Chapter 2: Chapter 1

I sighed as my phone’s alarm went off. I certainly didn’t feel like I had gotten enough sleep yet. Having to wake up this early so that I am dressed and ready, as well as having made breakfast before Mr. Wolfe woke up, was going to take getting used to. I was used to sleeping in until noon and going to bed whenever I got tired. That wasn’t going to be the case any longer. 

 

I groaned, reaching over to turn my phone alarm off, before sitting up in the bed. I had to take a moment to look out the beautiful stained-glass window. It turned out that Wolfe lived in a remodeled church. It was the most beautiful house I had ever seen, even compared to Alder’s old place. I doubted I would ever tire of the city’s beauty. 

 

I stood up from the bed, my feet touching the soft rug, before walking into the closet,  looking around at all the clothes he had bought me. I felt overwhelmed by the choices. I grabbed a shirt off the hanger. He had told me this was one of his favorites. It was a light blue top with white lace flowers on it. I still couldn’t fathom how someone could pay nearly two hundred dollars on a top, no matter how beautiful. I grabbed a white leather thigh-length skirt, deciding they’d make a nice pair. I quickly stripped down to my underwear and walked over to where the bras were. 

 

“Nice view.” My heart jumped out of my chest as someone spoke to me. On the other side of the closet, Mr. Wolfe was smirking. I quickly covered my chest with my arm, not realizing there was a door on that side. 

 

“You're--you're up early…” I turned my back to him. I could feel his eyes wander over my backside. 

 

“I'm usually up this early.” He took a step toward me. “Tell me, Lili,” a chill ran up my spine as he spoke my name, “your boyfriend, was he as attractive as me?”

 

My eyes widened slightly at his question. I cleared my throat nervously. “If--if you're up this early, what time would you like breakfast?” I grabbed one of the bras and quickly put it on. 

 

He smirked and crossed his arms over his chest. “Not even going to answer my question? You can make breakfast before you wake Lark up.”

 

I nodded slowly. “I'm--I'm going to take a shower then.”

 

He stepped forward again. “Then I'll join you.”

 

A chill ran down my spine. “I don't think that would work.”

 

“Why not?” His hand slipped in front of me, touching my stomach. 

 

“So, where--where's Lark’s mother?”

 

I could feel him tense up as he stepped back from me. I turned around in time to see a scowl form on his face before he left the closet. 

 

“Great job, Lili.” I shook my head and looked at the ground. “How about next time you ask him why no one loves him?”

---

I smiled at Lark as he ate his breakfast. It made me miss my own siblings. I wanted to go back and visit, but I knew that I'd be getting guilt-tripped for leaving. Maybe they were right. Maybe I shouldn't have left. I sighed and rested my cheek on my hand. 

 

A door loudly opening caused me to jump. Mr. Wolfe walked out of his office and into the main room. 

 

“I--I made you some breakfast. Scrambled eggs and toast.” I tried to smile at him. 

 

He looked at me before looking away and shaking his head. “Like peasants.” He spoke under his breath, just loud enough for him to hear me. “I have a car in the garage. It has a car seat for Lark. That's what you'll use to get around. I need you to pick up the groceries today. Rose already has a list for you.” He turned his back to me. “After you finish that, Lark has a date at the park. Rose will send you the address. Be home in time to make dinner. I eat at six thirty sharp unless I tell you differently. Lark needs a bath tonight, and you need to do laundry as well as change my sheets. You will find time for all of this.”

 

My eyes widened. How was I supposed to remember all of that? “Yes--yes, sir.”

 

Mr. Wolfe turned his back to me and began to pour himself a cup of coffee. 

 

“Mr--Mr. Wolfe.” I stood up and took a few steps toward him. “I'm sorry for asking you about Lark’s mother. I didn't mean to offend you.”

 

“The key is on the table by the door.” He didn't turn to face me. “Rose will send you everything you need to know for today.” He walked past me over to Lark, kissing his forehead before leaving the apartment, leaving me awestruck. 

 

I ran to fingers through my hair. “Why do you do this, Lili?”

---

“Goat milk, fresh scallops, gnocchi, lobster, filet mignon steaks. What is your dad, Lark?” I smiled at him, ruffling his hair. He giggled in response. “I don't know what kind of cook he thinks I am, but I'm not this good.” I locked my phone and looked around the store. Most of the food here probably costs more than what I spent on food for a month. Alder and I didn't eat ramen, but we also didn't eat crab and caviar. 

 

“Can I help you, ma’am?” A chipper woman walked over to me. 

 

“I--I think I'm alright right now. Just acquainting myself with the store.” I gave her a small smile. I always hated when people came up to me at stores, it made me more nervous than I should be. I didn't know how I was going to survive living with a man like Mr. Wolfe who is so direct. 

 

“Of course. Well, if you need anything, just ask anyone in the store. My name is Maddie and I'm happy to help.”

 

“Thanks.” I smiled nervously. 

 

“Your son is so cute.” She leaned forward and pinched Lark’s cheek. “How old is he?”

 

Shit. I mentally sighed. I didn't even know. I never had a chance to ask Mr. Wolfe. “T--three?” I looked down at Lark. “Three.” I spoke more confidently the second time. 

 

“Well, he's adorable.” She smiled widely.

 

“I'm sorry. I’m really busy. I need to get going.” I smiled at her sympathetically as she waved goodbye.  

---

I let out a deep sigh as I closed the apartment door behind me. I don't think I've been this tired in a long time. The schedule I was given was non-stop. Get groceries, bring them home and put them away, make lunch, have a play date, at a park not the closest to us, come back home, keep Lark’s attention busy as I clean the house and do laundry, go back out to pick up some of Mr. Wolfe’s suits, finally come back to make dinner. I set Lark down on the ground. “Hey, Lark, do you want to color?” I smiled at him. 

 

“Yeah!” He smiled widely. 

 

“Let's go see what your dad has.” I walked into the playroom with him following me. No matter where I searched, he didn't have anything of that sort. Not even construction paper. It seemed like Mr. Wolfe wanted his son to play more on an iPad than on old-school paper. I signed, picking the iPad. “Come on, Lark. Let's go make some dinner.” I set him at the kitchen table as I opened the link for dinner Rose had sent me. I started on dinner, trying to make sure I didn’t burn anything and praying that Mr. Wolfe would like it. A knock on the door pulled my focus away. I wasn’t sure if I was supposed to answer the door or not, but I wanted to at least see who it was. If it was a big buff guy with tattoos and a milky eye the probability of me opening the door was low. I looked out the peephole and sighed in relief. It was Kendall, with a smile on her face. I pulled the door open. 

 

“Hey.” She continued to smile. “I knew Marco wouldn't be home yet so I thought I'd come over to talk to you.” 

 

“Well, you're always welcome, or so I'd assume if he allows you to watch his son.” I held the door open for her. 

 

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She laughed. “I've known Marco for a long time.”

 

“Really?” I raised an eyebrow, walking back over to the stove to stir the pots. I couldn't help but wonder if that meant she had been his friend for a while or a…friend. I couldn't deny how beautiful she was. Tanned skin, long black hair, sultry eyes. I still didn’t know how old she was, though.

 

“Yeah.” She casually leaned against the counter. “He ‘dated’ my mom for a while.” She air quoted. “They fucked around for a while before Lark came around.”

 

I mentally sighed in relief. I forced myself to stop thinking that way. I had no reason to feel jealous of Kendall and I had no reason to think about Mr. Wolfe like that. Like I had the tiniest bit of chance with him. “Real--really?” I didn’t looked over at her, I didn’t want her to read what was all over my face. “How old is your mom?”

 

“Thirty five.” She shrugged. “She had me when she was young.”

 

“And...how old is Mr. Wolfe?” I couldn’t contain my curiosity. I was living in his home and I didn’t even know anything about him.

 

Kendall laughed. “He’s...thirty...seven? I think so, but his birthday is coming up.”

 

Nearly twenty years older than me. Twenty years of probably sleeping with beautiful women. 

 

“You know, I’m sure you have a lot of questions, I’m happy to answer them, as long as you answer mine.”

 

“Why do you want to know about me?”

 

She shrugged again. “I like knowing people’s business. I’ve got nothing else to do.”

 

“Al--alright. Where-” I stopped myself. If Mr. Wolfe didn’t want me knowing about Lark’s mother, I had no right to ask other people. It was his right to not want to share that and I had to respect it. “Have....you and him ever…” I trailed off.

 

“Done the dirty?” Her dark red lips curled into a smirk. “No. Not saying I haven’t thought of it, but considering the fact I’ve heard him and my mom through the wall, it’s a little hard to get that out of your mind. Now,” she stood up and walked to my other side, “my turn. Why did you take this job?”

 

“Well, I needed it.” I looked up at her. “I--I lost the place I was staying it, I lost my job, and this worked out for both of those. Plus I’m pretty good with kids.”

 

“How’d you lose your place?”

 

“My boyfriend and I broke up. The place was under his name, so he got the choice of who got to stay. And that wasn’t me. He was also the reason I had my job. I was getting paid as his ‘assistant’ or, as he liked to call it, ‘muse’. So when he got tired of me, I got kicked out onto the street.” I shrugged slightly, looking away again.

 

“Did you and your boyfriend fu-”

 

“I get to ask the next question.” I quickly interrupted her. 

 

“Fine. Ask away, Lili.”

 

“I…” I tried to find something.

 

“Your ex, what was he like?”

 

I sighed. “He was…” I ran my fingers through my hair. “He was amazing. He was so passionate, and he made every day feel...otherworldly. We’d just sit at home and paint and…” I trailed off, shaking my head. “He was a true artist at heart.”

 

“What was his name?”

 

“Alder. Alder Sage.” 

 

She pulled her phone out. “I’ve got to go, but I’m sure you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.” Kendall flashed me one more smile before walking out. At first, I thought she seemed genuinely nice, but now, I wasn’t so sure. I shook my head. I only had so much time before Mr. Wolfe was home.

---

“Lili!” I heard Mr. Wolfe call from the living room. I quickly got off the bed, set my laptop to the side, and walked out to where he was on the couch. 

 

“Ye--yes?” 

 

“Sit.” He nodded towards the couch.

 

I did as commanded, awkwardly placing my hands in my lap.

 

“How was your first day?” My eyes widened at his tone. His words were soft and...kind.

 

“It--it was...stressful. I mean, I like it, and I’ll get used to it eventually,  but it was nonstop.”

 

“It won’t always be like that.” He smiled faintly. “Other than making food for the day, you have nothing else scheduled tomorrow.”

 

“I--if you’re willing, I’d really like if I could have a little bit of money for crafts. I think it might be good for Lark to be creative.”

 

“Sure.” He shrugged. “That sounds like a good idea to me. I’ll leave some money. I’ll have your credit card soon enough, but we’ll make do with money for now.”

 

I smiled slightly. “Thank you.”

 

“Would you like to watch some TV with me?” He turned and moved his arm around me, his fingers lightly touching my shoulder. What had just happened? Why was he acting completely differently from this morning? How was I going to survive this rollercoaster?

 

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