Total pages in book: 37
Estimated words: 35207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 35207 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 176(@200wpm)___ 141(@250wpm)___ 117(@300wpm)
It’s not long until he’s joining me. He tries to pretend to be a big boy, but I love these moments with him. I hate that he does it, but I’m pretty sure it’s because he thinks he needs to act more grown. When I see a moment that I can pull out the young boy he should be, I steal it. We dance until my phone rings, cutting off our fun. Colby runs back over to his car as I snag the phone off the table I laid it on.
“Hey, Tina,” I say, watching Colby chase his car out the double doors of the library into the hallway. I linger after him.
“How are things?” she asks.
Oh, I don’t know. Your brother is a jerk and enjoys scaring the crap out of me. Yet, as much as he is annoying me, I get a weird thrill when I hear his deep, grumpy voice. I say none of those things out loud, though.
“Great. This place is breathtaking,” I say instead.
“It really is. It just needs to be brought back to life some, but that will come soon enough.” I’m not sure what that means, and I don’t ask. “Anyways, I’m calling because I got a message from my brother.” I swear I can hear her rolling her eyes. “He wants you to move out of the housekeeping quarters.” My stomach drops. Crap. He’s firing me and it’s probably because of the kitten. “He wants to have them redone.” She goes on, and my eyes starting to sting. He is throwing us out. “He wants you to move over into the west wing. There are three rooms there you can use. It doesn't have a kitchen, but you can use the main one anytime so that shouldn't be a problem.”
I let out a relieved breath, leaning up against the wall to steady myself.
“Okay,” I agree. I’ve cleaned that place from top to bottom of dust to make sure Colby was good. I’ll need to do the same to these new rooms. My arms still ache, but I’ll take it over being kicked out.
“Also, he only wants you working between ten and four.”
“Ten and four?” I question. That doesn't sound right.
“That’s what he said. I don’t know, but those sound like good hours to me.” She lets out a small laugh. Yeah they do if you can get your job done in that time. This place is massive and that is not enough time to clean it all.
“I’d really like to work more if that’s okay. I'm on salary so it doesn't matter much, does it?”
“No, but that was his request. I think it’s a silly one too, but I don’t see why you wouldn’t follow those hours.”
“I’m not sure I can clean everything needed during that time,” I admit.
“I’ll let him know that, but if he’s setting the hours, you can only do what you can do, and he’ll have to deal with that. After all, they’re his rules.” That is true, but my worry is about the dust that is everywhere. I flick my eyes down the hallway, watching Colby move further down it.
“Okay,” I agree. He said I can only work those hours. He didn't say I couldn’t work every day. That’s how I’ll get around it. Tina ends the call. I glance at the time to see I need to make lunch for Colby. I head down the hallway, following the sound of his car.
“Are you hungry?'' I ask when I catch up to him in the entryway. The curtains I opened yesterday are closed again. I reopen them, filling the room with light. It’s so much prettier this way. It brightens the place up and makes it seem cheerier when the light is shining in.
“Yep,” Colby says. I spot a package outside. I debate if I should get it. I’ll just bring it in at least. It looks like a storm could be rolling in. I open the door, stepping out to grab it and surprised when I see my name on it. I bring it in, taking it to the kitchen with me and toss it on the counter.
“Can I open it?” Colby asks. I nod, going to the fridge. I smile when I see the food I made last night is now gone. I don’t know why, but it feels like a small victory, and it makes me smile. Knowing that no matter how grumpy that man may be that he still ate my food makes me happy. I grab a few things to make sandwiches. I debate making one and leaving it in the fridge. I decide that’s exactly what I’ll do. If he ate the spaghetti then why not a sandwich? I might win some points and maybe he’ll stop being a jerk.
“What is this?” Colby holds up what looks like an old school housekeeping uniform. Seriously? I look down at the yoga pants, sneakers and shirt I have on today. I love wearing dresses, but they aren't for cleaning. Except the new housekeeping outfit I’m staring at says otherwise. It’s boxy and the material seems rough and heavy. I hope it doesn't break me out in a rash while it cooks me alive.