Chapter Twelve
Everly
Three nights at Maddox’s ridiculous mansion. I’d spent three nights cooking for him, showing him to cook, and watching as he attempted to dice an onion and failed miserably. I pulled my bed sheet closer to me, remembering the previous night of pork chops and diced scallions. He was friendly, perhaps the friendliest boss I’d ever had, and there was something so inviting about him, despite the fact that he was a lonely billionaire in a house that was far too big for one man. I wondered if he was divorced and if that’s why his house was enormous.
He had shown me his insane garage the other night after I made a comment about the Italian car sitting in his driveway. The way he showed off his trophies, however, never seemed more than honest pride. He never boasted, never bragged. His answers to everything were always politically correct, and I found myself wishing that just once he would stumble over his words and bite his tongue.
I had, plenty of times over the past few days.
My door opened and closed, and I hid beneath my pillow. I really needed to change my locks.
“Everly,” Lacey called from the kitchen. “I’m starting breakfast.”
“Don’t you have your own kitchen?” I said, as I met Belle in the living room. She had brought her Shopkins, and we fell into the same routine of putting them in the fridge and taking them out. Belle always thanked me for playing with her, making it impossible for me to ever say no, the little perfect brat.
“Your pans are way better than mine,” Lacey said as she flipped pancakes.
“Because they’re not scratched!” I yelled. “Because I don’t scratch them, and you do.”
“I learned my lesson,” she said. I kissed Belle on the cheek and joined Lacey in the kitchen. “Do you have biscuits and gravy?” she asked.
“I have some leftover from yesterday’s breakfast,” I said and began reheating them in the oven.
“So? How’s your job?” Lacey asked with a hint of annoyance. She still hadn’t come around to the idea of it yet.
“It’s perfect,” I said honestly. “It’s literally two hours a day. And Maddox really seems interested in learning how to cook. I actually enjoy spending time with him, which I don’t think I’ve ever wanted to spend more than a minute with any of my bosses.”
“Would that have anything to do with the fact that he’s a handsome billionaire?” Lacey asked, and I shook my head.
“I don’t care about that,” I said. “He’s good for my career, that’s all that matters.”
“Still, you might find yourself in a difficult position whenever this agreement ends. This isn’t set in stone, Everly. And he might seem like a good guy, but there’s no guarantee that he’ll help you find a job after this. It could be empty promises. Some men are good at that sort of thing.”
“I know, and trust me, I’ve thought about that.” I stirred the gravy in a saucepan until it began to bubble. The biscuits were ready, and Lacey set down plates of pancakes and sausage on my dining table. Belle met us, and the three of us ate breakfast together. I hadn’t realized just how tiny my table was. “I’m going to enjoy the time I have there. If I can keep this job for even a year, it’s already more than enough money to seriously start planning my restaurant with. And, I’m having fun. How many people can say they’re having fun at work? It’s every person’s dream.”
Lacey seemed to agree.
They left to make it to Belle’s kindergarten class on time, and I spent the rest of the morning shopping for both my apartment and Maddox’s house at the market on the pier. I picked up crab legs and a lobster and made it back to my place before the lunch rush began.
Working only two hours a day meant that I had time to do just about anything else I wanted, and yet I couldn’t force myself to do anything. I was anxious for work and found myself constantly glaring at the clock and imprisoned by my freedom, in a strange sort of way, which didn’t make sense to anyone who had never experienced it. I needed to do something, anything, other than sit on my couch and scroll through my phone.
I opened my laptop and began typing out a menu for next week. I had just finished when I glanced at the clock and realized it was almost time to leave.
It was funny. I hadn’t been late once to Maddox’s, which was a new accomplishment I was proud of. Although, I supposed it was difficult to be late for a job that was only two hours long.
I got dressed in my usual blouse and pants uniform and arrived at his house 10 minutes early. If being on time wasn’t surprising enough, it was definitely the fact that I had gotten anywhere with more than a minute to spare.
Maddox greeted me in a dark suit that was just as proper and form-fitting as usual. His gray eyes were kind as he welcomed me inside, and he took the grocery bags from my arms as I followed him into the kitchen.
“Lobster?” he asked, as he peeked within them. “Oh, and crab.”
“If you can’t tell, I’m a little partial to seafood.” I smiled. I lined up my ingredients and quizzed Maddox on which pots to use. As usual, he got every other question wrong. But I couldn’t blame him; these were hard questions. He was evidently a quick learner, at least, and I was confident he’d catch on eventually.
He helped tie my apron around my waist, and we began cooking dinner.
An hour later, with two plates full of freshly boiled crab legs, lobster tails, melted butter, and roasted vegetables, Maddox and I sat at his dinner table and ate. I was particularly proud of the meal as he gushed over how delicious it was, and we chatted more about my dream of a fish restaurant on the pier.
“My mom hates the idea, though,” I said. “She thinks I’d make more money begging on the streets.”
“In her defense,” Maddox said. “I did read an article about how some homeless beggars make over 30 grand a year.”
I gasped. “No way.”
“What about your father?” he asked. “Is he supportive?”
“Oh,” I set my fork down. “I wouldn’t know. They got divorced when I was young.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, and I heard the sincerity in his voice. “I didn’t know.”
“It’s no big deal.” I shook my head to let him off the hook. “I mean, of course it’s a big deal. I’m actually the only woman in my family who isn’t divorced.” I faked a laugh. “It’s why I’m single, anyways. There’s no point in getting married if it all ends up falling apart at the end.”
I stuffed a giant piece of crab meat in my mouth. Shut up, I told myself.
“I’m certainly not defending divorce, but, good things can come from it,” Maddox offered. “Children, for example.”
“You sound like my sister,” I said. “No, I don’t believe this world needs any more children in it.”
Maddox’s voice was quieter than normal. “So, you’re not interested in having children of your own?”
“Not at all,” I said. “That’s my worst nightmare, actually. I decided a long time ago I was never having kids. Bringing them into a broken world full of divorced families is a mistake. No child should have to go through that.”
Maddox fell silent and focused more on his plate, but as the silence stretched, I realized he was hardly eating anything.
“Anyways, shellfish might be a little more complicated, but it’s definitely worth it.” I changed the subject, and that seemed to perk Maddox up. Note to self: divorce and children was not a suitable topic.
“It’s wonderful.” Maddox finished his lobster claw. “You’ve surprised me once again.”
“I’d hope that my cooking skills aren’t that surprising.” I smiled.
“Of course not,” he said, and we finished our dinner.
I packed up my belongings and he walked me to the door. I took one more glance around his magnificent house, once again in awe at the grand splendor. The decorations looked far too rich and unique for a lone businessman, and it didn’t escape me that there were at least six couches total on this floor alone. I glanced at the grand staircase in the corner, wondering how much more room there was upstairs.
“Dinner was incredible tonight,” Maddox said.
“Thank you,” I said, heartened by his compliment.
“But, I was wondering if I could take you out to a real dinner on Saturday? At a four-star restaurant this time?” he asked.
“Like, to get ideas for dinner?” I asked.
“That,” he nodded. “and possibly, like a date. Depending on how it goes.” He smiled, and once again I found his charm to be far too alluring for his own good.
“Saturday. Dinner. Yes, of course,” I said. How could I say no, anyways? He was my boss, after all.
“Great, I’ll pick you up at 6.” We said our goodbyes, and I slid into my car.
As I drove home, I convinced myself that this date was just something I was doing to keep my job. It was a requirement, and I had agreed so quickly because of that single reason.
But I couldn’t get Maddox’s smile out of my head, and the closer I got to home, the less convinced I became.