Billionaire Flawed 1(219)

Please sit down. Tea?

The walk had made Julia thirsty; she nodded. Thank you, that would be lovely.

Rose brought a try with a plain white teapot and two cups. So Miss what can I do for you?

It's a delicate matter. I need you help.

Rose liked it when she could help people. She was by nature a giver. Unfortunately, she'd never been asked by a man to give herself, but she remained hopeful. Anything, just ask.

You have a dog do you not?

Yes, Charlie. He's out in the garden at the moment.

I need you to look after some dogs. You must not tell anybody, and nobody must see you with them. Just for few days. I'll bring them to you.

Do you have dogs then? Rose wanted to know.

No, they aren't my dogs. Don't ask me anymore because I cannot tell you. All I can tell you is that by looking after them, you will be helping a good many people out of a miserable situation.

Of course. Just bring them to me when you are ready.

But please remember, tell nobody and don't let anybody see you with them. Especially your mother.

Rose nodded, enjoying the mystery.





Julia had paid very careful attention over the previous two weeks. She'd watched from her bedroom window each evening as Oscar put his two Spaniels, Dragoon, and Oliver into their kennel. She'd seen where he left the leads, and where he'd hung the key to the lock that fastened the wire mesh door. In the middle of the night, she crept out of the house and across the lawn. The dogs were more interested in the meat she was carrying than barking at her. She unlocked the door and put the key back. She took the leads and tied the dogs to them. Closing the door behind her, she set off to Rose's house. Luckily it was a moonlit night, and Julia was able to see well. Rose was surprised to see Julia in the middle of the night but took the dogs into her house and promised she would keep quiet about it.





Andrew, Oscar shouted at the top of his voice. Andrew. Andrew fastened his dressing gown and answered the door. Have you seen the dogs, Oscar said his face flushed with anxiety.

No, I haven't. Father, it's only six thirty.

But I always take them for a walk at this time. They aren't in their kennel.

Well maybe you didn't shut the door properly.

Of course, I did. I lock it every evening without fail. Oh, where can they be?

I have no idea. I'm sure they'll return when they're hungry.

At ten o'clock the police arrived at Thorpe Hall. Oscar had called them and asked them to investigate the theft of his dogs. But the constable and sergeant having looked at the kennel concluded that Oscar had simply forgotten to lock the door.

Oscar put up 'LOST' notices in all the villages around the area, on every lamppost and church notice board. He also told everyone he saw to let him know if they saw a stray Spaniel. He went their favorite walk five times a day hoping to catch a glimpse of them.

Miss Julia, I am at my whits end. I have no idea where they can be, he said when he met her walking across the lawn. 'It's heartbreaking.

After five days, Julia couldn't bear to see Oscar in such a state, and she decided to put him out of his misery. She went to Rose's and took the dogs. On the way home, she let them off the lead. They ran around sniffing and chasing rabbits but stayed with her. As she approached Thorpe Hall, Oscar was in the garden about to set off on one of his search missions. When he saw Julia arrive with the two dogs, he ran toward them. Happy to see their master after five days in a shed, they danced around him and jumped up at him. When Julia looked at him, he had tears of joy in his eyes.

Thank you, Julia. Thank you so much, he gushed. Where on earth were they?

I have no idea, they seemed to find me when I went for a walk this afternoon. It's most strange, but they're back now.

Well please come to dinner this evening, I want to thank you.





Andrew asked Helen to sit with him again that evening but she told him she was going to Oscar's for dinner. Andrew was quite put out but realized it would have been difficult for her to say no under the circumstances.

Oscar and Femke welcomed Julia to their home as a hero. Femke was sixty-four, tall and elegantly dressed in an evening gown. Julia had also dressed for the occasion. You look very beautiful, Oscar said, his wife agreed. He gave her a glass of champagne and made a toast, to Julia and the dogs.

Do you mind if I ask you a question? Julia asked Oscar at dinner.

No, please do.

How did you feel when you discovered that the dogs had escaped.

Terrible, it was one of the worst moments in my life.

And what did you do to find them?

Too many things to mention, really. I went to every village, put up notices, spoke of it to anyone I met and walked several times each day shouting their names.

And how did you feel when you saw them again?

It was a magnificent moment. Apart from the day, I married Femke, the best day of my life.