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CHASTITY
Ruby is a sweetheart. As soon as we are alone, a broad smile breaks out across her face, and I love how her eyes twinkle.
“Don’t be intimidated by the men in this house, honey. They are all fire with no burn most of the time.”
Knowing she is definitely underestimating their burn as she calls it, I merely smile gratefully.
“How long have you worked here?” I ask with an easy conversation, disguising my usual motive to gain as much information as possible about my prey. I call them prey because I think of them as nothing else. I may be required to defend myself and as a trained assassin, I will use every weapon in my arsenal.
“Three years.” Her face falls as she sighs. “It’s more a vocation than a job, though.”
“Why?” I’m curious and she shakes her head sadly.
“The boss took me in when my husband was murdered. I had nowhere to go that was safe and this house–“ She waves her hand. “This is safer than most, but dangerous at the same time.”
I already know what she’s talking about because one false move or one step in the wrong direction and I’m guessing your stay would be over along with your life.
“It’s a close guarded fortress for the most part, not a home and well, I hope one day everything will change.”
We reach the stop of the grand staircase, and she sighs heavily. “The boss is a good man who is controlled by a bad one.”
“What makes you say that?”
She shakes her head as if disappointed somehow.
“He is a good man underneath the pain. He lets it control him and stifles the one that’s hiding inside.”
“A good man, you say.” This time, I shake my head.
“Good men have no place inside a fortress, Ruby, because it’s this way for a reason. I’m guessing Mr. Ortega has many enemies, and if he was a good man, he wouldn’t be living like this.”
Ruby’s eyes narrow and I can tell I’ve pushed her buttons.
“He is.” She stares at me long and hard. “You must scrape a little harder to see inside. The moments when he’s unguarded. Alone and appearing wistful. The moments when he thinks no one is looking and the way he treats his staff. Those are not the actions of a hard man with no soul. They are the actions of a man trying hard to disguise it.”
“Why are you telling me this?” I shrug as if none of it concerns me, and she says in a whisper.
“Because I am ever hopeful that one day he will meet someone who will heal the damage.”
I don’t need to question her any further. It’s obvious she’s a romantic at heart and I pity her for that. Romance has its place in the world, but notthisworld. Not one filled with terror and bloodied hands. Not one where souls weep and devils dance. There is no room for happiness here and I should know. I’ve been a resident of this world for far too long already.
There is no light when you live in darkness, and I know a lot more about that than most, so I dismiss the deluded housekeeper’s comments and stare with interest as she shows me into a room that makes me salivate.
“I believe you will find everything you need in here, um…”
“Chastity.” I smile and am rewarded with a beaming smile.
“That’s a beautiful name, my dear.” She says magnanimously, and I shrug. “It’s an oxymoron because I am anything but chaste.”
She appears surprised at my bluntness and as I move around the room like a stalking panther, I run my fingers across the silk drapes and note the imprint of my footsteps on the thick white carpet.
“One thing you should realize about me, Ruby.” I say almost as an aside and she watches with anticipation as I say blankly, “Like your boss, I show no emotion. To be honest, I gave it up as a waste of time years ago. If you are hoping for some kind of romance between us, you will be disappointed because that’s not me and probably never will be.”
I’m surprised at the glint in her eye as she mumbles, “That sounds like a battle cry.”
I throw my head back and laugh, loving the surprising housekeeper the more she speaks.
“Perhaps, or I’m just stating the truth. You see, my reason for being here has nothing to do with Mr. Ortega and everything to do with getting what I want.”
