Chasing Henry Marshall

Chapter Six

The building we approached was an extremely old, very large Victorian manor. Nathaniel pulled the car up and parked on a cement slab settled a few yards from the servants' door, turning it off. I was out the door first, standing in awe. The entire property was absolutely gorgeous. The garden out front was bathed in golden sunlight and all the trees around the property, standing like sentries, swayed in the crisp breeze.

"This place is... beautiful..."

"Nathaniel, I thought you ran a background check on this man?"

I turned as the doors slammed shut. Nathaniel leaned against the car and looked at his boss with a casual shrug of the shoulders.

"I did. He had just moved in the day before the interview. The system hasn't updated yet."

I let them bicker quietly while I began to observe the property again. I slowly crossed the lawn and stepped into the garden, eyes locked on the white stone fountain in the middle. I held my journal close to my chest, shoes crunching on the gravel path. As I grew closer, a smile began to slowly curve my lips. There was little splashes from the crystal blue water and, when I finally arrived, tons of small orange and white Koi fish greeted me. I felt a laugh bubble up in my throat and I dropped to my knees wiggling my fingers in the water.

I played with the fish for several minutes before something struck me. I looked around the estate. Nathaniel's black car was the only one in sight. I looked over at the two men who had migrated to the front steps.

"Mr. Marshall!" I called, grabbing my notebook and exiting the garden. The blonde turned and made eye contact with me. He raised an eyebrow, silently urging me to speak.

"Where is the rest of your crew?"

Henry didn't even seem to hesitate. He responded with a blunt, "Not here."

I stared at him and slowly looked at Nathaniel. The tall assistant sighed and expanded on his boss's rudeness.

"What he means is -"

"I meant what I said. They obviously aren't here. Her question lacked intelligence."

Nathaniel shared my look of offense.

"You have to be the most Bi-polar human being I have ever met."

"Are you sure its Bi-polar?" A small grin touched his lips.

"No." I folded my arms over my chest, "But I know you're a narcissist."

Nathaniel moved on, letting us have our moment. Henry threw his head back with a laugh.

"A narcissist?"

"Yes!"

"How?"

"Well you..." I paused. He was staring at me with a look that begged to be punched. I composed myself and continued, "Everything about you reads narcissism!"

He raised his eyebrows at me and inquired, "Everything?"

I nodded curtly and then rattled off the first things that came to my mind, "Your hair is perfect. Your skin is flawless. Your clothes are expensive. You don't drive yourself. And... and you smell good all the time." I didn't see the relevance in the last comment and wished that I could take it back. I watched his challenging features slowly turned to one of bemusement.

"I smell good? What do I smell like?"

"Oh shut up," I hissed, "That's not the point. The point is, you spend to much on yourself! Its all about your looks."