Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 59044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 59044 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 295(@200wpm)___ 236(@250wpm)___ 197(@300wpm)
“And yet?” I prompted, knowing the position was presently vacant.
“Scarlet can make things… difficult if she doesn’t get her way. I believe the former guards simply had enough and left.”
“So, if I take this position, and she tells me at some point to leave, to get out of her apartment…”
“You’re under no obligation to do so. She might complain and be miserable to be around, but she won’t call the police or even the doorman to try to get you thrown out. She knows better.”
“I see,” I said, taking a deep breath.
She sounded like a nightmare.
The question was, though, could I tolerate that for a year to be able to have a good chunk of my retirement stashed away?
I’d served in the military.
I’d dealt with extreme conditions, being stuck in small places for extended periods of time with people I didn’t even like. I’d been miserable and frustrated day in and out.
But I’d gotten through that.
There was no way one pampered little heiress could be too much for me to tolerate for a year.
At my silence, Marcus’s head tipped to the side, watching me. “You’ve never heard of my daughter?” he asked.
“Why would I have?” I asked. “Is she famous?” Not that I was all that familiar with who was famous these days either.
“She’s… famous in the way a lot of young people are famous these days,” he said, waving a hand like he thought that was ridiculous.
“I don’t understand,” I admitted, making Marcus reach for his phone, tapping around for a moment, then clucking his tongue.
“She has about two-point-five million followers on her social media accounts.”
“And that’s a lot?” I asked, having no idea what was enough to be considered famous these days.
“For someone who isn’t famous for something, yes.”
“So, she’s famous for what?”
“Being young, beautiful, and privileged,” he said. “For having opportunities and sharing them on her social media.”
What a vapid way to live.
But, I guess, when you got addicted to that external validation, it was a real bitch of a drug. Always seeking strangers’ approval. Feeling like nothing is really “real” unless two million people see and approve of it.
“Does she earn an income from that?”
“She gets brand deals. And she gets many, many free things.”
“That’s ironic,” I mumbled to myself.
“What is?”
“That she, someone who can afford to get anything she wants, gets sent free things.”
“That it is, son. I won’t pretend to understand her social media… thing. But it seems important to her. And I just want to make sure that what others share of her is somewhat as carefully cultivated as what she shares of herself.”
Something went down.
I didn’t know what it was.
Panty-less paparazzi shots.
A sex tape.
Something.
Otherwise, dear old Dad wouldn’t feel the need to fork out so much money.
“Is Scarlet your only child?” I asked.
“She is,” he confirmed. “My hope was to leave this to her someday,” he said, waving around his office. “But the shareholders won’t hear of it if she doesn’t start at least appearing more in control.”
“I understand your concerns,” I said, nodding. No company wanted to be connected to an out-of-control young woman who spat in the face of her family legacy.
“Do you have any questions?”
“I do.”
“Such as?”
“If I am with your daughter, say in a nightclub of some sort, and she is being what I deem to be inappropriate, what am I permitted to do?”
“Do you get to pull her out of that situation, is what you are asking.”
“Yes.”
“Well,” he said, exhaling. “Not by her hair,” he said with a small smile. “But I feel an… extraction is appropriate if she is not toeing the line.”
“And, again, the ramifications…”
“There will be none. Not unless Scarlet wants to learn what it is like to work for minimum wage. And believe me, son, she does not want that.”
“Okay,” I said, nodding. “Do you have any questions for me?”
“Is your passport up to date?” he asked.
“My passport?”
“Scarlet has been known to fly anywhere in the world on a whim. I need to know you will be able to travel with her.”
“I have all my documents.”
“Okay. Then I guess I only have one question left.”
“Do I want the job?” I filled in for him.
“Well, Julian, do you?”
Hell fucking no, I didn’t want the job.
But that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to take it.
“Yes,” I agreed, saying a silent prayer that I wasn’t making the worst decision of my life. I had half a dozen other possible jobs lined up. Ones that would require significantly less of my time. And cause only a fraction of the frustration.
But I was trying to look at the big picture here.
I wanted that money.
And if I had to babysit a wild rich girl for a year, then so be it.
“Wonderful,” Marcus said, getting to his feet, relief clear on his features.
“I would like for you to start today, if you can have your arrangements settled by this evening.”