“Oh, I’ll miss you, sweetheart.”
“Sure you will,” I said, a touch of sarcasm lacing my voice as I handed my last few suitcases to the driver.
“I will, baby. I love you,” she pulled me into a tight hug.
“Love you too,” I murmured, returning the embrace. She squeezed me fiercely, then practically shoved me into the car. The door slammed shut, and I was off—delivered to the estate of a man whose name I didn’t even know.
“Hi, sir,” I offered the driver a small smile.
He glanced at me through the rearview mirror, returning the gesture. “Hello, Valentina, how are you doing?”
“I’m okay. How are you?”
“I’m alright.”
“Good. How’s the wife?” I asked casually.
He looked momentarily confused. “How did you know I was married?”
“The ring,” I pointed out, a flicker of amusement in my eyes.
He chuckled. “She’s good. Tired, but good.”
“And how’s the new baby?” I inquired kindly.
He glanced at me again, a flicker of surprise crossing his face. “Now how did you know we have a new child?”
“You just look exhausted. And I just…thought.” I shrugged, attempting to appear nonchalant.
“Can you guess my wife’s name?” he challenged, a playful glint in his eyes.
“Bet you a hundred dollars I can,” I retorted confidently, seizing on the offer.
“You’re on,” he confirmed with a grin.
“What’s your name?” I already knew, but I wanted him to believe I knew nothing about him.
“Nate.”
“Nate,” I repeated, testing the sound of it. “Nate…” I considered for a moment. “You’d marry a woman named…Jessica.” He stared at me as we sat at a red light. “Am I wrong?” I smirked.
“No,” he laughed, shaking his head. “Wow. It’d be crazy if you knew my child’s name too.”
“Can I guess and say Emilia?”
“Are you serious?” He exclaimed, his voice laced with delight. He drove faster. “That’s… my child’s name. A baby girl.”
I smiled. “Congratulations, Nate.”
“Thank you,” he sighed happily. “I have to tell my wife about you. Oh, I owe you.” He pulled out his wallet.
“I couldn’t take your money. I’m about to be rich enough,” I said, glancing down. Plus, I noticed a grocery list from his wife tucked on the floor of the car next to my foot. She’d written a sweet note on it.
“You’re not happy doing this.”
“Honestly, no. It doesn’t comfort me knowing I’m having sex with a man I don’t even know.”
“This was your mother’s choice, wasn’t it?” I nodded. “I could tell by how pushy she was.”
“She’s… not the most loved woman.”
“I’m guessing that’s not something you both have in common.”
We pulled up to a sprawling mansion, and Nate hopped out, opening the car door for me. “He lives here?” I asked, stunned as I gazed at the large, tan brick house.
“Well, Mr. Maxwell is a multi-billionaire.”
“Really?” I didn’t know he was that wealthy. “What does he do?”
Nate chuckled as he unloaded my bags from the trunk. “Like I can tell you.”
“I tried,” I shrugged. Why couldn’t he tell me? Perhaps Maxwell wanted to make his own reveal.
“His name is Joshua Maxwell, by the way,” Nate said as he ushered me inside. I was greeted by a flurry of staff—cooks, cleaners, gardeners—all tending to the grounds of this extravagant estate.
Mr. Maxwell stood on the steps, hands clasped behind his back.
“Nate, take her things to my room. Nessie will put them away,” his smooth voice commanded.
“Yes, sir,” Nate replied, grabbing my luggage and scurrying up the stairs while the staff dispersed into other parts of the house.
“Valentina, if you would come with me,” Maxwell said, reaching for my hand. I yielded to his touch, letting him guide me into another room—an office—and motioned for me to sit. I sank into the plush chair across from the desk, fidgeting with my hands.
I don’t know why I’m so nervous around him, I'm not like this around Nate. Probably because I'm not going to have sex with Nate.
Three people walked into the room and stood behind me. I turned around to look at them then Mr. Maxwell called me.
I looked at him and he began talking. "This is your hair stylist, your chef and your clothes designer"
I glanced at them quickly, not getting a good look at them because I didn't want to be weird and stare.
"I don't need them" I said quietly and shook my head.
"Go wait outside" he told them. When they left he leaned over his desk and looked at me so deeply. "Valentina, this is in the contract"
"I know it's in the contract but you don't need to spend any more money paying people what I already know how to do" I chuckled. When I saw he wasn't amused I looked down.
He sighed. "I will not take no for an answer" he took a pen and started writing stuff down.
I sighed. I asked him one question that was burning a hole in my mind. "So… when are we gonna do it?"
"Do what?" He asked, not looking up.
"Um…" Does he really not know what I’m trying to say. "The thing that your paying for?" I said more of a question than a statement.
"When you are ready."
"When will I be ready?"
"When I say you are, that’s why you’re living with me." He looked at me, but I looked away. "I don’t like that."
"What?" I asked nervously.
"When you look away from me."
"I don’t like when you look at me," I tilted my head. He licked his lips. "I love looking at you." I froze. "Come on," he smirked and stood up. "I’ll show you to your room."
I stood up and followed him up the stairs.
We walked down the hall past a row of doors, then he stopped abruptly, and I bumped into him. “Sorry,” I mumbled, glancing down at the door knob. He opened the door and stepped inside.
“Oh, my goodness,” I gasped at the sight of the beautiful room. I walked to the window, pulling the silk curtains apart and gazing out at the view. He had a huge pool and an even larger backyard. The setting sun cast a golden glow over everything. “You have money to live here… all the time?” I turned around and asked him.
“Well, yes,” he chuckled. I walked around, running my hand over the luxurious furnishings. “You act like you’ve never been in a mansion before.”
“I haven’t,” I picked up a picture of a woman standing next to Maxwell. He had a serious face while she was given a huge smile.
“Valentina, you should really listen,” he said, taking the picture from me and placing it back on the bedside table.
“What did you say?”
“Why don’t you change out of that dress? I’ll leave you.” He let go of my hands and walked out of the room, closing the door behind him.
I dragged my suitcase into the bathroom and got ready for a shower, and the whole time I’m thinking, this can’t be real, it can’t be happening.