SAFEHOUSE (A BWWM BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE) Read Online Free Page B

my lap and
trying to focus on what I was about to say next.

 
    “That would be very helpful... I suppose that would give me extra time
to find a place of my own.”

 
    I could tell that Julien picked up on the flatness of my tone, but he
nodded anyway.

 
    “So you’ll accept?”

 
    I bit the inside of my cheek and nodded, part of me bummed that I was
already getting put back to work. You would think I would have a chance for a
little vacation after all I had gone through. But then again, I was just
thankful for the job. It made me feel better knowing that I was working to pay
my own way…

 
    “Excellent. I’ll go show you to your room and inform Marie and Alain
about your acceptance. They are my heads of staff. You’ll like them.”

 
    “Okay then, let’s see this bedroom of mine.”

 
    We walked through the incredible estate, and I had to laugh as Julien
opened the door to my new room. It was at least three times as big as my
apartment back in Brooklyn.

 
    I wandered over to the massive-sized bed that was actually coming out
of the wall itself. It was fitted with fancy bedposts and a dark blue canopy,
only a few shades darker than the royal blue wallpaper of the room. Half of the
walls were covered with the wallpaper, while the lower half of the walls were
covered in intricately carved wooden panels. Dark wood was everywhere in the
room—on the bed, on the walls, the trim around the doors and windows, and even
in the frames that supported the giant paintings hanging on the wall across
from the bed.

 
    It most definitely was not my taste, but for some reason I loved it
just the same. I ran my hand along the soft fabric of the canopy and curtains,
remembering how I always wanted to have a pink princess canopy over my bed when
I was a kid. Boy, I had no clue.

 
    Somehow I had managed to forget that Julien was standing there in the
doorway still, watching me. He smiled at me, giving me a gentlemanly bow before
taking off. I sighed, once again feeling completely alone.

 
    Even though it wasn’t quite dark out yet, my body was already telling
me it was time to lie down. Stupid jet lag.

 
    I opened up my suitcase and found the comfiest pajamas I had packed,
slipping them on before hopping into the bed. The mattress was perfectly soft,
just enough that I sunk in a little, but still had support for my achy back.
Working as a housekeeper for five years will do that to you.

 
    Before long, I had drifted to sleep, my nightmares keeping
away at least for the night.

 
 
 
 

 
 
    ( Back to Table of Contents )

 
    Chapter 7

 
 
 
 
    The knock at the door startled me awake. I turned over, trying to
place my surroundings before I realized where I was again. I had been moved
around so much lately that this was a common occurrence.

 
    “Yes?” I called out from the bed. If it was just someone reminding me
to eat, that mess could wait. I was still exhausted as it was.

 
    “Mademoiselle Jackson? Monsieur Malveaux said you were to work today,
yes?”

 
    I sat there in my bed for a moment before everything started coming
back. Oh crap , I thought. I had
totally forgot about starting the housekeeping job today. That must be Marie, the head maid.

 
    “Oh, yes. I’m just . . . getting ready! I’ll be right out,” I answered
her.

 
    I quickly got out of bed and stretched out my back. I dumped the
contents of my suitcase out on the satin covers before I realized there was a
freshly-pressed maid’s uniform laid out at the end of my bed.

 
    When did that get there?

 
    I pulled the tight uniform on over my head, wishing I had just a
little bit more room to squeeze into it. Once I buttoned the front buttons
though, it wasn’t so bad. It looked like those fancy uniforms you see in old
movies.

 
    I pulled the brush through my hair, wincing because I was rushing. My
mama used to hate that when I was little; she’d get so mad when I’d start
complaining