Page 16 of Purchase Power
“My name is Candace.” Although a few drops of water slid down Candace’s forehead, she did not hurry to brush them off. “I am in charge of the daily operations here at Gabriel Manor. That means after Mr. Gabriel, I’m the person to come to for orders and help.” She snorted. “Perhaps, depending on the nature of the help, you should ask me first.”
With no idea of what to make of that, Lucy remained silent. Candace looked her up and down, calculating the status and the worth of a woman named Lucy Craig.It ain’t much. Duh.Lucy liked to think herself clever when it came to styling above her means – she had convinced Noah Gabriel to “buy” her, after all, yet who knew what other women thought. Let alone women who worked for and lived with one of the richest guys Lucy had ever personally met.
And fucked. Let us not forget.
A chill overcame her as she entered the muted receiving hall. Was it from the winter rain penetrating her coat? Or from the sudden memory of that man bending her over the couch and taking her until she screamed in ecstasy?
That one.Lucy cleared her throat and patted her cheeks. Surely, that would give her an excuse for pinkened skin by the time Candace turned around again.
“Come along,” the steward said. “No need to familiarize yourself with the rest of the house. Your quarters will be more than adequate for a month-long stay.”
What did that mean? This place was huge! Lucy had a little pride, having stayed in New York City for as long as she had. Getting around a big, spacious place was all about familiarizing one’s self with the twists in alleys and the unique markers of every room (or was that neighborhood?) so she knew when she crossed an important threshold. Nothing would be more embarrassing than having to rely on the staff to tell her how to get to the kitchen or Mr. Gabriel’s office. Especially if they knew what she was doing there!
Someone brought up the rear as they ascended the stairs. Lucy’s bags thumped on the bottom of the steps, Candace turning at the landing, her hands clasped perfectly before her. She walked so proudly that it reminded Lucy of a schoolmarm in one of those middle grade picture books.That must be what Jane Eyre looked like as she walked the halls of Thornfield Hall.A smile crossed Lucy’s face. She didn’t know if it was born from the memories of her favorite book or a simple way of reassuring herself that she wasn’t going to, like,diehere.
They walked down a long, straight hallway that bypassed closed doors and the occasional painting and photograph depicting a pleasant scene or some great ancestor of the Gabriels. Or so Lucy assumed. She wasn’t given much chance to look them over, since Candace walked so swiftly, as if Lucy might accidentally see something she was never meant to behold.
Not that Lucy knew what to expect. Yet when Candace unlocked the door at the very end of the hall, Lucy had to double-take, since such a room wassurelya great honor of some kind. Sure enough, light poured from a chandelier above a coffee table and a chaise lounge sitting primly behind it. An unstocked wet bar was to the side. A large TV hung above the electric fireplace, all of the remotes arranged neatly on the coffee table. A writing desk invited Lucy to sit down and write her diary with quill and parchment. An original Picasso was the focal point of the corner, where a lounge chair was propped up against the window, currently opened to let in the fresh air. Candace crossed over and closed the glass, smoothing down the curtains.
“The bedroom is through here.” She immediately pivoted to the single door leading into another large room. A four-post, king-sized bed sat atop a raised dais, the fragile fabric pulled back against the posts. A hope chest was opened at the end of the bed, empty, save for an extra blanket. “The dresser here is available for your clothes.” Lucy barely had time to locate the dresser and the vanity before Candace opened a generous walk-in closet. “Mr. Gabriel has taken the liberty of providing you with a few wares. You’re free to wear anything you find in there.”
“Thank yo…”
“Here is the adjacent bathroom. Any supplies you need you can request from me.” Candace flipped on the fan that completely engulfed the bathroom. Lucy’s jaw dropped when she stepped inside and saw a sunken tub with jets and a lovely view of the woods outside a panel of freshly washed windows.Can’t see much right now but… I bet it’s to die-for at sunset!This wing must have faced west. Would Lucy be able to stand bathing in this tub? Never mind the shower behind her. She was going to live in this tub! “I recommend leaving the fan running for at least twenty minutes when you have finished bathing. We’ve taken great care to keep every bathroom in this house ventilated, and it goes a long way.”
Lucy nodded. “Yeah. Sure. Absolutely.”
Candace offered her a lingering glare before exciting the bathroom. “Everything from the double-doors to here is yours, Ms. Craig. However, there is something we must go over before I leave you to unpack and get settled in.”
When Lucy reemerged into the sitting area, it was to the sight of two men bringing in her luggage and placing every bag and suitcase next to the coffee table. They did not make eye contact on their way out of the room, shutting the double-doors behind them. An ominous feeling settled over Lucy as she stood by the unlit fireplace.
“Ms. Craig.”
Lucy turned toward Candace. “Yes. Of course. What is it?”
“Mr. Gabriel will be in later to see you, but he has asked that I go over a couple major ground rules with you first.”
Lucy waited, albeit with not much patience.
“The most important rule of living in Gabriel Manor,” Candace began, “is that you are not permitted outside of this room without Mr. Gabriel’s approval. Preferably, not without his company.”
Lucy sighed.
“Technically, the suite is yours, Ms. Craig. You will not go without exercise, either. There is a yoga mat in the closet and a treadmill around the corner there.”
“Oh, well, if there’s a yoga mat and treadmill.”
“The windows open, of course. You can’t see it, but there is a small balcony outside that window there. Weather permitting, it is a lovely place to sit and get some sun.”
“And do yoga, I bet.”
When Candace grimaced, Lucy felt the slightest bit bad.She’s simply doing her job. I shouldn’t be so testy with her. For all I know, she’ll be my only friend here.Those were her thoughts before Candace spoke again. “Mr. Gabriel is adamant that you stay in these chambers unless he takes you somewhere else himself. I should hope that’s understandable, Ms. Craig. You are a guest in this house, but that comes with a price of your freedom. The Gabriel family have things they prefer strangers to not touch and see. You may be a guest, Ms. Craig, but you are still a stranger to everyone here, including Mr. Gabriel.”
Was that testy judgment dripping from those fangs?Where does this woman get off? Treating me like a pariah!Did Candace know why Lucy was there? She must have. A man did not suddenly move a young, pretty woman into his house unless his dick told him to do it. Still, was that reason enough to confine Lucy to something that barely passed for a standard apartment?At least in my apartment, I can go outside and get some fresh air! Walk where I please and shop as I like!Getting a coffee from the corner diner had never sounded so good. Trawling through a bodega, on the hunt for a snack and to pet the cat? Life’s simple pleasures.
She wasn’t here forsimplepleasures, though. She was here to service Mr. Gabriel and all of his physiological needs for a month. God, no wonder Candace looked at her like that.
“I understand that this may not have been what you were expecting, Ms. Craig,” the steward said, “but I promise that we have done everything in our power to make sure your comfort is taken care of, as is custom for any guest in this house. The reasons you may not leave without permission are not entirely about you. Mr. Gabriel is an incredibly private man. I have known him since he was young.” Candace looked away, a shadow overcoming her face. “The story of the Gabriel family is not something you will easily find online. He has ensured that.”
