly let it out of her pressed lips. He was being the voice of reason and she needed to hold onto that lifeline. They caught up a bit more and she reminded him to keep her job a secret from their mother until the whole murder thing was resolved.
The few days following the broken glass incident were filled with awkward encounters. Abby did her best to keep her distance from Mr. Saxe. He had seemed to appreciate it as he chose to keep to himself. She continued to make him dinner, but when she served him and she didn’t sit with him, he’d insist. Filling up a plate slowly, Abby would sit across from Mr. Saxe and eat without speaking to him. She’d given up on small talk. He didn’t have much to say anyway, besides complimenting each meal she prepared.
Tonight was no different. She forced herself not to look up at him, fearing she’d get caught staring. The utter embarrassment that would follow was something she could do without. So instead she would bring a book or paper to the table and stay focused on her reading. Tonight she was reading a romance novel. One of her only guilty pleasures, she loved following the story and seeing if the gentleman would fight for the woman he loved. Occasionally, the girl had to do the fighting, but normally she was the one who insisted a relationship wouldn’t work out. ‘They came from different worlds’, or sometimes ‘I have a checkered past’ were the usual excuses. Against her own will, her thoughts drifted to what her excuse would be if Mr. Saxe were to make advances towards her. Probably something similar. He came from the wealthy and elite. He lived in a world where he could do whatever he wanted solely because of his status in life. She, on the other hand, had always been scrounging to make ends meet. She knew what it meant to work hard, and she had no problem rolling up her sleeves and getting to work. Would they be able to meld their two worlds together if the timing was right?
“Penny for your thoughts?”
Mr. Saxe’s voice penetrated the cloud of thoughts her head seemed insistent on floating through. “Hmm?” Abby looked up, somewhat disconcerted.
“You’ve been on the same page for a full ten minutes. Correct me if I’m wrong, but it surely doesn’t take you that long to get through a page.”
Abby’s eyes narrowed. He’d been watching her again. Why would he be doing that? It was no business of his what she read or what she was thinking about. “Oh. You’re right, it doesn’t usually take me that long to finish a page.” She turned back to her book and tried to find her place, but he interrupted her again.
“So, what is so interesting that you got lost in your thoughts?”
Abby looked up again. Mr. Saxe had stayed aloof since she had injured her hand. Now he was initiating small talk? What changed? “Oh, nothing really. Lately, I have a hard time staying focused.” Abby again focused on the page in front of her, hoping it would be a good enough hint for Mr. Saxe to leave her alone.
“Why do you suppose that is?” Mr. Saxe used a napkin to wipe at his mouth and picked up his drink. He settled back in his chair and regarded her curiously.
Abby could tell he wasn’t going to let up tonight. Sighing, Abby folded over the corner of the page she was on and leaned back in her own chair. “Oh, I don’t know. Maybe because ever since about two and a half weeks ago, this city, my life, your life… all of it has been flipped on its side.”
Gavin raised his eyebrows. “You mean, when my housekeeper was murdered?”
Abby tapped her nose.
“I’m sorry you feel you have been dragged into the crazy world of Gavin Saxe.” His statement held a hint of sarcasm. Something she had never heard him use.
“Honestly, it all feels a little crazy. If you would have told me a few weeks ago I would be in this position I would have laughed in your face. I don’t do anything on impulse really. I value the ability to keep a level head. Yet, here I am probably making the biggest mistake of my life while people are waiting on the sidelines itching to tell me ‘I told you so’”
She watched him try to read her. She hated when he did that. It made her feel naked. He would never share his thoughts, so it wasn’t fair.
“Will you stop that!?” Abby demanded.
“Stop what exactly?” he questioned.
“Stop studying me like you know me. You don’t know me. I don’t know you. We come from completely different backgrounds and lifestyles. You refuse to share your life with me, so why should I humor you with my personal thoughts? Really, Mr. Saxe…”
“You want to know what I’m thinking about?” The way he said it almost sounded like a threat – as if she wouldn’t be able to handle what went through his head on a daily basis.
Abby didn’t respond right away. Did she want to know what he thought about on a daily basis? She reminded herself they hadn’t found the murderer yet. He was only removed from the suspect list. He was likely still a person of interest. Or it was possible he knew more about the murder than he was letting on and he was protecting the perpetrator. “Maybe…” she mumbled.
“I think you are one of the most beautiful women I have ever met.”
Chapter 7
Abby was dumbfounded. That was the last thing she would have ever expected him to admit to her. She had been working for him for only about a week and a half. That was maybe ten days of comings and goings. Ten days of odd encounters and borderline arguments. Ten days of hoping he was working late, and she might eat in peace… Why did she feel that way? Abby couldn’t deny she was attracted to him. Occasionally she found herself fantasizing he’d come home from work and tell her he didn’t care about anything else but her and he wanted to take her on a date. And then she’d laugh off the fantasy and tell herself to grow up.
Now, here he was… sitting in front of her telling her she was beautiful. It came out of nowhere. Didn’t it?
“Well, now, Miss Russell… you have me in a tough spot. Do you know what kind of courage – or idiocy – it took to admit that to you?”
“Thank you?” Abby still didn’t know what to say.
“Thank you!” he scoffed. “I thought I would get a bit more than that. You seemed to be the kind of girl who wouldn’t mind speaking her mind even if she was put on the spot. You don’t have to be respectful just because I am your boss.”
“Okay… Well, Mr. Saxe, we have been getting pretty good at avoiding each other lately. You could even say we
have gotten really good at it. I simply assumed you disliked me and merely needed my cleaning skills to keep your OCD habits in check.” Abby internally flinched. That was a bit too harsh. They didn’t know each other well enough for her to be blatantly honest with him. But he’d asked for it, right?
Mr. Saxe stood up and leaned over the table. In an unabashed manner, he huskily emphasized his next statement. “If I have avoided you, it was for one reason and one reason only – to prevent myself from pulling you into my arms and showing you how you really make me feel.”
Incredulous, her eyes widening, Abby reflected on the information she’d just been given. He had to be joking. This was all one big prank. Mr. Perkins was probably in on it. She’d be calling him and giving him a piece of her mind. Composing herself, Abby sat up straight and raised her chin. “Hilarious, Mr. Saxe. Someone put you up to this, didn’t they?” she accused.
A sly grin spread across his face. “Not in the slightest.” Straightening to his full height, Mr. Saxe gathered their dinner plates and took them to the sink.
“Well, then you must say that to all of your housekeepers!” Abby shot back, unwilling for the conversation to end.
He paused, his back still to her, then left the room.
What in the world!? What just happened! This was completely out of character. He couldn’t be serious. Had he clued into her infatuation with him? Maybe he overheard her on the phone talking with her brother about her crush. He had to be pulling her leg. But he seemed so serious! What should she do now? He held all the cards. Abby looked down at the novel she’d been reading. Stupid romance novels. They weren’t supposed to be realistic. This kind of thing didn’t happen in real life! She looked again in the direction Mr. Saxe had disappeared. Absolutely ridiculous. That’s what this encounter was. Ridiculous. And even if he had said it for the shock value, it would never last. He was rich, she was poor. He was spoiled and entitled, and she worked hard for what she wanted. He’d throw her out like yesterday’s news if given the chance. Yes, that is what would happen. She wouldn’t be tricked into falling for an egotistical billionaire type. She’d seen the consequences of that well enough to know better.