Chapter 2

The place was way out there. After getting off the subway, I had to catch a bus to the closest stop, then walk another half hour.

By the time I got close, I was drenched in sweat—and just when I thought it couldn't get worse, it started to rain. I was soaked and a total mess.

I stood in front of the door for a second, then rang the bell.

A young woman opened the door. She was dressed in casual clothes.

The moment I saw what she was wearing, I froze. Then something twisted deep in my chest.

She looked me over and asked, "Are you here for the housekeeper interview?"

I nodded.

As she led me inside, she started explaining, "Mr. Reynolds' last housekeeper quit. There's not much to do. He doesn't eat at home that often—just needs someone to keep the place clean. Oh, and he doesn't sleep well, so try to keep things quiet.

"There's a locked room on the second floor. Don't go near it. And don't touch anything unless you're supposed to—everything here's expensive. If you break something, you're not gonna be able to pay it back."

While she showed me around upstairs, she glanced me over. "The housekeeper's room is at the end of the hallway on the second floor.

"You look pretty young. And from the looks of it, you've had a good education. So why take a housekeeping job?"

I was just about to make something up, but she smiled and added, "I've seen a lot of girls like you. Mr. Reynolds is quite the catch, after all. But if you're thinking about anything more, you'd better drop it. He's got high standards."

I kind of tuned her out after that. My eyes were locked on the master bedroom.

Was Wilfrid in there right now?

The woman checked her watch, like she was trying to remind me of something. "Mr. Reynolds isn't home. He's overseas. He's probably flying back tomorrow morning. Just have his clean clothes and breakfast ready when he gets in."

I nodded without really thinking.

Then she went to the guest room, changed into work clothes, and left.

Other than me, there was a driver and a gardener working at the Reynolds Mansion.

The driver, Woody, chatted with me for a bit. I ended up asking, "Who was that woman from earlier?"

"You mean Miss Anna Greer?" he said. "She's Mr. Reynolds' secretary. She handles pretty much everything for him—work and personal stuff. Word is that Mr. Reynolds thinks pretty highly of her."

That sour feeling crept in before I could stop it.

I'd always known nobody would wait around forever.

I never expected Wilfrid to stay single just because of me.

But hearing he had someone new still hurt.

While Woody was showing me around the garden, something big and black suddenly lunged at me and knocked me over. Then it started licking my face like crazy.

I looked down at the big lump in my arms. "Dobby?"

Back when I first found Dobby, he was just a tiny pup that could fit in one hand.

Wilfrid wasn't a fan of cats or dogs. I'd snuck Dobby home inside my coat, but Wilfrid caught me right away.

His leg was doing a little better by then. He could walk with a cane.

When he saw Dobby in my arms, he frowned.

"Can we raise him together?" I kept bugging him, whispering in his ear, "Look how cute he is. It's good to have a dog around. Maybe one day, if I'm not with you anymore, he can keep you company."

But Wilfrid suddenly snapped, "How long do dogs even live? Bonnie, what kind of talk is that? Don't say things like that again, you hear me?"

I wasn't in a great mood at the time either.

My parents were always on my case, trying to get me to break up with Wilfrid and setting me up with other guys.

Just the week before, when I went home, my mom pulled me aside and said, "Bonnie, I know Wilfrid seems dependable, but look at his situation.

"He's an illegitimate child; his family doesn't accept him; his mom passed away young; and now he's got a bad leg. Are you really gonna stick it out with him? Haven't you heard enough stories about guys who make it big and forget where they came from?"

I just told her Wilfrid wasn't like that.

He'd grown up in a good family, but they lost everything.

He wasn't the kind of guy who'd turn his back on the people he loved.

Not everyone could start off rich. People from tough backgrounds just needed more time to get there.

So when Wilfrid yelled at me that day, I broke down and cried.

I grabbed Dobby and ran out of the apartment. I sat in the little garden downstairs, sobbing my eyes out.