“What, Belle?” She peers at me.
“I don’t want him to leave,” I confess.
“That’s the fifty thousand dollars talking, sweetheart,” she says dryly.
“There’s something I like about him.” I shake my head and push my hands out in front of me. “Wait a minute. We’re getting way ahead of ourselves. We don’t even know what this address is, or why I’m being invited there.”
“Well, we can certainly find out.” Lia runs soap and water over her hands and dries off with the dishrag. She jostles by me to her MacBook on the living room desk. “Let’s see where you’re venturing off to tonight, young lady.” She looks up the address on her computer to find a picture of a gated mansion.
“Oh, my God, it’s an orgy mansion, like in Eyes Wide Shut.”
“Shut up, Lia.”
“You shut up. Look at this place!”
I peer over her shoulder and catch my breath. “It’s a beautiful house.”
“It’s a beautiful mansion.”
“So he’s rich.”
Lia stands up and faces me. “Yeah he’s rich. That doesn’t mean he’s not dangerous, Belle. A lot of these rich guys are big pervs.”
“Jesus, Lia, you’re so theatrical.”
She folds her arms and gives me a stern expression. “Better watch it, moneybags. You may be bought and paid for.”
I cast my gaze to the side in frustration before meeting her eyes. “Can I borrow the car?”
“I guess so. I better be nice to you from now on.” Lia narrows her eyes and studies me for a moment. “You really do like him, don’t you?”
“I can’t say that I’m hoping he asks me there for business.”
“Well, you may just get your wish, girlfriend.” She reaches into her purse and throws me her keys. “In case you have to make a clean getaway.”
“Thanks.” I smile. “I’m sorry I can’t stay for dinner. It smells delicious. Save me some?”
“Sure.” She shrugs. “You bought it, anyway.” She lifts her credit card from her purse and smiles at me. “Add this to your bill.”
I shake my head at her as a smile moves across my lips. “You’re so bad.”
“Hey, we’ve both eaten enough ramen soup to last us both a lifetime. It’s time to live large, honey, compliments of Mr. Kalin Davis.”
My wardrobe is slowly recuperating from the dearth caused by months of neglect. I take a shower and slip into a cute dove-white-and-black paneled dress.
I put on my new jacket and head out of my bedroom.
“That dress is soo cute! Someone is not going to a business dinner.”
I smile at her. "I can only hope."
“How much was it?”
“Less than $500.”
“I'll be here alone eating spaghetti if you need me.” She gives me a mock pout.
"Invite Trevor over. I won't be in for a while. I’m sure he would appreciate a good home-cooked meal, and especially the woman who cooked it.” I waggle my eyebrows at her, and she laughs.
“Maybe I will.”
“Thanks for the car,” I say, jingling the keys as I walk out the front door.
I drive to the mystery address handwritten on the front of my paperwork, about thirty minutes northeast of the city. The neighborhood is clearly affluent, with stone mansions and gates surrounding beautiful acreage.
Kalin’s house is surrounded by a natural stone wall with an iron gate in the front. When I arrive at the gate, it automatically opens. The driveway curves around beautiful landscaping with red maple trees, beech trees, oak trees, and sycamore trees. The size of the estate is breathtaking, and I sigh as the tranquility of this place immediately soothes my frayed nerves after the blaring sirens and unrelenting noises that have worn on me over the months I’ve lived downtown.
I drive up to the top of the driveway to four large, closed garages. The house is lined with ground roses, white-weeping crabapple trees, rhododendrons, trumpet flowers, and a stone walkway surrounded by a well-manicured grass terrace. I stop to savor the sight and breathe in the sweet scent of the flowers. Turning to the front door, I ring the bell. The gentle evening breeze bathes me in the sweet floral scents that surround me. The sound of the heavy wooden door opening causes butterflies to flutter in my stomach. Kalin flashes a boyish smile, and the familiar calmness of his presence envelops me and shoos my nerves away.
“Annabelle, so nice to see you. I take it you found the place okay.”
He takes my hand and pulls me in. “Yes, I just followed the navigation app on my phone. I’ve never been in this neighborhood. It’s so beautiful.”