Total pages in book: 46
Estimated words: 43197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 43197 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 216(@200wpm)___ 173(@250wpm)___ 144(@300wpm)
“I see. I’m so sorry.”
He nodded and I saw his eyes roaming over me. I wished again that I looked the way I used to. Not that I had ever been as gorgeous as he was, but at least I didn’t used to be a frail, white-haired freak. I pushed my hair behind one ear, wishing I’d taken the time to tie it back that morning and feeling nervous as he continued to stare at me. Unnerved as he continued to look me up and down, I began to babble, and I realized that I was edging backward toward the door.
“Don’t worry about the hiring thing, sir. I know you must feel disappointed. I-uh-I tried to explain to your brother that I wasn’t anything you needed before we came out here, but he’s very kind, and he wanted me to at least meet you. Not that you’re not kind too—I mean, I’m sure you are. But I can’t really be any sort of assistant to you, sir. You see, I…”
“Call me Alyx, please.”
“I…what?”
“You called me ‘sir.’ I’d like it better if you called me Alyx.”
“Oh, well, okay. Alyx, then. Surely you see now that I’m not suitable for…”
“I totally disagree. I’m sorry to keep interrupting you, Kailar, but I think you’re perfect for my needs. How soon can you start?”
“What? Wait, I-I don’t even drive, and it’s a long way here from my house.”
“It’s a live-in position. You’d have a room right here, with all your meals provided, of course.”
“I would?” I could only imagine how much of a burden that would take off my stepmother. But…I was totally unsuited for this or any job in the shape I was in. I had only been kidding myself.
“No, no, I-I don’t think that would work. My health is bad, and I-I have a stepmother, you see. She relies on me.”
“You can go see her whenever you like—my driver will be at your disposal. And the salary I’m offering may help you both a bit.” He nodded at Keion. “Show him, Keion.”
Keion pulled a long envelope from his pocket and handed it to me.
“What is this?” I asked.
“Your first paycheck. In advance.”
I opened the envelope and saw a number that made me speechless. I just stared at it until I found my voice again.
“Is-is this for the whole year?”
He smiled gently, and it made him even more handsome. I wouldn’t have thought that possible. “Just for the month. What do you say, Kailar? Can you start right away?”
“But what is it you want me to do for you?” I said, a little too loud, I guess, but he had shocked me. There had to be a catch.
“I need an assistant in the pool for my therapy. Hydrotherapy.”
And there it was—the catch, the conundrum, the drawback, the fly in the fucking ointment. I stared at him, feeling sick. I need the money so badly, but how could I overcome my fears and get back in the water? Not to mention the fact that I was no kind of therapist. How was I supposed to help him? My breath started coming faster and faster, and I guess my distress must have shown on my face because he stepped over quickly to take my arm.
“Don’t worry, Kailar. It’s not a deep pool at all. Just up to your waist. And all you have to do is watch me. Like a spotter with weightlifting. You can just sit on the side of the pool at first, until you get used to it. The doctors don’t want me in the pool area alone—at least not for now. There’s not much to do, except be there and watch. I can get in and out on my own.” He stepped closer to me, then glanced over at Keion.
I was still shaking my head, my eyes wide. No way was I taking a job that meant I had to get back in the water every day.
“I need your help,” Alyx said softly to his brother, and Keion came over to me and touched my arm, looking deeply into my eyes.
“You’re not really afraid of the water, are you, Kailar?” Keion said in a gentle tone. “You know you’ll be safe, and the money will really help your stepmom out at home. You want to do this, don’t you? You really want to help my brother.”
And the more he talked, the more I nodded. It’s as if the words he was saying weren’t questions but a kind of persuasion. A compulsion? Was he hypnotizing me like he’d done with the Dragon Lady earlier? I felt as if I were sinking deeper and deeper into his eyes, but I wasn’t at all panicked or afraid. A sense of soothing calm came over me, instead.
“And you promise everything will be all right?” I heard myself ask him.