Page 38 of Wreck Me

I brush my teeth, shower, and pull on a casual jumper dress, tights and the Claudie Pierlot ankle boots I wore to brunch. That feels like a lifetime ago.

Stepping out of the bedroom, I glance down the corridor. Silence rings through my ears as I retrace my steps from last night, down the wide wooden staircase and into the dining room. It’s even more spectacular in the daylight with the sunstreaming through the windows, illuminating all the gilded paintings and a dizzying array of ornate objects.

At the far end of the table is a new laptop. A new phone. And a shiny black credit card with my name on it.

It’s too much.

‘Miss Fitzgerald,’ a musical voice calls and I jump, spinning on my heels. ‘I’m Rosa.’ A beautiful blonde woman stands in the dining room door wearing navy dress pants and a white chiffon shirt. ‘Sorry if I startled you.’

Rosa is stunning. If I had to guess, I’d put her at lates thirties. She’s the epitome of sophistication. She’s not what I was expecting from James’s housekeeper. I expected someone older, more maternal. Not someone who looks like they’ve stepped off the catwalk. I like her already.

‘Please, call me Scarlett.’

Rosa beams at me and takes a step closer, scrutinising my face with an excited curiosity. ‘Tim said you were pretty.’

‘He did?’

‘Yep. I’m still in shock.’ Rosa takes another step forwards. ‘It’s been a long time since there was a guest to take care of. And never a woman. Well, not since…’ Rosa trails off.

‘Oh.’ My heart flutters in my chest.

‘Anyway, here I am, shooting my mouth off. Mr Beckett will be cross.’ She pulls out a high-backed dining room chair and gestures for me to sit. ‘Would you like some coffee?’

‘I’d love some, thank you.’ I sit because I have no idea what else to do. Have I died and gone to heaven? Been slipped a ruffie and I’m hallucinating? How else would you explain the two hundred grand sitting in my bank account and my opulent new home?

‘I’ll be right back.’ Rosa shoots me a parting smile and strides out of the room, her kitten heels clicking across the marble floor.

I pull out my phone, open the message fromBoyfriend,and begin typing.

It’s too much. I don’t need all this.

A reply pings back before I put the phone down.

James Beckett’s girlfriend has to have the best of everything. No one will believe you’re mine otherwise. Tim will take you shopping after school ;) We’ll be going on lots of dates. Buy some dresses.

It's not real. It’s not real. It’s not real. It’s a job.

An agreement.

An arrangement.

But tell that to my twirling tummy.

Rosa returns with the coffee as I’m powering up my new phone.

‘How about some eggs?’ she offers, slipping a tray of coffee and toast onto the table in front of me.

‘No, I’m fine, thank you.’

‘Mr Beckett left strict instructions that I was to cook something hot for you.’ Rosa hovers by the table.

‘I never normally eat breakfast,’ I admit.

‘Do you normally wake up in a billionaire’s mansion?’ Rosa wiggles her eyebrows and I have to laugh.

‘I guess not.’

‘So, scrambled or poached?’ Her hand rests on her hip.

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