I calmed my suddenly erratic breathing and dragged my mind back on the right path. No-no-no Sydney! Do not fuck this up now, you’ve come too far. No more trips down memory lane.
I brought myself back into character before I gave myself away. Though the man sitting next to me could have no clue that any of this was going on. As far as he knows, I’m just the girl his wife had hired to watch their children for the summer at their place in the country.
It had taken lots of hard work and research to land myself the job. But hard work was nothing new to me, at least not where this was concerned.
It had taken eight years to get here, to the final stages of my master plan. For most of those years I was just a helpless child, but with the help of the Internet and social media, I’ve been able to gather most of what I needed for the grand finale.
He shifted in his seat and my pulse raced. Like I said, this was the one thing I hadn’t banked on. I don’t need to be attracted to him to get into his bed, not if the end justifies the means as it does in this case. I’d been more than ready to go the distance even if he was a potbellied balding slug.
But of course I should’ve known that he wouldn’t be. He’s such a private person that there are no known pictures of him anywhere, so imagine my surprise when we first met.
I knew he was young, only thirty-three, but I hadn’t expected him to be so well put together. It’s been my experience that most men of his standing are never the most attractive.
I have to admit to a certain bias as well. I’d told myself that he’d have to be lacking in some way to marry the woman that he had. That maybe even with all his money he couldn’t do any better.
But it appears that Mr. Fisher had been blessed with it all. Both looks and wealth. No worries though, I’ve come too far to turn back, or to let something as silly as a girlish infatuation get in the way of my plans.
I smiled secretly to myself as I thought of the look on his face when he sees the real me for the first time. It was so easy for him to dismiss me now with my frumpy look, but I have no doubt that will all change, and soon. Real soon!
Sydney
I felt the sweet rush of anticipation as we pulled into the gates of the majestic country estate more than an hour later. I did not let myself look with envy at the immaculate grounds, or the beautiful home as it came into view.
I’d long lost the taste for such things. Once I was a girly girl who believed in such nonsense as happily ever after and knights on white horses.
I’d given up believing in such claptrap when my world was destroyed at that age in life when a girl needs to believe in dreams most. Not again Sydney keep it together. You’re not that girl any longer, haven’t been for a while.
I did remember to show the expected amount of awe and admiration though, so as not to bring attention to my lack of interest. I might as well wear a sign if I was going to do that.
So I looked, with the requisite amount of appreciation for the beauty of the country estate that was worth millions. The immaculate grounds that must take a team of twenty or more to keep up, and the imposing mansion slash castle with the sparkling windows that shone in the dying rays of the sun.
All that was missing was a collie or two and horses grazing in the distance. I knew though, that the horses were in the stables about a thousand feet from the house and there were no dogs because the children were deathly afraid of them.
I stood back quietly like the timid little mouse I was pretending to be and waited as the driver retrieved my suitcase from the trunk of the car.
The master of the house ignored me as he walked ahead and again I got that secret little thrill at the thought of bringing him to his knees in the not too distant future.
A housekeeper, a butler, and what I presume was the rest of the domestic staff that kept this monstrosity up and running, came out on the steps like they were there to welcome some monarch of old.
They’d come the day before I know, to get the place in order for the family. Well for him and the kids anyway. The mother, his wife, wasn’t due for another week. That was the very thing that had facilitated my being here at this time.