Chapter 3 - THE HOUSE WITH TOO MANY LOCKS
Three days later, I arrived at the Voss residence.
It wasn't a house.
It was an architectural declaration of war against modesty.
Tall iron gates.
Security cameras.
A circular driveway.
Stone columns.
And enough windows to make me wonder who cleaned them.
I parked my Honda beside a black SUV.
A security guard looked at my car.
Then at me.
"Can I help you?"
"Sophie Carter. Mrs. Ellis is expecting me."
He checked a tablet.
Then nodded.
"You're on the list."
I stared at the gate.
"That's comforting."
He didn't smile.
Apparently humor was not included in the security package.
Mrs. Ellis greeted me at the door.
She wore a blue cardigan and slippers.
"Sophie!"
She hugged me.
I hugged her back.
Behind her stood Adrien.
Charcoal suit.
Gray eyes.
Expression like a thunderstorm.
"Miss Carter."
"Mr. Voss."
Mrs. Ellis looked between us.
"Oh, stop being so formal. It's exhausting."
Adrien sighed.
"Mother."
She waved him away.
"Go intimidate someone else."
I covered my mouth to hide a smile.
The arrangement was simple.
Mrs. Ellis wanted help organizing appointments, transportation, and household schedules.
She also wanted someone to accompany her on outings.
Not because she couldn't function independently.
Because she was tired of dealing with people who treated her like a fragile object.
I agreed to work part-time.
The pay was more than I'd earned at The Linden Room.
But I insisted on a written contract.
Adrien looked surprised.
"Of course."
"And I report to your mother."
He nodded.
"And if she wants to go somewhere reasonable, we go."
"Define reasonable."
I smiled.
"Somewhere that doesn't involve jumping out of airplanes."
Mrs. Ellis looked disappointed.
"I've always wanted to try that."
Adrien closed his eyes.
I laughed.
The first week went smoothly.
Mostly.
Mrs. Ellis was delightful.
She loved gardening.
Old movies.
Crossword puzzles.
And arguing with her son.
Adrien, meanwhile, seemed to appear whenever I least expected him.
In the kitchen.
The library.
The garden.
Always watching.
Always asking questions.
One afternoon, I finally turned toward him.
"Do you have a hobby?"
He raised an eyebrow.
"Excuse me?"
"Something you do for fun."
"I work."
"That's not a hobby."
"It can be."
"That's depressing."
Mrs. Ellis laughed from her chair.
Adrien looked at me.
"You're very comfortable criticizing me."
I shrugged.
"You're very easy to criticize."
For a moment, he stared.
Then he smiled.
A real smile.
May you like
It transformed his face.
And I hated how much I noticed.
