"We
thought you had gotten lost." Paul greeted her with a smile.
"Michelle
and I went shopping and time just got away from us." she said.
"Gene
is anxious for you to start. He's
waiting in the library."
Paul
took her bags and escorted Alex into the house. Gene emerged from the library his smile dimming slightly when he saw all the packages.
"I
needed some things to supplement my wardrobe." she tried to explain.
"I
could have gotten you anything you needed." he replied in a disappointed
tone.
"You
have already done too much by allowing me to live here."
"Nonsense,
it is nice to have a lovely lady living under my roof. Paul will show you to your room so you can
unpack. When you are finished unpacking
I would like for you to join me here in the library."
"Alex
if you'll follow me I'll show you to your room. It is right down here. We
thought you might prefer to be on the ground floor, no stairs to deal
with."
Paul
led her out of the library through the foyer past the stairs and down a hallway
to the back of the house.
Paul
opened a door. "This is
beautiful." Alex said in awe.
Paul
had led her into a huge bedroom. The
walls were pained a dusty rose color, the bedspread on the king size 4 poster
bed was a dainty floral pattern and the curtains were lace. The room was definitely designed for a
female. There was a sitting room with a
reclining sofa and a rocking chair. The
bathroom was located off the bedroom.
Alex couldn't believe her eyes.
The bathtub was big enough to hold four people and even though it
resembled an old fashioned tub it had Jacuzzi jets. There was a separate shower along with a vanity and two sinks.
"There
is bubble bath, shower gels and lotions in the cabinet there. Please help yourself to them. They were bought for you. There are candles in this cabinet too."
She was speechless as he showed her around.
Leading
her back into the bedroom, "There is a walk-in closet here. If you need any more hangers just let me
know."
"This
is way too much." she finally uttered.
"Do
you like?" he smiled at her.
"It's
beautiful. I would be crazy not to
like. But it is so much."
"Gene
wanted to make sure you are comfortable.
If you need anything…"
"No. You have thought of everything."
"If
you look out this window you can watch the sunset. It really is beautiful.
It is quiet back here too. I'll
leave you now so you can unpack."
Paul
left Alex alone in her room. She walked
around the room in disbelief. She had
never seen such an elegant room and to think it was hers.
She
looked at the closet and still could not believe there was so much space. She picked up her suitcase and carrying it
into the closet she set it down on a low shelf then turned and walked out of
the closet closing the door behind her.
It
was nice to have all that space but she wouldn't use it. After her experience with Scott she wanted
to be ready to leave quickly if the need should arise.
Alex
closed the door to her room and headed to the library and her meeting with
Gene.
She
found him staring out the window.
"You wanted to see me?" she asked quietly.
Gene
turned to face her, "I didn't expect you so quickly." He said
slightly surprised.
"I
don't have much."
"If
there is anything you need Paul can pick it up for you. He likes to shop, actually he’s rather good
at shopping."
"Thank
you but I have everything I need."
"I
understand." Gene said sadly. He
wanted so much to provide her with everything she needed. "But if you should change your mind the
offer is always open."
"Thank
you."
An
uncomfortable silence hung in the air as neither one knew what to say next.
Finally,
Gene broke the silence. "The
computer is set up in the study."
"The
study?"
"Across
the foyer. Come with me and I will show
you.” Gene led her out of the library
and into the study. “It really is just
a smaller version of the library. There
is also a television set up in here, I don't watch it myself but if you needed
a break it's here."
"You've
thought of everything." She said as she walked over to the desk. "Are these the tapes?"
"Yes. The story is on those tapes. I am quite interested in getting your
opinion of my story."
Alex
looked at Gene questioningly, "Why would you be interested in my
opinion? We've just met."
He
had slipped up, he said too much. Gene
had to think quickly to cover up his mistake.
"You
briefly mentioned you worked for a publishing company so I thought you might be
able to shed some light on what the public is looking for in a good
story." Gene hoped he sounded convincing.
"I
just answered the phones."
"But
I'm sure you heard enough to know what the publisher is looking for."
"Maybe. I don't know. I don't want to misrepresent myself."
"Of
course not. I would just want your
opinion as Jane Q. Public." Gene smiled.
Alex
blushed, she wasn't sure but she thought that perhaps Gene was trying to flirt
with her. But that was nonsense; he was
her boss nothing more.
"Are
you hungry? Would you like something
for dinner?"
"No,
Michelle and I had something while we were out."
"Michelle?"
Gene raised an eyebrow in surprise.
"I was under the impress you didn't have any friends here."
"Michelle
is the waitress at the diner in town.
We've become friends."
"Oh."
This
was a situation he had not planned on.
Gene would have to talk to Paul about Michelle and what to do about
her. He did not want anyone ruining his
plans, not after he had waited so long.
"If
you don't mind I will just go to my room now."
"You're
sure you don't need anything?" 'Stop
it Gene. Let her go she will get suspicious.'
"Really,
I just want to take a bath and get to bed early."
"Good
night then my dear. I will see you in
the morning."
"Good
night."
'My
dear? Did he really call me that?'
'
Oh no, I didn't say my dear. How stupid
can I be? Maybe she didn't catch it.'
Gene
and Alex looked at each other before Alex left the library and headed for her
room. Gene slammed his hand onto the
desk.
"Is
there a problem?" Paul asked as he came into the room.
"She
is so close. I can reach out to touch
her…"
"But
you can't touch her."
"I
have to be on my guard. I can't spend
much time with her even though I want to.
I find myself saying the wrong thing around her. I don't want to frighten her away."
"Once
she starts on the story it will get better."
"I
hope so. I don't know how long I can
hold out."
* * *
Alex
ran the water for her bath. She
couldn't resist getting out the candles and the bubble bath. A nice relaxing bath in this huge bathtub,
what utter bliss. One of Alex's
downfalls was that she loved to take a nice hot bath. Scott didn't like her spending all that time in the bathtub. She wouldn't let him in when she was trying
to relax and he didn't like that. Scott
wanted to monopolize all her time.
There she was thinking about Scott again, she had to stop that.
She
undressed and climbed into the hot water.
It felt so good to just sit and relax.
She had turned down the lights and lit the candles. A romantic bath and she was all alone. 'If Gene were here…' she couldn't think those kinds of things. Gene was her boss and she needed to remember
that. She laid her head back and closed
her eyes feeling the hot water swirling around her. She suddenly felt as if she was not alone. Sensing someone was in the room with her she
quickly opened her eyes but all she saw was a puff of smoke at the door, of
course it was smoke from the candles.
She was letting her imagination run away with her.