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She was a beautiful woman, and I was going to give her that, but something about her I couldn’t still get my hands on made me worry and think about her constantly, much to my annoyance.
I looked around her, trying to find my sister, but she was alone, probably laying her traps.
“Sir . . .” James called out, his voice a little loud, enough to push me off my locked glare.
I turned toward him and frowned.
“I was saying,” he continued, “we can—”
I raised my left hand, stopping him as I moved my gaze back to Lucy. “Two days, James. I don’t think you have more time to waste. You better get started.”
Slowly, James closed the book, turned, and walked away, while I continued to fix my gaze on Lucy. After a moment’s pause, I straightened my shirt and shoulders and began to head toward her direction.
********
“You know, you shouldn’t be wandering around here alone.” I said to Lucy.
Without moving her head, she asked, “Why not?” She did not take her eyes off the flowers, but instead leaned into smell their beautiful fragrance.
“The flowers are beautiful, aren't they?" I remarked, folding my arms.
Lucy turned toward me with a smile, her eyes still fixed on the vibrant blooms. "Absolutely, they are."
I couldn't help but smile back and glanced around at the landscape. Ella had certainly given Lucy the confidence to make herself at home here. "What was that you just said?" Lucy shrugged, still focused on the flowers. "I asked why it's such a big deal for me to wander around on my own."
I let out a playful sigh and inched closer to her. "Well, you see, I'm just trying to figure out who you are and what your secret mission is in my humble abode."
She grinned mischievously. "So, Ella had it right."
I furrowed my brow, genuinely curious. "Had what right?"
Lucy turned to face me, her eyes meeting mine. "Ella said you'd run a background check on me, and it looks like you really did."
I couldn't help but chuckle. "Ah, Ella. She's always been quite the detective."
"So, what's the verdict?" Lucy asked, her tone lighthearted.
I relaxed a bit, realizing the tension was unnecessary. "Well, you've got a clean record, as far as I can tell."
Lucy leaned in closer to the flowers, still not taking my concern too seriously. "Good to know."
I leaned closer, my voice softening. "Listen, this is my home, and I'm a bit protective of it. You understand, right?"
Lucy glanced over at me with a twinkle in her eye. "Even if that person happened to be a friend of your sister's?"
I chuckled, realizing I might have been a bit too possessive. "Well, maybe I need to rethink my 'no entry' policy."
She smirked, her fingers gently caressing a petal. "Sounds like progress to me."
I couldn't help but shake my head, amused by her carefree attitude. "You certainly have a way of breaking down barriers."
Lucy finally turned to face me, her smile warm. "I have a knack for it.”
I rubbed my chin and said to her, “Seems so. But, don’t worry, I will find out what I need to know about you in due time. So, we can play all nicey, nice all that you want, but I will figure you out, sooner or later.”
She stopped, sighed, scratched her head, and turned toward me. “You know, I guess you must know it already, but I am here to do a portrait of your mother, and also to help your sister. Whom, might I add, it seems you have an intense urge to overwork to handle things around here. Before I leave to go back to my life and business, which I suspended because of . . .” She stopped midway, sighed again, and looked away.
“You know what, you have no right to speak to me this way. Don’t speak to me like you are speaking to a baby or one of your staff because clearly, I am not. And, of course, if you want me to live in your little prison just to massage your little ego, then, of course, it will be my greatest pleasure.”
