I took a deep breath and let it out in a whoosh before I told her the truth. "My new boss isn't an old guy but a young guy who's incredibly hot and wealthy and everything any woman would want. And since I got here, all I've really done is fuck him because every time we're together we can't seem to keep our hands off each other. But now I'm feeling like I'm some kind of prostitute because he's paying me. Not that he's paying me to have sex with him, but maybe he is since I don't seem to be doing much else here."
"Wow! That's a lot of New England small town guilt you've got going on there, Maddie. You're an adult, so if you want to have sex with someone for whatever reason, then so be it. It's definitely not the kind of arrangement you run into every day, but maybe he's the kind of guy who doesn't like to date or he's too busy with his career and doesn't have time to go out and find women. If he likes you and you like him, I don't see the problem. This job was never supposed to be permanent anyway, so you might as well enjoy yourself for the time you're there."
"I guess. It wasn't meant to be permanent, so you're right about that."
"Honey, I hear something else in your voice, though. Are you falling for this guy? That might be a problem because this is just temporary. Don't lie to yourself about things. Trust me. It never works out when you do."
She wasn't wrong. Falling for Eric would be the biggest mistake I could make.
"I don't know what I'm thinking, to be honest. I didn't think anything until tonight, and now I feel terrible. I just don't know why."
"I think if you're having a good time, then enjoy yourself. If you aren't, don't do anything else with him. You were hired to be a cook, so if he doesn't need one, maybe the job will just be over and you can find another one."
"Yeah. You're right."
The problem was everything Cat said was the truth. It was also the truth that I should have known better than to let myself develop feelings for Eric. I had thought I could just sleep with him and that would be that, but everything I felt after his reaction to my innocent statement about us being together told me another truth.
I'd let real feelings creep in to what I was doing with him.
"Are you going to be okay?" Cat asked in that older sister way she had of worrying about me.
"Oh, yeah. It's all good. I'm a big girl. I can handle myself. You know that."
She chuckled at my attempt at bravado. "I know, but you're still that small town girl from Maine underneath all that big girl, so I worry."
"I'll be okay, Cat. Thanks for letting me bounce all this off you. How are things going in your life since I left?"
"You've been gone less than a week, so it isn't like much could have changed. I still haven't found a position, but I have to admit, at this point, I wouldn't mind finding one like you have. Other than that, I don't do a whole lot, which I think makes me the most boring person in the world now that I'm saying it out loud."
"Well, even if you are a boring person, which you're not, I still love you for listening to me talk about my stupid problems. I'll call you next week and we can talk, okay? And don't worry about working. Something will come along. I know it."
"Thanks, Maddie. Stay safe and only do what makes you happy. That's the best advice I can give you."
"Thanks, Cat. I'll talk to you later."
I ended the call and tossed the phone on the bed behind me before flopping back onto the pillow. She was right. Whatever I did, I needed to at least be happy doing it. Now I just had to figure out what that would be.
* * *
By the timeI got to the kitchen the next morning, Eric had already left for work. I had the feeling he was avoiding me, which only made me feel even worse. But maybe that could be a good thing. If we never got together again, at least I wouldn't have to wonder what I was getting paid to do at the house.
The plate of sugar cookies sat on the counter, but I noticed that someone had eaten three more after Eric had the first two. Maybe Magda or Chloe had taken them. If I saw them today, I'd be sure to ask if they liked them.
At least someone might enjoy my treats.
My mood made creating anything sweet difficult, so I headed outside to walk around the grounds for a little while to get some fresh air and clear my head. I couldn't afford to lose this job before I even got paid, so I had to find a way to get past what happened with Eric and do the job I'd been hired for.
Or at least a similar job he might want to let me continue doing.
The bright morning sun hit me as soon as I walked outside, and I instantly wished I had my sunglasses with me. I didn't really feel like going back into the house yet, so I shielded my eyes with my hand and started on my walk down the driveway toward the garage where someone stood next to one of Eric's cars. It wasn't Clyde, the driver who had taken me to get my things right after I was hired, and I didn't recognize the man as I walked closer.
He turned to face me and I couldn't help but be struck by how good looking he was. Black hair hung ever so slightly too long in front of his eyes, but when he pushed it back, I saw the darkest brown eyes I'd ever seen framed by eyelashes women would kill for. My gaze slid down to his body as he stood there in a dark suit and tie, and I wondered who he could be hanging out in Eric's garage and where Clyde could be.
"Good morning! You look like you were expecting to see someone else. Sorry to disappoint," he said in a deep voice that slid over me like silk.
The stranger smiled a wicked grin that told me he wasn't offended by my confusion, so I shook my head and returned his smile with one of my own. "No, not disappointed at all. I thought Clyde was the only driver for Mr. Pierce."
"Clyde called in sick. I think he has the flu." Extending his hand to shake mine, the man said, "I'm Antonio. Nice to meet you."