In case you missed it, read Part 1 here
Exiting the drab and rather inconspicuous building, I glanced over at the man who had hired me to be some sort of companion and debated whether I should tell him the truth of my application upfront. After all, I was going to be working for him for a year. I shuddered. That was a long time to be away from home for the first time.
“Mr Lathome.” I cringed when I heard my voice. I sounded scared and timid, a frightened little girl. Thankfully he didn’t hear me. I cleared my throat and spoke louder. “Excuse me, Mr Lathome. There is something I must tell you.”
He glanced over at her for a moment and then gestured toward a sleek white car. “We can comfortably chat over what this next year will be looking like once we are in the car and headed home.”
With a nod, I followed him over. I was surprised when he opened the back door himself and waited for me to go in first. He gave a slow nod towards the waiting car and smiled. Only then did I have the courage to walk over and climb in. He followed me in and sat right next to me, nearly touching but not.
“Now, Ms Donau. I gather you are nervous since you immediately returned back to not calling me Mason. May I ask what is wrong?”
A blush briefly flushed my cheeks as I glanced at my hands. “Sorry.”
“Will it help if I admit that I am a little nervous about this whole arrangement? My parents set this up because they think that my not having a serious relationship is hindering my business startup. My mother is convinced that I would have more investors if I were able to bring a beautiful woman along to my lunch meetings.”
“And you picked me?” I laughed. “I think that makes this worse, what I have to tell you.”
He frowned. “I did not pick you. My mother did. I came to pick you up because I was hoping to figure a way out. Does that help?”
“There wasn’t?” I gulped. “A way out, I mean.”
Mason looked long and hard at me. “Why?”
“I find myself in a somewhat similar position because I didn’t fill out the application. I found out about it when my acceptance letter came in the mail.”
Silence filled the car. Mason simply stared at me, as if his brain couldn’t process my confession.
And since he didn’t say anything, I continued. “My mother filled it out without telling me.”
He finally nodded. “And you were bound by the acceptance.”
“Why would your mother choose me?”
Mason shrugged. “She did not deign to favor me with an explanation. It was more of a demand to make room in my life for you. After all, she insists that she knows best.”
“I’m confused.”
When Mason started laughing I joined in. The whole thing seemed a little ridiculous now that I knew neither of us was invested in it.
“So…” I ventured after our laughter faded. “You’re not expecting me to act like I’m in love with you or anything?”
“I convinced my mother to introduce you as a family friend and in a month or two we will start dating. That way any affection we choose to show will appear natural.” He settled back into his plush seat. “This will work out well. We can be friends and I won’t have to hide from you or my mother when I’m home.”
I copied him, leaning my head back into the comfy seat. “I’ll do my best to keep your mother out of your hair.”
They sat in easy silence for a bit until Mason stirred, placing a hand on my arm.
“We are almost home.” He straightened his suit jacket. “Oh and before I forget, the contract is a secret. You have luggage in the trunk with appropriate clothes that will fit you and I have just picked you up at the station for a month-long visit. Once we begin dating, you will be asked to stay longer and accept.”
“No one is to know?” I didn’t know what to do with my hands. “What if I do something I shouldn’t or break some rule I don’t know exists?”
He shrugged. “Everyone has their quirks. Just be confident in everything you do and no one will think to question it.”
I gave a nod. “I can do that.”
“Hopefully you will be able to do so for longer than you said you would call me Mason.” He winked.
“Your name is a tricky one. I will not forget again.” Sitting up straight I motioned to the door next to him. “You may open the door for me now, Mason.”
“As you wish, Iris.”
His smile combined with hearing him speak my name sent a sharp shiver down my spine. Exiting the car and entering the mansion-sized home went smoothly, with Mason leading me along with a hand on my back. And even though Mrs Lathome eyed me with a flash of disdain before gushing over how delightful it was that I had finally come for a visit, I think it all went over well.
However, I nearly fainted as I caught a glimpse of ‘my’ luggage being brought in.
“Now Iris dear, let’s see you settled in the guest room.” Mrs Lathome beamed from where she stood in the entryway, leading me away from Mason.
I glanced back at him and felt a little more reassured when he smiled and nodded. She didn’t say anything more until we were alone in my new room.
It was only then that Mrs Lathome turned on me with a scowl. “Now Iris, let us get one thing clear so that we don’t have any misunderstandings and get along smashingly over the course of this year. Though this was my idea, I did not pick the woman. My husband insisted on you. So under no circumstances are you to fall in love with my son. This is a job. You will study and perform when needed and stay out of the way unless called upon. After this year is over, I will decide if your presence is still necessary. If you cause problems before then I will ‘send you home’ by moving you to our country estate to finish out the contracted year alone and away from Mason. Understood?”
I blinked. “Yes. I understand and I will not forget.” I added in a curtsy for good measure.
Click here to read Part 3 of Iris’ Story!
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