I leaned back in my chair and stared at the video monitor, watching the young woman who looked around my office, her eyes wide, her innocence clear. As soon as I’d seen her step out of the cab and stare up at my home, this need rose inside of me. I wanted her like a fiend, and that was a foreign feeling for me, one I didn’t know if I was comfortable with.

“I want her.” I didn’t bother looking at Carolyn, even though I could feel her gaze on me.

“Mr. Foxwerth,” she said, her voice low but hard.

I turned around and faced her, clasping my hands together on top of my desk. I stared her right in the eyes, knowing what she was about to say but not bothering to stop her. Carolyn had been in my employment since I’d secluded myself a decade ago. I trusted her impeccably, but in this, regarding Britta, I would not be swayed.

“She has no legitimate experience. She’s also extremely young. I don’t think—”

I held my hand up. I leaned forward and braced my forearms on the desk. “I said I want her. Make it happen.”

She opened her mouth and promptly closed it, knowing better than to argue with me.

Carolyn nodded once before turning and leaving me alone in my office. I looked at the video monitor, staring at the woman I knew nothing about aside from what I’d heard in this short time span. Hell, I hadn’t even read her resume. I left all of that up to my employees, trusted them in hiring someone who would fit well in the house. But even if this young woman couldn’t sweep up the floor to save her life, I would’ve still hired her.

I would have still wanted her.

I’d never felt this kind of rush before, never felt the blood moving through my veins at such a rapid pace. Even before the accident I’d never wanted somebody as much as I wanted Britta, and I hadn’t even been in the same room with her.

But I wanted her.

And I’d have her.

* * *

I stared up at the house, not believing I was actually here. Last week when I’d come for the interview I honestly hadn’t expected to get the position. The woman I’d spoken to, the one who told me she was named Carolyn, had seemed extremely uptight and not the least bit impressed by me. But then she’d come back from wherever she’d gone off to, offered me the position right then and there, and told me to report back to the estate today.

The timing couldn’t have been more perfect, seeing as I had to be out of my place anyway. I glanced down at the bags by my feet. I’d packed a few suitcases of clothes and a bag with personal items that I didn’t want to part with for an undetermined amount of time. Everything else was in a small storage facility.

The front doors opened, and there stood Carolyn, along with two men dressed in butler attire. One of them came to where I was and grabbed my bags.

“This way,” he said without emotion in his voice.

I followed him up the steps and into the house. They were silent, cold, and slightly distant as they led me down the hallway on the first floor, taking a couple of turns, and then finally showing me where I’d be staying.

“You have today to get acquainted with the house and the procedure manual, which is on your bed. Tomorrow, orientation will start, where you’ll be shadowing one of the other housekeepers. By the end of the week you’ll be on your own, so pay attention,” Carolyn said, her voice stiff, her posture matching.

“Will I be meeting with Mr. Foxwerth at some point?” I didn’t know if I really wanted to, because maybe it wasn’t smart. But part of me wanted to meet the man I’d be working for, the man who held so much mystery behind him.

“If Mr. Foxwerth wants to meet you, he will. He’s a very private man.” And with that, she turned and left me alone.

I shut my bedroom door and turned around to lean against it. I stared at the room, feeling a little bit strange that I would be staying in a house where I hadn’t even met the owner. This was a good thing, though—at least I kept telling myself that.

I was nervous, and all I’d be doing was cleaning up. But I needed to do this job well. I needed the money, and I needed to stay here until I got on my feet.

When I pushed away from the door, I walked over to the bed. It was large, with a light blue down feather comforter and matching embroidered pillows covering it. The room itself seemed almost plain in comparison with the rest of the house, but I actually liked that, preferred it that way. I would’ve felt very awkward if it had been filled with expensive items.

I walked over to the window and pushed aside the curtain. The view was fantastic, overlooking lush, manicured grounds despite the fact it was creeping into winter territory. I could even see a sunroom off to the side. I’d never known what this kind of life was. I’d never known this kind of wealth or how the other side lived.

The closest I’d ever gotten was cleaning up after them.

But as depressing as that thought was, I didn’t mind it. This was just a stepping-stone to my future.

Besides, how hard could this job actually be?