Page 45 of The Christmas Nanny

“I don’t need the money and the headache that comes with it.” I sat next to Slim Shady. “What you and Quartermain are doing is fucked up. You’re taking advantage of people and their misfortunes just because you have money.”

“You’re pissed about Christine, aren’t you?”

Stephanie dressed and went to the door. I was glad to see her leave. “I’m pissed because you and that asshole are taking advantage of people. You should probably go help him finish off Christine. I think he’s struggling.”

Stephanie left, and I locked the door. I wanted no more visitors.

The door lock clicked, and I watched the knob turn.

“I said I was done!”

Arthur entered the room and closed the door. He rubbed Slim’s head and nodded at me. “I can’t say I’m real happy with what you were doing with Stephanie, but you gave me renewed hope by sending her away.”

“You were watching?” I changed clothes and sat on the bed.

“Last year, I had hidden cameras installed throughout the property while they were on vacation. I know everything that happens on my property.” He smiled, and I sensed that plans were about to change.

“Stephanie knows someone has been sticking their nose in her business,” I said. “She thinks it’s Quartermain.”

“And he knows someone is sticking their nose into his business. He thinks it’s Stephanie.” Arthur looked out the window toward the guest house. “The man has his own whore house on my property.”

“How many women live there?” I stood next to him and watched the house. A woman appeared in the window, naked, brushing her hair. She saw us but didn’t move. “They just wait around for him?”

“No,” Arthur said. “They wait around for the money. Those three women are pulling in a hundred thousand a year.”

“Just to fuck him?”

“Just to fuck him,” Arthur said. “He has a way with women. Most succumb to his bullshit in only a few days. He offers to pay off their debts. Give them a tax-free income; they have to spread their legs.”

“On the surface, it sounds like a great deal,” I said, walking away from the window. “Christine seems to think so.”

“They will all walk away from him when he loses his money. Even Christine. Then you can have her back.”

“No.” I paced the room, thinking. “The way all this went down, and she turned on me. I’m done. I’m leaving in the morning. I want no part of this.”

I thought about Lauren and the opportunity I’d passed on. I didn’t regret much in life, but I did regret being foolish for not seeing what was right in front of me.

“This doesn’t work without you,” Arthur said.

“Then you need to speed things up. I want to move on with the new life I have.” I had no intention of going back to the old Jacob.

Chapter fifteen

Christine

Bundled in coats, gloves, and boots, we walked across the back lawn to the guest house, my arm hooked around Quartermain’s.

All Charles had told me was that if I stayed, I had two choices. Stay in the guest house or the main house if I helped him remove Stephanie. When he said to remove Stephanie, he let silence fill the room for several minutes. He walked around the dungeon, touching things, looking back occasionally, waiting to see if I understood.

I did understand.

Quartermain wanted Stephanie dead. He knew she’d walk away with millions despite the prenup he mentioned. I asked him what a few million was to a billionaire, and he scolded me. He swore never to give up money or power.

He opened the guest house door and stepped inside, me following. Three women sat around the living room, watching a reality show on TV. When they saw Quartermain, they stood like soldiers before a sergeant. Each woman wore a leather collar.

“Remove your clothes,” Quartermain said. The women did, and he handed them each an envelope. He turned to me. “The main house or the guest house?”

“The main house,” I said confidently. “They can leave any time they want?”

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