My hand froze midway through my last signature. The distant yelling put an instant pause to my excitement. I couldn’t make sense of a word, but the outright rage and insolence in Nathan Sinclair’s voice were crystal clear.
“Amelia, are you still here?” Mrs. Sinclair knocked at the coffee table to get my attention. “I know my son can become scary when he is upset. I understand if you don’t want to take this job anymore. It won’t be the first time a girl backs out amid the signing process because of my son’s outbursts.”
No one pays so generously for a job anyone can do. So what if my new boss was fond of throwing temper tantrums? That didn’t change anything. I had seen a lot worse in life. My marriage to John wasn’t butterflies and rainbows. Even before his arrest, he had made me suffer in other ways.
“No, Ma’am. I am not easily scared.” I swiftly completed the final signature and pushed the contract to her side.
“Delightful!” Mary Sinclair’s face lit up with pleasure. “I welcome you, Amelia Walter, into our family and home. I have a feeling we’ll both benefit greatly from this agreement.”
“Likewise.” I passed a tight-lipped smile.
“Nathan’s PA will brief you about your job and take you to him. You can come to me any time you want about anything.” Mrs. Sinclair scanned the room and brought her volume down to a whisper. “Promise me, no matter what, you won’t admit to my son the real reason behind hiring you. As a mother, I know what my son needs, but I am afraid I still need to learn what he wants. All the best. I sincerely hope you can solve that mystery for me.”
Mrs. Sinclair left the room with Mrs. Montgomery. I was all by myself until Nathan’s PA came to join me. He was a man in his late thirties with an impeccable taste in fashion and stunning hair.
“Hi. I am Frank Adams,” he said to me. His energy and mannerisms were slightly feminine. “Walk with me, please.”
I did exactly as asked and walked alongside him.
“As a busy man, I never have time for small talk. So, let’s cut to the chase.” Frank raised a finger. “First, I want you to make notes each time I am talking. My wise golden words are the only thing that will help you survive around Nathan Sinclair.” He handed me a pen and a notepad.
“Noted. Tell me everything there is to know about Nathan. I'll write it down. I am a fast learner and here to stay,” I said, struggling to match Frank’s pace.
Frank halted and rolled his eyes at me. “Oh my God, newbies never fail to entertain me with their naïve questions. Girl, Nathan’s likes and dislikes can’t be written down on paper in one day. It takes months of hard work to put it all in one place.”
He gave me a heavy book that I was surprised to have failed to notice him carrying.
“This contains all the information about your duties, Nathan’s schedule, likes and dislikes, and everything else you need to know to stay on his good side. Swear by it,” said Frank.
I flipped through the book. It was hardcover and had a picture of Nathan Sinclair on the front. “Quite impressive. You have him all figured out. Can you tell me what made him mad fifteen minutes ago?” I asked.
Frank clenched his jaw with stress. “The toast was not crispy enough, and his milk was room temperature and not mildly warm.”
“Oh. Was the chef and the person who served him breakfast unaware of that?” I asked.
“Um, Mr. Sinclair occasionally changes his mind without informing anyone.”
“What a stuck-up jerk!” I reacted.
Frank placed his hand over my mouth. “Missy, you better watch your mouth if you want to stay here. It doesn’t happen that often, so chill out. You must get used to such behavior and stay on top of any changes in his liking. Capeesh?”
“Alright,” I huffed. “I’ll do as you say, but I can’t seriously fathom being the wife of such an insufferable man.”
Frank roared with laughter. “You crack me up, new girl. A month ago, Nathan Sinclair rejected the most gorgeous girl on earth. Do you think you have a chance? Not in a millionaire years.”
“You’re rude.” I folded my arms. “What do I lack? Beauty isn’t everything. I have other qualities as well.”
“Well, for starters.” Frank studied me from head to toe. “You are not light on your feet at all. Your heels are producing too much sound, which would get you an earful from Nathan. He has recently developed an intolerance to such high squeaky sounds. Change into flats as soon as possible.”
I removed my heels immediately. “Done. Now, where can I get a pair of decent flats? I don’t have any with me because I didn’t know I would need them.”
“I’ll have that arranged for you in no time.” Frank typed a text on his phone. “Now, let’s move on to the next thing. Takes those hoop earrings off immediately.”
“Why has he developed an allergy to the sights of hoops and circles, too?” I questioned.
“No. That’s just honest advice from me. Hoops don’t go with this outfit,” said the sassy PA.
“I can’t believe your audacity to insult things you don’t like. Just so you know, Rose Montgomery’s stylist picked my entire look.”
Frank’s sassy attitude dropped immediately at the mention of her. “In that case, these earrings are perfect, and please never tell her what I said.”
“Only if you promise to never mock me again,” I said.
Frank gave me the fakest smile. “I can’t promise that. I have a feeling that we’ll become good friends in the future. And what is friendship without a little leg-pulling?”
I chose not to reply to that. Frank claimed to be an expert on the Sinclair’s heir. It was best to remain on his good side only.
“How much time do I have to study all this and start work?” I asked.
“You can’t start work for at least a few days. After that, you would still need constant supervision. New girls aren’t allowed anywhere near Nathan Sinclair on their first day.” Frank playfully poked my shoulder. “Because I am feeling generous, I will formally introduce you to him when he is in a better mood. What do you say? Are you ready to meet the devil?”
“How are you allowed to insult him?” I pouted at the unfairness of it.
“I am not insulting him. Nathan likes to be called the devil. It used to be his stage name when he was in a band,” said Frank, blowing on his fingernails.
“Oh, my bad! When can I see him? Will his mood be better anytime soon?”
Frank grinned at me. “Only time will tell, honey. In the meantime, I suggest you get to studying.”
They gave me an empty room to read the book while we waited indefinitely for Nathan Sinclair’s mood to improve. Instead of focusing on the given task, I found myself dozing off in the quietude. For the first time in months, I had felt safe in a place. The gangsters wouldn’t dare step on a billionaire’s property.
“Knew it!” Frank’s voice woke me up from my unplanned nap. “My brilliant book is too much for your average mind. Now, quickly get up and make yourself look representable again because we are to meet Mr. Sinclair right now.”
I yawned and looked around to find that more than an hour had passed. The nap was too good to recover from.
“Here are the flats you requested,” said Frank, giving me a shoe box. “Put them on and meet me outside the door in two minutes.”
Hurriedly, I wore the flats and headed outside to meet Frank in the hallway.
“I’m ready. What should I say to Nathan? Any advice?”
“Let me do the talking and only speak when you are spoken to. Be like a shadow, don’t let his focus shift on you, and pray to God he doesn’t fire you immediately. That’s all I can say,” said Frank. The seriousness and urgency in his tone gave me goosebumps.
We made our way to the devil’s bedroom. I stood behind Frank while he knocked at the door.
“Sir, can we come in?” he politely asked.
“Yes!” Nathan’s slightly annoyed reply came almost immediately. His breathy yet deep voice sent tingles down my spine.
Not knowing what to expect, I entered the room in Frank’s shadow.
The room was poorly lit. In a semi-upright position, Nathaniel Sinclair rested on a massive white bed with a blanket elegantly draped over his legs. He was more handsome than the picture I saw of him in the living room. The man didn’t look physically sick or frail, but the expression on his face was dangerously intimidating. Did he hate the world and the entire human race?
“Sir, my apologies for taking your time,” Frank began. “I am aware you aren’t having the best day because of the staff’s horrible mistake. I sincerely apologize for that again. We won’t take much of your time, as I only came here to introduce you to your new caregiver, approved by your mother.”
“This is Amelia Walter. She has worked for your Aunt Rose and is willing to put extra hours into work,” said Frank, pointing his finger at me.
I lowered my head when Nathan’s gaze moved to me. How his employees maintained eye contact with him was beyond me.
“Okay,” said Nathan. “You can leave now, Frank.”
“As you command, sir.” Frank sighed. “Let’s go, Amelia.”
“Not her, just you,” Nathan spoke when we were about to leave.
“What, sir? Are you asking me to leave and her to stay?”
“Yes. Exactly what you heard,” Nathan replied.
Frank’s face went white as a ghost. “But sir. This girl is new. She isn’t aware of your schedule, illness, and needs. It would be a mistake to make her stay.”
“I am aware. Now leave, and don’t make me repeat myself!” Nathan’s tone was rude and authoritative.
My heart sank when Frank began to leave. I grabbed his arm and whispered, “Where are you going? What am I supposed to do now? You were right. I was napping the whole time and didn’t read a word of your book. Please tell me what you do when Nathan Sinclair commands the new girl to stay.”
Frank gave me a look of pity and alarm. “Girl. It has never happened before. So stay and pray to God he doesn’t strangle you.”
He jerked his arm away from my grip and went straight out the door, leaving me alone with the sadistic billionaire.