Chapter 2

JOHN

She rolls over and rests her naked body on mine. “You haven’t left yet?” I’m not happy to see her. “You’re a real asshole, you know that?” She steps out of the bed. “You didn’t seem to think so when I was fucking you night.” I get up, walk into my bathroom, and close the door.

She follows me, tries to turn the handle. “Just leave!” I lock the door. “You fucking drove me here. I don’t even know where I am.” She won’t quit. “My driver will take you wherever you need to go.” I say through the door. “That’s real nice.” She stomps off. “I had a wonderful evening,” I mutter before I hurl into the toilet.

I hear Ernie walk in. He laughs at the site of her naked and angry. I crack the bathroom door to see she’s frantically picking up her clothes. “Fuck off.” She blurts out as she whips by him.

Ernie shrugs and places a tray of food down onto the table. I wince at the sight of it. “Are you alright sir?” Ernie asks. “I must have eaten something bad last night.” I sit down in my chair by the window that faces the front of the castle.

“Is there anything I can get for you?” He asks. “You can get her the fuck outta here.” Ernie nods, “Yes sir.”I stand by the window patiently waiting for her to exit the castle. There’s too much to be done today for me to sit around and entertain some dating app slut.

She throws her middle finger up in the air. I laugh as she gets into the car. My body feels weak after last night. I take my robe off, and stand before the mirror. My body is weakening.

Oh well, she was fun for a night. “I’ll never call her again.” Ernie busts in with fresh sheets, “She wouldn’t have answered you anyways.” He’s staring at me. “For Christ’s sake Ernie, didn’t you knock for my uncle?”

“Oh honey I sure did, but you are not your uncle.” He thinks he’s funny. “You may not have knocked for my uncle Jack, but you will knock for me.” I command “Is that an order, biscuit buns?” He looks down at my dick. “You know this would constitute as sexual harassment?” Doesn’t he know who he’s talking to? “Well then you can just fire me.” Maybe I should.

“This is why I need a house manager.” I mumble under my breath. “Your first interview is at 10 am master.” Ernie tagged me with the tip of the pillowcase. “What the hell Ernie? Watch the goods.” I cup my junk with my hands. “Oh, I’m watching sir.” Is he flirting with me? “You’re a very strange man.” I say to him. “And you’re not the beast of the castle that you think you are.” That’s quite enough. I’m done with this fool, “Get out.”

I clean up and I make my way downstairs. The door in the opposite corner of the kitchen leads to another stairway. I walk down into the garage, and grab my medication from my car. My goal is to make it back upstairs unnoticed.

The groundskeeper and I lock eyes for a moment. I nod and she nods back. The nod is new to me. It’s like a universal understanding of many things. I think I’m getting rather good at that. I nod again as I pass Ernie on the grand staircase. He nods back. The doorbell rings.

I sit at my desk, take my pill and pick up my acoustic guitar. The sweet memories of the good old life take me away for a moment.

My first interview is five minutes late. Not a good first impression. Ernie escorts Henry Williams into my office. “Good Morning, Mr. St. Jacks. Thank you for seeing me.” His hand is disgustingly sweaty. “Have a seat. Tell me about yourself.” I debate on asking him why he’s late, but I don’t bother.

“I spent the last fifteen years managing the estate of Madison Breer. After she passed away I took some time off to study economics at Harvard. I graduated-”

“Who are you?” I ask. “Excuse me, sir?” He looks confused. “I’m more interested in what kind of person you are. What do you do for fun? Favorite book? Do you like music? What makes you, you?” He froze, “I don’t know.” He said.

“Give me a call when you figure that out.” I get up and walk him to the door. Ernie shows his dismay as I motion for him to escort the soulless man out of my home. That man and I would have nothing to talk about. He’s a doorknob.

Ernie knocks on the door jam.,“Sir, your next interview is here. Presenting Edward Downs.” He seems eager, “It’s very nice to meet you.” He reaches for my hand. “That’s a nice strong handshake you got there.” I say as I take my hand back. This man is large, and has coffee stains on his shirt.

“I remember your uncle. He was a good man. I’m so sorry for your loss.” I smile, “Thank you Edward. How did you know him?” I lift and cross my legs, and rest my feet on my desk. “Years ago, we used to play cards every Thursday night.” He almost looks sad. “Why’d you stop?” I ask him, as I knew my uncle played until he died.“We had a disagreement of sorts. It was nothing.”

“Why are you here today Mr. Downs?” I question his intentions. “I know this place, I know the townspeople, and I know what it takes to run an estate such as this one. In a way, I feel like I owe it to your uncle to help out.” He’s grimacing out the window. “Do you have a bathroom?” I direct him down the hall.

Great, he can barely hold himself together for three minutes. How the hell is he going to handle the estate, and my affairs?

Thunk, thunk, thunk.

“That was fast.” I look up to see a beautiful woman. “Mr. St. Jacks, I presume?” Her presence catches me off guard. “That’s me. Yes, and you are?” I stutter. “Your eleven o’clock.”She says. “I’m not so sure.” My curiosity is piqued.

Ernie escorts Edward Downs back into my office. “I’m so sorry for the delay Mr. St. Jacks.” He tries to step closer, and I put my hand up with my gaze still on this stunning creature. “That’s quite alright. I’ll call you.” I lie to him. “Very good sir.” He waves awkwardly on his way out.

She walks to my desk, places her resume down, “Wyatt James Hendricks.”She points to her name on the heading, and takes a seat in front of me.

I was not expecting a woman.