I’m in such a daze. I’m reliving every moment and every word that was exchanged between us. Maybe this is the wrong decision. Maybe I should have just walked away from the job. How am I going to focus on working when all I can think about is him?
In my bedroom, I can see my phone ringing. Gigi’s name flashes on the screen. I hesitate. I don’t know what to say. I don’t know how she will react if I tell her who my new boss is.
I know she’ll assume what I first thought too—that Reed hunted me down somehow. That this is all some game he’s playing with me.
But I trust him. I want to trust him. I want to believe that he’s really looking for his family. That I have a purpose for being in his house and working for him.
I let the call go to voicemail and sit down on the edge of my bed.
I don’t know how I’m going to get through this job without completely melting into a puddle around him, but I’m going to have to try.
It’s the next day, and I decide to dress more casually. I don’t want him to think I’m bending over backward and making an effort to impress him. Nonetheless, I still put on some makeup and try to make my curls behave before I leave the apartment.
If Reed is going to ignore me, then I’m going to make it harder for him.
When I arrive at the house, I see that only Tom is around.
“Mr. Silvers had a meeting to go to; in fact, I have to drop into the office too. You think you’ll be okay here by yourself? Missy will be around if you need anything, like a cup of coffee or something.” I follow Tom to the front door and wave a hand at him.
“I’ll be fine, don’t worry. I can make my own coffee too.”
I smile at him when he pulls out of the driveway. I’m a little disappointed that Reed isn’t here. I’m not sure if he’ll even be back later. I have been so excited at the possibility of seeing him every day that I didn’t take into consideration the fact that he might not be around all the time.
Once Tom is gone, the house feels unusually quiet. I go around the rooms looking for Missy. Tom gave me a tour of the house last night, but even then, I don’t feel like I exactly know where I’m going or where all the rooms are.
Missy doesn’t seem to be around either. I know she lives here permanently in a semi-detached bungalow next door, so I figure that’s where she is now. Which means that I have the whole house to myself. Completely at my disposal. A thrill runs down my spine at the possibility of exploring and looking deeper into what makes Reed Silvers.
I’m biting down hard on my lip as I trail from room to room. There are so many! Most of these seem impersonal. Like some stranger has decorated the rooms and no expense was spared. They’re beautiful but lacking that personal touch.
I run my fingers over the furniture and stare at the paintings. In the kitchen, I pick out a big juicy peach from the fruit bowl and continue my exploration. At the end of the hallway is the master bedroom. It’s the only room Tom didn’t take me into yesterday. It’s Reed’s. I’m curious and excited. I don’t know what I might find in there and I also know that I probably shouldn’t look.
But who is going to stop me? The door doesn’t creak when I open it slowly. I peer inside before I step in, just to make sure I’m completely alone. There’s no other sound. The room is shaded; the curtains have been pulled across the big windows on the other side.
I can’t decide if I should flip on the lights, but I let them be for now. I’m too amazed. This room is nothing like the rest of the house. Whoever designed and decorated the rest of the house did not do this room. The style is completely different. It’s not as lush or luxurious, but more homely and warm.
There’s a king-sized bed in the middle of the room, and it has four posts like ones from an older generation. The rug looks shaggy, and there are some clothes lying piled on an armchair near the fireplace. Just like there would be in anybody else’s bedroom.