Chapter 2 Introduction of Tess

Tess Sunrise’s pov

I was found as an abandoned infant on a mountain hiking trail with a rolled-up piece of aged parchment with my name written on it in lovely calligraphy and a letter written in strange symbols. At the bottom was a huge paw print that I discovered was from a large wolf or bear.

Except for the few runes that were evident in the letter, no one could decipher the rest of the odd writing. I had taken it to some college professors to see if they could decipher it, but they just wanted to keep it to run tests, which I refused. Feeling that it was important and part of who I was and who my parents were I held onto it like a treasure. I still have the piece of parchment hanging in a silver frame on the wall of the one-room studio apartment that I currently reside in.

I grew up in an orphanage. Once I turned twenty-one, I aged out of the state-run facility and was cast out into the world all to my own devices. Given a small stipend, I was able to get myself housing and a few belongings to furnish my meager dwelling.

Thankfully, I didn't have to become a stripper and was currently employed by a company that cleans the residences of well-off clients.

Today was my first day and my coworker Rosie was a sweet older lady.

She filled me in on the man’s penthouse we were assigned with.

“He is an odd fellow, handsome as all get out and very eccentric. His name is Mister Draeger and he has a cat called Samson. When we arrive, let me introduce you to him so he doesn't get all pissy with you,” she warned me, and I nodded. I planned on being on my best behavior since I needed this job desperately to keep me from having to work a strip pole in my undergarments like other girls I had known who had gone off on their own.

Once we arrived at the stranger’s penthouse door after riding up an elevator, I chewed on the inside of my bottom lip, not familiar with anyone who had so much wealth.

I figured that he must be an old grumpy bastard who screwed over people to get his money.

At least that's what I had thought until we entered the place and I saw him coming from the back bedroom.

Mister Draeger looked like a thirty-something no-nonsense hitman. His eyes were as sharp as his stubble-covered jawline, and damn, he was sexy. It oozed off of him like a tantalizing desert.

My brow furrowed, though, because something was very off about him. His smell was different. Not off-putting but rather mysterious and I found myself watching him closely like he could pounce at any moment.

“He seems upset that you brought me,” I murmured to Rosie and she told me to ignore the brut.

“He's all bark and no bite. Plus I need coverage for my vacation,” she asserted.

Seeing the fluffy black cat slinking between the man’s feet, my eyes widened as I knelt down to stroke its fur.

I had an odd connection with all kinds of animals and nature yet something was different with this feline. Its yellow eyes held an intelligence, but I ignored my intuition and continued to pet the small beast as I announced that I loved cats.

The man started muttering distasteful things about the cat shedding, and I shook my head, seeing that it just needed some minor grooming care.

“Come along, kitty, I will brush him out for you, Sir,” I announced as I dug in my purse for my fine-toothed comb.

Taking a seat on the plush white couch I lifted the cat and began grooming the appreciative feline.

Hearing the man announce that he was leaving and for Rosie to lock up, I glanced up to sneak a look, and our eyes connected.

Swallowing uncomfortably at getting caught ogling him. He paused momentarily but then turned and stormed out of his home.

Sighing Rosie huffed and said, “Tess, stop playing with Samson and go to the bedroom to change the bed sheets. I will point out where I store the clean linens.”

Seeing Samson gazing up at me I smiled and stroked his freshly combed coat.

“I better get this mess cleaned up before your master has a coronary,” I snickered as I gathered the piles of black fluff and asked Rosie where the trash was.

“You're supposed to be following me around to get familiarized with the layout. If we lose Mister Draeger as a client we will lose a handsome check,” she complained, making me feel like shit.

“Sorry, but the cat needed tending to,” I mumbled softly, and she eyed me oddly.

Following her into the bedroom, I pinched my lips together at seeing the enormous king-size bed.

“Putting a fitted sheet on this is going to suck,” I murmured as I started pulling off the dirty one. A woman’s red lacy thong flew into the air and I raised my brow as I watched it fall to the carpet.

“Either Mister Draeger is very kinky or his bedmate forgot their panties,” I laughed as I pointed out the red fabric to Rosie.

She just brushed it off and added, “That's not the first pair I have seen, Tess. You know how these rich bachelors are, full of hormones and ready to rut with any willing filly.”

I snickered and then asked her if she was raised on a farm, and she grinned slightly and nodded.

Lifting the panties up with my fingertips I asked her what I should do with them.

“Toss me in the trash, dear. That's what he always wants me to do with the leftovers,” she mumbled. So I took them back to the kitchen and disposed of them like I had the cat fur.

Rosie continued spouting off a list of things that I had to be certain to do every time I was scheduled to the penthouse and I listened while Samson followed me around the premises.