Keep Him Fed

WREN

My view was of a beautiful estate for the elites, where silence was invaluable. The Buildings in the neighborhood have the same structure and design.

I marveled within me, my mouth opened but no words came out.

"So this is the house you will housekeep," My employer, Mrs. Vaughn said.

She was a poised and elegant brunette in her late twenties maybe, and could pass for a runaway model, but she's a ballet dancer.

On the glass table in the living room, I sighted a magazine and my breathing slowed, anxiety kicked in.

I glanced around probably to see who had dropped the paper here.

For the past three months since I left Australia, I have been conscious of the net, the media wasn't my friend, thinking about it scares me.

The magazine reminds me of home, what I'd lost. My grandmother would probably be crying in her grave for my poor management of her matchmaking company.

"For the next few weeks," she finished.

"It's fine by me," I replied with a wide smile.

It was what I needed, silence and hideout.

She frowned, proceeding to show me the kitchen, the bar room, and upstairs but not without putting a limit to my entry in some rooms.

Eve Vaughn directed me to the balcony, there was a small garden and a swimming pool. Perfect! I exclaimed in my head, I didn't forget to bring a bikini.

A brown cat ran to rub its head on Eve's leg, and she bent down to carry it, rubbing its head tenderly.

I raised my eyebrows at both gestures.

"You are to bathe fluffy and cater to her needs."

So much for a housekeeping job, I'd gone to a restaurant to look for a job, but there was no space, luckily my supposed boss was friends with Eve Vaughn and here I am.

The compound was occupied by two buildings in it, demarcated by a short hedge and there was a courtyard between them.

I saw a Rolls Royce parked in the garage in the other building, wondering about the kind of neighbor that lives there. Probably a rich old fellow, I glanced at Eve, but a shadow caught my attention.

It was a man in all his masculine glory, bashing only God knows what on the phone. I felt pity for the other person. Then he turned and our eyes met, damn he's beautiful, butterflies in my belly, his hard jaw matching his face.

"Wren!"

I turned to the oblivious Eve, and this time gave her an uncomfortable smile.

"I want everywhere to look the same when I come back."

"Of course," I replied.

When I looked back at the house, the man wasn't there. How could I survive seeing him for the next month?

"I trust you are clean," Eve asked, taking my full attention.

"Pardon ma?"

"No criminal record." She looked at me, like I'm some shit.

"I'm clean," I lied.

How do I tell this lady I have been branded by the media as a fraud in Australia, with a ruined matchmaking company because the last client I matched, Paige Williams, had gone missing on my watch.

******************************************

It's been two days since Eve traveled for a choreography event. She is married, though it doesn't look like it, there are no pictures of her husband, nothing.

I'd just finished watering the plants and decided to go for a swim to clear my head, but then my private investigator called, and I picked up without delay.

"Please tell me you've gotten something." My desperation tone was obvious.

"Progress at least," Mark replied, and I released a sigh. "We got a location, and it's around the vicinity you are in."

"Houston?" I'm surprised.

"Yes, and the fact we don't know if our suspect is a male or female is killing."