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The sheer scale of this mansion really rubs in how different the billionaire lives of the Penmaynes are to people like Mom and me. As I wander their hallways, it slaps me in the face how they are simply swimming in so much pure...wealth.
It just makes Alda Penmayne that much more of an otherworldly creature.
I can only guess what their bank accounts look like.
It is nice, though, getting to imagine - for a blissful, stolen second - what it might be like to exist in Alda Penmayne’s expensive designer shoes.
I’ve tried bringing it up with Mom as something to talk about – the sheer awe-inspiring size of the mansion and the wealth of the Penmaynes - but she doesn’t give it a moment’s thought. Instead, she’s always delivering me a lecture, telling me never to go anywhere I’m not allowed to go.We are here to do a job and not draw any attention to ourselves.
“Seen and not heard,” I whisper sarcastically under my breath as I shut the door to the guest suite and continue my stroll down the hallway.
I spot a painting of the Penmayne family hanging on the wall. I can even recognize some of them by name now that it’s been a few weeks since I’ve arrived. There’s Alda, the matriarch and the scariest of the family – the strange woman who barely even greeted us at the steps to the mansion. I know people are terrified of Waylen, the media mogul, but Alda is a formidable woman who controls the destiny of Mom and me at her whims, and that is the scariest thing imaginable.
And there are the brothers - Alda and Waylen’s sons. The famous seven Penmayne boys. I’ve spoken to the other staff in the building and have come to catch some of the gossip swirling around the seven brothers.
There’s Spencer, the smart academic boy: who accelerated in schooling way beyond his years and is destined for some fancy top-of-the-world university. There’s Damon, the silent bad boy black sheep of the brothers who is already being eyed up for the military. There’s Victor, who is the vain and charismatic brother with the movie star looks, who loves all the attention thrown his way. There’s Connor who is reserved, and shy, but also the one with the kindest heart. There’s Royce, the aloof and stubborn brother who has his heart set on being a pilot. There’s Arthur, Royce’s twin, who is loud and is the light of every room he enters – the lovable one.
And then, of course, there’s August: the boy wearing glasses always heading off to study and with a smart-ass comment ready to go in his mouth - the good-looking boy whom I embarrassed myself in front of twice on my first day here. I’ve seen him a few times in the few weeks since that introduction, always with a textbook in his hands; either something science or something medical. He seems to be the bookish and hard-working Penmayne brother- the serious one with his focus on medical school or something. There is a hell of a lot of intelligence there behind his eyes, I can tell.
One thing’s for sure, August Penmayne has paid me more attention than anyone else in his family. I have to say, his curiosity about me has mademecurious about him.
Don’t think about him, Emma.
Wanting to find a distraction from my thoughts, I peek into the next unlocked room.
Jackpot.
It’s the movie room – completely decked out for the private viewing experience of a billionaire family and recreated just like a mini cinema. It’s surrounded by padded soundproof walls. There are plush, custom-designed reclining movie chairs with drink holders on the armrests. A massive state-of-the-art screen dominates the central wall, complete with a brand-new surround sound system.
It’s...incredible.
I’ve never seen a room like this before.
I could live in just these four walls and watch movies all day and be the happiest girl in the world.
I dare take a step inside. Yep, this is a room where I am definitely not allowed in. Mom would not be happy at all if she knew I was in here.
But she doesn’t have to know...
There’s a cabinet full of DVDs along one wall. I browse through the endless selection of movies and documentaries and TV shows. I wonder how many times the Penmaynes even use this room, or if it was just an afterthought when they were building this wing of the mansion.
What’s this?
I catch sight of something unusual in the cabinet... something that could be interesting. I pick it out. The DVD cover is a photo of dancers in elaborate costumes on stage. I look at the title.
Swan Lake by Tchaikovsky.
Now this isdefinitelyinteresting - much more so than the raunchy comedies and goofball Hollywood movies that mostly fill the cabinet.
Maybe I could even watch it...
I glance around the room. There aren’t any cameras in here. There’s no one to catch me.
Sure, I can watch it and not get busted.
I am so bored anyway, and I’m not causing any harm.
I slot the DVD into the machine and take a seat right in the middle of the front row.
