Total pages in book: 25
Estimated words: 23247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 23247 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 116(@200wpm)___ 93(@250wpm)___ 77(@300wpm)
"I prayed to God about this, Mr. Tsaldaris. And I really believe that if the man Charlotte chooses for me is also His choice, then love will surely follow. But on the other hand, I’ve also prayed to God that if Charlotte’s choice isn’t for me, then He’ll keep the marriage from taking place, and maybe, if you don’t mind...I can just continue working as your housekeeper?” Betsy beamed at him. “Win-win, right?”
No, Lukas thought grimly.
It was not a fucking win-win situation at all, since he was starting to realize they were not talking about the same thing.
“Thank you so much for taking the time to listen to me, Mr. Tsaldaris. And for giving me this incredible opportunity to work for you. I’ll be the best housekeeper you could ever ask for, I promise, and D won’t ever be a problem either. I swear! You won’t even know he’s here!”
And because her heart felt as if it was about to burst at this point, Betsy could no longer resist the urge to go up to her boss and throw her arms around him.
“Thank you so, so much again!”
Betsy stepped back and beamed at him for the second time. Did this woman never tire of smiling?
“Good night, sir!"
Or speaking with so much energy it was as if every sentence that rolled past her lips ended with exclamation marks?
"Thank you so much again!”
Lukas reached for his phone as soon as she started to walk away. There was only one way to get to the bottom of this—-
"Oh, I almost forgot!"
Lukas froze when he saw Betsy had turned to face him again.
“The door to the staff quarters was locked when we first came here—”
So that was why she and her son were in the guest room.
“It’s fine,” Lukas heard himself say. “You don't need to move out.”
Green eyes widened at him. “But—”
“It’s just a room.”
Betsy privately disagreed, but then she thought of D...
“Thank you, Mr. Tsaldaris.” If it had just been her, she would have absolutely refused his offer. But for her son, she was more than willing to sacrifice her pride.
Lukas waited until he heard the door close behind Betsy before finally making a call.
Charlotte answered after the first ring, and her first words made it clear she already knew what he wanted to talk about.
“Will you let me explain first?”
“A single mother, Charlotte?” he gritted out. “You dare pity me—”
“It’s not like that at all.” Charlotte’s tone was calm.
“What is this then?” he snapped. “Are you saying you truly believe she’s a good match for me—”
“Yes, that’s exactly what I’m saying.”
Lukas breathed hard at the surprising conviction in her voice.
“That she has an adorable baby boy is just icing on the cake. I’ve always considered you a good friend, Lukas. So please know that I’m taking this seriously.”
“Just give it to me straight,” Lukas said wearily. “Because there’s clearly more.”
“There is," Charlotte admitted guiltily. "Betsy actually thinks she’s on a two-month trial as your housekeeper."
"That's it?"
"That's it."
"Why the hell do I sense a 'but' coming?"
"But you should also know she isn't actually aware that I've already chosen you to be her husband—-or that you still need convincing about making her your wife."
Chapter Five
IT WAS ALREADY HALF past midnight when Lukas came back to his apartment, sweaty and his every muscle aching after the punishing workout he had voluntarily subjected himself to in the past two hours.
He was hoping the grueling activity would be enough to quell the restlessness inside of him, but it did nothing at all, and his disquiet only grew when he heard a now-familiar sound coming from one of the guest rooms.
Her son was crying again, and seeing her bedroom door slightly ajar remained a temptation he couldn’t resist.
Lukas took a look...and bit back a groan.
Karma at its finest.
It was all he could think of since he was now treated to yet another illicit sight, this time of his housekeeper pulling the loose neckline of her nightshirt down so she could start breastfeeding her son.
He fought against the urge to slam the door shut behind him and headed straight to the en-suite to take a cold shower.
Thrice.
But it did nothing at all.
His mind kept taunting him with images of his housekeeper’s milk-swollen breasts...and Betsy pleading for him to drink some of it.
Shit.
It was already three in the morning by the time Lukas' senses yielded to an exhausted sleep, but this made no difference to his body clock, which had him out of bed at six, just like usual.
What was not typical, however, were the sounds (and scents) coming from his kitchen, and Lukas couldn’t help feeling wary as he stepped out of his bedroom.
Betsy glanced up at the sound of footsteps, and her heart immediately skipped a beat when her gaze collided with her boss.
Gulp.
His sleep-tousled hair made him more gorgeous in her eyes for some reason, and the fact that he also had nothing but a pair of sweatpants on had her wanting to fan her face.