Total pages in book: 114
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 105756 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 529(@200wpm)___ 423(@250wpm)___ 353(@300wpm)
I fucking hated myself. Why did I have to be such a proud, stubborn bastard?
“Because I don’t wish to spare any expense in laying my mother to rest,” I said, leaving everything else unspoken. And you clearly can’t afford it.
“Speaking of which,” Therese put in as she carried two mugs of tea over to the table before setting them in front of Ada and me. “Mr Oaks and I have been in touch with Leonora’s solicitor, and there were some funeral instructions in her will. These all pre-date her marriage to your father, of course, so they might not reflect her most current wishes. However, if you’ll agree, some of the small details can be catered to. I’ve compiled a list.” Therese pulled a sheet of paper from her bag and handed it to Ada. Looking a little overwhelmed, Ada took the list, staring down at it as she sliced her teeth across her lower lip.
“This should be … this should be manageable,” she said, and there was something in her expression, something vulnerable that had the cold, careless organ in my chest softening towards her. Just a bit.
No. I couldn’t let myself feel empathy for Conor Rose’s daughter. That was a slippery slope to being scammed and conned, which was exactly what her family was best at. I needed to harden myself towards her, which was why I directed the conversation away from the funeral.
“So, if you’re to live here for the next six months, we’ll need to talk about your rent payments. What rate were you paying my mother?”
At this, her large brown eyes flicked up from where they’d been reading Therese’s list. Again, she sliced her teeth across her lip, and I wished she’d quit doing that. It made me remember just how fucking edible she looked naked with water dripping down her luscious body. And wait, why did she suddenly look so uncomfortable?
“Um, I was paying a hundred and fifty a month, but I was also—”
“A hundred and fifty a month?” I cut her off, mouth agape. “What is this? 1995?”
Ada Rose’s frown was truly something to behold. I could glower like a champion, but I had nothing on her. The power of her scowl was directed solely on me. “It was mainly to cover utilities, and I know it sounds cheap, but I bought all the groceries, not to mention did most of the cooking, gardening and housework.”
I stared at her, trying to decide if she were being honest. This could be a con. An attempt to swindle six months cheap rent out of me. “I’ll be able to check my mother’s account to see how much you were really paying her.”
Ada’s glower multiplied.
“Now, now,” Therese intervened. “Miss Rose is clearly telling the truth. This house is spotless, and the flower beds out front are immaculate. Someone’s obviously been tending to them.”
I grudgingly accepted she wasn’t wrong. Mam had never kept the house as tidy as it was now, nor had she possessed a green thumb or the inclination to garden, which the person tending to the front lawn very obviously did.
“You won’t find anything in her accounts because I paid her in cash.” Ada said, and I arched an eyebrow then folded my arms.
“That’s convenient.”
This was it. My way of getting rid of her. The matter of rent was the perfect solution. All I had to do was be a total bastard and quote a number she probably couldn’t afford. Then she’d no longer be my problem, and I could focus on the grief currently eating me alive without being distracted by Conor Rose’s daughter. I wasn’t myself, and that made me vulnerable to being taken in by a pretty face hiding a blackened heart. I refused to ever be as easily manipulated and naïve as my mother had been.
“It wasn’t convenient. It was—"
“Unfortunately for you,” I cut her off. “I’m not quite as generous as my mother, even if you have been doing chores, as you say. A house of this size in this location will fetch at least three grand a month in rent, possibly more. Since you’re only using one room, that would be a third, so let’s call it an even thousand.”
Ada’s mouth fell open, her cheeks reddening. “But … but I can’t afford that.”
“Then, sadly, I’m afraid I’ll have to reiterate my first offer, which was for you to vacate the premises within one week.”
“Sir, you’re being a little unreasona—”
Ada interrupted Therese’s attempt to come to her aid when she stood from the table, her furious brown eyes levelled on me. “Thank you, Therese, but there’s no need to argue on my behalf. If Mr Oaks wishes me gone, then I’ll go. I won’t live where I’m clearly not wanted. I’ll be out of here in one week.”
With that, she strode from the room, her shoulders tense, and her head held high. At that moment, I learned something about Ada Rose, something we unfortunately had in common.