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Colin reached out and grabbed her hand from Mary's gently, giving Mary an ‘I’ll explain later’ look.
He saw Olivia’s eyebrow raise as Beth, his new cleaner, a young brunette in a professional cleaning uniform, quickly and quietly walked across the landing upstairs. She hadn’t even made a sound. The only reason he'd noticed her was because of his past military training.
Beth disappeared into the hallway like a ghost, almost as if she’d never been there to begin with. He smiled, thinking that’s why he loved having Beth around. She avoided him, they gave each other a wide berth, and she handled what needed to be done efficiently.
He took note that Olivia was a keen observer.
“Ms. Olivia, it’s lovely to meet you as well. Please make yourself at home. Do not worry about a thing! If this tyrant bothers you, you come see me. Okay, amor?” Mary smiled warmly at Olivia once again before turning her attention to Colin. He gave her a sly smile.
Mary amused him to no end. He’d have to give her another generous raise.
“I am headed out for the day mijo, but I’ve left a lemon roast chicken with vegetables in orzo rice in the oven. The wine cooler is stocked, and I put in an order of tignanello you wanted, but they said a full case would be ready tomorrow and you’d have to pick it up. Do you need anything else before I leave?” Mary took Olivia’s purse, her eyes widening as she watched her place it in a hidden closet under the stairs.
He made another mental note that she didn’t like anyone touching her things.
Oh well, he thought. Because all of her things are going to be touched. Respectfully of course.
Colin grinned as he realized that was a lie. He’d be touching all her things, decidedly disrespectfully. His smile broadened as he reached into his pocket for his phone. Wondering again for the hundredth time why Mary never had music playing over the home surround. She knew he liked it.
“No thank you, Mary, I appreciate you.” Colin said, turning his attention to his phone momentarily.
“Ms. Mary, it’s so nice to meet you again. Thank you for dinner,” Olivia said softly, and Colin kept his gaze on his phone as Olivia stood there rather awkwardly looking as Mary nodded, grabbed her own purse and belongings, and let herself quietly out the door.
Colin made another mental note that Olivia hadn’t disclosed to Mary that they’d already had dinner. He liked this about her, she seemed to care about others feelings, even strangers. He watched through his peripheral as she attempted to look around her surroundings without appearing obvious.
"Go ahead and look all you want, that's what it's there for. To be looked at and used," he murmured to her distractedly, trying to find the playlist he wanted.
After a few taps, soft music began playing throughout the house through a customized sound system. Colin took her hand again and led her through the foyer into the back of the home, where there was a vast, homey kitchen. Across from the kitchen was an informal lounge with plush dark blue furniture, an electric fireplace, and a tastefully large flat screen television.
He was incredibly proud of every aspect of his home, and though he knew she was tired, he couldn’t help but want to show it off. Just the highlights.
He paused briefly at the drinks cabinet in the kitchen while she walked to the glass wall in the back of the home, and worked quickly, making them both a drink.
The back wall was nothing but sliding glass doors leading to an indoor-outdoor style dining room and outdoor kitchen, with a fireplace/pizza oven. Beyond that was an immense pool with a grotto that was currently glowing purple and spitting out water over the top. Water was splashing everywhere and in another corner was a hot tub, also glowing similar shades of purple and pink.
Colin grabbed both of their drinks and walked the few feet to her, seeing Olivia staring at the grotto, smiling to herself.
“Do you like what you see?” Colin asked softly, coming up from behind her with two glasses of white wine, handing her one. She took it hesitantly, managing a cautious sip before smacking her lips in surprise. He’d purposefully picked a delicious and refreshing sweet wine. Her eyes widened in pleasure before meeting his.
“Mmm this is so good… you’re going to make me become a lush,” she said with a small laugh, “and yes, you have a very beautiful home, though I think the grotto is very playboy mansion like,” she smiled at him, her smile faltering as she noticed he was staring rather intensely at her, sipping from his wine glass.
He made a scoffing sound in the back of his throat, remembering a rather lavish party at the aforementioned mansion when he’d first started making serious money. That was his first and only time there, he hadn’t wanted to get caught up in the partying lifestyle.
“Nonsense, it’s nothing like their grotto. I’ve been in it. This one is more intimate and not made for an orgy,” Colin said, smiling cheekily at her. Olivia blinked, looking rather stunned.
Olivia’s piercing eyes flickered away from him and perused the kitchen slowly, taking another cautious sip. He tilted his head a little as he noticed she took very tiny swallows. He wanted her to like to drink, however he knew given her past with her parents that he’d have to tread carefully there too.
Colin didn’t want to, but if she truly needed him to, then he’d be willing to give up alcohol for her. That’s how badly he found himself wanting her trust in him. Wanting this relationship to work out.
“May I show you some more of the house? I know you’re probably tired after the long day we've had. I’ll just hit the highlights so you can at least get your bearings, and then you can get comfortable. You’re more than welcome to explore all you like tomorrow if you wish,” he said, mentioning for her to follow him. She clutched her box tighter to her, the cardboard starting to bend beneath her fingers.
He placed his hand on his back again, taking her downstairs through the staircase so she would at least know where she was. After a tour of a two-lane bowling alley, a dark thirty seater media room with plush sofas and a popcorn machine, he took her to another spot that hosted a small indoor jacuzzi.
"Impressive," Olivia admitted. Her eyes widened with pleasure at seeing a jacuzzi nestled into the floor next to an indoor pool room. The area boasted more glass doors that opened to the lush grounds outdoors.
“Thanks. I had it set up like this for the wintertime, if we don’t want to be outside,” Colin explained.
Olivia raised her eyebrows at his use of ‘we’ but didn’t comment verbally. According to the contractual timeline, they would celebrate three sets of holidays with each other. If she successfully lasted that long, that is.
